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Golden Retriever
training can be a great experience because the
natural desire of this breed is to please the owner
and be part of the action. Many Golden Retrievers
need little or no obedience training, though some
people may urge at least the basics for any new dog.
In fact, some breeders and trainers insist that
Golden Retrievers should have some formal obedience
and basic training because the natural temperament
of the breed could be ruined by faulty methods.
The calm, friendly
temperament of this breed makes it an ideal choice
for families with children. While the Golden
Retriever is not aggressive enough to be considered
a guard dog, it will alert the family to outside
activities. Remember, this breed lives to please its
master so typically, it would bark loudly at
anything that seems suspicious. It would be best to
discourage growling and barking during play, keeping
this to real business of alerting.
Of course, the best way to train a Golden
Retriever or any dog is to begin with a healthy,
well-bred puppy. Young dogs are much easier to train
and control. With the Golden Retriever, you
ultimately want a dog ready to learn. Then to
support positive behavior, you would provide praise.
If you are firm, yet positive, you will build trust
between you and your dog lasting a lifetime.
For housebreaking, the Golden Retriever is generally
easy to train, though you may want to consider crate
training. This method provides the dog a safe haven
when it needs time to be alone. In addition, crate
training encourages cleanliness in an area that
belongs only to the dog. Prevention is always best
in this training, so you should plan to take your
dog out early in the morning and again at night,
before you go to bed.
Golden Retrievers are very good at obedience trials,
doing well in tracking and retrieving competitions.
This breed loves the challenge and fun of agility
and trick competitions too. Originally bred as a
hunting dog, the Golden Retriever is happiest in the
open, able to run, swim, and retrieve for the
hunter. If you take the time to choose a puppy from
a top-quality breeder, you definitely want to begin
socialization to help display positive, natural
traits of this breed.
Golden Retrievers, as much as any dog, will not
respond well to harsh treatment or physical abuse.
Remember, this breed is gentle and loving. The goal
with training is to help your dog grow into a
delightful companion with just a little guidance.
Some experienced owners report that they can show
this breed a trick or a command once or twice, which
is picked up quickly and with eagerness. Therefore,
it is best that you make the training fun and avoid
instilling fear in this sensitive breed.
We recommend that if you take your dog to a
professional trainer, you stay involved as much as
is allowed and remember, working with a trainer who
is experienced in this breed is a key to success.
Just as we recommend visiting three or more breeders
when you are looking for a puppy, we also recommend
that you visit several trainers to see look at
facilities and asking about their training methods.
One of the keys to using a formal training facility
is the lack of distractions that may be present when
you are at home. In addition, make sure the trainer
uses only positive methods, staying away from harsh
treatment and negative reinforcement. This alone
will make a huge difference in your Golden Retriever
being a calm and loving family member.
See Also:
Golden Retriever Training
Golden
Retriever Training
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