Golden Retrievers are intelligent, happy-go-around dogs that are known for their obedience. These dogs are easy to train and make a great family pet with the right training! Here are some positive training tips that are particularly helpful when training a Golden Retriever.
1. Discover the behaviors you want to correct and train your Golden Retriever to do. Too often, dog owners start training their Golden Retriever, and before they know it, they have a one-track mind. " Fixing behavior" can be a slow process, particularly when you are just beginning. Being patient (and firm) while training your Golden Retriever will help you accomplish your training goals faster and get more out of your dog.
2. Use a small treat as a reward. For your Golden Retriever, a small treat may be insufficient when training to correct a behavior since they are not always as knowledgeable as they were in the past. Therefore, rather than obligated to provide a treat every time the dog obeys or responds favorably to a command, try to reward your dog with a small snack in order to establish a healthy relationship between you and your dog. For the first few days at least, refrain from all food rewards to let the dog understand that positive reinforcement does not result from following a command. Some experts recommend that dog owners give a dog a treat for Correct behavior, such as entering a door in order to pass through or sitting for a treat. Try not to make your Golden Retriever aware of the "stuff" treat and let it realize there is more to your desire for it to respond to your command.
3. Make sure to practice all commands with your dog initially. Commands such as "sit," will help your dog to be conscious of it. This way, you can use the command while it is performing the specific action. For example, while your dog is in the sit position, tell it to "sit." If your dog successfully performs the action, give it the treat immediately and praise the dog. If your dog fails to perform the action, give the treat and praise only after a second or two of your dog performing the preferred action. Your dog may have a hard time telling the difference between a command and an action, so it is important to thoroughly practice the command and the desired action with your dog. Try issuing the commands through voice mail or simply choosing a keyword or phrase, such as "sit" or "wait" to help your dog associate a command to action. Remember that training is not just for the dog alone. You and your family are your dog's new family, and everyone needs to take part in making the training happen.
4. Yell and quit training your Golden Retriever! This is not the way to train your dog. Instead, end each training session with something your dog enjoys and give your dog a couple of minutes to enjoy it. Then start training again. This will help your dog learn to love learning new things and to want to please you. If you want to spend more time, consider signing up for classes.
I hope this will help you train and have some fun with your Golden Retriever. Training can be a lot of fun and is a great way to bond with your dog. I hope you have many productive training sessions with your Golden Retriever.
