Make Dog Training Age
We dont ask toddlers to do algebra, so make sure your expectations are reasonable for your dog. For example, puppies need shorter training sessionsaround 3-5 minutes eachbecause their bodies and brains are not well-developed yet. Even adult dogs who are new to you and your home may not be ready for high-level training because they still are adjusting to the new environment and people in their lives.
Note to self: Be patient and go slowly.
Tips For Training Your Golden Retriever
Now that you know golden retrievers can be easy to train, here are six tips for how to do that.
Check out this article to learn more about training your golden retriever.
Do Golden Retrievers Shed Much
If youre looking to get a low maintenance dog for your home, then you may wish to reconsider when it comes to a Golden Retriever. Even though they have gorgeous glossy golden coats, this breed is terrible when it comes to shedding.
If you want a Golden for your home, expect to find hair everywhere on your furniture and clothes. It tends to shed moderately all year round and increases during spring and fall.
Part of their shedding is because they have a double coat, and when new hair needs to grow in place, they start shedding. The only way to get on top of its excess hair is by grooming it regularly or having a dog vacuum.
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How To Train A Golden Retriever
- Fact Checked
The Golden Retriever is one of the most docile dog breeds in the world. Their eager-to-please personalities are one of the many attributes that keep them in the #3 spot of Americas most popular dog breeds. With that being said, training them isnt a cakewalk, and it takes work to cultivate that obedience and personality theyre known for.
If youve just bought a Golden Retriever puppy or if youre considering that very purchase, you probably want to know how much work is going to go into training them.
Still Wondering If Golden Retrievers Are Easy To Train
Lets make it clear: the Golden Retriever is an absolute dream to train. They love to please people and their owners so it makes them want to do anything that their owners want to get a little praise and maybe even some food.
This makes them a perfect choice for first-time dog owners who are concerned about their ability to be trained. If you want your Golden Retriever to respond to you you should be gentle with them. These dogs are sensitive by nature and wont respond well to discipline or a harsh tone.
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Retrieving Intelligence In Golden Retrievers
Instinctive intelligence refers to the innate skillset or ability that a particular dog breed was developed for. While dogs are mainly companions today, they were primarily working dogs in the past. For example: herders, hunting dogs, game retrievers and guardians .
For example, Australian Shepherds are herding dogs and their instinctive intelligence is with herding. From birth, these dogs are capable of pushing and driving livestock in directions based off pure instincts. Little to no human training is needed for them to perform this.
In this case, Golden Retrievers are sporting and retrieving dogs, as evident by the name. To be specific, these dogs specialized in retrieving dead waterfowl after having been shot by the hunter. However, they can retrieve all types of small game if trained.
Just check out this Golden Retriever in action:
This means theyre naturally superb at fetching objects from water. So if youre looking for a great way to exercise with your Golden, playing catch/fetch or going for a swim are the perfect activity. These sports come so easily and naturally to them. Theyll love it!
Some Golden Retrievers have shown a natural instinct to fetch objects as early as 50 days old! Though every dog is different, most Golden Retrievers will thrive with retrieving at one point or another. Give them some time and have a bit of patience.
Golden Retrievers Are Quick Leaners
In our list of the 100 smartest dog breeds, dogs are evaluated based on how quick theyre able to learn commands and how obedient they are. Based on this criteria, Goldens ranked number 4 among 138 breeds.
Only the Border Collie, Poodle and German Shepherd performed better than Goldens in the intelligence trials. However, these dogs performed better than standout breeds, such as the Doberman Pinscher and Labrador.
Goldens are pretty easy to train and most are food motivated. Id recommend puppy school because you end up meeting others with puppies.
Knick007
Being the 4th most intelligent dog breed means that Golden Retrievers are able to learn a new command wither fewer than 5 repetitions! Imagine only taking a few minutes to teach these dogs a basic command.
And if youre curious, the average-intelligent dog breed will need 25 to 40 repetitions to learn the same command. This means that Golden Retrievers are at least 5 times faster at learning commands than the average.
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Golden Retrievers Are Gentle
Golden retrievers are one of the most gentle and kind dog breeds, which comes from their deep-rooted desire to please their owners.
Theyre amazing with kids and rarely cause trouble around the house , which is why theyre well-known as a great family dog.
You can even see how much they adore their owner by their love and ability to play fetch.
Theyre also a very tender dog breed famous for their incredibly soft mouth grip.
Just think about it: What other dog breeds could possibly hold a raw egg in their mouth and carry it around without breaking it?
How Is Training A Pup Easier Than Training A Dog
Golden Retriever puppy training is easier than training a dog for the same reasons as moulding and shaping a sapling is easier than doing the same to a fully-grown tree. Pups are small. They have not yet been able to get themselves fully exposed to their nature in order for them to develop a lifestyle.
An individual pup with no particular lifestyle is easy to train and bring on track than a fully-grown dog who is now accustomed to loving the way they live. An untrained adolescent or adult Golden Retriever has its own way of living its life, and it will be nothing but difficult for its owner to curb and monitor its ways way long after it is comfortable with its way of life.
If you wish to train your Golden Retriever, make sure you start training your pup right from the time you bring it home. It is almost like training a kid. Create an aura in your home just like you would want your dog to follow. One good way is to ensure that the humans in your family follow suit so that the pup has somebody to look up to.
The younger your Golden Retriever is, the better you can train it. It may be a tad difficult to train adolescent Golden Retrievers, but is not completely impossible. You have a better chance with puppies than with adult dogs, and hence, start while they are young. Read on to know more Golden Retriever information on the said subject.
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Are Golden Retrievers Easy To Take Care Of
If you are thinking of getting a golden retriever, there are a few things to take into consideration.
They have long hair and are double-coated, so they will need grooming regularly. They are prone to hip and skin issues.
They are also people dogs meaning they love their people and want to be around the family 24-7.
So if you are looking for a dog to live outside a golden may not be the right choice for you.
Benefits Of Training Your Golden
Training makes your Golden a better dog, but more importantly, makes you a better human! That being said, one key area of dog training is obedience.
An obedient dog will be saved the strain of being locked up when the owner has visitors or when he or she goes out shopping. And because Goldens love company, being the owners companion makes your dog happier.
Working with your dog in training helps you better understand the canine while being more attentive to its physical and emotional needs. Besides, you also get trained in patience, one of the aspects of emotional intelligence in humans.
So as you can see, putting some effort into training your Golden Retriever will improve both your dogs behavior and your ability to be patient. Its a win-win situation for both!
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Golden Retriever Vs Average Dogs
Now that we know where the Golden Retriever stands in terms of dog intelligence, how do they compare with the average dog? For reference, the average dogs are those ranked between the 63rd and 104th spot on Corens list.
On average, these dogs need between 25 to 40 repetitions in order to learn an unknown command. Compared to the Golden Retriever, average dogs learn at least 5 times slower! Instead of a few minutes, it could take them half a day to learn a command.
As for obedience intelligence, average dogs will obey a known command on the first attempt with a 50% or higher success rate. Theyre not nearly as obedient as the Golden Retriever, but still not bad at all.
Theres nothing wrong with being average intelligent. In fact, some of the worlds most popular dog breeds fall into this average IQ category. For example, the Australian Shepherd, Boxer, Dachshund, Great Dane and the Siberian Husky are average, yet regarded by many owners as smart.
Tips For Training Golden Retriever Pups
Golden retrievers have the magic combination of intelligence and obedience that makes dogs highly trainable. In fact, the first three obedience champions of the American Kennel Club were golden retrievers. Goldens excel at obedience contests and other competitive events.
If youre thinking of bringing home a golden retriever, you can rest assured that these dogs are easy to train. Even as puppies, goldens are eager to train and learn. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Start exposing your pup to people, other animals, different places, and various situations as soon as you bring him home. According to the American Kennel Club, you should start socialization between seven weeks and four months of age. This lets you identify any habits that may need correcting and will help your pet feel more comfortable in his new home.
- Make sure your pup learns the basic commands like sit, stay, come, and lie down. Not only does this make your life easier, but it also strengthens the bond between you and your pup.
- Goldens have an innate need to please their owner. Obedience training gives them the opportunity to show that they are good boys and to be rewarded for their obedience.
- When training golden retriever pups, keep the sessions short. Ideally, they should be no longer than 15 minutes. Too long and your pup could lose interest or get confused.
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Why Get A Golden Retriever
We already know Golden Retrievers are intelligent dogs. However, you should never pick a dog breed based on how smart they are, at least according to the experts.All dogs are smart enough for you and your needs.
Unless you plan on using your dog for a specialized task or job, theres no need to pick one of the smartest dog breeds. But if you just want a great companion and family dog, Golden Retrievers are some of the best.
With that said, Golden Retrievers are extremely friendly and affectionate dogs. Theyll play with you every chance they get. But as energetic medium/large dogs, theyll need a moderate amount of exercise at least 1 hour of activity each day!
Golden Retrievers are also some of the most loyal dogs you can find. Mostly because of their eagerness to please, theyll thrive best in a family oriented environment.
If after reading all this and you still believe that the Golden Retriever is right for you you should definitely bring home one! Theres a reason why theyre one of the most popular dogs in the world.
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Crate Training Your Golden
Dog owners find that crate training works well for most puppies. Dogs, in general, like small, enclosed spaces and consider them safe spaces. Dont feel like you are jailing your pup your dog prefers the small space.
Crate training is a good option for you if you will not be home during the day. A great benefit of crate training during the potty training period is that dogs do not like to go to the bathroom where they sleep. It also helps them to learn to control their bladder. The idea is to practice when your pup in short sessions and bring the puppy out from the crate directly to the potty spot.
One key factor in successfully using the crate to potty train is picking the correct size crate. It may mean you have to buy more than one crate, but it is crucial to have the right size crate for your puppy. If you put your golden retriever puppy in a large crate, thinking you are giving more space. Your puppy will end up using the potty on one end and sleeping on the other
We think crate training is a good option. If you can get your puppy to agree and stick with crate training your puppy will be potty trained in no time. Of course, if you are absolutely against crate training there are other options that work just as well.
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Supervised Training To Go Outside
This is the preferred method. In the long run, this will save you time and work and possibly your floor! This method works well with crate training, but I found when using this method with a pee pad, it confused the puppy. So we choose to use the crate when we were are not home and supervised training when we were home.
You will need to watch your puppy for sniffing or circling and going to the door while inside. This is a good indicator that your puppy needs to go out.
Let your puppy either follow you or put them on a leash and lead them to the designated potty area. Allowing your puppy to walk will help him independently sniff out his potty area.
When you take your puppy out, use the command go pee or hurry up. Your puppy will learn to associate this command with going to the potty. This will help you teach them why they are going out, and that this time out is not a play session.
After your puppy goes potty in their designated area, be sure to praise him and reward him profusely. Golden Retrievers love to be praised. This will help it click with your puppy to what you are asking of them.
The key to having a successful potty training experience is having patience and being consistent. Its important to under that your puppy with have an accident. Hopefully, this phase goes quickly.
How To Potty Train A Golden Retriever
Potty training your golden retriever pup will make your life easier. The bond you create during training will also make both you and your pet happier.
Here are some tips so you can start off on the right foot.
Start potty training your golden the day you bring him home. Show him where he should be doing his business and let him sniff around. If he poops or pees in the right spot, give him a reward.
During that first day, keep returning him to the same general area every half hour or so. Establish that its the right place for potty breaks by giving him a reward and lots of praise every time he pees or poops in the area. Hell eventually associate the smells there with toilet time.
Regular feedings will lead to regular toilet breaks. Make sure you provide meals at the same time every day. Dont give food, other than a treat here and there for good behavior, between meals.
Take your golden retriever pup outside immediately after meals and then 20 minutes after. This will increase the chances of him pooping or peeing in the right spot. If your puppy is just a few weeks old, take him outside every hour and after naps as well.
Are golden retrievers easy to potty train? Yes, they are. For the best results, remember to use positive reinforcement techniques when training your golden retriever.
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How To Train Your Golden Retriever To Sit
Training Golden Retrievers to sit is a very important and useful dog trick.
Goldens can grow to over 60 pounds. Ensuring they have a great alternative to jumping up for attention is very important.
Sit is a great behavior to train and encourages your puppy to do so if they want something! Golden Retrievers love their food, so the easiest way to train sit is to:
Repeat this trick ten times over short periods of time throughout the day.
After a few days you can start to introduce the word sit just before you move your hand. After a few more days they will learn to sit on command.