Best Puppy Treats For Golden Retrievers: Should You Give One
You can, of course! Both dogs love to have a treat! Golden Retrievers are inspired by food, so teaching them is so much simpler when it comes to treats.
Not all treats are made equal, and some are utter garbage and unhealthful. These types of treats should be avoided. However, balanced foods low in fat and calories with real ingredients are safe and nice to offer your Golden.
Our Top Pick
Overall
If youre the lucky owner of the Golden Retriever, you know all too well how much they want to please you! This breed is going to do pretty much anything to make you happy, and theyre certainly going to do anything for a treat!
Do you think the right treats are for the Golden Retrievers? Stick around because we have compiled a list of safe, nutritious, and of course, best puppy treats for golden retrievers.
What Is A Dog Training Treat
A dog training treat is a small, meat-based, chewy treat used by trainers and pet owners when training a dog. They should be small enough to fit in your hand or pocket so you can entice the dog with the treat and get them to focus on the tasks/commands.With so many choices out there, how do you choose the best dog treats for your pup? For most dogs, food rewards are the most convenient and effective way to influence your dogs behavior. Before choosing any dog treat, make sure to review the ingredients list. Always consult with a veterinarian if your dog has food sensitivities, weight-related issues, or you have other concerns.
The best treats for dogs are usually the ones made with single, natural ingredients. It’s best to avoid treats that are high in calories and made with preservatives.
A puppy can have any trainer or vet-approved treats or treats the owner deems right for the puppy based on their individual diet.
You should choose dog treats based on the treat that will work best for your pup’s specific diet. The ones suggested above are all great options.
Training A Golden Retriever Puppy Not To Bite
Golden Retrievers have been bred for generations to hold things in their mouth. Whilst trained gundogs will hold things gently, this is a skill that takes time and practice.
As puppies, these dogs enjoy using their mouth to explore the world.
This is a normal part of being a puppy.
However, is it important we train them that they can not play with humans using their mouths.
Here are a few tips to help with mouthing.
Adopting a consistent routine will help you to pre-empt mouthing. Most puppies tend to mouth when they are hungry, tired, or need the toilet.
Provide a wide range of toys and chews for your Golden Retriever puppy to enjoy. When playing with your puppy make sure to use these chews and avoid fighting or rough housing.
Puppies lose their puppy teeth from 16 weeks of age, so expect more mouthing around this time. You can provide relief by feeding frozen carrots.
If your Golden decides to mouth your hands or ankles then withdraw all attention. This teaches your puppy that play stops if their teeth touches your skin. Return to your puppy after 10 seconds and play again.
Most puppies will stop mouthing at six months of age.
If they are mouthing a lot, look at your puppys routine. Are they hungry? Are they tired? Both of these can affect your puppys self-control.
Read Also: Best Golden Retriever Breeders California
Additional Tips On Choosing The Best Leash For Golden Retriever Puppy
Nylon is an excellent choice for people who are budget conscious. It is also applicable in wet and wintry weather. You can use leather for all types of weather, but you have to occasionally apply some conditioner to keep it from degrading and maintain its look.
Make sure to choose the correct width and strength of leash for your particular dog or puppy. It may mean having to upgrade your leash to accommodate your growing puppy. Choose a light leash for your dog, so it doesnt interfere with their movement. For a fully grown large dog, choose a nice thick, strong leash.
If your dog has a habit of chewing on the leash, you may want to opt for a chain leash. Other materials will be damaged often by a dog that loves to chew. Chain leash are available in varying thicknesses to accommodate the size of your dog or puppy.
Make sure to choose a strong enough clip to match the size and strength of your dog as well as their power when they start pulling at full strength. You cannot risk having them break free and run away.
It is crucial to have at least one spare leash, so there is always one ready if the regular one gets destroyed, breaks, or gets lost.
Dry your leashes if they get wet. Store them or hang them instead of simply throwing them in a drawer. Make sure they are fully dry before you store them. It will make them last longer.
You may also want to consider attaching a carabiner to the handle to make tethering your dog an effortless task.
Using Treats For Training Purposes
Treats are one of the simplest forms of positive reinforcement. By nature, golden retrievers want to please their human family, and they are very intelligent dogs who can quickly catch on to your new game.
When teaching a trick for the first time, you can use the treat as a lure to guide them into the position you want sit, for example, can be spoken while the puppy is distracted by the treat, and when they sit down for it, praise them lavishly and give them the treat.
Timing is very important. The treat should be given as soon as they follow the command.
Gradually, your puppy is going to learn the meaning of the words and will start to follow them without the treat as a lure. Once that happens, stop using the treat to lure them into position and instead use voice commands only.
Eventually, you can give them treats every few times they listen, and wean them off treats little by little. But at the beginning, it is essential to use them as positive reinforcement each time.
Trainers will usually recommend having two types of treats for your puppy while training him or her. Low-value treats are plain yet tasty, loved by them, but not as much as the high-value treats.
High value treats should be something your puppy really loves. Low value treats are for regular training, should be low-calorie, and can become the staple reward for the golden retriever puppy doing a good job.
Recommended Reading: How To Groom A Golden Retriever
In A Hurry Here Are Our Top Choices
Image | |
---|---|
TopTop | Benefit Biscuits, All Natural Dog Treats, Certified Vegan, Non GMO, Wheat Free, Healthy Dog Biscuits, Made in USA ) |
TopTop | Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats Grain-Free Wild Bits Dog Treats – 3 Flavors 2 BAGS EACH FLAVOR – 4 Ounces Each – MADE IN USA by Blue |
Check Today’s Price |
But are all kinds of dog treats worth it? The simple answer is no! Choosing the wrong dog treat for training golden retrievers can have negative long-term consequences like obesity, laziness, etc. In this article, well review the top five dog treats for training golden retrievers to help you out.
Ezydog Zero Shock Dog Leashby Ezydog
This is one of the best shock-resistant leashes on the market. This leash can reduce pulling and keep you safe from related injuries.
The leash comes in two sizes and many different colors. The two sizes are 24-inch and 48-inch leashes.
In addition to the patented shock reduction technology, this leash also includes a secondary handle you can use in traffic to keep your pooch close to you.
The handles are padded with neoprene lining and waterproof, and they are very comfortable and soft to the touch.
This leash also has a highly reflective trim that allows you to walk your pooch during the night or early in the morning.
Like a few other leashes I mentioned, this leash can also unhook occasionally from the collar or harness, which is a big drawback.
Also, the elastic part of the leash can lose some of its elasticity over time, and if your dog likes to chew on everything, this leash is not for you since it is not chew-proof.
»PROS: Available In Two Sizes and Many Colors, Durable, Shock Absorption, Has a Traffic Handle, Padded Handles, Reflective
«CONS: Expensive, Not Chew Proof, Leash May Get Unhooked from the Collar Sometimes, Losses Elasticity over Time
Also Check: Why Do Golden Retrievers Eat So Fast
Also Check: Golden Retriever Purina
Make It Rewarding To Keep Them Interested
Having a golden retriever will make this part of training much easier, and oh-so-fun. While some dogs are strictly food motivated, and others are picky about their treats, goldens are generally excited to get any attention or reward from their person, even if its just a few minutes of playtime. Nevertheless, make sure not to take advantage of this or youll risk your dogs losing interest in training! Its never a bad idea to have some treats on hand and a few minutes to spare shes earned some playtime or even a walk!
What To Look For
Some of the best treats are the ones that contain ingredients like omega-3 fatty acids, which have an anti-inflammatory effect and can keep your Goldens coat healthy and shiny.
Treats can also contain some of the ingredients commonly found in joint supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin. These ingredients lessen joint inflammation and have a protective effect on the cartilage in your dogs joints.
Dental treats are an easy way to keep your dogs teeth clean because the act of chewing can remove plaque from his teeth, and the enzymes that are contained within dental treats can prevent more plaque from forming.
Don’t Miss: Best Golden Retriever Breeders California
Some Suggested Foods For Your Adult Golden Retriever
The following list contains some foods for you to consider for your golden. Remember that if you feed a high-quality food to your dog without fillers, you often can feed less.
A general guideline Ive found when choosing a food is to make sure that it has specifically-named ingredients, not vague, generic ones. So lamb meal would be preferable to the generic term meat meal.
The same is true of preservatives and other ingredients.
I feed my golden a food thats been recommended by many reliable sources such as the Whole Dog Journal and thats been well-rated by the Dog Food Advisor.
I wont name it just because its one of many choices and what Ive found to be great for my dogs may not be for yours.
And I also considered various foods before making my selection. My dogs are doing well on this food.
You dont need to break the bank to find a great food. Goldens love their food and eat a lot because of their size. So Im providing a wide selection of price points to select from..
Im listing the top-five adult and puppy formulas for large breeds and links to the Dog Food Advisor and Chewy so that you can see additional information regarding these foods and their ratings.
The Dog Food Advisor is a public service website designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food.
The write-ups are taken from those found on the Dog Food Advisor website.
The links will also lead to information regarding additional high-rated foods.
Should You Give Your Golden Retriever A Treat
Of course, you should! All dogs love to get a treat! Golden Retrievers especially are very motivated by food, that is why training them is so much easier when treats are involved.
I couldnt imagine going for my daily walks with my Golden Retriever Ellie without treats! Treats are the only way to get her to move sometimes! When she gets stubborn and wants to eat something off the ground that is bad for her, or when she decides she wants to go another direction and just sits there, I need to use treats!
Not all treats are created equal, and some are complete junk and unhealthy, those types of treats should be avoided. However, healthy treats that are low in fat and calories with real ingredients are safe and good to give your Golden.
Recommended Reading: How To Draw A Golden Retriever Face
Most Popular: Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Training Dog Treats
The Facts:
- Made with real chicken with added vitamins and minerals
- Suitable for dogs of all ages and sizes
- Soft and chewy
Of course you already know that your pup is the smartest dog on the block, but thanks to these chewy treats made with DHA for cognitive development, you can be sure of it. They’re also made with real, deboned chicken, omega-3 and -6 fatty acids , brown rice and oatmeal. Alabama, our 14-year-old Labrador mix has very few teeth left so these soft treats are perfect for her, our friend tells us. And dogs with food allergies dont have to miss out on the fun, thanks to the exclusion of corn, wheat and soy from the ingredients list.
Full Moon Organic Human Grade Training Treats For Dogs
These oven-roasted treats are filled with healthy proteins for your Golden Retriever. All the ingredients used are 100% natural, and this snack does not contain any artificial ingredients.
The True Chews snacks are delicious and chewy treats that are made from real chickens who were not grown using antibiotics. The softness of the treats means that your Golden Retriever can chew and eat it quickly and with minimal effort.
True Chews Natural Dog Treats are the best chew treats for Golden Retrievers.
Also Check: Best Golden Retriever Breeders California
Do Dogs Need A Bed In Their Crate
Most definitely.
When youre not home, the crate should be equipped with a comfy bed, and the door should be left open so that your dog can enter when they require a safe haven.
Your dog needs to know from the get-go that the crate is theirs. Making it nice and comfortable for them is essential for them to want to use it and the nicer and squishier the bed the better.Adding some durable toys and maybe an old t-shirt with your scent on also helps them settle too.
Nootie Salami Dog Treat
If you want to feed your dog some chew treat but not the hard ones, buy Nootie! It is perfect when your dog is teething and boosts the immunity and health, but soft on puppy teeth. It is a healthy snack to curb mid-meal hunger. Regular consumption help to remove tartar and reduces bad breath. It doesnt fall in the category of best dog treats but is good for rotation of treats, so your dog does not get bored of the same treats.
Purepet is known for its dog food and one of the best dog treats manufacturing company. These 100% vegetarian crunchy biscuits help in the dental health of your dog. It promotes lustrous skin and coat. It is fortified with vitamins and minerals that keep your pet active and healthy. It has the vegetarian version along with the chicken, mutton, and milk flavor. It is a baked goodie that is good for rewarding your pet.
Don’t Miss: Golden Retriever Sketch
Lets Make Training Fun
I really want to help you beat those challenges and have a lot of fun training your dog. So Ive selected some helpful Golden Retriever training tips below, that will get you off to a great start!
Ive also set up an email list to help as many people as possible with regular tips to keep you going over the next few weeks! These tips should answer many of your dog training questions.
You can get my weekly email tips by popping your email address in that box. Youll usually receive one or two emails a week. I sometimes add an extra one in, but thats the exception rather than the rule.
Theres an unsubcribe button in every email so you can turn them off when youre done!
Treat Pouches For Training
Once you find the right mix of high and low-value treats, its time to find the perfect treat pouch to carry them.
Your treat pouch should be quick to open and close and really rugged. Anything above that is just personal preference.
They come in all kinds of colors, sizes, and styles, and many have extra pockets for toys, keys, and plastic bags. Here are the best of the best.
After going through dozens of pouches in my quest for the perfect one, I began asking other trainers what they use most often. This is the pouch that came up time and time again.
Plus, youll love this:
It features a hinged closure that helps you hold the treat bag open for easy access during a training session. It has a smaller pockets inside to separate high-value treats, and comes in black, blue, and red.
It attaches to your belt or waistband with either a sturdy clip or belt loops. This is the longest-lasting treat pouch Ive used six months so far, and its still in great shape.
This treat pouch is small and unobtrusive, with a mesh pocket on the front for plastic bags. Its got a drawstring closure and a carabiner for attaching it to your belt.
Its not the easiest to open and close on the fly, but it stays on your waist really well with the supplied carabiner.
Its a great little pouch for impromptu training sessions, but it might actually be too small for the biggest of hands.
The Pet n Pet is good for all-day training sessions because it holds a lot of treats.
You May Like: Groomed Golden Retriever