Health Reasons For Increased Shedding In Golden Retrievers
There are a lot of health related reasons why a Golden Retriever could be shedding more than usual. I mentioned before that pests like fleas and ticks can cause health issues that result in loss of fur, but there are many others too.
Skin conditions and allergies are just as common in dogs as they are in people. These conditions can lead to irritated skin and excess shedding.
Other causes for abnormal shedding can be more serious, such as cancer or internal issues. These are serious problems that should be addressed immediately, so do not ignore the warning signs!
It is very common for sick dogs to shed more than normal, so this could be extremely helpful in early diagnosis which could help save the life of your pup. That goes for all dogs, not just Golden Retrievers.
Difficulty Walking On Leash
Some Goldens either never really got the hang of leash training, werent ever trained, or have regressed due to poor reinforcement. Either way, its important to correct this behavior as soon as possible. While on a walk, if your pup goes wild, stop.
Wait until your pup calms down. Once they do, continue the walk. You will literally repeat this repeatedly. Granted, youll need ample amounts of time to make this successful. Try walking three times a day this way for a few weeks to see if the behavior improves.
How Long Does It Take To Potty Train A Puppy Using A Crate
QUESTION: How long does it take to potty train a puppy using a crate?
ANSWER: 4-8 weeks.
Since we crate train all of our puppies our answer to this question is the same as our original answer.
Of course our answer is not without a little insight.
I suspect new puppy owners who use a their crate properly to potty train their puppies are accident free sooner then those who do not use a crate.
Why?
The key to potty training is to prevent your puppy from having accidents in the house. The crate is a great tool to help prevent accidents in the house.
A properly crate trained puppy will not pee or poop in the crate. Therefore when you go to bed at night you should not have to worry about accidents in the house.
During the day when you need a puppy break you can crate your pup and not worry about accidents during your puppy break.
Check out our blog post about how to crate train a puppy for more information on crate training.
Recall How To Teach Our Golden Retriever Puppy To Come Back When Called
Your puppy already knows their name at this point, so this should be a walk in the park. But if it isnt, remember that its alright.
Safety first should always be words you live by when youre doing anything with your puppy but in this case, you should keep them in mind even more.
How to do it
TIPS
- You dont need to reach out or grab your puppy when they come to you just yet youre just teaching your puppy to hang out near you where all the good stuff happens like treats dropping on the floor.
- Do these exercises before meal times so your puppy is more motivated.
- Practice this 5 times a day and in 3 different places in your house and garden to get them used to coming to you in all settings.
Socialization For Your Golden Retriever
Getting your Goldie to socialize is an essential aspect of training. This generally occurs between 3 to 12 weeks old, but even senior dogs need it.
Older pets have to be introduced gradually to new environments, strangers, and pets.
Even a visit to the zoo or a farm will be an excellent experience for any dog. Then there are simple things at home that your fido has to get used to, like grooming and vacuuming, to avoid being fearful, which can lead to aggression.
Meeting Another Dog: How To Introduce Your Puppy To A New Dog
Its important to socialise puppies when theyre still young to really make sure theyre at their friendliest and kindest with other dogs as adults. In humans or dogs worlds, everybody likes a friendly guy.
A good way to do this is by organising a visit from one of your friends dogs.
PRO TIP: The other dog should be friendly with puppies, and up to date with their vaccinations!
How to do it
PRO TIP
We know that all you may want is to let loose in some off lead play. But lets not get ahead of ourselves, keep the adult dog on lead for now; there will be plenty of time to play later on. Dont worry youre not being a Debbie Downer, youre just making sure your puppy is safe, and is able to go one step at a time!
#2 Choose Your Training Method And Stick To It
There are a couple of different training methods you can go with. The most common is voice commands. With this method, you’ll need to create identifiable words or phrases that you will teach your dog to remember.
Plan these commands out and write them down. Changing commands in the middle of training will only confuse your puppy and set the process back.
Another method is to use an object that produces a sound. Whistle training and click training work on the same principles as training with voice commands. However, instead of saying commands, you use the device.
Golden Retrievers are very responsive to whistle training. Whistles produce a distinct sound that can be heard from a good distance away. Though, if you choose to use a dog whistle or clicker, you’ll need to create your sound patterns and invest in a solid device that can last for many years.
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!
What Is The History Of Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers originated in Scotland around the 1830s Lord Tweedmouth brought them into being for hunting. And although these dogs are excellent hunting dogs, their sweet and gentle attitudes make them more fit for the home.
In 1903, the UK Kennel Club registered them as flat coats, yellow-golden dogs in KC Golden Retriever history. Similarly, in 1938 the American Kennel Club registered Golden Retrievers in AKC Golden Retriever history. Today, Golden Retrievers are the fourth most popular breed in the USA.
Start Teaching Your Puppy Basic Dog Commands: Sit Stay Down Come
a) How To Teach Your Puppy To SITTraining your puppy how to sit is a very important basic dog command to learn. Using a lure method , your dog will learn the desired dog command.To teach your dog to sit, stand in front of your dog and hold a tasty treat by your dogs nose. Keeping the treat close to your dogs nose, slowly lift your hand from your dogs nose towards his/her forehead. As your dog raises his/her head to follow the treat, his/her bottom will go on the floor. As soon as your dog sits, praise and give him/her the treat. When your dog will sit easily for the lure, it is time to add the verbal cue of the sit command.
b) How To Teach Your Puppy To StayUsing the verbal cue and hand signal for the stay command, the goal is for your puppy to remain sitting.Ask your puppy to sit. Place your hand out, with your palm facing forward and in front of the dogs face while saying stay. Keep your hand out and keep saying stay while taking one or several steps back. After 3-5 seconds, go back to your puppy and then reward him/her for staying sitted. Once your puppy mastered the stay command, increase the number of steps and seconds. As soon as your puppy lie down, praise and give him/her the treat. When your puppy will lie down easily for the lure, it is time to add the verbal cue of the down command.
Repetition is key to mastering any dog command. Be consistent, patient, practice, and praise your dog for good behavior.
How To Train Your Golden Retriever Pup
The first and most important thing to note is the importance of positive reinforcementwhen it comes to training your dog. You should NEVER hit, yell at, or punish your dog.In fact, punishment may actually increase the incidence of problem behaviors in your dog.8,9,10
Keeping It Positive: Reward-Based Dog Training
Golden Retrievers learn behaviors by understanding the relationship between actions and consequences. When your Golden obeys a command or performs a desirable behavior, make sure to reward them immediately.
Dogs will do anything for a tasty treat, but food isnt the only reward you can dole out. Other kinds of positive reinforcement include:
- Pats on the head
- A walk11
Your dog will perceive almost any form of owner attention as a reward.
Make sure you keep your reward system consistent. When teaching a new behavior, it can be useful to reward your Golden every time they perform the behavior. But once theyve learned it well, you can reward them intermittently. This can actually strengthen the desired behavior. .12
The Proofing Method
If youre training your pup in a calm, quiet home environment, you might start to suspect its a little too easy. And you may be right. For dog behavior to stick, it has to be proofed.
Remember that a Golden Retriever puppy will likely have a short attention span.13 Theyre easily distracted. And a distracted dog may be a disobedient dog.
Should You Own A Golden
Golden Retrievers are wonderful, right? Well then, of course everyone should have one. Actually no they arent suitable for every family. Its important to consider some key qualities of a golden before deciding to own one. For some people, these qualities are features. For others, they are bugs. Either way, it is vital that you examine your own lifestyle, needs and wants to see if a golden is right for you. And, conversely, you need to evaluate if you can meet the needs of a golden retriever. If you can, we can attest to the fact that owning a golden is one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have! They are addicting and people seldom have just one in their lifetimes. Once you have a golden, youre usually hooked for life.
Here are a few things to consider:
Size
Goldens are medium to large sized animals. The standard size for males range from 23 24 inches at the shoulder and weigh proportionally from 65-75 pounds. Females stand around 21.5 22.5 inches and weigh 55-65 pounds. They normally possess extremely active tails making clean sweeps of coffee and end tables. Quite simply they need room. Uncluttered houses are a must!
Exercise
Velcro Dog
Leashes
You may have visions of letting your dog play fetch in an open field or running free on the beach. As a sporting dog they are easily distracted by birds, animals or moving objects; they must be kept leashed when being exercised outside of a fenced yard to keep them from running off.
Shedding
Health
Care
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.
Using The Reward System
Rewards for the good behavior of a golden retriever should include one or all of the following:
- Praise
- Playtime
- Food Rewards
Praise is always the first line of defense when training any breed of dog. By giving the dog an excited shout of what a good boy/girl while vigorously petting them, the animal will understand they did something that pleased its owner.
Scolding and shaming a golden retriever when they have an accident on the rug is not nearly as effective as offering praise as the dog will not understand.
Playtime is a wonderful reward for a golden retriever that has obeyed its owner. All dogs enjoy rough-housing or playing ball with their owners, and goldens are certainly no exception.
Playtime offers a chance for the dog to enjoy itself and bond with its owner increasing the chances they will want to please and decreasing the chance of disobedience.
Food rewards, while the first thing most dog owners think of as the best reward, truly are not the best choice. Dogs, especially larger dogs like golden retrievers, need to maintain a healthy weight and eat foods that are good for canines.
However, food rewards are used to train, and they do work well if the owner is careful as to what they feed their pets during training. It is safe to feed your pet the following as a reward:
- Cooked chicken
- Training treats from the pet store
- Baby carrots
Avoid foods high in fat, and never, ever, feed dogs chocolate as it is poisonous to them.
Are Golden Retrievers Easy To Train 7 Must Have Training Tips
Thinking about adding a puppy to the family, are you looking for the perfect dog that is also easy to train? So are golden retrievers easy to train?
The Answer is Yes. Golden Retrievers are easy to train. They are gentle, smart, and have a wonderful temperament. They are also eager to please and will likely enjoy a training session. Golden Retrievers are highly trainable dogs that are often trained as assistance and search and rescue dogs.
Lets learn a little more about training a golden retriever.
What Is The Cost Of Feeding A Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are fond of food and treats. Thus, it is difficult to estimate their exact feeding cost. Cost depends on the amount of food the Retriever consumes, and the quantity of food depends on their age, gender and size. Usually, they need two and a half cups of food twice daily, making the average feeding cost for one month to $55 each.
If you are planning to have a Golden Retriever, do you think you can bear the cost?
How To Train Golden Retrievers Puppy
- Easy Training:Â The Golden Retriever is particularly easy to train. They are very sensitive to harsh treatment, so excessive strictness is not recommended. They learn very quickly and are extremely adaptable, making them perfect for therapy or service jobs. Golden Retrievers can learn many tricks and will remember what they are taught for the rest of their lives. Obedience classes are recommended.
How To Train A Golden Retriever Puppy Not To Bite
Biting is all part of being a dog, and its completely normal for puppies to want to explore their new world with their mouths or during teething. Older dogs will refrain from biting because they have learned their bite inhibition, often referred to as soft mouth. It just means that the dog has learned to control the strength of his bite.
To train a Golden Retriever puppy not to bite, let out a loud yelp such as ouch at the precise moment he bites. This sends a message that the bite hurts. Persist by leaving your hand in his mouth to prevent chase drive until he releases. Then, give lots of praise and redirect the biting with a chew toy.
When your puppy gets the hang of repeatedly letting go, and his bite becomes softer, this is a good sign that he is beginning to learn his bite inhibition.
Helping a dog learn to curb the force of his bite is necessary to living with humans. All puppies need to master this technique that they initially began learning from their mother and siblings.
Heres an excellent short video on acquired bite inhibition. It includes information on why puppies bite, and interestingly, why we shouldnt try to stop it, and how to train puppies their bite inhibition:
Remember to have realistic expectations as it can take your puppy weeks to learn his bite inhibition.
Housebreaking Puppies All About Goldens
It does take time and the length of time needed seems to be where many families Your Golden Retriever will need to be leash trained. will unnecessarily prolong the housebreaking, or house training of puppies. As soon as you get your Golden out of her crate, snap a leash on her and take her outside to the bathroom.
Check out our simple guide on training golden retriever puppies! This training can be crate training, potty training, and other behavioral training. of the puppies: Puppies are unable to hold their urine for long due to their small bladder. However, it is not a bad idea to take your puppy out every hour to do his thing.
Learn what to do from puppyhood to your dogs adult years. Training a golden retriever requires a little bit of patience, a variety of treats their bladders too long, so you will need to be attentive until puppy gets it. This link will take you to a step-by-step guide on potty training and crate training a golden retriever puppy.
But just because we fully train every puppy to be potty trained here, that doesnt mean they will never have an accident in your home. It takes time for them to learn where to potty at your place. First and most importantly, do not trust your Golden Retriever. I had a puppy that drank and drank and drank all day long.
The Best Age To Start Potty Training
You can start potty training your pup as soon as you get them home at 8 weeks. Even though they can be a little manic at this age, there are numerous benefits to starting training early.
For a start, their habits wont be hard-wired, so you wont have to waste time untraining them.
Secondly, their brains are like sponges at this age, ready and willing to soak up any piece of information you give them.
But while early training can help minimize any messy accidents around the house, there are a few things to bear in mind
Until your pup has received its full set of vaccinations, youll need to avoid any public places frequented by other dogs or wildlife.
Youll also need to remember that your pup is exactly that a pup. And that has consequences on just how long you can expect them to hold their bladders.
At 8 weeks, most pups will struggle to get past two hours without needing a bathroom break.
At 12 weeks, that increases to around three hours. By the time theyre 16 weeks old, theyll usually be able to hold it for 4 hours.
These guidelines arent going to apply to all puppies some might show amazing bladder control at just a couple of months old; others will struggle to exercise control until theyre at least 6 months old.
But regardless of their age and regardless of how old they are when you start training them, accidents are par for the course.
Obviously, the more times you can catch one before it happens, the better just dont get discouraged if you miss a few.
Give Your Golden Retriever The Life He Deserves
As puppies, Golden Retrievers learn social skills and acceptable behavior from their mom and littermates. Thats why you should NEVER bring home a puppy thats younger than eight weeks old. This is a vital stage in their life.
You shouldnt also believe that you cant teach old dogs new tricks. They may have some behavioral problems, or some are slower when it comes to learning, but anythings possible with perseverance.
Training is a dog owners responsibility. You can expect a well-trained Golden Retriever to behave and perform in canine jobs, or help you out with your chores.
What can you say about the Golden Retrievers training needs? Do you have a well-behaved Goldie? Show us how proud you are of your fur buddy by sharing your stories and tips below.
What Makes Golden Retrievers So Easy To Train
Golden retrievers are known for their docility and intelligence. Their intelligence is the main factor in making them so easy to potty train. They can quickly understand that they are being rewarded for going potty outside.
Golden retrievers are also known for their enthusiasm and high energy levels. This can be a little less helpful when you are potty training them, but dont be discouraged. With the right training, your dog will respond quickly.
Keep in mind that your puppy needs to be a few months old before it can hold in its urine long enough to be trained.
All you need to train your dog is some treats, a bell , and a little patience.
How To Train A Golden Retriever Puppy: Growth & Training
Jul 9, 2020 Golden Retrievers are known for their calm demeanor but it takes training! Heres a timeline for every growth and training milestone for Golden puppies. They generally dont have a long, thick coat at this point but this is good practice for you Related article: Why Does My Puppy Pee in the House?
Apr 19, 2021 Puppies should be placed in their crates at night for the first year: after that period of time, accidents are extremely unlikely. Most dogs will potty
42 steps1.Focus on rewarding good behavior when you see it. There are many different methods of training dogs, but the effective ones all boil to three things 2.Use a reward your dog responds to. Whenever you are training your dog for a specific behavior, you will need to have a reward on hand. Pick something your 3.Consider clicker training. In clicker training, you use a sound to let your dog know when she has done something right. The clicker is very