The American Kennel Club recently announced the top most popular dog breeds of 2021. Unsurprisingly, the labrador retriever and golden retriever are in the first and third spots, respectively. Other breeds on the list include the french bulldog, german shepherd, and a poodle. However, none of these breeds are as charming as the golden retriever.
The golden retriever has an affectionate demeanor, energetic personality, and silky fur, but they are also highly intelligent dogs on the planet earth. Their intelligence makes them an ideal breed to train and teach obedience. Like every dog, golden retrievers also need to be taught to adapt to a home environment.
However, your puppy won’t be willing to learn if it is not happy. It’s your responsibility as a dog parent to ensure that the puppy leads a comfortable life. From the best dog food for a golden retriever puppy, toys, and beds to enough mental stimulation, you have to provide optimal living conditions to the puppy for a happy life.
When your golden retriever is happy, you can continue training them to be on the best behavior. Here are some of the best tips and tricks to train a golden retriever puppy.
Use Positive Tone
Remember, your golden retriever puppy is just a kid, and just like any other kid, it will learn the best through games and play. It’s best advised to keep the training session fun to keep the dog motivated and engaged. Use toys and favorite treats during the training.
One of the most important things to keep in mind is to keep your tone of voice positive throughout. Some dog breeds and dogs are timid by personality, and they don’t take kindly to a stern or angry tone of voice.
It’s advised to use a happy tone when giving commands and shower praises when the dog follows the command correctly. Use short and snappy phrases combined with enthusiasm to drive home the point that the right action makes you happy. Like, try saying Yes! Happily and with enthusiasm after every positive action, and your dog will associate that phrase with your happiness.
Have Patience
Most dog owners make the common mistake of not giving enough time to their puppy to respond to a particular command. Bear in mind that a golden retriever is a smart animal who likes to impress its owner. If they fail in following through with a command at first, it’s because it is new to them.
Therefore, when you ask a puppy to complete an action, give them enough time to get it right, like lying or sitting. Stay still, and the dog will go through different behavior to find the right one; once they do, hit them with a happy and enthused Yes! They will then know what’s expected of them.
Pro tip: Don’t repeat a command over and over again. Say your command once, and then watch your dog test out various options.
Use Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement training is one of the most effective ways to train even the most stubborn dog. You must have seen military and police search dogs that are highly trained and accurate in finding illegal contraband. They are usually not looking for contraband at all. They are mostly looking for the tennis ball or a treat that appears after they have made a discovery or did their job well.
Remember that every dog is reward-driven by nature. That’s why they learn the commands best when they know that their favorite toy or treat is waiting for them at the end of the task if they do it correctly. It’s advised to experiment with several treats or toy options before discovering what excites your golden retriever puppy the most. Use this finding to reinforce positive behavior, and your dog will learn in no time.
Train a Little But Frequently
Frequency is the key to successful training. Just like in humans, practice makes perfect for your canine friend as well. It’s recommended to incorporate small doses of training more frequently during the day to speed up the training. Use moments like mealtime to practice ‘stay’, walk time to train heel command, and so on. Every activity that you do with your dog could be a learning opportunity.
A golden retriever is one of the most popular pets for a reason. They are a loyal, loving, and affectionate companion for the whole family. The above-mentioned tips will help you groom your puppy into a well-behaved dog. Moreover, training with your dog will help you form a strong bond with the newest member of your family.