Golden Arrow Kennel

In case you haven’t noticed, dogs aren’t like humans. It stands to reason, then, that they learn in different ways. Dogs don’t choose to behave according to abstract concepts like good and bad or right and wrong. Rather, they know what feels good and what feels bad. Whether its a physical or emotional sensation, dogs respond to what they feel. That means they respond to their owner’s actions and behavior toward them. They learn to do what their owners smile about, and they learn not to do what makes their owners unhappy.

Golden Retrievers are very loving, energetic dogs. They thrive on attention and affection and will work hard to get those responses from you. So when your Golden Retriever does the right thing, reward him with praise, smiles, laughter, or treats. This positive reinforcement will make your Golden more likely to do the same thing again in the same situation. As you might expect, you should not reward unwanted behaviors or disobedience. Withdrawing your attention and praise is an effective way to discourage bad behavior. In some situations, scolding your Golden with a stern “No!” may do the trick.

Goldens are smart dogs, and they will quickly pick up on your cues and body language. When you’re trying to teach your Golden something, whether it’s a new trick or discouraging a bad habit, you shouldn’t hesitate to communicate your approval or disapproval. Disciplining your Golden Retriever five or ten minutes later will not work – your dog must associate your actions with his behaviors, and your actions must occur immediately or they’ll be wasted.

Another important point is that you must be patient and consistent. If your Golden is slow to pick up on a command or direction, don’t give up or change what you’re doing. Plug along, consistently giving the same verbal or visual cues over a period of time. For example, if you see your Golden chasing a car, stop him immediately. Be sure he understands that your discipline is directly related to the car. Even when he doesn’t pick up your message right away, repeat the same action every time you see him chasing a car. You might try a verbal cue like “No Car!” to help with the repetition. Hold your ground. Golden Retrievers can be strong-minded and stubborn. Your Golden may be trying your limits. Be the pack leader and let him know you won’t back down.

Praise should also be immediate and directly related to the behavior. If you wait until your Golden stops the behavior to offer praise, he will have no idea that the behavior was wanted. He may even think the praise is for stopping the behavior!

For the most part, Golden Retrievers are easy to train. They want your love and affection, and they are willing to please their owner. If you have trouble training your Golden, it may be because he’s not getting enough exercise or attention in general. This will lead to rowdiness or overly timid behavior. Due to the over-breeding that has resulted from their popularity, modern Goldens may have some behavior problems that were rare in the past. Your Golden may also have some health problems that could influence his behavior.

If your Golden Retriever is not responding as you would like to you, you might consider joining an organized class or taking him to a professional dog trainer. But before you do that, you should take him for a visit with the vet. Many behavior problems stem from pain or illness. Be careful to rule out a physical condition that could be easily treated before you look to training as the answer.