Golden Retriever Training

Once you have got your golden retriever, it is important to house break him. He should be trained and mannered properly, so that he easily fits into your home.

To begin with, when you are house breaking your golden retriever, you should allow him restricted freedom. He will have to work really hard to get used to you, your family and your surroundings. It would be appropriate not to encourage any bad habits.

Do remember that once pets get used to bad habits, it becomes really difficult to alter them. If you begin to apply rules when your golden retriever is young, he will easily fit into the routine and the rules that you would like him to follow.

Secondly, confine him/her. Ideally, he should not be allowed free movement around the house or the yard. If he steps out of the house or the crate, keep a close watch on him and his actions.

Chances are that he would inculcate bad habits if you do not manage to keep a watchful eye on him. For example, if he has once relieved himself on the floor or elsewhere inside the house, he would stick to the same area.

Dogs usually use their sense of smell, and keep relieving themselves in the same area. If you do not correct it initially, it will become tougher at a later stage.

You also need to ensure that your golden retriever is following routine regarding the crate. It is better if he is not allowed to spend time outside his crate. This is one of the most important rules of housebreaking your golden retriever.

The golden retriever is unfamiliar with the surroundings and you need to keep strict vigil. This is to ensure that he does not meet with accidents or other unpleasant happenings.

It is also important to train the right way to relieve himself when you are house breaking him. Be encouraging and commend him when he relieves himself at the right place. An option is to crate him at night and lead him to the right spot the next morning.

Many a times, you may need to have a litter box inside the house, if the puppy is not able to get out and relieve himself. It is of course not a nice idea to keep your golden retriever restricted to the house all the time. Allow him watchful and limited access to the outside, maybe the backyard, during the initial days.

A doggy door may be an option here, and he/she can enter and exit without disturbing you and your family.
If you have decided to get him home, house breaking may take some time. But rest assured that the time taken is worth it. In course of time, a well-trained pet will be a pleasant addition to you and your family.

It has long been known that some crossbreeds seem to do better than their parents of either breed. It’s a question of finding which breeds cross best with other breeds. Some of these crossbreeds even go on to become established breeds in their own right. One of the mist successful crossbreeds in dogs is seen in the Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy, also known as Golden Labrador Retrievers. Even at an early age, they readily show the best of both the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever.

The Perfect Personality?

Both Labrador and Golden Retrievers are dogs that love people and are eager to please. Keep in mind that not every one is alike, and bad training will always make a bad, fearful dog (no matter what breed), but on the whole, a Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy is a born people watcher. They are fascinated by people and seem to identify with them. They also have a lot of strength and energy, which comes in handy for service and search and rescue dogs.

Best Seeing Eye Dogs

According to service dog experts and charities that train seeing eye dogs in England, the best dog for the job is a Labrador/Golden retriever crossbred. There is a strict breeding program run in England by Guide Dogs to raise dogs to be seeing eye dogs. A Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy is first tested at about eight weeks of age to see what his personality is like.

Their training never really stops. Many a Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy fails the program and is put up for adoption as a pet. To take a Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy and turn out a dependable life-saver costs an average of $70,000 (US). They work until old age or illness forces them to retire, and then they are placed in care homes for the rest of their lives.

Other Facts

Although many online Labrador puppies information web sites will say that a Golden Labrador is always yellow, this is not true. Every now and then there is a black or chocolate Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy born. You can register your Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy with the American Canine Hybrid Club.

Every day, ther is a newborn Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy who makes that first step to being a drug sniffing dog, cancer sniffing dog, service dog or a search and rescue dog. They all can rescue us from ourselves and our selfishness and help give our souls back to ourselves.

Many people usually have misconceptions when crates come to mind. They do not use crates because they think that it is a way of punishing a dog. But such is not the case. Contrary to common misconception, crates are actually one of the safest places for your dog, particularly a Golden Retriever. Crates have been found to have many uses. You can put your dog inside the crate when you are away from home or when you have guests in your house and stay worry-free. It can also be used when your dog is sick. Crates gratify a Golden’s natural instincts to position himself within a den.

Upon getting Golden Retriever puppy and bringing him to his new home, try getting a crate and have it set up right where you want it. It is recommended that you position your crate in an area where there is not much traffic, like a kitchen close to the door. In that way, your Golden can easily get out of the crate and potty outside.

Leave it open and train your dog to go inside whenever he is tired and sleepy. Golden Retrievers may tend to have a liking for crates especially if you crate train them but you should not overdo it by letting him stay there for so long. Also, do not let your Golden out of the crate if it is barking. Once your dog has become used to the crate, you can freely leave him to go in and out of it whenever he likes and you may not have to worry about your dog anymore whenever you are away from home.

Show your dog where the crate is located repeatedly for a couple of times and then let him search for the crate. Leave the crate open and your Golden Retriever puppy should start to go in and out of it. You may also want to put a toy inside the crate to keep him from boredom once he is inside. If your dog follows your crate training commands well, give him a food treat or praise as a sign of recognition. Your Golden Retriever will learn to stay in the crate by himself in no time.

It is also important that you put a toy for your Golden to play with once it has become familiar with the crate. Then, you can shut the crate door and see how it will respond. Do not take him out of the crate immediately if it starts to whine. Instead, try to calm him by saying relieving words or putting your fingers through the crate’s opening. Be patient and your dog should settle down by then.

Crate training your Golden may take you some time before you can actually see results. But if you have the patience and perseverance to achieve positive ends to your efforts, then your Golden puppy will be able to catch up well on crate training.

Originally bred to hunt in 1800s England, the golden retriever has retained much of its natural curiosity and hunting behaviors. The breed has maintained its standing in the top ten most popular dog breeds in the US partly because of the dog’s gentle nature, fierce loyalty and friendly personality. They’re the quintessential family pet due to their patience with children.

The female golden weighs approximately 55-65 pounds, and stands a couple of inches shorter than her male counterpart, who stands about 24 inches at the shoulder, and weighs in at 65-75 pounds. Females tend to have smaller, more delicately-shaped heads than males. They come in a range of colors, from deep coppery auburn to light cream. Their coats also differ in appearance. Field goldens, or hunting goldens, are more likely to be darker and sleeker than show goldens, whose honey-colored coats are thick and fluffy. Goldens have two coats: their top coats are hardy and water-repellent, while their undercoats are thick and dense. These dogs shed most of their undercoat in the spring, and grow it in preparation for the chill of winter. Regular grooming can help control excessive shedding. Their ears are soft and floppy, but they perk up at the sound of, well, almost anything. Their eyes are brown and very expressive.

Their bodies are very well-engineered to excel at agility contests. Thanks to their hunting background, they’re strong and muscled, yet quick and agile. Don’t let their gentle nature fool you. They are also incredibly strong dogs. Seventy pounds of golden on the end of a leash can take down even the strongest person if he’s not prepared.

They need plenty of regular exercise. If it were up to them, they’d walk for hours. Daily walks, romps in the yard and trips to the dog park can help it work off some of that golden energy, which is never in short supply. They rarely get tired of playing fetch. They excel at finding objects hidden in the yard. They also love to swim, and will retrieve from water all day if you let them.

From a temperament standpoint, goldens are extremely agreeable. They’re neither very shy nor extremely aggressive. This tolerant nature makes them a good choice for any home, including those with children. They’re loyal and loving, as well as outgoing and friendly. They thrive on human interaction, and are happiest when they’re around people. They never get tired of belly rubs and head pats. In fact, if the petting stops, many of them will nudge their masters, as if to say, “Don’t stop!”

Though they’re usually the center of attention, they still need training. Their exuberance can be mistaken for misbehavior, and it may be a few minutes before they calm down. Consistency and firmness are important when training a golden. They need to be taught that their master is the leader of the pack. However, they are eager to please, and can learn their role quickly with positive reinforcement tactics. No one is prouder than they when they complete a task successfully. Though they love showing off their tricks, they also love learning new ones. Teaching new tricks is a great way to combat boredom during the training session. Though they’ll fetch all day, they won’t sit still for a training class longer than they have to. The key is to make it fun and make it rewarding, all in short bursts of time throughout the day. Goldens are game players, so if you play with it in order to teach commands or tricks, your dog won’t even know the difference. It’s just happy to have your attention.

This is one reason goldens are one of the most popular breeds of therapy dogs. As much as they love to play, they also love to have a job to do. Besides being fast learners, they’re also very gentle. They can learn verbal commands or hand signals, and once they are on the job, they can be calm and focused. They also make good seeing-eye dogs for this reason.

This breed is not without its health issues. Goldens are prone to hip dysplasia and allergies. This is partly due to irresponsible breeding. Backyard breeders, eager to cash in on the popularity of the golden retriever, breed unhealthy dogs that pass on congenital diseases. Hip dysplasia occurs when the bones of the hip joint don’t develop correctly, and they rub painfully against each other. Sitting still is not something goldens are happy doing, so though these dogs may continue to move around and play, they’re in pain and should be treated.

Treatment consists of pain management, in mild cases, or in more severe cases, surgery. Though complete rehabilitation can take 12 weeks, the dog is up and moving within days. This procedure can so dramatically improve a dog’s life that it’s well worth the work to see your golden get its spark back, and run and play like the puppy that it thinks it is.

These dogs also suffer from skin ailments and allergies. The golden’s thick coat makes it hard to see small skin irritations unless they’re specifically sought out. It’s important to inspect your pet regularly for any sore areas. A vet can run tests to try to identify the source of the irritation, and prescribe treatment, which might include frequent baths with hypoallergenic shampoo, oral medication and/or allergy shots.

Even though this is one of the most popular breeds of dog, thousands of them are relinquished to shelters or rescue organizations every year. Most people would never think they’d find a purebred golden at a shelter, but it’s not uncommon. In fact, the popularity of the breed may be the very reason so many of them are found in shelters. Sometimes people don’t research the breed, and don’t know that goldens need a lot of exercise and a lot of human interaction. They’re also not prepared to train a dog. Unfortunately, when people like this get goldens, more than likely, they end up surrendering them to a shelter or a rescue organization.

Though the average life expectancy of golden retrievers is 11 years, sometimes they forget they’ve gotten older, and maintain their puppy-like playfulness throughout their lives. As they age, they may slow down a bit, so it’s important to adjust their food and treat intake accordingly. It’s nearly impossible to resist their sweet faces as they come looking for a treat, but it’s for their own good. As obesity rates in humans have skyrocketed, so they have in dogs. Thankfully, this is one disease that is completely preventable. If your dog is already obese, it’s 100% treatable. A balanced diet and plenty of exercise will get your golden into fighting shape before too long. It might also prevent the onset of canine diabetes, joint problems and other weight-related issues.

Overall, this breed has one of the most agreeable dispositions you can find in a dog. Goldens are also gorgeous, friendly, obedient, loyal and loving. The downside, which pales in comparison to their wonderful attributes, is that this is a breed that sheds, needs a lot of exercise, and needs to be around people. If your home can handle the relatively minor considerations, the benefits you’ll reap from loving a golden retriever are immeasurable.

If you are keen on keeping a pet-dog and not so much on having to house-train and look after a pup, the best choice for having a loyal four-legged companion in your home that is good-looking and obedient too, is to opt for an older Golden Retriever!

You get to minus all the commonly associated training related trials and tribulations that come with buying a pup and when you adopt an older Golden Retriever, you have the advantage of getting a furry companion that is mature and self-reliant. These dogs generally are accustomed to being on their own in the house and can fend for themselves quite all right by themselves; dog-owners who have older Golden Retrievers report this is one breed that is comfortable spending alone-time.

Not only are they adaptable by nature, but also good tempered so whatever your family size and regardless of whether there are small children in the house or elderly members residing with you, getting a Golden Retriever is a good idea as he will quickly become part of the family by himself.

Choosing an older dog is a good choice in terms of reducing stress of house-training and even judging for adaptability with the rest of the home environment and many dog-breeders are increasing offering older dogs for sale these days, too.

The reasons are many; sometimes it can be because these older dogs are essentially show dogs with reduced winning potential or those used for breeding but now retired or even guided by personal circumstances of friends or wanting to help out seniors who need friendly, easy to keep dogs etc. Whatever be the reason for greater supply of grown Golden Retrievers in the market today, the fact remains that these are available for potential dog-lovers and owners who’d prefer to have man’s best friend by his side, with minimum fuss of training!

The benefit of getting a housebroken dog with known and adjustable behavior patterns that are desired in a family pet are hard to pass up for dog-lovers who are advised to adopt an adult Golden Retriever: even if the going is tough initially, in no time, with a bit of TLC (tender, loving, care) the new four-legged friend will manage just fine in your home. All you, as the new owner of a grown Golden Retriever, need to do is give the dog loads of reassurance and company during the first few weeks of bringing him home as the dog needs to be assured of his place in the family, too.

You may need to find out as much as you can about your new pet’s temperament to judge his compatibility factor with your family members and also talk it over with the others in the house about how they’d feel about having a grown dog living with them. From points about diet, daily routine, medical history and how he sleeps, attends to toilet issues and teaching him about food habits etc, you as a new owner of an older dog need to work out training ideal for your home environment yourself after confirming the above.

Once you have all this homework covered, rest assured that picking a fuss-free, friendly and lovable Golden Retriever is a smart choice for your home environment.