Thursday, March 13, 2014

Where To Start With Training Golden Retriever Puppies

By Jaclyn Hurley


If there is popular breed of dogs, it is golden retrievers. One reason is the social and outgoing manner of these dogs and the way they appreciate the company of humans. They also take instructions very well. It is however important that training golden retriever puppies start as soon as they are brought home.

It is possible to train these puppies without the assistance of a professional trainer. Starting with training right from when the puppies get home is best. This way they can get used to their new surroundings while adapting good habits. It is harder to break undesirable habits later. Puppies that are at least 8 weeks can be trained.

Owing to their friendly nature, golden retrievers respond to affectionate training. Speaking positive words to them and petting them communicates that they have done something good and they will repeat the action to get the attention again. Food treats also work well but these should be used minimally. For one, this breed gains weight quite fast. Also, dogs should not believe that getting fed depends on their behavior.

These breed of puppies are very fast learners and they can grasp more than one thing at a time. One approach that works is to deal with the habits that the puppy comes with. Most of them will bite, chew on things and jump all over the place. The puppies have to know they cannot randomly bite and chew on everything on site.

Stop such undesirable habits using words such as no, stop and off to make them get off the furniture. Use a tone that is sharp and firm so that they can make out the difference from the voice you use to praise them for good behavior. Be consistent with the words you use and how you say them and the puppy will soon learn right and wrong. Other members of the household should also be consistent.

Early training should also consist of teaching your dog to sit. Where to go should also be instilled. There should be no accidents on the carpet or in the house after a few weeks of consistent training. You may not be able to tell when something is about to happen but as soon as it starts to, direct the puppy outside and they will soon learn to head outside when they need to do the deed.

Grooming is another thing puppies should be made accustomed to early on. As you groom them, you will be able to inspect them for any pests such as ticks and infections and illnesses. Any such problem can be nipped in the bud before it becomes very serious.

A lot of dog owners fail to set aside the time it takes to properly train a golden retriever puppy. They then end up with an adult dog that is a problem rather than a joy. Start with simple lessons and then go on to more advanced ones. Getting a head start is also advisable because you will have time to bring in a professional trainer if necessary while the puppy is still young. Consistency will pay off in form of a well behaved, four-legged family member.




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