Golden retrievers can be trained to be wonderful pets, beautiful showdogs, and agile hunters.
Golden retrievers make wonderful pets. They are very intelligent, loyal, and typically happy-go-lucky dogs. They can also be wonderful hunters, field competitors, and show dogs. If you are searching for a golden retriever puppy, or if you have recently acquired a golden retriever, you will want to begin training your dog as soon as possible.
The direction that your training will take really depends on what you want your dog to learn. If you plan on keeping your dog as a family pet, only, then you may only want to stick to the basic commands, such as sit, stay, and heel. However, if you are interested in entering your dog in field trials, you will need to spend much more time training your dog to ready him for competitions. Also, if you plan on showing your dog, he needs to be very well-behaved and ready to perform in the ring.
Keep in mind as your train your golden retriever that while he is very smart, he may also show a stubborn streak or two. As you train your dog, you need to work on developing a good relationship between the two of you. While many people make the mistake of using punishment as part of their dog training sessions, you can typically find greater success by using positive reinforcement and rewarding good behaviors. It is very important that you are consistent and regular in your training. If you find that you don't have the energy and/or the time to put into training your dog, then you may want to hire a certified dog trainer or enroll your dog in a training school.
Obviously, the first thing that your dog should learn is his name. Before you issue each command, you should get your dog's attention by firmly saying his name. He should not realize that he has any other option but to listen to you. You are his commander, and there should not be any room for a power struggle between the two of you.
Once he understands his name, you can begin with the most elementary but very important command of sit. You will need to get his attention, then firmly say the word "sit" as you press down on his hind quarters. You'll need to do this repeatedly until he has mastered that command. Once he has learned how to sit, you can move on to stay. Give your dog the order to sit, and then hold up your hand, palm facing forward, and say "stay". If he begins to rise, tell him to sit and stay again. You will need to do this repeatedly and for several days, also.
In order to teach your dog to heel, you will need to use a leash. Keep him close to your right or left side, and remain consistent as to which side you prefer during this training procedure. As you walk, gently tug on his shortened leash and give him the order to heel repeatedly. If his attention wanders, and/or he begins to pull away, you need to firmly say his name, pull him close to your leg, and say "heel". Eventually, he will come to understand what you expect of him, and he will obey even if you don't have a leash attached to his collar.
These commands are very important when it comes to showing your dog in the ring. There will be many distractions, particularly from other dogs, and it is important that you can command the attention of your dog by uttering just a few words.
If you want to train your dog to retrieve, you will need to begin with simple fetching instructions. You will need to get your dog's attention, then throw the object a few yards away and encourage him to retrieve it back to you. Once he can do this to your satisfaction, you can begin more complicated training. If you want your dog to retrieve in a straight line, you can place several fake birds in a row, and motion for him to retrieve these one after the other. It is important that you spend many days practicing this drill, but you don't want to spend extraordinarily long periods of time at each session because you will eventually lose your dog's attention.
Once your dog has mastered retrieving several objects on land, you can move forward and have him begin retrieving in the water. Eventually, your golden retriever should be able to retrieve an object even if he doesn't know exactly where it is by following the direction of your point. Keep in mind that training your dog will take time and patience, but with consistency and firmness, it can be done.
