Owning a golden retriever makes your house a home. Due to their people-oriented and lovable nature, Golden retrievers are the perfect breed to have at home. However, they have to learn how to stay home with you and your family members, which requires training. Adult Golden Retriever training may be a bit challenging. Here are some tips on how to train adult Golden retrievers.
- Be patient.
You just brought the dog to an entirely new and different environment. Going ahead to start its training disorients it. Giving the dog time to learn and adapt to the surroundings gives them a platform to be comfortable and free with you and other family members. The platform forms a basis for you to start training your adult Golden retriever.
- Make training sessions fun.
Always use a cheerful tone to pass commands, not being stern and harsh. Golden retrievers learn quickly through games and help maintain their attention during training. Once you lose their concentration or they don’t follow your cue, be playful and make the command simpler to understand to re-engage them.
- Make it rewarding.
As much as play, golden retrievers love food. Treats and play toys act as the perfect motivation for them to follow commands. Golden retrievers aim to please their owners, hence are pleased when you are happy with them for following an order. However, rewarding them with treats after a job well done helps motivate them to learn even more complex commands. Always find the best treats for adult Golden retrievers and ones your dog enjoys.
- Make training consistent.
Training adult Golden retrievers should be routine, a day-to-day activity without failure. Once your dog starts getting used to a training session per day, they are prepared. If you are not consistent, there is a high percentage that the next time you embark on your training, they will have forgotten the commands they were already good at. They even tend to get rebellious and run off to play. Keeping training consistent keeps them focused.
- Have a schedule.
Golden retrievers are high-energy animals, so during their training sessions, be precise. Make your instructions clear and be on time with their treats to prevent them from being rowdy. It is recommended to have a set time for your regular training. It is unnecessary to do the training at the same time, but it should be around the same time. Just like humans prepare for a test on a specific day and time, having a set time for training prepares your dog and improves his responsiveness. It is ready to get down to business.
- Match its energy.
Golden retrievers are jumpy and playful. Even after a long day at work, they will still be excited to see you and want to play. Training sessions may be equally challenging due to this nature. When you are all business about the commands, all they want is to jump around and play in the yard. Instead of warning them against play, change your technique to be playful. Engage in a tug of war or fetch with your dog. By doing so, you’ll have matched their energy.
- Train socialization.
Most dog owners fail to see the need to train their dogs to socialize with other people and dogs. Different variables can trigger adult golden retriever behavioral stages. Watching how your dog behaves around other people or pets will help you know what to train them and how. Allowing your dog to socialize will enable them to interact and learn with other dogs as you observe. Take them to the local park occasionally to let them see a different environment other than your home.
- Beware of security.
Always keep a leash or collar on your Golden retriever, especially when taking them out. Training includes letting them know what to do and what not to do. Keeping a leash on gives you control over your dog in public. They will not go jumping off or cause any accidents with people and other dogs. To allow your dog out in public without a leash, you’ll have to start with a leash until you are comfortable that it no longer needs the collar.
- Make it a family affair.
Training an adult Golden retriever should not be a one-person job, especially if you do not live alone. Allow other family members to take turns training them, but ensure their training is the same as yours to prevent confusion with commands. Letting others get involved in the activity helps your Golden retriever maintain a calm demeanor at all times. Pay close attention to your Golden retrievers’ behavior around other people, and if they seem frightened or anxious, focus on socialization training before involving others.
- Always keep training.
Training should not be confined to a short period. Training your dog should be a lifetime commitment. Every time in your dog’s life, teach it a new trick; in contrast to the saying, it is possible to teach new tricks to and older dog, and surprisingly, it can thrive in it. Continuous training maintains and renews the bond with your dog.
Conclusion.
Don’t take the training as a job; take it as lightly as possible. Make it simple and keep it short, five to seven minutes short per day. Prolonged training sessions drain their energy, and they end up losing focus. Let yourself enjoy training and be genuinely happy with your dog for even the slightest progress. Making training a fun activity for both of you increases their chances of learning and reduces your anger once they fail.
Wrap up.
- How do I train an adult Golden retriever not to bite?
Their biting on things may result from pent-up energy; make sure they get enough exercise each day or give them something that is okay for them to bite on, like toys. You can also gently put them on time out for a few seconds as punishment.
- How do I make my Golden retriever happy?
Golden retrievers are easy to please; engaging in their play makes them feel loved and happy. Rewarding them after a job well done makes them happy, or just taking time to nap and cuddle with them after a long day.