The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the world. They’re both friendly and smart, making them sought-after by many families. Training your Golden Retriever should be a breeze!
The American Kennel Club states that a Golden Retriever is the fourth most easy-to-train dog breed. They’re such smarty-pants!
Here at Barks In The Park, we’ve taken a look at the traits of Golden Retrievers and why dog training with this breed is so easy. From understanding their temperament to tips on training techniques, you’ll get all the information you need to decide if a Golden Retriever is the right fit for your home.
Table of Contents
Why Golden Retrievers Are Easy To Train
Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in America, and they are also known for being easy to train.
Golden Retrievers are intelligent dogs that are eager to please their owners, which makes them ideal candidates for training.
Golden Retrievers are also very social creatures, and they thrive on human interaction. This means they’re more responsive to training because they view it as spending time with their favorite person.
What To Consider When Training A Golden Retriever
Training your Goldie can be a fairly easy process, but you need to start when they’re young.
People normally get their puppies around the age of eight weeks old. You can go straight into puppy training soon after this (just make sure all vaccinations are done).
The most important thing to remember is that Golden Retrievers are bred as working dogs, so they have a strong work ethic and an eagerness to please. This means that they are highly intelligent and very trainable. It also means that they need plenty of mental stimulation and physical activity to stay happy and healthy.
All you’ve got to do is find out if they are treat or toy driven when training them. You might have a dog that’s interested in both. This will make life very easy for you as they will be easily motivated!
Most Golden Retrievers are social dogs that love being around people and other dogs. This makes them very easy to train in basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, come, and down.
However, because they are so social, it’s important not to over-train them or put them in too many stressful situations throughout dog training.
You want your Golden Retriever to be a well-rounded dog who is happy and obedient. So, be sure to give them plenty of time to play and socialize with other dogs and people.
How long does potty training take?
On average potty training can take from two weeks up to a few months.
This will depend on how much work you put in, consistency, and how easily your dog picks up tricks.
How long does crate training take?
Crate training can take as little as one week up to a few months.
How long does “sit” take to teach?
Teaching your pooch to sit is fairly easy.
It will most likely take a few days, and this is usually the trick most dogs learn first.
Teaching the down command also usually only takes a few days, but it’s a little more challenging for some dogs. The same applies to teaching the shake command.
How long to teach your Golden not to bite?
Teaching a puppy not to bite can take around two to four months. Just remember they are puppies and most puppies nip.
This breed was bred to put things in their mouths (specifically dead birds during hunting). So, you need to have some patience.
Puppies bite so they can learn ABI. So, what’s ABI? It stands for acquired bite inhibition, and this teaches them how hard to bite in different situations. ABI teaches them how to control their bite force. It’s pretty important and could stop your dog from hurting you in playful situations.
Other dogs make the best ABI teachers.
Think of this scenario: a puppy bites another puppy too hard, so that puppy walks away and stops playing. The puppy that bites too hard will be sad that the game is over, but it will think about how it should not have bitten so hard. Lesson learned!
How can you help your puppy learn ABI? It’s as simple as inviting another dog over to play. It can take around six weeks for your Golden to learn this valuable skill.
The lesson here is that your Golden Retriever puppy needs something to bite and a furry friend to teach it the rules.
You should speak to a professional if your adult dog is biting you too hard, as adult dogs usually only bite out of fear (fear aggression is a whole other topic).
How To Train A Golden Retriever
Here are a few tips on how to train your Golden Retriever:
- Start with basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, come, and down. Golden Retrievers are quick learners, so you’ll likely see progress within a few obedience training sessions.
- Be consistent with your commands and rewards. Golden Retrievers respond well to positive reinforcement, so make sure to give them plenty of praise and treats when they do something right. Professional dog trainers will be able to help you out in the beginning.
- Keep your dog training sessions fun!
- Make sure you give them a tasty treat, or they might lose interest. Cut the treats up very small as you’ll need to reward your pooch regularly during the sessions.
- Praise your Golden, and make sure you keep saying the same things. Praising helps to build a relationship with your dog. Examples include good boy/girl, yes, and nice work. You can also pat your dog and give them a smile.
- Choose a release word such as okay, break, or free.
- Use short training sessions throughout the day. Golden Retrievers have shorter attention spans than some other breeds, so it’s important to keep your training sessions brief. Try 5-10 minutes a few times a day rather than one long session.
- Have patience! Like all dogs, Golden Retrievers need time to learn new things. Be patient with your pup, and don’t get frustrated if they make a mistake (they’ll get it eventually!)
- Get the supplies you need, which might include a crate, leash, toys, baby gates, high-quality treats, a collar, and bedding. A brush is great for grooming your dog and can also help you form a bond which is crucial for training.
Can You Train Your Golden Retriever Puppy By Yourself?
You may be asking yourself, are Golden Retrievers easy to train without a professional?
If you have experience with dog training, then training your Golden Retriever by yourself should be easy.
It’s always best to go to three or four classes to see how professional dog trainers do it, so you can copy them.
You could watch dog training videos on YouTube to get some ideas for crate training, potty training, and other good behavior techniques.
Remember to start training them from a young age (around seven or eight weeks old) and that not all dogs are motivated by food.
Work with your dog, and see what your dog responds to.
Training your Golden Retriever should be an enjoyable experience for both of you!
Are Males Or Females Easier To Train?
Some Golden Retriever owners say that females are easier to train as the females mature faster mentally.
Male Golden Retrievers tend to mature faster physically. This will not always be the case though, and it’s certainly not true of all dog breeds.
A one-year-old female Golden Retriever will act as though she is around one and a half or two years old.
A male Golden Retriever puppy will stay in the puppy phase for much longer.
To put this into perspective, you can get a female Golden Retriever puppy obedience trained by 12 weeks and a male Golden Retriever puppy trained by 14 weeks.
Are Golden Retrievers Hyper Dogs?
This dog breed has a high level of intelligence and a lot of energy to go with it. The reason for this is that they were originally bred to be working dogs. Still, not all Golden Retrievers will be like this (you’ll get the odd lazy bones).
This means they love to play, get attention and go on adventures.
If you feel your Golden Retriever puppy has a lot of energy, it is more than likely from a lack of exercise. Take them for a walk or let them play outside.
Let’s take a look at the reason Golden Retrievers can be hyper:
- They are bored
- Lack of attention
- Age
- Lack of exercise
What could you do to solve this boredom issue? Give your Golden Retriever a mental activity, let them exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes every day, buy them chew toys that are high quality, and train them. Training is hard work for your Golden Retriever, so they will be tired afterward.
Here are some ideas for mental activities:
- Puzzle toys
- Food dispensing toys
- Automated toys
- Hide-and-seek
- Invite other dogs over (yes, this is a mental activity for them- especially if they haven’t met the other dog before)
- Start training your Golden Retriever. An intelligent dog will love a challenge, and it can tire them out! Dogs can run around for hours in a single day, but concentrating hard for 10 minutes can exhaust them. They might even need a nap afterwards.
FAQs
Are Golden Retrievers easy to house train?
Males are usually better with toilet training. Female Golden Retrievers are easy when it comes to obedience training. If you are struggling with training your golden Retreiver, get help from an obedience training school.
What age are Golden Retrievers most difficult?
The most difficult ages are between eight and 18 months. Golden Retrievers usually calm down around three years old.
What do you say to praise a Golden Retriever?
A few phrases you could use to praise your Golden Retriever are: “Good girl!”, “What a good dog!”, “You’re such a good boy!”, “Well done!” and “Good job!”
What are the best command words for dogs?
There are a variety of different command words that you can use with your dog, and the best ones will depend on your individual dog and what they respond to best. Some common commands that work well for many dogs include “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “down.”
You may also want to use different words for different activities, such as “walk” or “fetch.” Experiment with different commands and word choices until you find what works best for your furry friend.
Is a boy or girl Golden Retriever better?
Female dogs are said to be easier to obedience train because they mature more quickly mentally. At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference.
When should I start teaching my Golden Retriever?
You can start at the age of eight weeks old with basic commands. This will depend on when you receive your dog, as dogs should not be separated from their mothers before eight weeks.
Conclusion
Are Golden Retrievers easy to train? Yes, they sure are!
Golden Retrievers are an excellent breed for novice and experienced dog owners alike. They have many desirable qualities, such as intelligence and loyalty, making them easy to train.
Make sure to get your Golden Retriever puppy from a reputable Golden Retriever breeder.
With patience and consistency from their owners, this intelligent dog breed can learn new behaviors quickly while also developing the skills necessary to be obedient companions.
If you’re looking for a furry family member who is eager to please, then a Golden Retriever will fit the bill! If you want to find out how to groom a Golden Retriever or any other dog-related information, check out our comprehensive guides on the Golden Retriever and other dog breeds.