How to Train a Golden Retriever Puppy

If we talk about training a golden retriever puppy, then you will achieve a positive result only when you use the reward method. This material will be able to tell you about the features of training puppies of this breed, as well as gain the necessary knowledge regarding the process itself.

When a puppy appears in a family, and especially if it is a golden retriever, the atmosphere becomes festive and touching. But remember that having a new pet puts some responsibility on you. You must learn to properly care for him and, of course, teach him to behave correctly. Therefore, training is a very important process that should begin when the dog is still at a very young age.

On the importance of positive motivation

The educational process should be based mainly on the positive emotions of the pet. Proper motivation will give the dog a desire to learn, and training will be a pleasure for all parties involved. It is important to devote enough time to the puppy so that the established contact becomes the beginning of a close friendship between dog and person.

From the first days it is important to accustom the puppy to its name. You need to pronounce it as often as possible, seeking a response from the pet. When the retriever responds well to its name, you can begin to learn commands. It’s better to start with simple “sit” or “come”, and then master the more complex “can” and “can’t”. During the training process, we must not forget that any training is associated with certain difficulties. Even if not everything works out right away, it is worth remembering that raising a golden retriever requires patience. Excessive punishment will embitter the dog and spoil its attitude towards people.

Prices

The price of the Labrador breed depends on many factors. Here are the main ones:

Color. Chocolate Labrador is quite rare; fawn and black puppies are born more often.
Parents' title. The title indicates that mom and dad meet the breed standard.
Prestige of the nursery. A puppy purchased from a well-known nursery will cost more than one purchased through an advertisement or on the market. But you will be sure that you bought a purebred Labrador.
Litter quality. All puppies in it must be healthy, vaccinated, treated for worms and parasites.
Class: pet class (pet), breed class (dog for further breeding), show class (for exhibitions). The last class is the most expensive.
Gender of the puppy. Bitches are more expensive than males, because in the future they will give the owner the opportunity to earn money by selling puppies.
Number of puppies in the litter. The fewer babies are born, the more expensive they will be - the breeder needs to recoup the costs associated with mating, pregnancy and childbirth of the bitch. In addition, owners cannot always sell puppies in a timely manner when there are a large number of them in the litter.
Current price in the consumer market. The cost of a Labrador puppy in large cities will be much higher than in the provinces.
Puppy age. A grown up Labrador can be purchased inexpensively.

How much does a Labrador cost in Russian nurseries? On average, a purebred puppy, supplied at the nursery with all the necessary documents, will cost from 30 to 60 thousand rubles. Breeding dogs (with certain defects) are sold several times cheaper and, provided that they are not bred and exhibited, documents for them are not issued. The cost of such puppies is on average about 10 thousand.

However, buying a small Labrador is the least expensive of those that will have to be incurred in the future: high-quality food, veterinarian services, toys, enclosure equipment.

Getting to know society

One of the main goals of training is to make being around people comfortable for both the dog and society. A feature of the breed is increased sociability and playfulness. Don't let your Golden Retriever rush excitedly at everyone he meets or jump on family members. It is best to do this by avoiding direct punishment, using the commands “fu” and “no”. If the dog is excited and reacts to passers-by and other animals, it is worth distracting it with a game or taking it to a calmer place.

Many people are afraid of large dogs, even if they don't seem aggressive. You should not let your golden retriever run around the street on its own. A dog trained to stay close to the owner's feet in crowded places on a short leash will save him from many unpleasant situations.

Society, in turn, should also be informed of the rules of behavior with a dog. The constant attention of strangers to a cute dog and the desire to pet him can have a bad effect on the pet’s character and make him too trusting. It is advisable that the dog receive affection only in the circle of his owners.

Origin, history, creation

There is no exact information about how Labradors originated. Most researchers believe that dogs came to England on the islands of Newfoundland, located on the east coast of Canada. It is believed that the ancestors of the breed came to Foggy Albion on fishing boats that delivered cod. But how did the Newfoundland dog, the ancestor of the Labrador, form on the island?

There is a version that they arose as a result of crossing Viking dogs that found themselves on the island in the 10th century BC, and Basque dogs that existed on the island in the 16th-17th centuries. The Europeans who discovered the island were amazed by the qualities of the dogs: how much they loved water and were ready to work effectively both on water and on land.

An interesting fact is that the development of Newfoundland dogs went in two directions:

Big dogs. They were distinguished by a large build and had long shaggy hair. The inhabitants of the island used them to transport goods, in particular firewood.
Small dogs. They had a lighter constitution and short, coarse hair. They were characterized by a love of water, agility, and activity. Dogs of this line became the ancestors of modern Labradors.

Dogs began to be imported into England in 1830. They began to be bred as an independent breed. It is believed that the Labrador dog acquired its final characteristics after crossing with a curly-haired retriever, setter, or foxhound.

In England, Labradors were recognized as an independent breed in 1904. Until this time, they were classified as retrievers. The first English breed standard was established in 1916. At first, only black dogs were accepted, but later chocolate (sand) and fawn colors became acceptable.

In Russia, the first representatives of the breed appeared only in the 1960-1970s. Today, the Labrador Retriever is one of the four most popular dogs in the world.

What tips does a puppy need to give during training?

Training a Golden Retriever is an interesting activity, but it requires complete mutual understanding between the owner and the pet. Training should be clear, accompanied by rewards and tips.

Important rule: one session - one team. Don't overload your dog with too much information. The ideal workout duration is about 15 minutes. Speak the command clearly and in monosyllables. A simple “lie down” will be learned much faster than the too polysyllabic “you need to lie down here” or “lie down, Bobik!”
Acceptance of a skill must be developed gradually. In order for the “Sit” command to be well learned, you need to start saying it when the dog is about to sit down or is already sitting. It is important to give the reward treat right away. When the retriever understands the connection between the owner’s command and the required action, you can begin to practice the skill on the street, among many distractions. Training should become a routine part of life. Repeat the learned commands on the street and at home
Training your Golden Retriever puppy becomes more effective when using sounds or clickers. A specific sound must accompany each correct execution of a command. If there is no suitable noise source, a signal word such as "good" can be used.

Common Teaching Mistakes

When practicing skills, you need to ensure that the trainer’s actions are logical and understandable to the dog. Typical mistakes when learning:

the requirement to strictly follow orders from a tired animal;
pronouncing a command (for example, “sit!”) after physical impact (if it is used), and not before it;
aggressive intonation, raised voice, impulsive gestures;
repetition of the same pose when giving commands (the initial conditions need to be changed);
practicing several skills mixed;
change in word form;
incorrect or uncertain intonation (the command should be given calmly, clearly, peremptorily, but without anger in the voice);
non-compliance with the training schedule (you need to exercise daily, preferably more than once, but in a gentle manner in order to maintain and fuel the puppy’s interest in learning);
neglect of praise and rewards (it is better to overdo it with enthusiasm for the pet’s success than to under-reward it).

Basic training method

The basis of almost every dog training method is three basic principles:

Encouragement. You need to praise and encourage your Golden Retriever not only for following commands, but also for any correct action. For example, for friendly behavior with other animals
Not an encouragement. If a dog does something wrong, it should not receive a reward. If the dog begins to react violently when he sees that the owner is about to take him out for a walk, you should not immediately give him what he wants. It’s worth stopping the training and waiting for the pet to calm down.
Subsequence. The reaction to the dog’s actions should be the same for all people close to it. If one family member does not allow the dog to sleep on the sofa, and another tries to put him next to him, it is unlikely that correct behavior will ever be learned.

Diseases

Every breed of dog has a predisposition to certain diseases. Labrador retrievers are no exception to the rule. To prevent health problems, it is necessary to carry out timely examination, vaccination and deworming.

Here are the most common diseases in Labradors:

Obesity.
Dysplasia of the hip or elbow joints.
Panosteitis.
Osteochondrosis.
Licking granuloma.
Retinal atrophy.
Cataract.
Epilepsy.

The likelihood of the occurrence and development of diseases in representatives of the Labrador Retriever breed can be reduced using gene mapping, but the risk still remains.

Puppy obedience training

Raising a Golden Retriever begins with teaching the puppy to obey its owner. This stage should take place as positively as possible and without aggression from the person. There is no need to hit the dog or shout if it does not immediately understand everything. There should be an appropriate punishment for an offense, in the form of a reprimand or a light spanking. And it should be carried out in hot pursuit, immediately after the puppy’s prank.

Obedience may result from a thirst for treats. Small treats, in the form of biscuits or special meat products, following good behavior will convince the dog of the benefits of obedience.

Important to know: History of the breed, origin of the golden retriever

Place arrangement

The puppy's place should be quite soft and spacious. An old terry beach towel is best suited for it, which can be changed or washed as needed.

It is best to place the place so that the puppy can watch you from there. Check that it is not in a draft and preferably not in a passageway, because... For the first time (1.5-2 months), the puppy needs a long sleep, so if there are children in the house, then they need to explain that it is better not to touch the puppy while sleeping.

How to train a puppy to behave well at home

The rules of behavior in the house should be clear from the first days for a dog of the Golden Retriever breed. Raising a puppy , as a rule, begins with toilet training. This issue must begin to be resolved by demonstrating the proposed toilet. After each feeding, the puppy must be carried there, and if he uses the tray for its intended purpose, he must receive a reward. It is advisable to try to pronounce the command “toilet” so that the dog has the necessary associations. There is no need to scold the baby if he did not have time to reach the tray and made a puddle in the room. A strict feeding and walking regimen will help reduce the number of incidents. You need to walk your puppy often, every few hours, except at night. An observant owner will see signs of a necessary walk - if the animal whines and is worried, then most likely it wants to go to the toilet.

Characteristics, character, description

The Labrador, whose characteristics were initially determined by its purpose, is distinguished by physical strength and endurance. Representatives of the breed were used for fishing and hunting. Fishermen made demands on their working dogs:

Undemanding in food and the ability to eat fish.
The ability to quickly find game or fish freed from nets, the ability to bring it to the owner.
Ability to withstand heavy loads.
Excellent performance in water.

Labradors, having short, non-wetting hair and a strong constitution, coped unsurpassedly with the tasks that the fishermen assigned to them. Newfoundland.

Each quality of dogs helped them in their service to the owner:

Strong bones and strong limbs made it possible to climb onto the rocky shore from the boat without harm.
Agility helped to catch the fish that slipped out and bring it to the shore.

What is the temperament of a Labrador Retriever?

The Labrador breed has a character that is a harmonious combination of friendliness, devotion and love for its owner. They are very active and love to play and run. If the owner is unable to give him that level of activity, long quality walks, then he should choose a less active dog.

Dogs are also suitable for families with small children; the main thing that is required from the owner is good upbringing. A well-mannered, adequate Labrador will not pose a danger even to children. They are kind and patient with other pets and willingly participate in family activities.

At first glance, Labradors may seem a little “foolish.” But this is a misleading impression. It develops when you see a hyperactive and spontaneous pet, which is the Labrador Retriever; its character and mental qualities do not always correspond to its appearance.

Labradors are dogs of late development, that is, up to 3 years of age, they are characterized by “puppy” behavior and excessive friendliness. Until a respectable age, the pet will joyfully wag its tail when carrying out the owner’s instructions, thereby proving its friendly attitude every time.

Labradors are bad guards and will not guard the territory. The only thing he will do is notify about the danger by barking.

Loneliness for dogs is akin to suffering. He does not like to be alone; he constantly needs communication with his owner and members of his family. There have been cases where a pet, not receiving proper attention and communication, left the owner’s house.

How to train a puppy to walk on a leash

There are several ways to accustom your dog to a leash in one month. You can alternate them, choosing the most effective one.

When the retriever pulls on the leash, you need to give the command “sit.” A steady pace next to the owner should be followed by a treat
Lure your dog as you walk by holding a treat in your hands and feeding him every couple of steps. The reward frequency should be gradually reduced, to one treat at the end.
If the retriever pulls on the leash, command “quiet” or “take your time.” If you disobey, turn around sharply and walk in the other direction, braking the dog with a leash. When the dog catches up and walks alongside, return to the previous direction and give a reward
If none of the methods worked, you can try sharply tugging on the leash with each pull. This should be done carefully, without causing injury to the pet. If the dog is walking nearby, give him a treat.

Training Techniques to Get Your Golden Retriever's Attention

Use a specific word when you are focusing on teaching your dog something, and when your dog pays attention to you, approach him and reward him with a reward along with a reinforcing word or phrase

as "a good, very good or good dog".

When a few minutes have passed, repeat the same action

, but now with a reward that you will give in your hand, and maintaining a distance of 30 cm from your pet. Show him the reward by saying a word to get his attention and the reward will go to you too. Now give him your reward for listening.

The third time you will keep a greater distance from the dog.

so that he will definitely come to you, and when you give him the reward, do not forget to congratulate him on his obedience.

With these simple steps you will get your pet's attention and can now teach them other tricks as they will know that after listening there is a reward they can get from you.

Remember that it is important that you keep one word to get their attention, and that it can be "attention" or "attentive", or any other word that you are comfortable with and that cannot be mixed up in other commands.

How to crate train

The crate is indispensable when traveling, or if it is necessary to isolate the dog and children from each other. The box should be of a comfortable size and located in a warm room. Iron rods should be covered with a soft cloth, and bedding and toys should be placed inside. The dog must itself go into the cage to the thing that interests it. For being there, reward the retriever with a treat. The main goal is for the cell to begin to associate with the treat. You can start locking the door only when the dog doesn’t mind being inside and doesn’t want to get out. Leaving a locked retriever alone should be done gradually, starting from 5 minutes.

Care and maintenance

Before purchasing a dog, you need to make sure that the Labrador feels comfortable according to its needs.

A Labrador's place is a territory where he will feel safe. This should be an area protected from drafts, away from heating devices, ideally a corner of the room.
Placing your puppy in the kitchen or bathroom would be a bad idea.
The bed should be a durable and soft mat that is easy to clean, for example, a straw or rag mattress covered with dense material. It must be wiped and cleaned daily (during the molting period - 2 times a day), and washed once a week and the floor underneath it should be washed using a disinfectant.

Many owners prefer to keep their pets outside to save themselves the hassle of walking the animal. In this case, an enclosure measuring at least 5 meters must be equipped with a roof and a wooden floor, covered with sawdust for hygiene purposes. Regardless of where the Labrador lives, outdoors or indoors, he needs attention and communication. If he sees his owner only during feeding or cleaning, he can grow up aggressive or, conversely, shy.

Basic rules for caring for a Labrador:

Periodic cleaning of feeding bowls with detergents. It is advisable if the dishes are made of stainless steel.
Combing the coat once, during the shedding period - 2-3 times a week.
Daily inspection and cleaning of ears. The hanging shape of the ears can contribute to the accumulation of dirt in them and the appearance of parasites.
Wash as needed (ideally no more than 2 times a year) with a small amount of detergent so as not to damage the unique structure of the coat.
Daily walks (at least two a day), exercise, including running and games. Do not deprive your dog of the opportunity to swim in a nearby pond - the passion for swimming is in the blood of this breed.

As for feeding, it should be taken into account that Labradors are prone to obesity, so their diet should be carefully balanced and include meat, fish (sea varieties), meat broths, vegetables, and dairy products. You should not include salty, spicy, fried foods, potatoes, pasta, milk, or tubular bones in your dog’s “menu.” Remember that the food on your table is not always suitable for your pet.

If owners prefer ready-made food, then it should be super-premium or premium class. You cannot mix natural food and prepared food! A properly selected diet is indicated by a shiny, thick coat, the absence of allergic manifestations and the pet’s good mood.

Toys

The puppy must chew - growing teeth require this, and you need to provide it with appropriate items - toys, so that it does not spoil your shoes and other household items.

These can be special rubber bones, rubber cast balls (which cannot be chewed), etc. Hollow rubber, soft toys, and plastic ones can be chewed, and the puppy can choke on pieces of them. For this reason, you should avoid letting your puppy play with regular children's toys. In the room where the puppy will be, be sure to remove all small objects and electrical wires. By gnawing on wires, he can be injured by switched on electrical appliances (TV, refrigerator, charger, etc.).

You should also not play with a rag with a puppy; he will not understand the difference between a rag and a curtain or tablecloth and will tear both. You cannot play tug of war with the puppy, because... this can ruin your bite. Under no circumstances should you let your puppy play with an old shoe or any other worn-out shoe, as the puppy will not be able to distinguish new shoes from old ones.

All chemicals should be kept out of the puppy's reach.