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Golden Retriever Dogs Are a Fantastic Breed of Dog For a Family To Rescue

by Sarah Murphie
Animal Shelter

In case you have not spotted, dogs are not like humans. It stands to reason, then, that they learn in alternative ways. Dogs don't choose to behave according to abstract ideas like bad and good or wrong and right. Rather, they know what feels good and what feels bad. Whether its a physical or emotional sensation, dogs reply to what they feel. That means they respond to their owner's actions and behavior toward them. They learn how to do what their owners smile about, and they learn not to do what makes their owners unhappy.

Golden Retrievers are very loving, energetic dogs. They thrive on attention and affection and will work tirelessly to get those replies from you. So when your Golden Retriever does the right thing, reward him with praise, smiles, laughter, or treats. This positive reinforcement will make your Golden much more likely to do the same again in the same situation. As you could expect, you should not reward undesired behaviors or disobedience. Withdrawing your attention and praise is a useful way to discourage unpleasant behavior. In some situations, scolding your Golden with a humorless'No!' may do the trick.

Goldens are smart dogs, and they can quickly pick up on your cues and body language. When you are attempting to teach your Golden something, whether it's a new trick or discouraging a upsetting evil bad habit, you should not hesitate to speak your approval or disapproval. Disciplining your Golden Retriever five or 10 mins later won't work - your dog must associate your actions with his behaviors, and your actions must happen instantly or they are going to be wasted.

Another vital point is that you have to be patient and consistent. If your Golden is slow to pick up on a command or direction, never give up or change what you are doing. Plug along, doggedly giving the same verbal or visual cues over a period of time. For example, if you see your Golden chasing a car, stop him instantly. Be sure he understands that your discipline is directly related to the car. Even if he does not pick up your message immediately, repeat the same action every time you see him chasing an automobile. You might try an oral cue like'No Car!' to help with the repetition. Hold your ground. Golden Retrievers can be strong-minded and stubborn. Your Golden might be trying your limits. Be the pack leader and let him know you will not back down.

Praise also should be immediate and at once related to the behavior. If you wait until your Golden stops the behaviour to offer praise, he is going to have no concept the behaviour was wanted. He may even assume the praise is for stopping the behavior!

For the most part, Golden Retrievers are straightforward to train. They need your affection and love, and they are willing to please their owner. If you have difficulty training your Golden, it might be because he's not getting plenty of exercise or attention generally. This could lead to rowdiness or overly shy behavior. Due to the over-breeding which has resulted from their acclaim, modern Goldens might have some behavior Problems that were rare in the past. Your Golden may also have some health Problems that might influence his behavior.

If your Golden Retriever is not responding as you want to you, you might consider joining an organized class or taking him to a professional dog trainer. But before you do that, you must take him for a visit with the vet. Many behaviour Problems stem from pain or illness. Be cautious to disqualify a physical condition that would be easily treated before you look to coaching as the answer.




Article submitted Tuesday, November 17, 2009 & read 56 times.

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