When you begin golden retriever training, always take a positive approach. What do I mean? Well most dogs, especially golden retrievers, like to please their owners. So focus on the positives and reward correct behaviour.
“Positive Reinforcement”, as this process is known, is widely accepted by expert dog trainers as the most effective way to train your dog. It involves rewarding behaviour that you want to encourage and ignoring what you don’t.
This approach uses your dog’s natural intelligence to make the connection between what you are asking and you showing your pleasure when he or she responds correctly. The instructions then tend to stick more easily than when giving a command and then forcing the dog into the required action. We hate being forced to do something and dogs are no different.
A few tips in positive reinforcement with your golden retriever:
- Choose significant rewards. Your dog’s favourite food treat and enthusiastic affection are good incentives for obedient behaviour.
- Practice your timing. Marking the achievement of your desired command will quickly teach what behaviour has earned the reward that is soon to follow. Just saying “yes” in an excited way will be sufficient.
- Be consistent. Decide on the word (or two) that you are going to use for a particular command, together with an appropriate gesture, and stick to it. Even golden retrievers will take time to understand English and consistent repetition will improve the rate of learning.
Using positive reinforcement in your golden retriever training is certainly the kindest and most successful method I know. To find out more about correct and incorrect use of positive reinforcement you can try this FREE 6 day course on dog training.
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When you adopt a positive approach to training your golden retriever you will see rapid results and gain the satisfaction of an obedient dog for life!
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