Before proceeding with your golden retriever training by asking your pet dog to obey commands, it would be better for you to get started with completing these milestones first.
The golden retriever puppy is a popular breed among dog owners because of its pleasant outward appearance, loyal reputation and playful attitude.
Also, the fact that it resembles a cute bear cub also helps the golden retriever become even more famous as compared to other dog breeds.
What makes the golden retriever different?
Actually, golden retriever training is considered convenient by a lot of pet owners since this breed is rarely complicated. Golden retrievers respond well to praise and food reward, so as long as you’re patient enough, you can overcome any challenge that you might come across while training.
What is the most important tip to consider during training?
It would do you well to remember that your golden retriever is inherently a member of a pack animal, so in order for you to be treated as the “alpha” or the leader of the pack, you should assert your dominance through training.
It is particularly important for you, the owner, to be treated as the “alpha” so that your golden retriever won’t risk exhibiting aggressive dog behavior to you.
It’s also important for your dog to acknowledge you as the dominant one so that you can properly discipline him whenever the situation calls for it.
What are the three basic milestones in golden retriever training?
Before training the golden retriever to follow basic commands, the golden retriever should first undergo these three basic milestones together with his owner to ensure that the training is following a systematic process:
#1. Socialization
You can’t just let your golden retriever roam around and expect him to socialize immediately – you need to initiate socialization as it is your responsibility to provide 
various socialization opportunities for your dog.
The ideal time to introduce a golden retriever’s socialization to people and to other people is between seven weeks to eighteen weeks.
By this time, he’s at an impressionable age where learning about new things is acceptable to him.
Some factors that you should introduce to your golden retriever during socialization are:
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Other dog breeds and other animals
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Various types of people coming from different backgrounds – elderly, adults and children should be exposed to your pet dog
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Means of transportation
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Different noises, especially loud noises
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Household appliances
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Usual neighborhood items
Acceptable means of introducing socialization during golden retriever training are:
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Stand outside the convenience or grocery store with treats and offer people to feed your puppy when they approach you
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Sign up your dog for doggie day care or for an established puppy kindergarten
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Commute with your golden retriever by riding public transportation
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Place your puppy in your car and go to the nearest gas station
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Go to your local school yard and observe various children playing with your puppy
Keep in mind that socialization is an on-going process – you’re advised to start early but that doesn’t mean that you should stop exposing him to the society altogether. Instead, you should let him get used to it.
#2. Introducing the collar to your golden retriever
This milestone is necessary in golden retriever training because subsequently, your golden retriever needs to be walked with the aid of a leash. Almost all breeds of dogs are hostile towards the dog collar because at first, they think that it can endanger them so they might respond negatively at first by growling or even biting you.
The main focus of collar introduction, therefore, is to make them feel comfortable with the collar by following the steps below:
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Make sure to have your dog’s favorite treats on hand before introducing the collar to him.
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Place the collar on the ground near your dog. Wait for him to notice it or look at it. If he starts looking at it, smile and reward him with a treat.
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Pick the collar up and show it to him at his eye’s view. Reward him with food again. Let him stare at it for a while and praise his good behavior.
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Now, place the collar on your dog’s neck but do it loosely yet so that he won’t feel any pressure. As you’re placing the collar, give him treats.
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Observe him for a while but don’t punish him when he tries to take it off. Instead, distract him with treats and play games with him while the collar’s on. Reward him again then get the collar off.
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Repeat this cycle for quite a while until you notice him not paying attention to the collar anymore.
#3. Leash walking
Your golden retriever should be given regular exercise as he’s an active dog. The best way to give this required exercise is to walk your dog using a leash.
Remember that your once cute and small puppy will grow up to be a large dog so you need a leash for this. Helpful tips to owners walking their golden retrievers on leash are the following:
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Get your golden retriever familiar with the feeling of a collar and a leash around him by attaching the leash to his collar and letting him run freely with it for a while. Let him realize that running while the leash is attached to him is something that won’t affect him negatively.
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Once he’s getting used having the collar and leash, pick up the leash and call your pet over to come to you. When he does come, praise him and reward him with his favorite treat to make him realize that he did a great job.
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Always be consistent when walking him: he should walk on your left side, close to your leg but not under your feet as this will be a problem when he gets older and bigger.
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Don’t allow him to dictate the direction by pulling you – remember that you’re supposed to be the “alpha” so you’re the one who should dictate the direction of your walk.
In a nutshell, golden retriever training basically needs consistency, persistence and patience. Keep on training your pet dog to reap the best results.
Is your puppy a golden retriever? We’d love to know!
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