Mastering Golden Retriever Training: Essential Tips Ins
Training Dog Tips 1: Standing Position
Golden Retrievers tend to grow into large dogs, so the best time for training is during their puppyhood. To teach the basic standing position, you must first overcome the dog's psychological barriers. Place the puppy on a low stool, and in front of it, put some treats. Let the dog go down to eat the treats on its own. This is the first step. Once the dog has mastered this action, start placing the treats directly on the stool. The dog will need to arch its body and place its front paws on the edge of the stool to reach the food. As the dog becomes more skilled, gradually increase the height of the stool until the dog's posture is perfectly upright. Then, slowly remove the stool and give commands to make the dog perform this action. With time, the dog will have learned the standing position.
Training Tip 2: Sitting Position
Training the sitting position is relatively easy since dogs are naturally prone to sitting or lying down. No additional factors are needed for this training.
You can show the dog videos of other dogs sitting, even if the dog doesn't understand the visuals, the audio in the video can naturally attract the dog's attention. Observing your own dog and demonstrating the action yourself, such as the owner sitting down when saying "sit," can also help the dog learn the command more effectively.
Training Tip 3: Down Position
Teaching the down position should only be done after the dog has mastered the standing and sitting positions. The trainer can use treats to entice the dog. Stand in front of the dog and dig a small hole in the ground, placing the treat inside. Since the hole is small, the dog will need to lie down to reach the treat.
After the dog has learned this, how can it lie down without the food as an incentive? The trainer can tailor the training to the dog's habits. If the dog is a greedy eater, more similar methods can be used. If the dog loses interest after a few attempts, the trainer can assist the dog manually.
When the dog stands straight, the trainer can say "down." If the dog doesn't understand the command, the trainer should gently pat the dog's back. The Golden Retriever will understand, but some may still not. In such cases, the trainer can gently pull the dog's front legs and lightly press the dog's spine to help it lie down horizontally.
Over time, a gentle pat on the dog's back may be enough for the dog to lie down on its own. However, it's best to achieve perfection, where simply saying "down" will result in the dog following the command without hesitation.
