Golden Retriever Training and Exercising Guide

Golden Retrivers require a lot of exercise to stay happy and healthy. These dogs were developed to fetch game, so they can run throughout most of the day, even as they mature.

When Golden Retrievers are puppies, around 8 to 10 weeks of age, they should start training and exercising regularly. You will probably want to do a lot of exercise with them to help them get rid of all that excess energy. At first, the activity should be no more than what the puppy wants to do spontaneously. They will keep themselves busy by exploring, wrestling around and running from place to place. You should try to have them follow you in a certain direction, though, to get them used to following commands.

As your pet grows older, you need to take him on longer walks, up to a half a mile. When they are roughly 6 months old, you can start walking them for 30 minutes, so long as water is nearby for their thirsty consumption.

When they are four to six months old, you can easily start to teach them the basic commands, such as “sit” and “come.” There should always be time for spontaneous play time as well. .Golden Retrievers can be great show dogs, but they love to play and can easily get distracted. Not all Goldens will enjoy structured training and might quickly bounce off to check out something else more exciting. You should always give them time to run around, explore and chase after their favorite ball

By the time the Golden Retriever is six months old, they will be able to handle more complicated commands. When the Golden Retriever is being groomed to be a guide or rescue dog, they will start to need more complicated skills. These intelligent dogs will tackle obstacle courses and complex routines provided they have a good trainer.

Socialization can be important when the Golden Retriever is young as well. Golden Retrievers will typically always get along with other strangers and animals, but it can be good to introduce them young so they are not at all wary. Golden Retrievers can be territorial towards those they don’t know. When they are socialized and safely interact with other dogs, they learn what appropriate behavior is.

You should always check your Golden Retriever for Hip Dysplasia. If you have not, you should immediately discontinue exercise if you see any sign of hindquarter weakness. The dog will need to be examined and the vet will need to take an x-ray to determine if the dog has bone or joint problems. If the Golden Retriever has this problem, they can still lead a very happy life, but they will have restricted exercise and additional supplements. Special treatment will be needed for your animal.

Specialized training will take time with your Golden Retriever. You should give your animal at least one hour a day for specialized tasks. Simple commands will be accomplished quickly, but more complicated things will take weeks, months or even years to become completely perfect. Guide dogs and other intense training can take more than two years’ time.

Golden Retrievers, however, have a high sense of wanting to please their owners and are very intelligent. They will catch on quickly and execute their commands precisely. They just need a good trainer and someone with a lot of patience.

         

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