Sadly, this is not really the dog’s fault, and it started some time ago. Some horribly misguided individual who was trying to be a good pet owner did this while the pup was still very young, and trained your dog for this very behavior. Want to know who taught your dog this behavior? Do you know who it was? It was probably you, and or, members of your family.

Now take a moment to realize that you weren’t consciously training your pet for this unwanted behavior, and you did it with the best of intentions. Who could resist that sad little face looking up at you, for a morsel of food.

No one is blaming you, but the behavior is here now, and must be dealt with. Knowing how to fix the problem is easiest when you know how it started. Your dog learned this behavior from all those times when, however well meaning you were, the little scraps of food were tossed down to a cute little pup, who stared up with sad brown eyes, and left you overpowered with guilt, as you looked at his dish of dog kibble, and your plate filled with steak and potatoes.

Those moments when your kind-hearted generosity over stepped its boundaries, and created the begging monster that we find pushing your guests chair over today, for a bite of beef tip. All of this could have been prevented, by a simple act of will power then, but now you have a problem to deal with.

So how do we stop this obnoxious beggar? The first step is doing what you should have done when your little beggar was still a pup, and quit rewarding the behavior, by not giving in, and not paying attention to it, perhaps even confining your dog to its kennel, or a separate room during meal or snack times.

This suggestion is especially useful if you have young children in the household who tend to reward the animal with the foods that they do not favor. Make sure everyone in the household knows, not to share their meals with your dog, and follows this rule no matter what the circumstance.

When your dog isn’t rewarded in the manner he is accustomed to, the real battle will begin. He will decide that he isn’t receiving enough attention and begin to whine and howl loudly in complaint of the treatment.

Do not give in or the battle is lost, and will be harder in the next round. The process will take consistent work for several weeks, and one weak moment of slipping the dog a treat just to be nice, can ruin all the prior training, so standing your ground and enforcing the rule, of not giving meal time treats to your dog, is a must.

Some useful ideas for stopping the begging are appropriate to mention here. One great one is to feed the dog at the same time the rest of the family eats, preferably in a separate room. This way your dog has its own meal, and will not feel the need to take food from others in the household. If this is not an option, perhaps give your pet a toy to play with, keeping them occupied throughout mealtime.

No matter how you choose to handle the situation, consistent and rigid training is the only effective way to correct it. Every member and guest of your household must enforce the rules, or all your work will be for nothing. However, if you follow these rules, the dog begging will stop, and you will be blessed with a healthier pet, a happier household, and pride in your well-mannered canine friend.

See How Easy Dog Training Can Be With The Right Information

Secrets from a veterinarian to keep your dog healthy

Proper puppy training of your golden retriever can be more important than you may realize. In the litigious society in which we find ourselves living today, legal actions seem to be common place.


You can be sued for millions if a cup of coffee, which common sense would tell you is very hot, does not contain a warning label to that effect prior to someone dumping it onto their lap and getting burns.

Parents are brought into court because their child kissed another child at school and someone called this sexual harassment. A would-be thief sued and won a case where he broke his arm by tipping over a soda vending machine in an attempt to steal from it.

All of these suits and more happen on what seems like a daily basis, and you just brought your own little lawsuit factory to live with you, in the form of an adorable little puppy.

It is true that this innocent looking little ball of fur can turn into a nasty, snarling, lawsuit building monster within moments. When you look at it this way, puppy training takes on a whole new urgency.

All it takes is one act of territorial aggression or even self-defense and your pet has just cost you thousands of dollars, and possibly, the animal itself. So how will dog training abet this poor outcome?

By teaching your pet, not to jump, nip, bite, threaten or behave as an aggressor, you save yourself possible legal actions and a lot of sleepless nights.

After all, who really wants to own the dog that just mauled the neighbors’ two-year-old child for pulling its tail or killed the prize-winning cat of the lady next door? So how do we stop the bad behavior?

Well, for starters, every dog should learn the “NO” command. This simple one word command is precise and definite in its meaning.

It tells the animal to stop whatever it is doing and instead give you full and complete attention. This command should be trained consistently and often.

If the animal is trying to chase a cat, loudly and clearly say “NO” and restrain the animal. If the dog is jumping up, again utter “NO” and perhaps a light tap to the nose as reinforcement of the command. This simple dog training command will stop most behaviors once it is learned.

A similar command is “Leave It” and is taught in much the same way. For pet training in this command, let the dog approach the forbidden object of its attention and then pull the leash taut and pronounce, “Leave it”.

After a few moments, the dog will give up and return to you after which it should be rewarded generously. By doing this, the dog learns that no matter what temptation is presented; your reward for leaving it will be much greater.

A third lawsuit preventing command is “Down” and is one that many dog owners have a lot of trouble with. A dog’s natural instinct is to jump up and greet someone.

While this is cute in the puppy stage a one hundred pound adult dog can knock you to the ground, and for a stranger, can be quite a frightening experience.

Your dog can be taught to stay down by starting puppy training early when they are pups to curb the jumping behavior, by ignoring or telling them”No” or “DOWN” when they jump and rewarding them when they sit calmly.

To break the habit in older dogs, you may have to resort to more strenuous enforcements such as a squirt of water when they jump up or even an electrical collar as a last resort.

Also, during the puppy training stage, they should be familiarized with people who will enter the yard on a daily basis such as the mail carrier or package delivery personnel.

They should learn that these individuals are not threats by taking the time to introduce them to your pet and perhaps even asking them to offer the pet some kind of treat.

The animal should, at all times, be taught that nipping or biting is unwanted behavior and will result in a punishment of some form, for example, a sprits of cold water followed by the “NO” command or a light but convincing tap on the nose. In worst-case scenarios, a muzzle may be in order.

With these simple puppy training suggestions, you are certain to have a safer environment for your pet and those around you as well as peace of mind that you are in control of your furry friend.

Dog training will take a little time and patience, but it is always worth the effort in the long run to have a well behaved dog. Good Luck.

Learn dog and puppy training at home

Amazing Puppy and Dog Obedience training secrets

Taking your golden retriever to the veterinarian’s office can be an adventure all on its own. There are so many sights, sounds, smells and other sensations that your canine can easily become quite excited or agitated to the point that control is difficult.


Multiply this by the ever rotating average of 10 or more pets in a busy waiting room and mass pandemonium could be the result.

Without proper training and control, a veterinarian’s waiting room might quickly become a bedlam of scales, feather and fur as the animals all compete for space and attention.

So what can you do to make the trip less stressful for your golden retriever, yourself, your vet and the staff? There are five basic points that will make any visit, less of an odyssey.

First, be certain to leash or halter train your dog if you do not plan on using a pet carrier for transport. A pet carrier is ideal for small animals as this provides them a measure of security, as they have their own personal space. It also gives them protection from larger pets, or aggressive animals that might be in the waiting room.

Otherwise a shorter leash or halter is best in the waiting room, as it provides more control for the dog owner and prevents tangling with other animals or furniture. Leashes also provide a handhold for cases where aggressive behaviors among animals might otherwise get out of control.

Secondly, consider muzzle training for your pet . Many veterinarian hospitals now request you to muzzle your pet. This is for the safety of other patients as well as the staff.

A muzzle will simply fit around your golden retrievers mouth area and prevent biting, but to a dog that is unfamiliar with the device this can be a very frightening experience. Giving your pet the opportunity to learn about this device in a non-threatening environment can make the office visit much less traumatic.

A third tip is to not forget the rewards. Unless your veterinarian has requested your dog have no food for specific purposes, such as testing, or if they do not allow food in the waiting room, feel free to bring along a treat for your pet.

This will help them to feel more at ease with the new surroundings and help to keep their focus on you rather than on getting a closer look at the iguana on a leash in the corner.

It also gives you the chance to continue the training lessons while waiting for your pet to be called back to the exam rooms. Plus, your dog will think you are really cool.

Fourth, keep track of your golden retrievers medical records. Is your pet allergic to anything? Is she up to date on her vaccination shots? How old is he? Has your pet had any surgeries, major illnesses or parasites?

These things are all important to know and could be potentially life threatening if you didn’t keep them current. Regular visits to the vet, and being current on shots is always a good idea, to keep your pet in great health.

It is also a good idea to write a list of questions you would like to ask the veterinarian before you get there, because it always seems we remember the questions we wanted to ask on the way back home.

Visiting the vet regularly will help your golden retriever to become more relaxed with the office settings and they will respond better.

For our fifth tip, let’s party. Socializing your pet to other people and animals prior to vet visits is a great idea provided they are current on their vaccinations. This allows them to learn acceptable behaviors around other animals and what the boundaries of interaction are.

Hosting a puppy party is a great way to do this. Invite several other dog owners over to visit and serve a modest picnic or potluck type meal. Encourage the dogs to play and interact together and with the other owners.

This will help them to learn what you will and will not accept and helps you to determine potential problem areas. Golden Retrievers are generally very well behaved, but they can change in a stressful situation, so it is a good idea to test the waters before going to a busy veterinarian’s office.

Following these simple tips can make vet visits less traumatic on all involved and much easier to cope with. You will thank yourself later. Your pet will thank you and so will the staff at the vet’s office.

Secrets from a veterinarian to keep your dog healthy

Learn to heal your dog naturally

The trick to housebreaking a puppy, is always applying the same system, being patient, being understanding, and sticking with it, until you achieve success. This can be a very difficult period for both you, and your puppy who is a bit confused, but trying to please.


The value of properly housebreaking a puppy is extremely important, because not getting it right at this early stage in the puppy’s life, can damage the relationship between owner and dog down the road.

Different breeds of dogs can be more difficult to housebreak than others, and some may take more time and patience to housebreak, but all dogs should be able to learn this basic skill, if you keep it simple, and stay patient.

There are two different methods for properly house training a puppy. One is to show your puppy from the start where you expect him or her to do their business, such as your back yard. The other housebreaking method would be to paper train as a beginning stage, if it is easier than taking your dog outside each time.

To housebreak a puppy using the outdoors method, the puppy must be allowed frequent access to the outdoors, and given ample time to do his business before being brought inside. When your puppy is inside he should be kept confined to a small area of the house, like the corner of the kitchen, or inside a proper dog crate.

Keeping your puppy confined during the housebreaking stage, when you are not playing with him, will make him reluctant to soil that area. It’s important to take your puppy out often at this stage so he can relieve himself. Young puppies need to eliminate often, but as control develops your trips will become less often.

If your puppy has an accident in this enclosed area, give your puppy a firm No or Bad command, and take your puppy outside, so he knows where he should have gone. This way he will start to catch on, and eventually will wait until he is outside to do his business.

Some people think crates are cruel to use during housebreaking a puppy, but I assure you they are not, when used properly. It is the best and safest way to raise your new dog. You will find that your dog will actually appreciate a quiet safe place of their own, and it keeps them from under your feet when you need a break.

Another way for house training your puppy is the paper training method. It works like this. Pick a small area in your house where you can keep your puppy confined. Cover the entire floor with several layers of newspaper. Replace any soiled paper with fresh ones as necessary.

After a day or two leave one corner of the room floor uncovered. If your puppy tries to use the uncovered area to urinate or defecate, give him a mild scolding, and place him on the paper.

As your puppy starts to get the point that using the paper is the only acceptable place, gradually start taking the paper away until there is only a couple of sheets left.

Let the puppy use only these couple of sheets for a few days, as you start to reinforce the idea that going outside is the proper place, either by taking him outside when you see him headed for the last few papers, or just start taking him outside every couple of hours to keep him from wanting to use the papers. At this point remove the remaining papers.

During this sensitive housebreaking period be alert for any indication that your puppy needs to go out, such as searching for the missing newspapers, or going to the door. If you notice any of these behaviors, take him out immediately.

One thing to remember when housebreaking a puppy. If your puppy has an accident, and you didn’t catch him in the act, don’t bother scolding him, because he will have no idea what he did wrong. Just clean it up and move on. Good luck

Note: For more information, use the search bar at the top of the site, and search Crate Training.

Make Healthy Meals And Treats Your Dog Will Love

In the dog trainer’s arsenal of tools and tactics, there are many great items that will assist in the task and make things much easier for you.


Items such as clickers, leashes for dogs of different varieties, halters, electronic collars, barking shock collars, electronic and chemical training aids, metal, nylon, or plastic dog muzzles, and treat carriers that all have their place in the dog trainers world and can prove very useful in your efforts to train your dog.

Let’s take a few minutes to explore some of the various tools, and dog training tips of the trade.

We shall begin our discussion with the clicker. This handy device is usually made up of a small plastic box with a piece of formed metal inside of it.

It emits a clicking noise by pressing down and then releasing the metal. This sound is a quick attention getter for most dogs and once they are taught to recognize the sound, they can discern it even over much background noise, and at relatively long distances.

It is used a great deal by dog trainers who focus mainly on positive reinforcements.

Next in line are a variety of leashes for dogs. These handy tools can range from a very short leash with less than eighteen inches of length to an extremely long leash of twenty feet or more, or a leash that’s a retractable type.

The shorter leashes are used for more control when working on training an animal for up close behaviors such as the Sit, Heel and Stay commands or when walking through large crowds where longer leashes could pose dangers for your dog or other people.

The longer leashes for dogs are used for behaviors that allow more freedom and come with some nice features such as the retractable leash which is essentially a long leash on a spring loaded spool that will allow the dog to explore at a distance but will coil itself back as the animal returns, thus preventing trip hazards and tangling.

In the same group as leashes, we find the halter which is essentially an extension of the collar, which forms itself around the upper torso of the dog thus allowing more control for the owner and less strain on the dogs’ neck. Halters are also made use of for working dogs such as Seeing Eye dogs and police or military animals.

After the leashes we find another control device; the electronic collar. These negative reinforcement devices come in two major categories, sonic and shock emitting.

The sonic version is the more humane of the two and emits a discomforting sound when the dog performs a certain disagreeable behavior such as traveling beyond the limits of an invisible fence perimeter or jumping onto furniture.

The second version works in the same manner, but has the added enforcement of delivering a painful electric shock.

There is also a variety of training aids, many dog trainers use, including both electronic and chemical based, for combating specific behaviors. One of the most popular electronic aids is the electronic pet shock mat, which is placed on furniture to keep your pet from jumping onto your leather couch or expensive recliners.

These devices emit a mild but persuasive electrical shock when the pet comes into contact with them. (A cautionary note: Don’t forget to remove these items before you sit down on the furniture. It might prove to be a shocking experience. )

Chemical based training aids include such products as Bitter Apple for dogs, sprays or creams, which are used to prevent chewing or self-mutilation behaviors. Other such products are administered as a dietary supplement to produce calmness in excessively overactive dogs or to stop a dog from eating feces.

Some dog trainers also use dog muzzles as a way to curb nipping behaviors. It is a good idea to give your pet at least some familiarity with this item as many veterinarian offices now use them to avoid injury to the staff during procedures such as nail clipping or shots and it can be very stressful on a pet who has never encountered the device before.

Muzzles are also useful in training dogs to stop barking and to avoid aggressive behaviors and injuries when a gathering of many animals is expected or when introducing your pet to a new animal in the household such as the family cat.

Last but not least, and certainly the most appreciated by your dog, are the special treat carriers that have become quite popular in training circles.

These dog treat carriers provide a clean way for you to carry a whole days worth of dog treats on your side without having to dirty your pockets or have your hands full constantly.

They are an excellent choice for outdoors types who take their dogs on back packing adventures or for a days hunting as they provide an ample supply of dog treats and they are relatively light and easy to carry.

This listing was composed of just a few basic tools and dog training tips of the trade. Visit your local pet store and find out more about the ever growing line of tools and pet supplies and see how they can aid you in your training ventures.

My personal opinion is that you don’t need to be using anything that shocks your dog, and especially a Golden Retriever. It’s just not necessary. My dogs are my friends, and I’m not in the habit of shocking my friends.

Dogs are smart animals, and with the proper training, and a little patience, they will catch on without being shocked. Good luck with training your dog.

Keep your Golden happy, healthy, and obedient

Learn dog and puppy training at home

Simple dog training of your golden retriever should be an enjoyable experience.They are very smart dogs, eager to learn, and to please you.


A little patience, a firm hand and voice, and simple things like teaching your new friend where to do his or her business, what not to chew on, and basically how to behave in your home are pretty easy.

The first thing I would suggest you do is purchase a crate for your new puppy. I know some people are probably cringing at the sound of the word crate, but I feel that crate training a puppy is the best way. Buy a large crate so your puppy can use it for at least 6 months.

Place the crate in a central area in the house where the puppy can see you most of the time. Put a plastic pad on the bottom with some newspaper on top of the pad. Also be sure to put water whenever the puppy is in the crate.

Now you have a safe place to put your Golden Retriever puppy when you are not spending time with him. When you need to do house work, cook dinner, or leave the house, your puppy is safe.

Cooking dinner with a puppy running around your feet, I am sure, has caused plenty of accidents. It will also keep your new friend from chewing your furniture, or your favorite shoes, or getting into something that could seriously injure him, when you are away from home.

Remember This Is Simple Dog Training

Another benefit of this method is it will make the puppy paper train much faster. It stops them from wandering around your house, doing their business wherever they feel like it. If they are in the crate they learn quickly to wait for you to take them outside.

One thing that is very important is to never use the crate as a source of punishment. Even if you are putting them in it because you are mad at something they did, or just because you have had it with them, don’t let them know that.

Take the time to divert their attention away from whatever they did bad or annoying before putting them in the crate.

When I used the crate training method for the first time on my Golden Retriever “Molly” who is three years old now, I really wasn’t too happy about it.

I have had puppies my whole life and had never used this method. My wife had gotten the idea from a friend at work, and bought the crate, and that was that.

It really bothered me to put my new puppy in that crate for the night the first couple of times, and Molly wasn’t too happy either, but after a few days everything was ok.

After a few weeks Molly started to go in the crate on her own, and continued to do that until she was almost a year old, when we finally took it away because she was way to big for it. The crate method really is simple dog training at it’s best. It’s good for your puppy, and also gives you a lot more control over the whole process.

Join A Group Dog Training Class

If you feel that trying to train your new puppy by yourself is more than you are ready for, then you probably want to seek some professional help. There are several different ways to go about this.

Group Training: This can be a good way to go. The classes are usually easy to find, and the cost should be reasonable, usually around $50 to $70 for an eight week course.

The classes usually have between ten and fifteen other puppies and owners . They also provide your puppy a good environment for socialization with other dogs as well as humans.

If possible try to find a class that is for Golden Retriever puppy training only.

During the course the trainer will likely cover the basic commands every dog should know as well as show you how to correct bad behavior like biting, excessive barking, aggressiveness, chewing things they shouldn’t, and bathroom mishaps.

There is usually a minimum age limit of 5 or 6 months before your puppy can attend, so be sure to ask.

I would also suggest that you ask for a couple of references when you call to inquire. A good trainer should have no problem giving you this information.

I have been to a few of these group training sessions with my own dog to see what’s involved, and as a tag along with friends and their dogs, and there can be a big difference between trainers.

A good place to ask where to find a group training class would be your local veterinarian.

Private Dog Training Classes

If you don’t like the idea of group dog training, then another option might be a private trainer for your new puppy. A private trainer would come right to your house, or possibly you might go to their location.

A private trainer will obviously cost more than group training, somewhere between $50 – $125 per hour, but it can have it’s advantages.

You can make appointments to fit your schedule, and your puppy gets one on one training.

Just remember that the trainer will be with your puppy for one or two hours a week. The rest is up to you.

You are the one that needs to reinforce every day to your puppy what the trainer has shown him or her in his short one hour session. Without this daily reinforcement, the puppy will soon forget what he was taught by the trainer.

You don’t want to waste your money on a private dog trainer unless you are committed to continue the training on a daily basis.

If you decide to use this method, as always get references. If they are good they will gladly provide them for you. If they hem and haw, grab you pocket book and run!

Kennel Training

If your busy schedule just doesn’t allow time for group dog training, or private training, or you just don’t have the patience for either of these, then maybe kennel training is the way to go.

Basically you drop your puppy off at a boarding facility for anywhere from one to three weeks.

Your dog will work daily with a professional trainer learning basic obedience commands. Dogs tend to learn very fast in this type of boot camp environment.

When you pick your dog up, the trainer will teach you all of the new commands that your dog learned, and the dog training tips needed, to help keep your dog well behaved.

If you are considering this method I would visit the facility. As always ask for references. Ask to take a tour of the facility. Is it clean and well kept?

Are the stalls that the dogs are kept in clean? Remember you might be leaving your best friend here so look around.

They also may require your dog to have all his shots, especially rabies, so be sure to check.

As with the other programs, your new puppy will only remember what he learned in school, if you keep reinforcing it when he gets home.

Use A Professional Dog Training Guide

Another option is to get a training guide, so you have some professional guidance while training your dog at home. They guide you through the whole process, and give you a lot of dog training tips, that really speed the process along.

I am a fan of this method more than the others. I believe a dog or puppy will do best in the long run when they learn from their master.

It is also the most convenient way of dog training in my experience, and I have tried them all. I have listed two books below that I know are good training guides.

Whichever method you choose, it’s an on going process, but one that is definitely worth the time and effort. It’s always nice to have a well behaved dog.

Learn dog and puppy training at home

Keep your Golden happy, healthy, and obedient

Dog obedience training is actually not that hard to accomplish once you get the hang of it. As long as you follow a basic set of guidelines, and stick to them, you should succeed. The following article is a list of dog training tips that should help you along.


As a new dog owner and trainer, you may find yourself a bit overwhelmed at first. Do not be discouraged by this. It is quite common and shows a healthy concern for your pets well being. This being said there are a few very simple rules to remember when training your pet.

Dog Obedience Training Requires Persistence

If you remain consistent, keep a level head and reward your dog appropriately then you have won a large part of the battle. What do these three basics entail? We will discuss that in the following few paragraphs.

Dogs are creatures of habit. Every part of their daily life revolves around an internal schedule and routine. They anticipate the return of their owners at a certain time of day and know that meal times occur regularly.

Once trained, they will even exhibit certain behaviors to mark these times of day, such as bringing their empty food dish to their master or waiting near the door for their owners return. To us humans, this may seem a dull existence but our canine companions thrive on consistent routines.

This fact is very useful to a new trainer as it can make your job much easier if you use this knowledge. Why? Because dog obedience training revolves around repetition of certain actions.

The goal behind dog obedience training is the idea that a dog will respond with a certain reaction every time a certain command is given. This means that every time you tell your pet to sit, this will be exactly what will happen.

To make use of the animal’s instinctive behavior in this regard, one must remember to be consistent with training. Go through the routines exactly the same way every time with no variation until they are well in hand.

If you tell your dog to sit, make certain your pet does so before moving on to the next point, even pushing their hindquarters down if necessary to accomplish this end. This rigid consistency will go a long way towards achieving a well-trained pet.

Keep A Cool Head With Your Pooch

Let’s now move along to the next point of keeping a level head, which is also one of the more difficult points. At the end of a long day of work, you are tired, the dog just doesn’t seem to be responding and tempers can flare quite easily.

You may decide this mut is just one of the few who can’t be trained or that you just don’t have the skills. You might be feeling completely discouraged by a seeming lack of interest on the dogs part to learn even the simplest of behaviors.

You will most likely encounter this scenario more than once in your venture at dog training. Just take a moment and consider that the lesson done for the time being and retire to some less strenuous amusement. Dogs are like children and will find the ways to irritate you for fun it seems.

Just like children, they take time and patience. Rome wasn’t built in a day and your dog won’t become a well trained champion over night either.

Now let’s move on to the third major point in being a successful trainer. The reward for doing a behavior or trick correctly. This is a very important part of the training process as it builds your relationship with your pet and shows them your appreciation for their good behaviors.

Again consistent treatment is important in training and a reward should be given every time a performance of a given command is executed properly. This is not saying to give your pet a food treat every time. While an occasional tidbit of food is a great reward, doing so consistently is not.

This would result in an unhealthy pet and be counter productive to your training efforts. Rather than doing this, offer other forms of reward such as rich verbal praise, playing with a favorite toy or petting your dog to show affection.

These rewards will enhance your relationship with your dog and make future training sessions even easier as your pet will anticipate these rewards and want to please you.

If these simple steps are kept in mind, your pets training should be an easy task with many rich rewards. Enjoy your dog and make your bond stronger while training with these three principles.

The 5 Things To Avoid During Training

In training your dog there are a few major downfalls that you are sure to encounter. Knowing them before you reach this point is very helpful to avoiding stressful situations later. The biggest mistake most people make is also the easiest for new trainers to fall victim to. This is the danger of expecting too much.

Dogs are very intelligent creatures and, by and large, very trainable. Thus when you visit the park with your untrained dog and the person next to you is playing Frisbee with their German Shepherd and the Poodle down the way is sitting patiently rather than attacking picnic goers, it is easy to think your dog should know these behaviors from birth.

We often times forget the many hours of training that have been put into these wonderful dogs. Your dog can learn these very same behaviors but it will take time for these lessons to be instilled. Do not expect your dog to learn all of these routines over night. This would merely set you up for downfall number two.

The second problem people encounter is losing their temper. This usually results in an out of breath owner who is yelling at the top of the vocal capacity, a frightened dog and possibly a visit from the local animal welfare department depending on how the individual vents their frustrations. To avoid this downfall, make a conscious effort never to yell at your pet and hitting is always wrong.

Raising your voice to your pet will do little to correct their errant behavior and can do harm to your relationship with the animal. It will result in a nervous animal that cowers from you rather than obeying your commands.

The third thing to avoid falls at the other end of the spectrum. These people let the dog become the master. This is equally detrimental to your relationship with the dog, as the animal has no control to its behaviors and can quickly become a danger to itself and others.

Show Your Dog Who’s The Boss

Dogs are pack animals and quickly decide who the leader is and who follows. If you do not take the leadership role from the beginning, you can rest assured that your pet will.

A dog without a master will run amok and will quickly get into trouble chasing cars and people, destroying property and making a nuisance of itself. This mistake is tantamount to animal abuse and is very nearly as bad as the previous one.

Fourth in line of things to avoid is the mistake of giving up. Many a dog owner has a pet that has never reached its full potential due to the owner losing interest in their dog obedience training. Dogs love to learn, especially when the owner rewards well learned behavior traits.

Many owners, lacking the time or perhaps the patience, will be quite happy to have a pet that merely answers to its name and stops barking when repeatedly shouted at.

Please do not let yourself fall into this trap. Your pet is a highly intelligent animal and is capable of learning so much more. Occasionally, dogs have even been known to develop neuroses due to boredom from not being challenged enough.

This results in an unhealthy animal that can be poorly socialized and destructive of furnishings or even its own body. Your dog can and will respond to your training efforts if given the time to do so.

A fifth point that we keep reiterating (and well we should) is people’s failure to be consistent. If you tell the dog to sit and your pet doesn’t do it, stick with it until they do.

Always use the same command words and enforce the same action each and every time. Manually enforce the command if it is necessary to get the desired reaction and reward the animal with some play time or some verbal praise for properly performing the routine.

Consistency is the major key to training your pet. Repetitive lessons taught on a regular basis with consistent rewards are necessary to the effective training of your pet.

Knowing these five downfalls ahead of time will save you many frustrations while training your pet and will result in a much a healthier and happier relationship with your pet. Hopefully these dog training tips have given you some good ideas.

Learn dog and puppy training at home

If you have just brought your new Golden Retriever puppy home, or are thinking of getting one, have you thought about the method of training you will use.


One very popular method is crate training. It involves using a crate, usually made out of wire or plastic mesh, that can be purchased at most large pet stores, to keep your puppy in when you are not spending time with him/her.

Initially people tend to think that this is cruel to the puppy, but I disagree. I think it is a great way to raise your new puppy.

Giving Your New Puppy A Rest

Having a new Golden Retriever puppy around the house is a wonderful experience for the whole family. Playing with your new puppy can be a lot of fun too. But eventually you, and even the puppy will need to take a break.

This can be a great time to put your puppy in his crate . Now your puppy is safe and you can do as you wish, without having to worry about what the puppy might be getting into. If you have children you could set a rule that when the puppy is in the crate he is to be left alone, giving the young Golden Retriever puppy his much needed rest time.

Puppies are like little children, and need to be supervised until they learn what is allowed, and what is not. Leaving a puppy loose in your home unsupervised is a bad idea, especially if you are not at home.

Keep Your Home And Puppy Safe

They will chew on anything that looks tasty to them, because it is a natural instinct, and makes their teeth and gums feel better. This includes your new shoes, furniture, electrical extension cords, carpets, and well you get the picture.

They will also try to eat anything they come across on the floor, like a pen, coins, or your slippers. Wouldn’t it be nice to leave the house and know that your puppy is safe and sound in his crate, and your house will be the same way you left it when you come home.

Crate training a puppy can also be a great way to have your puppy sleep at night, so you can get a good nights rest. It can be a place to put your puppy when company comes over, and can protect the puppy from getting stepped on by accident. It can also keep your puppy from jumping on people who may not share your love of animals.

The crate can be very helpful following surgery. If you decide to have your dog spayed or neutered, then the crate can help to keep them quiet following this surgery.

The bottom line is Golden Retrievers do not mind their crates. It actually becomes their little space to get away and rest.

I Became A Believer In Crate Training

I used this method on my present Golden Retriever Molly who is now four years old. It was my wife’s idea and I was totally against it, but she had already bought the crate, so I decided to try it.

I put a soft fluffy towel in the bottom, and a chew toy. The first couple of days when I put molly in it she would look at me and whine, but after a few days that ended.

After about three days, when I put here in the crate she would just lay down and go to sleep. But then something really strange happened.

We would leave the door to the crate open when she was not in it. After about two weeks, one night I was watching television and noticed that molly was not around. When I got up to look for her, she was in the crate.

She had gone in there on her own. That became a normal routine for her. In the evening she would go in the crate and go to sleep. She did that until she was almost one year old.

We never closed the door after she was about six months, because she was too big, and finally took the crate away at about one year.

If you think you are interested in this method, you should have the crate before you bring your new puppy home if possible, so they can get familiar with it right away.

Read My Other Article On Crate Training

Learn to crate train your dog from a professional

Crate training a puppy is really easy to do, and is truly best for you and for your puppy in my opinion. It creates a safe environment for your puppy, and protects your home from the damage that puppies can often cause.


If you would like to use the crate training method for your new puppy, then you need to purchase a suitable crate for your Golden Retriever. There are crates made of both metal and plastic. I think the metal is better and will last a lifetime, but either one will work fine.

I recommend a crate no smaller than 24”W x 26”H x 32”L for smaller Golden Retrievers, and 28-30” W x 30-32” H x 36” L for larger Golden Retrievers. If there is a choice I would buy the bigger one, because it just gives your dog more room.

When you bring your new puppy home it is best to have your crate already there and set up. Set it in an area that is central to the family, so the puppy does not feel left out when in the crate, but not in a high traffic area that is too busy.

A good spot would be close to the door leading to an outside area where your puppy will be going to relieve himself. It is best to pick good location and then try to stick with it, to avoid confusing your puppy.

The first day you bring your puppy home put a couple of small biscuits, and maybe a chew toy in the crate. Then encourage your puppy to explore his/her new crate, using the biscuits and chew toy to create interest.

Praise you puppy every time he/she goes in the crate making a big deal about it. Continue to get your puppy to go in the crate throughout the day. After he/she seems comfortable with this process, put a new toy in the crate and then close the door the next time he/she goes in.

Stay outside the crate and praise him for being good. Golden Retrievers love being praised. Put your fingers through the holes in the crate and play with your puppy while he is in there.

After a few minutes walk away and leave him by himself. He or she may whine, but that is normal. Do not let him out at this point. Eventually your puppy will settle down and rest.

After a short period of time like 15 to 20 minutes go to the crate and give your puppy a lot of praise for being so good, and them let him out of the crate.

What you are doing here is getting your puppy comfortable with being in the crate. If you continue this basic plan with your own little variations for about a week, you will find that your puppy will probably go into the crate on his own when he is tired.

Leave the door to the crate open when the puppy is not put in it by you. You will find that after a week or two they will start to go in on their own when they want to rest. This is exactly what you want to happen.

When you first start your puppy with the crate train method I would advise you only leave your puppy in the crate for about three hours at a time before taking him out to relieve him/herself and get some exercise. As your puppy gets about twelve weeks old you can stretch it to about four hours.

It is important to prevent the puppy from relieving him/herself inside the crate if at all possible. An accident or two is going to happen, but if it becomes a habit, this can send a bad message to your puppy and make them start to avoid the crate. Golden Retrievers or any dog doesn’t like to sleep where they poo and pee.

How long you decide to continue crate training your puppy is up to you, but I personally would crate train until your pet is about nine months. When your puppy is about six to seven months old you should begin to give him/her a little more freedom around the house.

Between six and nine months you should be able to eliminate the crate, but don’t be in too much of a rush, because bad habits can resurface quickly.

The ultimate test is leaving your puppy out of the crate when no one is home. The first time you do this make sure it is only for fifteen or twenty minutes. If you return to no damage or mischief then maybe the puppy has learned well.

Slowly extend the puppy’s freedom time until you are comfortable with the outcome.

I think if you try the crate training method with your puppy you will come to the same conclusion I did after trying it for the first time. It is the only way to go.

If you are thinking that you will just use a cardboard box to put your puppy in, forget about it. Puppies hate cardboard boxes, because they can’t see anything once you put them in there.

That’s why they spend the whole day and night (while you’re trying to sleep) trying to climb over the side. Have you ever heard the sound of a puppy’s claws scraping the inside of a cardboard box at three a.m.

You don’t have that problem with a crate because they can see out while they are resting.

The crate training method is the way to go, for your benefit, and it’s in your Golden Retriever puppy’s best interest, and crate training a puppy is really easier than without a crate. Once you have tried it, I am sure you will agree.

Learn to crate train your dog from a professional

Is the use of dog training collars, or shock collars, as their better known, really an effective training aid? The short answer to this question is yes. Without a doubt, these tools are effective as training aids.


They provide a quick attention getter for the dog being trained and they most assuredly provide a negative reinforcement that can teach the animal what behaviors are unwanted.

However, like all things, there is much more to consider than just the initial, obvious benefits.

In this article, we will discuss the various benefits and problems encountered by using shock collars, or electronic dog collars, as they are often called

Let’s first discuss, for a moment, how these devices work. The electrical, or shock collar, is basically a receiver that, when triggered, delivers an electrical stimulation to the neck area of a dog via two probes that are in contact with the skin.

The receiver is controlled by way of a remote transmitter that has an effective range of up to one mile for some models.

In early training, the charge is fairly low but consistent, until the animal learns that exhibiting correct behaviors can turn off the stimulation.

Once the animal has learned how the shock collar works, these devices are not used continuously but rather the opposite.

They are used only to dissuade incorrect behaviors by delivering a clear and consistent message with its electrical payload.

Now that we understand how these devices work, lets take a few moments to discuss why one might use them and whether they are effective or not.

The obvious reason for using shock collars is the ability to control the dog from long distances without having to yell or use noise-producing methods, particularly effective with animals that are used around cattle or in an environment where excess noise is not acceptable, such as hunting land.

This long distance control also has the advantage of helping you to maintain a non-threatening position with your dog by the shock collar enforcing the rules rather than you having to be physical or intimidating while correcting him.

On the other hand, relying on the long distance attention getter can also be a disadvantage. How? Because at a good distance, you run the risk of the dog being able to run out of range of the transmitter to escape the shock collars effects, and losing your animal.

Another disadvantage to these dog training collars is the prohibitive costs. With these items often falling in the $100 or higher range, they are not for everyone.

This is a point to be considered when looking at the maintenance costs and the costs of any loss from a dog that knows how to slip the shock collar or breaks it loose.

An advantage to this training system is the acceleration rate of the training for specific behaviors.

Many owners claim to cut their training time in half by the use of these dog training collars..

This little fact alone is enough to make many new trainers carefully consider using this tool.

However, there is another disadvantage. After all, the basic principle behind this device is that it will inflict at least a measure of pain upon your pet.

If you are the type of person to stay up late at night with pangs of conscience for not sharing your bologna sandwich with your hunting dog, then the shock collar may not be the best choice for you.

This device is created with the purpose of negative reinforcement in mind and it does its job very well.

It is a matter that each individual trainer must decide as to whether it is within their conscience to inflict pain upon their animal to achieve results and, if so, how much is enough before it becomes cruelty.

In the end, the answer to the original question is yes, these are effective tools, but like any tool, they have their uses and misuses.

These collar shock can be beneficial if used properly or it can ruin a good dog if used incorrectly.

When all is said and done, it is the responsibility of each owner and trainer to decide whether or not it is a tool that fits into his or her training methods and style using their research and sound judgment.

I provided this article to give you the pros and cons of using a shock collar on your dog for training, but I will tell you, I always share my sandwich with my Golden, and she loves bologna, and I personally could never shock her, but that’s me.

How to keep your Golden happy, healthy, and obedient