Training a dog such as a Golden Retriever may be easier than you think. Of course, training a brand new puppy is lots of fun, and lots of work. I have trained a few dogs from puppy hood, and I have found methods that work and methods that don’t over the years.
I especially like Golden’s because when they get beyond a few weeks old, they develop an attitude that is really easy to work with. We just got our third Golden, and we are experiencing the total joy of having one as part of our family. You do have to be careful.
New puppies love to get into things
You have to be especially careful with electric cords and sockets. In this day of ubiquitous electronics, there are cords and chargers all over the place. Put em up and watch your puppy closely. It’s amazing how quickly they can move from a nap into the garden to attack a pepper plant.
Training methods have changed a great deal in the last 20 or so years, and there are many ways to achieve good results. Just be sure that you take the time to enjoy your puppy. He won’t be a puppy long.
This book increased my enjoyment levels do much, I can’t even express it.
How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond
The time with our Golden Retriever Nola is so precious
I enjoy my Nola so much. She’s a Golden Retriever puppy we got at 8 weeks old. She’s going on four months now and while she still has a ways to go, but I am so enjoying it as I watch her become a thriving member of our family.
I took Nola for a walk today after my wife and I took a half hour drive to get her used to being alone. One of us had always been with her since we got her and we’re leaving her alone now every day for just a little bit longer. I thought saving our walk until after would give her something to look forward to and lessen the separation anxiety. I’m not sure if pups think that far ahead, but it can’t hurt.
We totally enjoy our walks with Nola
I took some pics today while we were taking a walk. The first one is Nola walking on the bike path near the Blanchard river in Findlay, Ohio. It’s important to take your dog for a walk every day. There are some specific ways to get you dog to walk on a leash without pulling and going every direction. It’s not difficult, but if you handle your walk correctly, your dog will learn much more quickly. Don’t forget to walk her EVERY day for at least 20 minutes.
We walked down a path in the woods for a bit. At least until we ran into what looked like a storm sewer that dead-ended into the path. That forced us to turn around. By the time we got back to the bike path Nola was getting tired, so we headed home.
The last picture you see was Nola after we took a shower. I saw some Poison ivy on the path and though I was pretty sure I didn’t get into it, I was just as sure that Nola did. I really wasn’t into petting Nola and getting a dose of Poison Ivy. Hence the bath.
A new puppy is sure a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun too. Unlike a cat, dogs do require some attention, and they will tell you if they are not getting enough. Some of the ways they express their dissatisfaction are quite pointed.
Nola is a very talkative pup, unlike our last Golden who hardly said anything verbally. Nola will yip and whine when I or my wife leave the house, and we’re very careful to not make a big deal of it. At her age it’s fine, but I sure don’t want her doing that when she’s 5 or 6.
An inexpensive book on training is a great investment
She gets better every day and I have to say that some of the reason is due to an inexpensive book I bought by Cesar Milan, know as the “dog whisperer”. I picked up a multitude of tricks in his book, and I’m sure it’s helped us with Nola’s training, even though I’ve trained 6 other dogs in my day. I’m glad I bought it.
There were some things in there that I didn’t know, but more often,. it reminded me of techniques I’ve used before and forgotten.If you’ve ever seen Cesar’s TV show, you know that he knows what he’s talking about.
For just a couple of bucks and a few pleasant hours with a good read, you can make your like with your pooch much easier. I know I have.
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