Golden Retrievers are one of the best loved dog breeds. They are playful and loving, their favorite form of showing affection is jumping on you and greeting you face to face, it can be cute - for a puppy. Fully grown, a golden retriever can weigh up to 70-80 pounds, that’s not cute at all. It can be frustrating and sometimes painful when they jump on you or much worse an unsuspecting visitor. Golden Retriever training is not an easy task, but it can be a rewarding one if done properly. It requires you to invest time and patience. There are a lot of options that you can consider, from DIY instructional materials to enrolling in dog training centers. There are simple dog training techniques that you can use; the key is being consistent in correcting behavior and showering him with praise when he shows a good behavior. Everybody loves a good praise, from time to time.

First, if your dog jumps on you, do not push him away. He can easily mistake this for playing and will do it over again.

Try gently raising your knee when he jumps, this should make him back down. Take care not to hit your dog. Use the “Off” command as you do this and keep it consistent so that he will remember not to do it. Later on you can try simply giving the “Off” command, and he will associate it with not jumping on you. Reward him with a treat for good behavior from time to time.

You can also use the “sit” command while touching your hand to your shoulder. This causes the dog to sit down.

Another dog training technique is to ignore your pet when he jumps. Jumping is his way of greeting you when you get home; try ignoring him for 15 minutes. It can be difficult with your fur child’s hard to resist charms but it associates jumping with a lack of attention and will eventually stop the jumping. Your dog loves being noticed by you and will not want it any other way. When he gets down, give him a reward like praise, ear rubs or treat.

If ignoring him becomes difficult, then meet him on his level. Golden retrievers love face to face interaction; stoop down to meet him so that he will not have to jump up. When ever you want to cuddle or pet him, do this stooping or sitting down. This removes the need for jumping. When he calms down, praise him for good behavior but do not over do it, or it can excite him again.

You can move on to more complex Golden Retriever training technique if this doesn’t work.

When he jumps, tap your golden’s snout gently and combine this with a raised knee and “Off” command until he gets down. It can be a balancing act but done consistently should correct the behavior. Some have tried squirting their pets’ snout with a toy gun filled with water or tiny pebbles to startle their pets. This would mean that you would have to carry a squirt gun on you everywhere you go with your dog, at least for the dog training period.

There are other techniques like the clicker method used by dog trainers. The best way to help your dog succeed in dog training is to keep it consistent and letting everyone in the family participate. It is important to acknowledge that Golden Retriever training is not an overnight affair but a process that requires your dedication and love for your pet.

Golden Retrievers can make wonderful pets, having been bred for their gentle, friendly temperaments. However, some breeders are willing to breed dogs with behavioral problems, and members of the breed can have health problems. How to find a breeder who is trying to improve the breed rather than breeding purely to make money?

Serious hobby breeders, those interested in improving the breed, frequently belong to clubs of those concerned with responsible breeding, so ask what memberships breeders have. Good breeders usually show their dogs to help maintain high standards of the breed. A responsible breeder will not simply sell you a dog and say good-bye, but will discuss with you your knowledge of how to raise a puppy and be sure that you and the Golden Retriever are a good match. Good breeders have their puppies dewormed and give them their first shots, or immunizations, before selling them. They are also willing to spend some time instructing you on feeding, training, and veterinary care.

One way to predict what your puppy will be like when it is an adult is to study the parents. Responsible breeders will have the parent dogs on the premises, ready to meet potential buyers. Golden Retrievers are active dogs, but the dog should be able to settle down to go indoors or to be petted. If it is hyperactive, the chances are its puppies will be too. Aggression can be another behavioral problem. Ask to see the breeder’s dogs interact with each other and with humans. A dog should be able to tolerate having its food bowl moved without biting the person, and should not fight with other dogs. A mother dog who is protective of her puppies is likely to have puppies who grow up to be fear biters. Watch for unwarranted timidity or nervousness, since they can predict behavioral problems in the puppies.

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is concerned with inherited defects in many breeds, including golden retrievers. Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism and heart disease are common problems among Golden Retrievers and cooperating certified veterinarians help OFA to maintain records of dogs and the state of their bones, joints, thyroid glands and hearts. Before going to see puppies, ask the breeder for copies of OFA reports or look them up at www.offa.org. It can take up to two years for hip or elbow dysplasia to be diagnosed, so Golden Retrievers should not be bred before they have their full growth at age two. This is also a bad practice for female dogs.

The Canine Eye Registration Foundation maintains records of dogs certified free of eye diseases. Common eye problems in golden retrievers include bilateral juvenile onset cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy and eyelid and eyelash problems. Ask for a CERF certification or check at www.vmdb.com.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) began the Breeder Referral Program in 1992. The purpose of the program is to put potential buyers in touch with responsible breeders. The program includes a network of AKC-educated clubs for owners of purebred dogs concerned with responsible breeding. The clubs keep tabs on local breeders and their dogs and refer callers to those they consider responsible. The AKC can be found at www.akc.org. The parent club for golden retriever clubs is listed at the AKC website as the Golden Retriever Club of America, and its website can be found at www.grca.org, Choose your breeder and puppy carefully so that you and your new companion will have many happy years together.

Golden Retriever owners would be delighted to know that dogs of this breed practically live to please. As part of their general disposition, they are calm, obedient, and very eager to make their masters happy. In addition to this, Golden Retrievers are what some would consider eager problem solvers. The minute you attempt to teach them something, they will be more than eager to learn that trick or behavior you want it to acquire. This being said, Golden Retriever training should essentially be a breeze. In fact, there are quite a number things you can do to make the dog training process fun and easy for both you and your dog.

Golden retriever training is most effective once conducted at an early age. Retriever pups are often ready to learn at the get go, all you have to do is have patience with your method and be supportive of positive behavior by rewarding it with praise.

Not a lot of people know that Golden Retrievers were originally bred as hunting dogs. They are happiest when they are out in the open where they can run, swim, and retrieve for their owner. To help your dog master obedience training, you can choose a setting that would be enjoyable for you and your dog.

Examples of good settings for Golden Retriever training are large open area spaces like parks. You can train your Golden Retriever to fetch and even play Frisbee with you in a setting like a park. Not only this, being out in the open like this as opposed to conducting your training in isolation helps your dog become more socialized.

In essence, you are hitting two birds with one stone by helping your Golden Retriever learn obedience training and you get to teach it the most important skill that dogs should have. Socialization is crucial as this is how you train your dog to remain calm in different setting where various, sights, sounds, people, and other dogs are present.

Another good thing about Golden Retriever Training is that dogs of this breed enjoy challenges and engaging in activities that put their agility skills to the test. With Golden Retrievers, it won’t be a pain to have them participate in agility competitions. As much as you are eager to have your Golden Retriever learn new tricks, they are just as eager to learn as much as they can. Golden Retriever training is truly a breeze, so go out, get the learning process going, and have fun!