Successful golden retriever training is essential not only to the owner alone but also to other people who can make use of the trained pet’s services. Yes, this kind, confident, intelligent and calm breed makes excellent guide dog for the blind, mobility assistance dog, therapy dog and search and rescue dog apart from being loving and devoted household pet. But before they’re able to do such roles fittingly, they should go through series of training so they can learn what they have to know to become effective.
The early part of dog training is to master basic commands such as the come command, also referred to as recall. Teaching the come command is one way of keeping your dog safe and protected regardless of the situation. Even if he is off leash, you know you can always call him back to your side as long as he knows how to respond to the said command.
When training your dog the recall, here are a few essential rules you have to remember:
- Ask someone to assist you with this lesson. Let your family member, friend or neighbor restrict your dog from running while you are moving away. Once you’re a short distance apart from your dog, show him his favorite treat or toy to lure him to come to you. The one restraining your pet should have let go of him by now and while your dog is running in your direction, say the command “come” in a happy way. Reward him with the treat the moment he gets to you. Repeat the method three to four times per session and gradually reduce the treats.
- One thing to remember when training recall is to never punish your pet when he comes back to you even though it’s a little delayed. Like for example if you call your dog and it takes him like forever to respond, restrain yourself from smacking him else he will think that he is being penalized for coming over to you hence will not to do it anymore.
- Incorporate the command in your daily activities, not just during golden retriever training sessions.
Although a lot of dogs can pick up a particular command easily, don’t expect that your pet can pick up the command in one day. Just make the training sessions enjoyable to prevent you from feeling disappointed.