Golden Retriever Training

Friendly, clever and keen to please, but rarely calm. When that shows up as jumping up, pulling on the lead or carrying everything in their mouth, here’s why it happens and how we help.

A working gundog bred to retrieve all day. Needs exercise and something to think about.

Loves people and other dogs, which is lovely until they want to greet every one of them.

Quick to learn and very food motivated, so good habits stick fast when you teach them clearly.

Jumping up, pulling, mouthing and ignoring recall around other dogs are the most common problems.

Golden Retrievers were bred in Scotland as gundogs, built to retrieve game gently and work closely with their handler. That makes them easy to love and quick to train, but it also means a busy brain and a mouth that likes to be full.

Greeting people with their whole body. We teach a calm sit for attention that sticks with visitors too.

Excitement to get somewhere. We build loose lead walking with rewards, then practise around distractions.

Grabbing hands, sleeves and anything in reach. We give that retrieving instinct a proper job.

Selective hearing near other dogs or water. We build recall that works when it matters.

Struggling to settle at home or in public. We teach your dog how to switch off.

Stiffening or growling over food or stolen items. We assess carefully and use trading, never confrontation.