Problem Solving and Prevention Golden Retriever|CheapPetOutletcom

Problem Solving and Prevention

Most of the behaviors that we humans might consider a problem,

such as digging, barking, jumping on people, chewing, and so on, aren’t problems to your Golden Retriever.

Your dog digs because the dirt smells good, the weather is hot, and he wants to lie in some cooler dirt, or because you have rabbits that he would like to play with. All of the things that we might consider problems, your dog is doing for a reason. However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything that can be done. Most problem behavior can be controlled, prevented, or eliminated altogether.

WHAT TO DO?
Training
Training can play a big part in controlling problem behavior. A fair but firm training program teaches your dog that you are in charge, that he is below you in the family, and should reinforce his concept of you as a kind, calm, and caring leader. You can also use your training skills to teach your dog what is acceptable and what is not.

Nutrition
Nutrition often plays a part in poor dog behavior. If your dog is not eating a good quality food, or if he isn’t digesting his food properly, his body may be missing some vital nutrients. If your Golden is chewing on rocks or wood, eating the drywall off your walls, grazing on the plants in your backyard, or eating dirt, he may have a nutritional problem. Some dogs develop a type of hyperactivity when they eat a high calorie, high fat, high protein dog food. Other dogs have food allergies that might show up as behavior problems. If you have any questions about your dog’s behavior in relation to food, ask your veterinarian.

Exercise
Exercise is just as important for your Golden as it is for you. It works the body, uses up excess energy, relieves stress and clears the mind. How much exercise and what type depends upon your dog. A fast-paced walk might be enough exercise for a senior Golden but a young, healthy adult Golden Retriever will need a good run or a fast paced game of ball.

If your Golden has some physical limitations or if you have any doubts about his exercise needs, talk to your veterinarian. When you start an exercise program, start gradually, especially if your dog has been a couch potato.

Play
Play is different from exercise, although exercise can be play. Laughter is very much a part of play and that is what makes it so special. Research shows that laughter is wonderful medicine; it makes you feel better, and because of that, it has a special place in your relationship with your dog. If training is sometimes difficult, and your dog is getting into trouble, make time to play with him. Play is a great stress reliever both for you and for your dog, so make some time every day to laugh and play.

Sometimes dogs will intentionally get into trouble because they feel ignored. To some dogs, negative attention such as yelling and screaming is better than no attention. By setting some time aside just for your dog, you can avoid some of these situations.

RULES

When trying to correct problem behavior, you may need to set up some new household rules for you and other family members. Your dog cannot raid the trash cans if you take the trash out before they are overflowing and if you put the trash cans out of reach before you leave the house. Your dog will get into less trouble if everyone closes the closet doors, picks up dirty laundry, and picks up their toys.

Part of preventing problems from happening also requires that you limit your dog’s freedom. A young puppy or untrained dog should never have free run of the entire house as there is just too much trouble he can get into. Instead, keep him in the room with you either by watching him or using baby gates across the doorways. If you can’t keep him with you then put him in his crate or outside in the yard.

PREVENTION IS KEY

Because so many of the things we consider problems are not problems to your dog, you need to prevent them from happening as much as possible when you are not there to teach him. If your dog discovers how much fun it is to chew up your couch cushions, you may have a tough time stopping him. The same applies to the kitchen trash can that is full of treasures to your Golden, and the kid’s toys. If they are within your Golden’s reach, remove them. It is much easier to prevent a problem from happening than it is to break a bad habit. In other words, when it comes to preventing problem behavior, it is the owner’s behavior that needs correcting, not the dog’s.

DEALING WITH SPECIFIC PROBLEMS

Digging and Killing the Garden
If your garden looks like a war zone because your Golden has been attacking it, you need to concentrate on preventing these things from happening when you are not there to supervise your dog. If you leave your dog and come home ten hours later and try to correct your dog for the hole he dug while you were gone, you are wasting your time as your correction is much too late. Instead of understanding that he is being corrected for digging, your dog is going to think he’s being corrected for you coming home.

When you are home, let your dog out for supervised runs in the backyard. When he starts to get into trouble, you can interrupt his actions and teach him what is acceptable and what is not.

The destructive dog also needs exercise, training, and play time every day to use up his energy, stimulate his mind, and spend time with you. For some unknown reason, Golden Retrievers crave fruits and greens. When you give your dog a treat, try giving him a carrot or a slice of apple.

It’s also a wise idea not to let your Golden watch you garden. If you do, he will likely come to you later with all of the bulbs he watched you plant earlier.

Barking
Have your neighbors been complaining that your dog is barking when you’re away? Typically, Goldens do not have a problem with barking, but they will bark if bored or lonely.

Start by teaching him to be quiet while you’re at home. When your dog starts barking, tell him “Quiet!” When he stops barking, praise him by saying, “Good boy to be quiet!” When he seems to understand what you want, go for a short walk outside, leaving your dog at home. Listen and when you hear him start barking, come back and correct him. After a few corrections when your dog seems to have the idea, ask your neighbor to help you. Go outside and have your neighbor come out and talk. When your dog barks, run back home as fast as you can and correct him again. Repeat as often as you need to until he understands.

Some dogs will stop barking as you leave if you make leaving home very low-key and unexciting. A distraction also works well for many dogs. Try taking a small brown paper lunch bag and put a couple of treats in it. Perhaps a dog biscuit, a piece of carrot, a slice of apple, and a small toy. Tape the top shut and rip a very tiny hole in the side of the bag. As you walk out the door or the gate, give this to your Golden. He will be so busy trying to figure out what is inside that he won’t pay attention to you leaving.

Problem barkers may need extra help. There are several anti-bark collars on the market that are humane and effective. All are triggered by the dog’s barking and administer a correction to the dog. Some collars make a high-pitched sound, one squirts a whiff of citronella, and others administer an electric shock. The shock treatment is not recommended for most dogs as many will panic when corrected this way. However, the first two types of collars mentioned are usually quite effective with most dogs.

Running Through Doors and Gates
Although frustrating, this is actually one of the easiest problems to correct. Teach your dog to sit and stay at all doors and gates and to hold that stay until you either give him permission to go through or release him after you have closed the door. By teaching him that doors and gates are boundaries that require permission, you will eliminate the problem.

Start with your dog on a leash, and walk him up to the door. Have him sit, tell him to stay, and then with the leash firmly grasped in your hand, open the door wide and stand aside. If he dashes forward, correct him for breaking his stay by saying, “No, stay!” Take him back to where he started and do it again. If he continues to do it, give him a snap and release of the leash and collar as you correct him verbally. When he will hold the stay at this door, go to the other doors and gates and teach the same lesson, the same way.

If your Golden tries to sneak past you when he is not on the leash, block him with your leg or slam the door in his face as you give him a verbal correction.

If your dog does make it outside, don’t chase him. If you chase him, it becomes a game. Use your snack shaker to call him to you and say nicely “Spot, do you want a cookie? Come! Good boy!” When you do catch him or he comes back to you, don’t correct him. If you do, he learns that coming back results in a correction. Instead praise him for coming to you.

Jumping on People
Goldens are strong and muscular dogs and can cause problems if they jump on people. Your dog can’t jump on people if he is sitting as it’s physically impossible to do both things at the same time. Since your dog jumps on people for attention, teaching him to sit when you pet him can eliminate the jumping.

When you come home from work and your dog is excited to see you, don’t try to greet him with your arms full. Instead, greet him with empty hands. Then, when he tries to jump, grab him by the collar or the scruff of the neck and tell him to sit. When he sits, praise him by saying, “Good boy to sit!” and pet him enthusiastically. If he tries to jump up again, use your hands to put him back into the sitting position.

If your dog is really excited and it’s hard for him to control himself, have him sit and roll him over onto his back and give him a belly rub and a massage. This is still giving him the attention he needs but it is relaxing him at the same time.

You can also use the leash to teach your dog not to jump. When you are out for a walk and see your neighbor, don’t let your neighbor pet your Golden until you make him sit. If he starts to jump on the neighbor, use a snap and release of the leash and a verbal correction by saying, “No jump! Sit.” Use the same technique when guests come to your house; leash your dog before they come in.

The key to correcting the problem of your dog jumping on people is to make sure that the bad behavior is not rewarded. If someone pets your dog when he jumps up, the bad behavior is rewarded. When he learns that he gets all of the attention when he is sitting, then he will start sitting automatically for petting and when he does, praise him enthusiastically.