Discovering Golden Retrievers

Human words, feelings, and complex reasoning just don’t make sense to dogs. Dogs are focused in the here and now and communicate through eye contact, body language, and tones, what I call “Doggish.”

Don’t forget about eye contact. If your Golden Retriever looks to you with eyes that are trusting and eager, you’re on your way. If you can’t get a blink from your dog, you’ll have to do some preliminary “respect” work. The more you look at your dog, the less they’ll look to you. Dwell on it.

And of course there is body language. Training calls for a relaxed and patient body posture. Stand upright and proud. If you hunch over or get frustrated, your dog will think something is distressing in the environment, not in their behavior. Because dogs can’t reason that way, an angry reaction by you will only cause hesitation in your dog.

Golden Retrievers that fight tend to have any or a number of the following characteristics:

• Are dominant in their relationship with their owners.
• Lacked exposure to other dogs during critical socialization periods.
• Have been attacked by other aggressive dogs.
• Fight only when a neighborhood bitch is in heat.
• May have been the litter bully as a pup.
• Usually become excited when stressed.
• Are jealous because of owner favoritism.

Most fights between unacquainted dogs are related to the territorial boundaries or property (human owners in some cases) of one or both combatants. This type of aggression is easily understood but difficult to correct.

Another type of aggression that is difficult for owners to understand and correct involves dogs that live in the same household. Though both dogs receive what appears to be the same treatment from their owners, they engage in savage fights. Though the causes vary, corrective methods involve the same principle.

Correction centers around converting the feelings of hostility to “happy” emotional responses. This requires extreme self-control on the part of the owner, but it has proved effective when performed properly.

1. Following are suggestions on correction of housesoiling.

2. Avoid all fondling of the Golden Retriever. Praise and pet it only after it has responded to some command.

3. Feed a steady diet only, on schedule. Never tidbits.

4. Take the Golden Retriever to the same restricted area for elimination only at times the owner is normally home during the work week, even on weekends.

5. On weekends, correct all sniffing of furniture, etc. Praise enthusiastically after each correction.

6. If urine or feces are found in the house, do not make a “big deal” of it. Avoid scolding in any way.

7. All household members must treat the Golden Retriever in the same manner, using the same method.

8. Avoid bringing other Golden Retrievers into the house until the problem is cleared up.

9. Remove sources of water when the Golden Retriever is to be left alone and at night.

10. Have the Golden Retriever examined by a veterinarian if disease is suspected or the Golden Retriever does not respond to correction attempts. Disease may be responsible for the problem.