Re:How to teach a Golden to NOT do certain things

Question
Dear Charlotte,

Thank you for your response, it was very helpful.

I've been wanting to bring him to obedience school. I took a gander in the yellow pages, but was not sure which to pick out of the many. I live in Poughkeepsie, NY, area code 12603. If you think you could make a suggestion, I would be very appreciative!

Thanks again for your help. :-)

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Followup To
Question -
Hi Charlotte,

I have a one year old Golden Retriever. We have had him since he was 2 months old. He is a very affectionate, wonderful, and for the most part behaved puppy. He house trained in just a couple weeks time and knows "sit" and "down" commands fairly well. However, there are several disobedient things he does that he simply will not stop. This includes:

1. Bothering us while we are eating, even snatching food if left unattended or not carefully watched
2. Jumping up on us
3. Digging into the laundry basket and pulling things out to chew on
4. If clothes are on the couch, he grabs those to chew on
5. Resisting when being brought to his crate
6. Chewing on the carpet

For each one of these issues, no matter how many times we reprimand him or sternly tell him to stop, he will go right back to doing it. I can even take a sock away from that he has pulled from the laundry basket, yell at him for it, put it back, and literally a minute later he'll come running back to me with the same sock in his mouth. He thinks it's a game.

When we try to bring him to his crate, his resistance is inconsistent, but common. He even has become quite skilled at wiggling out of his collar (We keep his leash attached at all times even inside the house because of his behavior. When we lead him to the crate, he pulls back on the leash and then wiggles out).

I would eventually like to teach him tricks, but first I'd like get him to behave at all times. Please help!
Answer -
Hi Paul;
He sounds like Rowdy, my Australian shepherd mix.
You turn your back on food, and it is gone.
He knows better, but he is incorrigibal.
I should have named him "Artful Dodger"
 what your dog and you need is a good obdience class.
Petsmart and Petco have them on weekends.
A qualified trainer teaches a group class. the owners handle their own dogs, and the trainer teaches you how to give the proper commands and get the desired response.
They are fun for the owner and the dog.
Some Humane society chapters also have these classes. If you don't have a Petsmart or Petco, your Vet should be able to steer you to some classes.
I recommend this kind of class, and that is the way I prefer to teach. The owner knows how to give the commands, and the dog learns with him/her, so they are more of a team. The family can come and watch, and they get an idea of how to handle the dog when you are not home.
Also, any dogs you get in the future, you know how to train.
I don't use crates !
They are good to put an animal in to travel. If you have a wreck, the animal is not going to be thrown around so much, and it is protection for it.
I used a crate when I had a dog with a litter. the door was never closed. The little stop up at the front kept her puppies from roaming all over before they were big enough.
I will NOT put a dog in a crate otherwise.
Crate training of dogs, to me, is like parents grabbing Dr. spock books to raie a child.
Those who advise people to use a crate, are people who really don't know how to train a dog, so they put them in a crate, so they don't have to bother.
I am not saying you are a lazy dog owner. what I am saying is the person or persons that advised you to use a crate, ARE lazy dog owners, and they are advancing bad advice.
 you have the dog pegged right, when you say it is a game to him. He is jerking your leg, Dad, just like a kooky little kid.
He is resisting going into the crate, because he sees it as punishment.
As for the chewing,,, he is a year old, about this time, they cut a new set of teeth, and the old chewing comes back.
Get him a Nyla Bone toy. It is hard rubber, that he can't bite into pieces and tear up. You can put cheese or peanut butter in it, for a snack. He will get the chewing he needs to sooth his gums, and will gnaw to get out the treat inside. They cost a bit, but they are really good for them.
In obedience class, he will learn to respond correctly to commands he is given, and you will see a whole different doggy.
This type of classs will make a gentleman of your little delinquent, and he will be a joy, instead of a little pest.
You have a golden Retriever, this is one of the breeds that respond so well to training.
Maybe, after you go through a basic obedience class, and you see how easy he is to train, you will want to get into some of the training fr the shows, like the annual Purina dog trials. there is all sorts of trials the can compete in, water jumping, hurdles, lots of fun stuff, and the golden usually do well. I watch all of the ones that I can catch on TV.
Just provide some things for him to chew on the ease his gums, get into a basic obedience class to amend his wayward behavior, and you will really enjoy having this dude around.
Raising an animal is just like raising a child.
Understand why they do what they do, give them the proper training, and life with them will go much smoother.
Raising a dog has other perks that parents of 2 legged children don't have,
You don't have to constantly be buying clothes and shoes for them, and they won't ask to borrow the car.
I have always treated my dogs and cats like children, and raised them just like i raised my children.
You don't have a bad boy, he is just a little bit rambunctious, and when he is trained, you will have a real little love for a companion.
If you have children, this is a good companion breed, and if you make this member of your family a well trained child, and you have children, he will be the best baby sitter you can get.
 another thing, that you may have to look to in the future.
When he ages, he will have all the problems all us old folks have.
I have an English Setter that has Arthritis and hip Dysplasia really bad. I am able to give her a lot of relief from pain with massages, with less medication.
I ordered a video to learn the Tellington method of animal massage, and it is simple to learn. With the video, you see hands doing the different massages, and can learn to do them in a snap. My grandchildren have learned to do these nassages as early as 4 years old.
I have also used this massage to stop excessive barking, fear of thunderstorms, and aggressive behavior.
The video costs about $35.00, and it is the best money I have ever spent.
Go to this website and read about the massages, and you can order the video from there.
I highly recommend these massages.

  www.lindatellington-jones.com

The begging at the table, jumping up on you, etc will be corrected by what you learn in the obedience class, and the chewing will be helped with something he can chew and not be in trouble for, and understanding the teeth cutting.
Like a teething baby needs something to chew on to eash it's gums, so does an animal, when they are teething.
Good luck, and please let me know if you are aboe to find a class in your area.
If you can't, maybe i can search some resources I have and help you find one.
Charlotte  

Answer
Hi Paul;
There is a Petco in Poughkeepsie at 1933 South Rd. Area code 12601.
Here is the website for Petco.
You can check out the training clases etc.

http://www.petco.com/Content/HomePage.aspx?PC=home&Nav=1&=

Groups classes are offered nationwide.
I think the group class would get you both off to a really good start.
Advanced classes are available at some locations.
Happy training.
Charlotte