Identify & Fix Golden Retriever Behavior Problems

An under-trained or under-socialized golden retriever may jump on people, dig the floor or garden, run around the house, chew on furniture, on bark loudly.

To deal with the issue, you should first identify its cause to find a solution. With enough patience and dedication, every golden retriever can become a well-behaved dog.

Most importantly, be understanding and don’t punish your dog for misbehaving. Dogs don’t do things to annoy the owner but because of underlying issues.

Jumping On People

Golden retrievers are energetic dogs that retain their puppy goofiness in adulthood and are always excited to meet new people. These temperament traits may be fun, but a golden retriever jumping on people because of uncontrollable excitement is a serious problem.

Golden retrievers jump on people because they are happy to meet them and haven’t been taught that jumping is wrong. Sometimes, jumping may be a sign of aggression, but the dog’s overall body language is different in that case.

A dog may also jump on people when they hold something it wants, such as a treat or toy. Either way, this habit occurs because a dog doesn’t understand that people don’t like being jumped on.

Logically, the only way to stop a golden retriever from jumping on people is to train it. But first, ensure that your dog’s natural needs for exercise are met. Golden retrievers need at least an hour of exercise daily.

A tired dog is an obedient dog. Assuming your golden retriever has received sufficient exercise, teach it the “sit” command. Making a dog do something is much easier than making a dog not do something.

So, instead of commanding “stop jumping,” command your dog to “sit.” Naturally, your dog doesn’t know what “sit” means, so you must teach it to do the action first and then draw associations with the verbal cue.

While your dog is standing, hold a treat slightly above its head. Then, slowly move the treat towards your dog’s tail parallel to the ground. Your dog’s nose will follow the treat, and it will eventually sit.

When your dog’s bum hits the ground, command it “sit” and give it a treat. Practice is crucial, so repeat the training until your dog memorizes the verbal cue and starts obeying it without any rewards.

Don’t reward jumping by paying attention to your dog. If you look your dog in the eyes, talk to it, or smile, it will think that you like to be jumped on. Instead, take a step back and ignore your dog.

Mouthing

Chewing things in the house is a common behavioral problem among dogs of all breeds, but particularly among golden retrievers who were bred to retrieve waterfowl. Chewing on things is deeply rooted in golden retriever genes.

Golden retriever puppy chewing on things likely does it because of teething. When a puppy’s teeth are changing, they itch, and chewing eases the discomfort. But while teething is temporary, chewing can become a habit in adult age.

Adult golden retrievers may chew on things because of anxiety or boredom. A simple fix is removing the object a dog chews out of its reach – for instance, if a dog chews on shoes, you can put them in the closet.

But what if a dog doesn’t care what to chew or prefers to chew less movable objects, such as furniture? In that case, provide your dog with a legal chewing target.

Substitute furniture or shoes with a chew toy. Calmly interrupt your dog from chewing and show it the toy. Once your dog takes the toy, reward it with a treat to build positive associations with the substitute.

After a while, your dog will stop chewing on things and will spend more time playing with the toy because it gets treats.

However, you don’t need to continue giving your dog treats for its lifetime – stop once your dog gets accustomed to chewing the toy.

Pulling on The Leash

Golden retrievers are curious dogs that love to explore the world. For this reason, they commonly pull on the leash, rushing the owner to see a new place or running after something.

To show your dog that pulling is wrong, stop as soon as it starts pulling on the leash. Don’t move forward until your dog stops pulling.

Some owners unintentionally encourage pulling. When a dog pulls on the leash, it wants to go forward. If the owner budges and moves forward, they reinforce the behavior.

To show your dog that pulling is wrong, stop as soon as it starts pulling on the leash. Don’t move forward until your dog stops pulling.

Every time your dog walks straight without running towards distractions, reward it with a treat. Eventually, your dog will learn that pulling doesn’t get what it wants and stop such behavior.

One point to note is that retractable leashes are an enemy when teaching a dog not to pull on the leash. Use a traditional fixed-length leash while training.

Demanding Attention

Golden retrievers are friendly, affectionate dogs that love their owners more than anything. You’re the whole world for your puppy, so your pet’s attempts to draw your attention are understandable.

The only way to deal with a golden retriever barking, pawing you, and otherwise drawing your attention is to ignore it.

If you look your golden retriever in the eyes, talk to it, or give it a toy, it will learn that barking and pawing get attention.

Your goal is to teach your dog the opposite – only polite behavior will get it what it wants. Whenever your dog seeks attention, don’t pay it until it calms down. Then, give your dog what it wants.

Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety can develop in any dog, but golden retrievers are more susceptible to it because of their affectionate and loving nature. These dogs genuinely suffer when their favorite human isn’t around.

Separation anxiety in golden retrievers manifests with chewing, crying for hours, excessive drooling and licking, hyper-attachment, potty accidents, moving furniture around the house, and trying to escape.

The most common cause of separation anxiety in dogs is under-socialization. A puppy that has never met strangers, played with other dogs, or left home will be anxious about everything new and overly attached to its owner.

Being home 24/7 isn’t a solution. Instead, you need to put effort into socializing your dog. Working with a behavioral specialist is the best way to deal with your dog’s anxiety, gradually introducing it to new environments and people.

To prevent your dog from destroying your home while you’re away, tire it with exercise before leaving.

Ensure that your dog has a selection of toys and encourage it to chew them instead of furniture by giving it a treat when you see it play with them. In severe cases, a crate can help.

When crate training and socializing your dog, be careful not to worsen the situation by scaring it.

Jumping on The Couch

A dog jumping on the couch is frustrating, especially if it’s a golden retriever that was rolling in mud an hour ago and the sofa is light.

The easiest way to keep a dog from jumping on the couch is by encouraging it to use a substitute. Get your dog a cozy bed and reward it every time you see it using it.

If your dog is still a puppy, remove it from the couch every time it jumps on it. However, if your dog is grown up, removing it from the couch may be difficult due to its size.

Don’t throw your dog toys to fetch because it will learn that jumping on the couch gets it playtime. Instead, draw its attention to a toy or treat lying on the floor to make it jump from the sofa.

Don’t cuddle with your dog on the couch. If your dog jumps on it for affection, ignore it to show that such behavior is discouraged.

Destructive Behavior

A golden retriever that doesn’t get enough exercise or suffers from anxiety may behave destructively. Destructive behavior in golden retrievers may manifest with chewing objects, digging, biting, running around the house, uncontrollable barking, and defensive aggression.

To fight destructive behavior, you should first identify its cause. Some golden retrievers engage in destructive behavior because of a history of abuse; others because of frustration, anxiety, or fear caused by environmental factors.

If your dog lives in a calm environment and doesn’t have a history of abuse, its destructive habits can be resolved by providing more mental and physical enrichment to its life.

For example, if your dog chews furniture, give it chew toys or puzzle toys and encourage it to use them by rewarding it. Or, if your golden retriever runs around the house and bumps into everything, let it run outside.

If your dog’s destructive behavior manifests with frustration or aggression caused by abuse, the best thing to do is to seek the help of a canine behavioral specialist.

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