Best Training Methods For Golden Retrievers
Golden Retrievers are smart, friendly, and eager to please—which makes them one of the easiest breeds to train. But don’t let that fool you into thinking they’ll just naturally behave without guidance. If you don’t put in the work early, you’ll end up with a stubborn, overexcited, and uncontrollable dog.
As a veterinarian with ten years of experience and someone who runs a sanctuary for stray dogs and cats, I’ve seen too many Goldens whose owners assumed their sweet nature meant they didn’t need training. That’s how you end up with a dog that jumps on people, pulls on the leash, and ignores commands whenever they feel like it.
The good news? If you train them properly from the start, you’ll have one of the most obedient, loyal, and well-mannered dogs out there. Let’s go over the best training methods to ensure your Golden is a joy to live with—not a handful.
1. Start Training the Day You Bring Them Home
Golden Retrievers are fast learners—but that means they pick up bad habits just as quickly as good ones. If you don’t teach them the rules from day one, they’ll set their own.
👉 How to do it:
- Decide on house rules early—if you don’t want them on the couch later, don’t allow it now.
- Start basic commands immediately (sit, stay, come, down).
- Use a consistent routine for feeding, bathroom breaks, and playtime.
💡 Pro tip: If you let them get away with bad behavior “just this once,” expect them to keep testing you.
2. Use Positive Reinforcement—They Respond Best to Rewards
Golden Retrievers love making their owners happy. They don’t respond well to punishment or harsh corrections—they learn best through rewards, praise, and consistency.
👉 How to do it:
- Reward good behavior with treats, praise, or playtime.
- Keep treats small and healthy—Goldens can gain weight easily.
- Be quick with rewards—they need to connect the action with the reward immediately.
💡 Pro tip: Once they learn a command, start phasing out treats and use verbal praise instead. You don’t want a dog that only listens when food is involved.
3. Socialization—Expose Them to Everything Early
Golden Retrievers are naturally friendly, but that doesn’t mean they’ll automatically be well-behaved around strangers, other dogs, and new situations. If you don’t socialize them properly, they can become overly excitable, anxious, or even fearful in unfamiliar settings.
👉 How to do it:
- Introduce them to different people, dogs, and environments as early as possible.
- Let them experience loud noises, traffic, and busy areas so they don’t get spooked later.
- Arrange puppy playdates with calm, well-behaved dogs.
💡 Pro tip: A well-socialized Golden is confident and friendly, not jumpy or overwhelmed when meeting new people.
4. Teach Bite Inhibition—Goldens Are Mouthy Dogs
Golden Retrievers love using their mouths—it’s part of their nature as retrievers. If you don’t teach bite inhibition early, they’ll keep nipping, chewing, and mouthing well into adulthood.
👉 How to do it:
- If they bite too hard during play, say “Ouch!” and stop playing immediately.
- Redirect them to a toy instead of letting them chew on hands or clothing.
- Reward gentle play and soft mouth behavior with treats and praise.
💡 Pro tip: Never play rough games that encourage biting or grabbing hands—it teaches bad habits.
5. Crate Training—It’s Not Cruel, It’s Necessary
Some people think crating is mean, but the truth is, a crate provides structure, security, and helps with housebreaking. Goldens like having a safe space, and a crate helps teach them patience and self-control.
👉 How to do it:
- Make the crate comfortable—add a soft bed and a favorite toy.
- Keep crate sessions short at first, then gradually increase the time.
- Never use the crate as punishment—it should be a positive place.
💡 Pro tip: Always take them outside immediately after crate time—this helps with housebreaking.
6. Leash Training—Start Before They Get Too Strong
Golden Retrievers love to explore, which means pulling on the leash can become a big problem if you don’t train them early. A 70-pound dog dragging you down the street isn’t fun.
👉 How to do it:
- Use a no-pull harness instead of a collar—better for control, safer for their neck.
- Stop walking the second they start pulling—they only get to move forward when the leash is loose.
- Reward them for walking calmly at your side.
💡 Pro tip: Make leash training a daily practice—the earlier you teach good habits, the better.
7. Teach “Come” Early—It Could Save Their Life
Goldens are friendly to a fault—if they see another dog or person, they might take off to say hello. Teaching a solid “come” command early can prevent dangerous situations.
👉 How to do it:
- Start in a quiet, enclosed space—no distractions at first.
- Say “Come!” in a happy, excited voice, then reward heavily when they obey.
- Never punish them for coming late—you want them to associate “come” with good things.
💡 Pro tip: Practice recall daily—you want them to respond instantly, no hesitation.
8. Stop Jumping—It’s Cute Now, But Not Later
Golden Retriever puppies love to jump on people. It’s adorable when they’re little, but annoying (and even dangerous) when they’re full-grown.
👉 How to do it:
- Ignore them when they jump—no eye contact, no petting, no talking.
- Teach “sit” as a polite greeting behavior—only reward them when they sit calmly.
- Ask visitors to ignore jumping and only pet them when they stay down.
💡 Pro tip: If you allow jumping now, expect it to continue as they grow.
Final Thoughts
Golden Retrievers are one of the easiest breeds to train—but only if you stay consistent and put in the effort. If you slack off, you’ll have a dog that jumps, pulls, and ignores commands whenever they feel like it. But if you do it right? You’ll have a well-behaved, loyal, and loving companion for life.
✅ Start training immediately—don’t wait.
✅ Use positive reinforcement—Goldens love praise and rewards.
✅ Socialize early and often—it prevents overexcitement and anxiety.
✅ Teach bite inhibition—Goldens are naturally mouthy.
✅ Crate train for structure and housebreaking.
✅ Leash train early—don’t let pulling become a habit.
✅ Teach recall (“come”) ASAP—it’s a lifesaving command.
✅ Stop jumping before it becomes a problem.
Put in the work now, and you’ll have a well-behaved Golden Retriever that’s a joy to be around. Ignore training, and you’ll have a dog that does whatever they want, whenever they want. The choice is yours—train them right, or deal with the consequences later.
