The Golden Retriever is an excellent breed, known to be affectionate and faithful. They are very intelligent and also very easy to educate or train. It is rare to meet an aggressive Golden Retriever, but it can happen. There are several causes of aggression in the Golden. Usually dog aggression happen due to fear, also known as defensive aggression. In some cases, poor breeding can produce an aggressive Golden puppy.
How to treat aggression in the golden retriever
Even when your dog is acting inappropriately, you should never discipline your puppy hard, especially if he is between 8 to 10 weeks old. Avoid hitting him with your hand or with an object, do not shout at him, or use other harsh methods. This can backfire and cause more aggression. To reduce the chances of developing aggressive behaviour, socialise your puppy well before they are 14 weeks old.
4 basic tips to avoid having an aggressive Golden Retriever
1. Take the leadership position and not the dominant position
It is important for you to be a leader, who inspires trust and not aggression for your dog to obey you. On the other hand, if you communicate violently with your Golden, he will associate your relationship with violence.
2. Walking on a leash
The leash is very useful to help in calming down your dog. When dogs are calm and rested, they respond better and are less anxious. Remember that you are the only one to take control when you take your Golden Retriever for a walk. If your dog pulls your arm out like crazy, place him sitting next to you for a while before continuing. This way, your dog will learn that by pulling forward, it will stop.
3. Obedience
Whether you have a Golden Retriever or another breed of dog, it is essential to have an obedience class. An obedience class gives you excellent advice. It is meant for the masters and the dog, it makes the dog obedient and balanced, and it teaches the owner the basic techniques.
4. Key Tip: Consistency
Consistency is essential in the education of any type of dog. The Golden Retrievers are very smart, if you want your dog to be wise, you have to educate him by repetition – what you want to apply, it must be constant and habitual. Put all the family members to the consistency, and it will produce great results.
To keep your Golden Retriever calm, be consistent with him and reward him with treats every time he behaves well, you’ll be amazed at how fast your dog changes.