When it comes to a Goldendoodle puppy, you have one of the best pets for your home. This doodle combines the intelligence of the Poodle, and the eagerness to please and loyalty of the Golden Retriever. So, how to train a Goldendoodle? Is it hard?
Any doodle will make an excellent family pet, but the Goldendoodle and Labradoodle are on the top.
Any Goldendoodle owner will tell you, these pets should be trained from a young age. Depending on how much time and effort you put into training early on, the better adult dog you will have. Yes, you can train an older dog. But a puppy is much easier.
Goldendoodle Personality Traits
The most important part of how to train a Goldendoodle is understanding its personality. To understand that, you have to take a look at the two parent breeds. This hybrid dog has gained quite a lot of popularity lately.
And it is all thanks to the rise of the popularity of designer breeds. Depending on the size of the Poodle parent, this puppy can be Miniature Goldendoodle, Toy Goldendoodle, or Standard Goldendoodle.
Inheriting the personality traits of both parents, this canine has earned a reputation for being a service dog and a therapy dog.
These puppies are not a true breed, and they are not recognized by The American Kennel Club. But that hasn’t stopped people from getting it. And it is all because of the high intelligence, friendly temperament, loyalty, and eagerness to please.
The standard Goldendoodle is amazing and gentle with young children, making it a great family pet. They are friendly to the point they make awful guard dogs. These puppies are more likely to befriend a stranger than warn them off your property. Here are some common personality traits of your Goldendoodle pup.
- Amazing with children
- Friendly with other animals and strangers
- Get along with anyone they meet
- Gentle temperament ideal for therapy dogs
- High intelligence, and can get bored easily
- Fairly energetic dogs that need room to romp and play
Is Goldendoodle Easy To Train?
The key to having a well-mannered adult dog is spending time on training early on. If you train your puppy early on, you can have an amazing adult dog.
The good news is that Goldendoodles are easy to train. They combine the high intelligence of the Standard Poodle and the eagerness to please of the Golden Retriever.
Add in their energy and willingness to play, and you have a companion that you can train and play with all day long.
Yes, the Golden Retriever can be a bit stubborn at times. But this Doodle mix doesn’t have the same stubbornness.
Challenges With Goldendoodle
While Goldendoodles are easy to train, there are a few challenges and behaviors you need to pay attention to. If you do not pay attention to these behavioral issues, they can continue to irritate you. Here are some challenges with your Goldendoodle dog breed.
Stealing Food
Goldendoodles are known for counter surfing and stealing food like their Golden Retriever parent. They love to eat whatever comes their way. So, do not leave food on the counter unattended.
But you can use their willingness for food in a good way. These puppies are food-driven, and for a treat, they will do absolutely everything.
Jumping
One of the first things you need to teach your puppy is to sit when greeting people. It is a huge challenge with the overly enthusiastic and friendly Golden Retriever mix. These puppies will jump and wag their tail at people they meet.
And you have to walk a fine line between having a friendly puppy and one that is sitting to greet people. Reward good behavior like sitting when strangers come to pet your dog.
Digging
Another challenge with a Goldendoodle puppy is digging. These puppies have a natural instinct to dig. That might come from their hunting history. In any case, you definitely want to eliminate this bad behavior early on.
Otherwise, you will end up with a canine that gets dirty all the time because of digging. And that means hours in the bathroom.
Eating Socks
Retrievers were bred to retrieve. And that natural instinct is something that often remains in your puppy. A Goldendoodle pup might retrieve socks and carry them around the house. It is a natural instinct.
Similar to counter surfing, the best way is to prevent your puppy from eating/carrying things they shouldn’t.
Trying To Outsmart You
The biggest challenge for Goldendoodle training is the puppy’s high intelligence. They are extremely smart. And when you train, they will try to outsmart you. If you do not mix obedience training with mental stimulation and play, they will get bored.
And when these puppies are bored, they try to make things interesting by outsmarting you.
How To Train A Goldendoodle?
Now let’s talk about how to train a Goldendoodle successfully. There are many methods and dog training techniques you can use to solve behavioral issues and turn your puppy into a well-mannered dog.
Work On Your Bond And Trust
Before you start with complex commands, or even with basic commands, you have to develop a strong bond with your puppy. Once you form the initial bond, work on improving it and gaining your pet’s trust.
When your puppy begins to trust you, it will love to please you and work with you. They see you as an authority figure and listen to you.
How to work on your bond? By initiating play, hand-feeding your puppy, and by establishing yourself as the leader without punishment.
Start Obedience Training Early On
When people ask when to start training, I often reply “the moment you get your puppy”. Obedience training with an intelligent puppy should begin early on.
You can begin with simple commands like teaching the pup its name, teaching it to come, sit, lay down, and similar tricks.
From the moment your puppy comes home, establish boundaries and work on manners.
Establish A Routine
Dogs thrive on routine, and intelligent dogs even more. Establish a routine for walks, meal times, bathroom breaks, playtime, and everything in between.
Consistency is the key here. Once you establish a routine, try to stick to it as much as you can. Yes, a day or two when you have some tasks to finish can break your routine. But try to modify it to suit your daily responsibilities.
Use Positive Reinforcement
We mentioned before that Goldendoodle puppies are food-driven. They will do anything for dog food, dog treats, and anything in between.
Always reward good behavior with some treats and your puppy will adore you. That will improve the bond between the two of you.
Scent Training
If you didn’t know, Golden Retrievers are among the most popular police dogs for scent work. They work in airports, in the military, and in the police.
So, use that to your advantage. Play some scent games to work their natural instinct. Scent games and scent item training also work as mental stimulation for your puppy.
When To Start Training?
As we said before, you should start the moment your new puppy enters your home. The sooner you start with training, the easier it will be.
With an intelligent dog like this one, brain training early on is beneficial. Your puppy wants to use its brain.
Exercise And Training Needs
Your Golden Retriever Standard Poodle mix is a highly energetic breed. These puppies combine the genes of two athletic and sporty breeds.
So, with that in mind, you need to provide between 45 and 60 minutes of exercise and mental stimulation.
Extra Tips for Goldendoodle Training
Let’s finish off with some tips that will ensure successful training. How to train a Goldendoodle? Let’s wrap it off.
- Play to your dog’s natural instinct and temperament
- Use dog treats and food to reward positive behavior
- Prevent natural bad behaviors like stealing food and retrieving it early on
- Stick to a routine, but mix the training session exercises. Do not let your dog get bored with doing the same thing over and over again
