Activities For Goldmaraners
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Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Introduction
Goldmaraners are the adorable and oh-so-cuddly hybrid of the affectionate Golden Retriever and the brilliant Weimaraner. This paw-fect mix of beauty, brains, and brawn has a lot of love (and energy) to go around. Both the Golden Retriever and the Weimaraner are sporting breeds, so it is no surprise that their offspring have pretty high energy demands (though they are never opposed to snuggling on the couch). This intelligent breed may get bored of the usual activities fairly quickly, so we've compiled a list of fun activities to keep your Goldmaraner busy and smiling on both fair and foul weather days!
Dock Diving
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Hot Day
Free
Normal
30 - 90 mins
Items needed
Body of water
Dock
Toy or ball that floats
Activity description
Thanks to their web-footed Golden ancestors, Goldmaraners are fantastic swimmers who love to be on the water. These doggy-paddling pros also have an equal love for retrieving, which makes this breed a furrific candidate for dock diving. For those who aren't familiar with this increasingly paw-pular sport, dock diving is where a toy is thrown into a body of water and then a cue is given for the dog to jump off the dock to retrieve it. In competitions, the length of their jumps is measured, and the pooch who jumps the farthest or the highest is declared the winner! Dock diving is a pawsome sunny day activity that can be done for cheap, or even free depending on where you go!
Step
1
Get your dog accustomed to the water
Before you begin practicing for the Dock Diving National Championship, you should probably get your dog comfortable with the idea of being in the water. Start slowly by just letting Fido explore the edges of the water and even walking in it if they like. Don't be surprised if your Goldmaraner goes for a full-fledged swim their first time at the lake -- swimming is in their blood!
Step
2
Practice fetching on dry land
For your dog to learn the art of dock diving, they will first need to learn how to retrieve. Given this breed's Golden Retriever bloodline, fetching should be a pretty easy feat to master; it's getting the ball back that is the difficult part! Treat your dog when they bring the toy or ball back to reinforce the pawsitive behavior. Your retriever mix not wanting to retrieve? Try stuffing a hollow ball with some tasty morsels to see if that sparks their interest!
Step
3
Put the two skills together
Once your pup has mastered fetching and swimming, it is time to introduce them to the dock! Simply throw the toy off the dock and watch them fly after it! After a while, you can practice retrieving on command by using the cues "wait" and "get it." Your Goldmaraner will be a pro in no time at all!
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Therapy Work
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Any Day
Moderate
Normal
1 - 2 hrs
Items needed
Treats
Leash
Activity description
Therapy work is a rewarding activity that's great for the souls of everyone involved. The empathetic Golden Retriever excels at therapy work, and it's no surprise that hybrid mixes of this breed do too! Courses are available to teach dog therapy techniques and help dogs master the basic commands and manners required for the job. Well-behaved, friendly pooches can spread the love without going through extensive therapy courses, with nursing homes being a great place to start! We recommend calling your local assisted living facility before heading out to familiarize yourself with any pet policies they have in place.
Step
1
Potty training
Your dog should be fully potty trained before going into a healthcare setting. As with any dog, learning to go when and where they are supposed to can be a bit of a challenge; in fact, this is one of the top things owners struggle with! Create a schedule of times to let your dog out and make sure everyone in your household is on the same page. It may be aggravating at first, but it is well worth the struggle in the long run!
Step
2
Basic commands
The International Association of Canine Professionals recommends that prospective therapy dogs know at least four basic obedience commands, including "heel," "sit," "come," and "leave it." They should also know how to politely walk on-leash, take a treat gently, and ignore another dog.
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Try a Spring Pole
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Sunny Day
Moderate
Normal
30 min
Items needed
Spring pole
Activity description
Want your dog to put on some extra muscle? Try a spring pole! A spring pole is basically like a rope swing for dogs, except instead of holding on with arms and legs, they swing by their teeth. Spring poles can either be made at home or bought online or in some pet stores. The essential structure of all spring poles is a beam (or branch) that suspends "bait" (usually a pelt, a piece of cloth, or rope) above the dog for them to jump and grab hold of. This is an exciting and extremely efficient work out for dogs, especially those who have high prey drives.
Step
1
Start low
Don't expect your dog to be a high-jumping spring pole superstar right out of the gate. Start by hanging the "bait" close to the ground to get your dog's attention. If your dog doesn't show interest right away then move the bait back and forth for a game of "keep away."
Step
2
Try a flirt pole
A flirt pole is essentially a fishing pole with a toy or piece of durable fabric on the end. Working with a flirt pole will help your dog get the concept of latching onto the "bait" of the spring pole. Encourage your dog to sniff and explore the flirt pole before you begin any real work with it. Praise and treat your pooch for playing with the flirt pole to reinforce the behavior.
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More Fun Ideas...
Learn a fun new trick
Goldmaraners are incredibly fast learners and have a desire to please their owner above all else; these two traits make them super teachable! Try a fun trick like spinning in circles or playing "dead", or step it up a notch with a practical skill, like retrieving their leash on command!
Doggy puzzles
Weimaraners and mixed breeds descended from them are remarkably intelligent and independent thinkers. Treat-dispensing puzzles are a furrific way to stimulate your pup's brain and teach problem-solving skills and relationships between objects. Puzzles are fantastic for older or special needs pups who aren't capable of doing high-impact exercises.
Conclusion
The highly intellectual and independent nature of the Goldmaraner is balanced by an eagerness to please, which makes this breed wonderful candidates for a variety of jobs and sports. Holding your Goldmaraner's attention can be a tricky feat, but if you can manage to do so, there are no limits to the cool tricks and skills they can learn!