How to Train a Golden Retriever to Stop Biting
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Introduction
Your Golden Retriever is now a crucial member of the family. He spends his mornings out for a walk, his afternoons napping and his evenings messing around with the kids. He’s the only member of your household that doesn’t argue back and he’s probably one of the cleanest too. However, he does have one rather bad habit - he bites. It started off as nibbling, which was actually quite entertaining. But now it has become more aggressive and sometimes painful.
Training him to stop biting is essential, for a number of reasons. Firstly, he could do yourself or one of your children serious harm. Furthermore, if he continues this biting habit and attacks another dog or human, he may have to be put down. Therefore, it is essential you get a handle on this behavior before there is no turning back.
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Defining Tasks
Training will consist of firstly taking a number of steps to prevent your Golden biting in the first place. On top of these deterrence measures, you will have to find a productive way to channel his energy. You will also need to look at the underlying cause of the biting and tackle that. In addition, obedience commands will be needed to assert your position as pack leader.
If your Golden Retriever is still a puppy, he should be fairly receptive. This means you could see results in just a couple of weeks. However, if he’s older and the biting habit has been years in the making, then you may need several months to fully stamp it out. Succeed with this training and you will never have to worry about leaving him alone with strangers or small children again.
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Getting Started
Before you get to work, you will need to get your hands on a few items. A muzzle will be required until training has proven successful. You will also need chewy toys, plus a decent supply of treats. Alternatively, you can break his favorite food into small pieces.
Set aside 10 minutes each day for training, at a time where you won’t be distracted by a noisy household. Also, a deterrence collar and a water spray bottle will be needed for one of the methods.
Once you have the above, just bring patience and an optimistic attitude, then work can begin!
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The Socialization Method
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Obedience classes
Take him to obedience classes from an early age. This is the perfect place for him to learn how to interact with other dogs and people in a controlled way. The obedience commands he learn will also increase your control.
A person a day
Try to introduce him to a new person each day. This is particularly important if he is a puppy. Meeting lots of new people will build his confidence, which could prevent biting out of fear.
Positioning
When you do meet new people, position yourself between the person and your Golden Retriever. If you are in front, it is your job to protect him. If he is in front, he will feel obliged to protect you and may be more likely to bite.
Reward
Make sure he gets a tasty reward and some verbal praise whenever he plays gently and is well behaved when he meets people. Positive reinforcement is often the most effective way to teach Golden Retrievers.
Muzzle
Until his biting is under control, you may want to consider fitting him in a muzzle, especially when you are out in public. This will prevent any injury being done while training is ongoing.
The Distraction Method
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Exercise
Make sure he gets plenty of exercise each day. Golden Retrievers needs a good run around because they are relatively big dogs. His biting may be a result of pent up energy. So, give him a longer walk or throw a ball for him as you go. A tired dog is a passive dog.
Tug of war
Try and direct his biting energy into a few minutes of play each day. Find a chewy toy and play tug of war with it. This will help teach him where and when the appropriate time for biting is.
Gentle play
Spend a few minutes each day playing gently with him too. Stroke him and talk quietly. It’s important he has time with you where he doesn’t get too worked up. You can also give him the odd treat as you play calmly.
Time out
If he does bite, calmly remove him from the room and place him in a time out space. Ensure there are no toys in there and leave him there for 30 seconds to calm down. You can then release him back into the room.
Lengthen the sentence
If he bites again when you let him back in the room, remove him again. However, this time add an extra 30-seconds onto his sentence. Keep adding time onto his time out period until he catches on.
The Deterrence Method
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‘NO’
Whenever he bites, rush over and give a firm ‘NO’. You don’t want to terrify him, as this may make him more aggressive. However, make sure he knows you mean business.
Water spray bottle
If the firm ‘NO’ does not have the desired effect, upgrade to the water bottle. Give a quick spray near the face. This will soon get him associating biting with negative consequences.
Deterrence collar
You may also want to consider investing in a deterrence collar. You simply hit the button whenever you see him bite and an unpleasant spray of citronella will be emitted. This will make him think twice next time.
Privacy
Make sure he has his own space he can escape to. This is particularly important if he is a puppy. Golden Retrievers can get frustrated when they are pestered by small children. So, he needs to have alone time in a quiet space when he wants.
Discouragement
Never encourage any forms of aggression. That means do not laugh or talk in a high pitched voice when he does nibble or bite, even if it is just playing around. Each time his biting is met without consequence will only increase the chances of him biting again.
Written by James Barra
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 02/12/2018, edited: 01/08/2021
Training Questions and Answers
Hunter
Golden Retriever
6 Years
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
Starting to snap and bite me while giving a treat. I own a American bulldog that i moved in with my mom and her golden. That took to eachother fine but golden is definitely the alpha and he growls showing teeth we come by him when he head something but will be wagging his tail like he’s happy. He confuses me.
Jan. 14, 2021
Hunter's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Lisa, Does their overall body language look stiff while wagging? Is the wagging a more tense quick or stiff wag? There are two types of wags. One looks relaxed and loose and is usually paired with overall relaxed body language and sometimes a doggie pant or grin. The other type tends to look stiff, is sometimes with a tail held higher, and may be short quick wags. The stiffer wag is a sign of arousal and not necessarily friendly. It means that pup is on edge - sometimes they are on edge waiting to bite, and sometimes just excited. Being paired with a growl, it sounds like pup is tensing up anticipating you taking something and feeling the need to fight back. If the wag really is relaxed, the growl could be a play growl, but since it sounds like they have something they probably aren't supposed to have, I suspect it's not meant as playful. Does the rough treat taking appear to be aggressive in nature or pup getting to excited and eager. If pup is just eager, I recommend the following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEnTB-U62Mw If the treat taking appears aggressive, then between that and the growling, I recommend hiring a professional trainer who specializes in behavior issues like aggression, to come to your home and help in person with the aggression and overall attitude. Look for someone who comes well recommended by their previous clients. You may also need to desensitize pup to wearing a basket muzzle to train safely at first. I would consult your trainer about that. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Jan. 14, 2021
Coco
Golden Retriever
11 Months
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My dog bit two people in a week . What should we do . How to handle him
Jan. 9, 2021
Coco's Owner
Alisha Smith - Alisha S., Dog Trainer
257 Dog owners recommended
Hello. Without being able to ask follow up questions, this is difficult to diagnose. You may want to contact a local trainer and give specifics such as what location or setting this happened and what was going on at the time. There are many different forms of aggression, and the treatment is different for each. Knowing the details of the situation will help a trainer figure out what form of aggression you are dealing with, and what method needs to be used to correct the behavior.
Jan. 9, 2021