Step-by-step guide on how to train your Goldendoodle puppy

Hello fellas, nice to have you here on our Goldendoodle blog page! Today we will be talking about how pet owners can train and groom their cute canine friends into the smart-ass creature they’re alwa

By LEO GIOSUÈ

JUNE 3, 2020 14:21

Goldendoodles are pretty adorable, smart, and highly intelligent, no cap! Some say they got their adorableness from their retriever side; others say they got their intelligence from their Poodle side. In any case, the fact remains that they combined the best of both breeds and took none of their fluffs.

However, it is important to establish a simple fact here and right now.

And that is that the smartness and high intelligence of a Goldendoodle are not a "GIVEN." That is, you don't just buy a doodle today and expect him to act like the cute one you saw on the Goldendoodle for sale adverts.

Yes, they’re clever and sharp-witted. But in order to get them to materialize their sharp-wits and brilliance, there is a need to TRAIN them.

So how do you go about that? Let’s find out!

Steps to train a Goldendoodle

I know the feeling of wanting to begin the training of your cute little canine on the first day you bring him home. But guess what? Young puppies have short attention spans, and as such, any command you serve them or words you try to teach them on that first day might just fall on deaf ears.

But as they grow older, let’s say 6 to 8 weeks old, you can expect them to start picking up simple words such as, “Sit,” “Down,” and “Stay.”

Traditionally, formal dog training doesn't begin until the dog clocks six months of age. And that is per the guidelines from the Veterinary Centers of America. However, thanks to Goldendoodles' innate smartness, you can expect your pup to be ripe for full-blown training earlier than this.

The four types of dog training methods: Obedience training based on positive reinforcement and association

Clicker training

When it comes to training your doodles on how to obey commands, the most popular approach adopted by many dog training experts and pro pet owners is the clicker training method. This method involves the use of a hand-held device that creates a clicking sound.

In this method, you give a command to your pup, which could be a "sit" "fetch" or "stay" command. Once the dog obeys the command, you give them a reward, which could be a treat, a toy, or a praise reward. But when serving this reward, you'll pair it with a clicking sound.

Over time, the pup will begin to associate the clicking sound with the reward. And whenever he hears the sound of the clicks, he knows immediately that a praise reward is around the corner. In case you don't have a clicker around, you can purchase one from a pet store or check them out on Amazon.

Food rewards

While the clicker training has to be served consistently to achieve a reliable result, food reward training is only needed occasionally.

In the aspect of food and treats, Goldendoodles are just like every other dog. They remain as overly motivated by the sound or smell of food as your regular Poodle or Golden Retriever pup. As a result of this innate love for food, you can expect the food reward technique to work wonders on their obedience response.

A typical food reward can consist of regular dog treats such as cold cuts, veggies, hot dog bits, snacks, pieces of cheese, baby carrots, or any other high-value food.

Scented item training

You can teach your doodles to seek out toys, fetch balls, and perform other simple tasks by simply taking them through the scented item training course. But, of course, this method doesn't always apply to every doodle. The reason is that if you haven't been playing together before using that toy or ball, it might be difficult for the dog to attach any importance to the toy when it sees it.

But since a doodle is a food-driven breed, like other dogs, you can scent the toys with a portion of food or treats you know they like and kick the toy away, while you ask them to fetch it.

Over time, the learning dog will learn to detect and appreciate the toys when he sees it because he knows what the item represents.

Praise reward training

Dogs are quite like humans in this regard. And your Goldendoodle is no exception. They love to be praised, and they enjoy it when their praises are being sung. The praise reward approach is good for a doodle because this breed is very much people-oriented, and their rapport with humans is second to none.

When you want to reward your cute little doodle for good behavior, especially when they've obeyed a command or done something impressive, you can use a praise reward coupled with the food reward you're giving to them.

And, of course, crate training works too

Crate training is another interesting approach that you can apply to your Goldendoodles. This technique is used to teach your dog or to get them in a routine. On the teaching aspect, it teaches them that they do not go to the bathroom where you sleep since dogs do not like soil their beds.

And on the routine aspect, you can use their time non-crate time to put them through some basic commands, teach them to dance, snuggle, and take a walk.

Conclusion

In conclusion, consistency is key when it comes to training a Goldendoodle, so you just have to choose a training method and stay consistent with it.