As breeders and trainers, we’ve seen firsthand how the right training techniques can help puppies and dogs become confident, well-behaved companions. One of the most effective methods we use — and encourage all new puppy families to adopt — is positive reinforcement dog training.
This approach is not only humane, but it also helps create strong, trusting relationships between dogs and their owners. In this blog post, we’ll explain what positive reinforcement is, why we believe it’s the best method for training, how it benefits Golden Retrievers, and how you can start using it with your own dog — including the use of luring and how to fade it out for long-term success.
🐶 What is Positive Reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement is a training method that focuses on rewarding desirable behavior to encourage its repetition. Simply put, we reward the dog for doing something right, rather than punishing them for doing something wrong.
The key is to provide a reward (treat, praise, toy, play, etc.) immediately after the behavior we want to reinforce. This helps the dog understand that what they did leads to something they like — making it more likely that they’ll repeat that behavior in the future.
🐕 Why Golden Retrievers Thrive with Positive Reinforcement
Golden Retrievers are naturally eager to please, highly intelligent, and emotionally intuitive. They are also quite sensitive, meaning they respond exceptionally well to gentle, reward-based training methods. Harsh corrections or negative feedback can make them shut down or feel anxious, which is why we consistently use positive reinforcement in our training approach.
Why This Method Works So Well for Goldens:
- They’re emotionally sensitive and pick up on tone and energy.
- They bond deeply with their people and are motivated to earn praise.
- They’re food- and play-motivated, making reward-based training fun and effective.
When we train with kindness and consistency, Golden Retrievers blossom — their confidence grows, and their willingness to learn soars.
🎯 Luring: A Great Way to Start a New Behavior
One of the easiest ways to teach a dog a new skill is by luring. This is when we use a treat to guide the dog into the desired position or behavior.
For example:
- To teach “sit,” we hold a treat close to the puppy’s nose and slowly move it over their head. As their nose follows the treat, their bottom naturally lowers into a sitting position.
- To teach “down,” we bring the treat to the floor between their paws and slowly move it forward. Their body follows the motion into a lying position.
Once the dog is reliably following the treat, we begin to add a verbal cue (like “sit” or “down”) just before the lure.
🔄 How to Fade the Lure
Luring is a powerful tool, but we don’t want the dog to become dependent on seeing a treat in our hand. That’s why we work to fade the lure and turn it into a reward instead of a bribe.
Here’s how we do it:
- Add the Cue Early: After a few successful lures, start saying the cue (“sit”) before showing the treat. Your dog may still follow your hand, but now they’re starting to associate the word with the behavior.
- Empty-Handed Lure: Once they know the motion, repeat the gesture with an empty hand (no treat visible), and reward from your other hand after the behavior is completed.
- Switch to Intermittent Rewards: After the behavior is learned, begin to reward some of the time with a treat, mixing in praise, petting, or play. This keeps the behavior strong without relying on food every time.
By slowly removing the treat from the picture and keeping rewards varied and fun, the dog learns to respond reliably to cues without always expecting a snack.
🧠 General Tips for Successful Positive Reinforcement
🗣️ Be Consistent
Use the same cues and hand signals to avoid confusing your dog. Everyone in your household should be on the same page.
⏱️ Reward Immediately
Timing is key. Deliver the reward as soon as the desired behavior happens so the dog clearly understands what they’re being rewarded for.
🎉 Make It Fun
Training sessions should be short, engaging, and positive. End on a good note with lots of encouragement!
🏡 Everyday Moments Are Teaching Opportunities
Training doesn’t stop at obedience sessions. Everyday life is full of moments to reward your dog for making good choices:
- Reward calm greetings instead of jumping.
- Praise and treat for coming when called in the yard.
- Offer a chew toy when your puppy chooses it over your slippers!
These daily interactions help reinforce good habits and build a lasting bond built on trust and cooperation.
🐾 Final Thoughts: Positive Training Builds Happy Dogs
As professional breeders and trainers, we’ve seen again and again how positive reinforcement transforms dogs. It’s not just about teaching commands — it’s about building confidence, strengthening the human-animal bond, and nurturing a dog’s emotional well-being.
Golden Retrievers, in particular, flourish under this kind of training. They are sensitive, intuitive, and devoted — the perfect match for a reward-based approach that encourages learning in a kind and respectful way.
Whether you’re training a brand new puppy or continuing to shape your dog’s behavior as they grow, we’re here to support you on the journey.
With patience, consistency, and lots of praise, you’ll be amazed at what you and your dog can accomplish together.