The Golden Shepherds are intelligent dogs that may be sociable or protective. The protective temperament is from their German Shepherd parent while the sociable trait is from the Golden parent. Therefore, they need socialization from a young age so that they understand not all strangers are a threat to the family. This training also helps the dog to be comfortable around new people, other dogs, smell, situations, surfaces, places, and sounds like door bells, sirens, washing machines, whistles, vacuum cleaners, baby crying sounds, and lawn mowers.
Enrolling Golden Shepherds in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These hybrids also respond well to positive training methods such as the use of treats, interactive toys, playtime, verbal praise and petting. Avoid harsh correction methods such as the use of prong or choke collars, beating, shoving, or kicking the dog. They make training counterproductive.
Keep the training sessions upbeat, short, and challenging to discourage boredom and distraction. Teach a Golden Shepherd basic command words like come, sit, stay, etc. one at a time until the dog understands. Effectively housebreak Golden Shepherds by creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training.
