Friendly, excitable, goofy, and with a lust for life, it’s no wonder the Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dogs in the United States. For many brand-new canine caregivers, the Golden Retriever is a first-time dog. While Goldens are highly social and easy to train, their energy level may come as unexpected to some. Dog sports can serve as an excellent training foundation for caregivers and their dogs, setting dogs up for success.
1. Dock Diving
Dock diving combines Golden Retrievers’ two favorite activities into one sport: retrieving and swimming! Bred for retrieving waterfowl for hunters, Golden Retrievers have a strong genetic predisposition to a love for both fetching and swimming. Dock diving combines these skills in a way that increases confidence around water, and encourages low-impact physical exercise.
In the sport of dock diving, a great deal of arousal and excitement is built around a dog’s favorite toy. When the toy is thrown off a dock into a long, deep pool of water, the dog is encouraged to run down the dock and leap confidently into the water. Dogs are judged on the length of their leap, or height of their jump, depending on the event criteria.
It takes a great deal of courage to leap into a body of water from a dock, and dogs trained in dock diving using positive reinforcement become more confident animals overall. Plus, the dog gets to run fast, fetch his favorite toy, go for a brief swim, and earn treats and praise from his handler. What’s not to love? Many Goldens take to this sport naturally, and the most important skill to teach is exiting the water after the leap; these dogs will likely want to keep swimming!
2. Fetch
Most retriever caregivers will agree that these dogs simply live for a good game of “fetch.” From the petite Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever to the sleek, easygoing Labrador Retriever, retrieving is in this breed group’s name and deeply embedded in these dogs’ genetics.
Most people don’t know that there is an entire dog sport dedicated to fetch! The American Kennel Club started fetch trials as a non-competitive, pass-or-fail activity. There are four titles a dog and handler can earn together, with the final two titles (Advanced and Retriever) requiring the dog to respond to signals from their caregiver. The program is open to all breeds, but Golden Retrievers and other sporting breeds tend to excel.
A novice fetch title can be a fun, casual introduction to breed-specific sports for dog-handler pairs who love the activity.
3. Agility
One of the most common concerns of first-time Golden Retriever caregivers is the unexpected level of energy these dogs have. Though Golden Retrievers can be ideal first-time large dogs, they are still highly driven, excitable, exuberant dogs. Without proper mental stimulation and physical exercise, Goldens can be prone to destructive chewing, excessive digging, and hyperactivity.
Agility is a fantastic combination of both physical exercise and mental stimulation. While herding breeds like Shetland Sheepdogs and Border Collies tend to dominate the sport competitively, all breeds can enjoy and benefit from this activity. Agility dogs will have the chance to get off-leash, run, jump, and navigate tight turns and obstacles, all with remote verbal instruction from their handler.
Positive reinforcement-based training is the widespread method for teaching this activity, which will set caregivers up for success and understanding with their dogs.
4. Scentwork
If there is an opposite of agility, it just might be the sport of scentwork. This sport does not require any physical exercise but instead rewards the dog for deep focus and engagement. Exercise is important, but too much exercise can turn a dog into an “endurance monster” who caregivers simply cannot keep up with. Sometimes, physical relaxation and engaging in a mentally stimulating activity can tire a dog out far faster than simply running or walking.
Dogs are scent-oriented animals, meaning that they explore and perceive the world through scent. Sadly, many dogs are not given the opportunity to immerse in sniffing on a daily basis. Humans, being visual animals, often want to pull dogs along on walks to “see as much as possible” or cover a certain distance. This is harmful to dogs’ behavior. Scentwork allows dogs to put their strongest sense to the test, detecting various smells hidden in boxes and other obstacles.
For young Golden Retrievers who struggle with hyperactivity and over-excitement, scentwork can teach the dogs to settle down, relax, and engage in something interesting with their caregiver. Research shows that dogs involved in scentwork generally show more optimistic behaviors, and are confident dogs overall.
5. Obedience
“Obedience” is arguably an outdated name for this sport. Competitive obedience is not so much about a dog’s compliance in “obeying,” but rather about a trainer’s ability to teach a dog to perform certain cues in a distracting environment. Obedience training combines a variety of skills, including jumping over a hurdle, heeling, demonstrating recall, staying, and more.
Obedience offers a combination of mild physical exercise with intensive mental stimulation. The skills learned for an obedience trial can benefit a dog’s daily life with their caregiver, preparing them for real-world situations. Recall can be a life-saving skill, and skills such as heeling can be critical to safety in public (a dog can be asked to briefly heel while passing another dog on a narrow sidewalk). As highly trainable, people-pleasing dogs, Golden Retrievers are perfect candidates for competitive obedience.
These trials demonstrate a dog’s willingness to engage with their caregiver and can help handlers clarify communication with their dog. Obedience is open to all breeds, including mixed-breed dogs and rescued dogs.
FAQs
Q: How does a dog and handler team get started in dock diving, and are there specific training centers or clubs they should look for?
A: To start in dock diving, look for local clubs or training centers specializing in the sport. They often offer beginner classes and practice sessions to introduce your dog to the water and dock safely.
Q: What are the specific requirements or qualifications for a dog to enter scentwork competitions, and how does one prepare their Golden Retriever for such events?
A: To enter scentwork competitions, dogs typically need no prerequisites, but training through classes or clubs that specialize in scentwork can prepare your Golden Retriever by teaching them to identify and alert on specific scents.
Q: For competitive obedience, are there beginner-level competitions for inexperienced handlers and their dogs, and what resources are available to help them prepare?
A: Beginner-level competitions in competitive obedience are widely available, including AKC’s Novice classes. Resources for preparation include obedience clubs, training classes, and online tutorials specifically aimed at beginners.
