How to Make My Golden Retreiver More Protective

Some dogs are naturally more protective than other dogs. Protectiveness is an instinct and can be difficult to train. Golden retrievers are naturally more friendly towards people and not usually overly protective. You can train your golden retriever some behaviors to make it more protective, such as barking when someone knocks at your door. It's dangerous to train a dog to bite or exhibit other aggressive behaviors. Consult a professional dog trainer if you want your dog to be more protective than barking at strangers.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Speak in an excited voice, commanding your dog to ̶0;bark̶0;. Use a toy or treat to excite your dog. It may be difficult to get your dog to bark at first, especially if your golden retriever is a quiet dog.

    • 2

      Reward any noise that your golden retriever makes with the toy or treat and praise. Once your golden retriever gets the hang of it, reward every few barks instead of every noise.

    • 3

      Continue to practice the command until your golden retriever is able to speak on command. Practice the command in different locations.

    • 4

      Tie the speak command to a knock on the door or the doorbell. Have a friend ring the doorbell while you are inside with your golden retriever. Give the command and praise your golden retriever when it barks.

    • 5

      Practice the command with the doorbell until your golden retriever begins barking before you have to give the command.

    • 6

      Go outside and ring the doorbell or knock on your door. If your golden retriever barks, come inside and praise your dog.

    • 7

      Practice your training at different times of the day and with different people ringing the doorbell. Golden retrievers are generally smart and your dog should pick up this skill quickly.