Although Golden Retrievers are renown for their kind, friendly and biddable nature my personal view is that owning a well behaved dog is still extremely important for day to day family life, and therefore Golden Retrievers, like any other dog, should be socialised and trained.

All of our dogs have their own unique 'personality' which is why the dogs spend time on their own with me, as well as in a group.  For me "one to one" time with each of the dogs is very important as it meets their individual needs and allows them to participate in specific activities which they enjoy, and enables them to expand their natural talents, such as retrieving. 

Below:  Wiggy enjoying "one to one" on the field with me.

      

   

Kennel Club Good Citizen Awards

Bodie passed his Kennel Club Puppy Foundation Award after five classes, aged 15 weeks.  He is now training for Bronze.

 

Amber, our eldest Golden, has passed her Bronze and will train towards Silver in the future.

Summer has passed her Bronze (after five classes) and is now training towards Silver. 

Isis has passed her Bronze and Silver (the latter after five classes) and is now training towards Gold. 

Libby has passed her Bronze and Silver and is now training towards Gold.

 

Our dogs attend training classes in Norwich and Stalham:
Mutts with Manners	Classes, home visits and personal training programmes throughout North Norfolk
Des Hawgood	Classes in Norwich

Wiggy gained his Kennel Club Puppy Foundation Award.    Wiggy is now training towards Bronze with Carol.

Benson, who lives with our friends John and Margaret in Hertfordshire, is also training for Kennel Club Good Citizen Awards.   On 11th September 2007 he passed his Kennel Club Puppy Foundation, after attending just five training classes.  He has since passed his Bronze, and is now training towards Silver.

 

Above:  Benson (Kendaamber One Good Reason  -  (Sh Ch Shardanell Castaspell x Summeramba Carbonara), aged 15 weeks, thoroughly enjoyed retrieving a dummy while on his first holiday in the New Forest in August 2007.

Below:  Benson (far left) also enjoyed running free with the other dogs and soon learnt to sit and wait patiently.

Below:  Benson training for his KC Good Citizen Bronze

Walking past other dogs........

Ignoring dogs which walk past.......

Being groomed.........

Having feet checked.......

Walking through cones.........

Walking to heel.........

Lying down.........

Sitting.......

Down, stay........

Recall.......

Playtime......

Watching a friend play with a ball.......

 

2nd March 2008

The dogs enjoying a walk in the Spring sunshine.

While out walking the dogs walk on lead to heel, off lead to heel and when safe to do so (and with permission) are allowed free run.  When cars come they have been trained to sit and wait until they are given permission to move again.  It is a perfect time for recall 'games' and general obedience and makes the walk far more interesting for everyone, including the dogs and involves the whole family.