The Golden Academy

18/06/2024

Well that's a big shift! Did you neuter your golden? Did you wait until over two years, earlier or not at all, and why?

"The WSAVA felt it advisable to leave both male and female dogs intact, where these animals are kept by responsible owners, unless there are specific reasons for neutering that individual dog"

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) have recently published their first reproduction control guidelines for dogs and cats. These guidelines have been put together by the WSAVA Reproduction Control Committee and reflect the latest evidence in neutering practices. The guidelines reco...

14/06/2024

Is your Golden a champion barker or a dog of few words?

Did you know that the official Guinness World Record champion barker is a Golden Retriever named Charlie?

Charlie has held his record, having the loudest bark in the world, since 2013 at an ear-splitting 113.1 decibels!!

That is louder than your average Slipknot concert 🤘

Do you reckon your dog could rival Charlie the World Champion Barker?!

13/06/2024

What’s your favourite skill you’ve taught your golden? And what has it given you?

This is beautiful Bailey, who will soon be joined by a human sibling! As you can imagine, loose leash walking becomes a big priority when your daily walks will soon be accompanied by a pushchair.

Some skills you take the time to teach your dog can absolutely change your life.

It can mean the difference between enjoying your daily walks and enduring them.

Maybe there’s a skill you’re working on now that has the potential to change your life and bring you bags of joy?

Share it with us, writing things down means you’re more committed and likely to smash your goals!

10/05/2024

🗣️"Wow just wow! Simple changes to MY behaviour and interaction following Kate's advice. Both dogs in synchronisation with loose leads, recall that worked everytime Inc encounters with people and a fox - I am gobsmacked!"

Goofy Golden pulling you down the road like a steam train?

Can't get them to come back even if you had a whole t-bone steak in your pocket?

This brand new Golden Geek has been a member for under 24 hours and LOOK at these incredible results 😲

You need to change something to change something. Huge respect for stepping up and making big changes to improve your life and your dog's lives

09/05/2024

We’re more than half way now through the FREE Goofy To Golden Training Challenge inside The Golden Academy Training Challenge group 😁

So far we have had some major lightbulbs 💡 Some recall wins (already!) many ah-ha moments and even some loose leash results (after years of trying various methods with limited success!!)

It’s not too late to catch up on the free training! The recordings of the training sessions will be removed from the group next Tuesday 14th May at 11:59pm ⏰

04/05/2024

Lori & Banjo went from steam train leash pulling to THIS in our free Goofy to Golden Training Challenge 🥳🤩

📣 Here's what Lori had to say:

"We learned this in the 5 day challenge, in the bonus session. And, I can’t believe how easy this was to learn.

Our dog is disabled, so I train at my dog’s pace, so maybe once every two weeks? 🤔 When you factor that in, and his age (5 yrs of pulling), l’d say this is pretty impressive. 👌🏼

My dog’s reinforcer (you learn that in the 5 day challenge) is going into the woods behind our house and so that’s what we do! (With a long line for safety 👷)"

Pretty impressive indeed, let's give Lori and Banjo some love for this incredible win! 💛💛💛

There's still time to sign up to the Goofy To Golden Training Challenge for free, we start Monday 6th May inside The Golden Academy Training Challenge group 🙌

28/04/2024

It’s National Pet Parents Day! 🦮🐾🏡🧍‍♀️

Can we see some sweet photos of you with your golden below?⬇️

(don’t be shy, you’re both beautiful 🥰)

For all the p**p scooping, 6am walking, treat buying, snack sharing, lint-roller buying, hoover unclogging golden guardians:

Today is for you ⭐️

Life with your golden isn’t always sunshine and rainbows 🌈

Sometimes your fingers go through the bag (IYKYK) 🫣

Sometimes you forget to lint roll your black leggings before rocking up to the office… 🐾

You might have yelled “he’s friendly!!!” One too many times this week for your own sanity 🙃

Life with your golden isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it.

If you dream of Instagramable strolls with your golden retriever, no matter how frustrating and embarrassing your walks are right now - you CAN build it!

Anywhere Dogs are built not born.

We’ve helped thousands of golden guardians transform their golden goofballs, so they can finally live the dream that made them get their golden in the first place.

Comment “SORTED” in the comments below and I’ll send you an invite to 5 days of completely free, live breed specific training starting May 6th, designed to take them from Goofy To Golden 🏆

26/04/2024

Is your golden a bit of a goofball?

Would you just like to enjoy a nice walk without embarrassing yourself as they ignore you again to go say hi to Digby and his mum down the bottom of the field? 🫣

💪 Recall problems, we got you!

Maybe they are so flippin excited by the world they're pulling like a 10-ton-truck before you've even left the house, and the relaxing walks you imagined are becoming the worst part of your day.

💪 Long suffering leash pullers, we got you!

Have you got a new pup who is chewing everything and biting everyone and it was not at all what you expected? You might be feeling overwhelmed and even regret getting your puppy at all (don't worry, it's normal ❤)

💪 Puppy guys, we got you!

Counter surfers, barkers, anchoring goldens, diggers, defiant teens and all things in between....

WE GOT YOU 🫶

You are all invited to join us for a completely free 5 days of immersive, live, breed specific training support, because we leave nobody on the bench.

Life with your golden doesn't have to suck, and they can be all you hoped they'd be, but it all starts with the first step:

Sign yourself up (the link is in the first comment below) and show up.

Show up for yourself and your golden, because you both deserve better.

Over 5 days of live training, you'll learn:

🤔 Exactly WHY your Golden is doing what they're doing

❌ How to stop them becoming an expert in the behaviour you don't want!

🦮 How breed specific training can be a total game changer for you and your golden

🙌 How to motivate them to happily do what you ask, the first time you ask (with no punishment or bribes!)

👩‍🎓 Apply the universal laws of animal learning to instantly stop bad behaviours without force or fear

🚀 The huge missing puzzle piece that can skyrocket all of our training results!

❓Live Q&A's live with me every evening of the challenge to keep you moving forward towards behaviour transformation

This is an earlier challenge than we had planned due to personal commitments, which means it might well be the last free training challenge for some time - don't miss out.

Join The Golden Academy Training Challenge to sign up!

Happy training ❤

24/04/2024

Awards are a lovely reinforcer, it feels great to be told you're doing great!

But who has told you recently?

We see you, the guardian who has been to three different trainers, with three different approaches and leaves out of pocket and more confused than before....

🏆 You are doing amazing. The right solution is out there and you'll know when you find it because it will feel right. We see you push past the desire to quit every day. You got this.

We see you, the overwhelmed human just trying to have a nice walk with your dog, getting tied up in knots googling dog training solutions until your eyes are heavy and your head is about to explode.

🏆 You are the right person for your dog. You have what it takes and the guidance you need is out there, it will make sense and you’ll feel good about it when you find it. Your grit and determination to help yourself and your dog is incredible, that is to be celebrated.

We see you, the person struggling to keep hold of the leash as your dog near yanks your arm from its socket as you are dragged behind them again, flailing with treats and toys that fall on deaf ears.

🏆 You are doing a great job, getting up and doing the best you can for your dog every day is a huge achievement. It’s ok to feel frustrated sometimes, we know you love your dog and you will do whatever you can to help you both live happily together.

To every single guardian who gets up, puts one foot in front of the other and keeps pushing for the right plan and support, so they can develop the skills to help their dog:

You are amazing.

You are everything your dog needs and more. We see you, and we appreciate you

18/04/2024

Neutering - is there any other topic that divides a room faster and with more intensity?!

Tell us, does this research come as a surprise or were you already aware of the recommendation for female Golden Retrievers to remain entire?

Did you neuter your Golden? Or have you tried the implant? Let’s chat about it (remember to ask yourself - ‘what would a golden do?’ When responding to others with patience and understanding 💛)

🩺 Neutering age guidelines for 40 dog breeds🐕

Spaying female and castrating male dogs within the first year of their lives is often a common practice. However, research underscores the importance of carefully considering whether and when to neuter a specific dog.

📑Studies have shown that reduced exposure to gonadal hormones can result in heightened fear aggression in both male and female dogs, while conversely, dogs with longer exposure to these hormones tend to display fewer problematic behaviours and experience fewer health issues.

📈Hart et al. conducted a series of research projects indicating increased risks of joint disorders, cancers, and urinary incontinence associated with neutering age across various dog breeds. In their latest paper, Hart et al. (2024) produced a table with suggested neutering age guidelines for 40 dog breeds.

Their work illustrates the importance of personalized decision-making regarding the neutering of dogs, taking into consideration various factors such as breed, health status, living environment, and associated risks.

For the table please see below. 👇

To access the full paper follow this link: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1322276/full?fbclid=IwAR2fAindtSqUvNqCALBi6MLERmX7CHsz8SkdUt3n724-ux0hA3sAwbTMO0o_aem_AcY7JXGEPKj6NplBOfLHThIgvFg_akAaMKPaKMuLPx79PLfLZeoWk-TlUG_OOOabghyr2QnZgz7FS-ZhRL9ihgkj


Reference: Hart LA, Thigpen AP, Hart BL, Willits NH, Lee M, Babchuk MM, Lee J, Ho M, Clarkson ST and Chou JW (2024) Assisting decision-making on age of neutering for German Short/Wirehaired Pointer, Mastiff, Newfoundland, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Siberian Husky: associated joint disorders, cancers, and urinary incontinence. Front. Vet. Sci. 11:1322276.doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1322276

🎓📚Odisee: Science based education for animal behaviour professionals✨

16/04/2024

The first step in The Golden Guide:

UNDERSTAND what’s driving the behaviour

Has understanding your dog’s behaviour helped you formulate a solution that works for both of you? Share your experience of how leading with empathy and understanding has helped you and your golden 💛

12/04/2024

What's the most heart stopping thing your golden has stolen... Or should we say "found" 😉 Share it with me in the comments 👇

Night bleeds into dawn, the taxman will always take his cut and Golden Retrievers will eternally put everything in their mouth.

It’s just the way of the world. 🌍

You can’t fight it, they won’t grow out of it, and here’s why:

It’s literally what we designed them for.

When we selected for golden retrievers, we built an incredible hunting companion. A retrieving machine, who can scale land or water and return that bird without a mark.

(yep, that blonde goofball on your sofa was built for amazing things!)

The desire to hold, parade, possess and carry is hard coded into their DNA.

Don’t try and train this away, you will lose!

So what to do when your golden has got their slobbery chops on your prized Louboutin heels (again!)...

❌ Do not chase

If you chase your dog, not only are they getting innate reinforcement from holding, parading, carrying and possessing; they’re getting the thrill of the chase too!

❌ Do not forcibly remove the item

If you are constantly removing things from your golden’s mouth, they learn to run away and hide when they have something and you’re nearby. They can develop distance increasing behaviours such as growling or snapping at you to keep you from stealing the item. OR they just get more careful about pinching stuff when you're not around, and better at hiding it when you are.

In their head they are finding. YOU are stealing.

❌ Don't panic

If your puppy steals something and you’re about to chase them down, stop and think! Is it dangerous? Will this item actually harm your dog? Remember, they only have it because you haven’t appropriately managed the environment! Every time you chase your puppy down and forcibly remove something from them, you’re reinforcing the idea that you are not safe or trustworthy.

They found it. You're taking it.

✅ Manage the environment

If you don’t want them to take it, don’t leave it out. This is especially important if you have a puppy. Get clever about this, shoes go in lidded baskets or storage units, cables in tidy pots, remotes up high or stored in lidded boxes, you get the idea!

✅ Lace your environment with legal options

We can’t train the golden out of the golden. Make sure they have plenty of items around that they can practice these innate behaviours with legally. Celebrate with them when they're parading legal items around like Mufasa paraded Simba! 🦁

✅ Teach a retrieve to hand

Start by teaching them to touch their toy to your hand and then they retain it, so a retrieve doesn’t mean losing their possession every time. Celebrate with them when they have an item in their mouth, allow them to possess it without threat of loss. Build up to a full retrieve.

✅ Teach an emergency interrupter

If your puppy has something dangerous, you’ll need to interrupt, how you do this matters. Teach a valuable emergency interrupter such as a ‘TO THE FRIDGE!’ Cue that predicts it’s about to rain cheese from the magic metal box in the kitchen. Sprinkle a bit more on the floor to buy you time to collect the illicit item, then revisit the previous points: manage the environment & train a retrieve to hand for next time

(...Because there WILL be a next time)

05/04/2024

When Pooches Therapies showed me this sat in the cafe yesterday I had a little cry, in public 🫣

I needed a tissue twice yesterday, once for a poached egg and once for happy tears. The less said about the poached egg the better.

Bo and her family are ultimate rockstars. Nobody envisions a journey of managing chronically painful conditions in their dog. It’s an adjustment, a massive adjustment. You need to reframe everything you thought you knew and hoped for.

This gorgeous girl is one of the lucky ones. She fell into the right hands with Yaz. How many more are being written off as “just naughty” or “needs more training” ? How many of these dogs are being harshly handled or labelled as “stubborn?”

I’m so incredibly proud of every single one of you that are open to the message - there’s so much more to your dog than just training.

Every single member of The Golden Academy, every person that listens to our content, that shares the message and pushes for more for yourselves and your goldens. You really do deserve better. And we won’t rest until you all get it.

Check out Yorkshire Pooches Therapies’s video.

02/04/2024

🚨Last Call FREE Rocket Recall Bonus 🚨

We kick off in 30 minutes from now and this session will only be available for 12 hours on replay!⏰

Join us here: 🚀 Rocket Recall Bonus Session!

01/04/2024

Happy Easter Golden Guardians ☀️🥰🐣 What did you get upto with your goldens this Easter holiday? Ottie, Rupert and I have been on some lovely long walks, enjoyed a good roll in the grass, had a visit from their second favourite human on the planet (Grandad) and enjoyed lots of leftover food (no chocolate eggs though!)

26/03/2024

CALLING ALL GOLDEN GEEKS!

Can you help with this awesome research? You'll need to be able to travel to Budapest (and let's face it, it's probably best if you live there to take part...)

Comment below with what you think is going on in your golden's head 🙃🧠👇

23/03/2024

It’s National Puppy Day 😍

Share with us below a snap of your golden as a puppy 💛 I’ll start!

We often are asked ”Is my puppy too young to join the free training challenge” and the answer is always unequivocally - NO!

Did you know that studies show dogs that experience professional training support prior to 6 months of age are less likely to experience behaviour problems as they grow? Less barking, less destruction, less aggression! 🤯

What they learn first, they learn best!! 🧠

The FREE Stubborn Goldens Sorted Training Challenge starts Monday 25th March inside The Golden Academy Training Challenge group. Thousands of golden guardians from all over the world have already jumped in to get their Stubborn Golden Sorted ✅

Look at baby Rupert 🥺

13/03/2024

Here's the thing: you can do years of dog training classes and still struggle on your walks.

Jasper had spent a year (!!) at puppy classes and yet still had a hard time staying calm and focussed on his walks.

Jasper's progress has been insane, he went from barking at the mower, dogs, people, pulling like a train and ears for decoration purposes only to the ultimate rockstar he is today 💪

We so proud of you guys, Team Jasp you're absolutely smashing it. Representing the Black Lab Squad of the Golden Academy with style 😎

Your dog can, you can too. The first step is just to take action. Change something to change something 🙌

Just comment "SORTED" below to find out more about our free 5 day free live training event streamed worldwide 🌎👇

"So today was lawn cutting day.. the first one this year and Jasp again trotted nicely beside me with no reaction to it... and it got me thinking....in 7 months my boy has learned to loose lead walk, now recalls from dogs and people from across the field, is calm and has amazing focus, is no longer reactive to dogs and people,has overcome seperation anxiety, now does tricks like bang bang dead, settles on his magic mat and is generally less anxious. No longer tries to attack the mower, hairdryer and hoover. Now has ears on when we go walking, and is now fully engaged with me and our bond is absolutely fantastic... i now really do have my anywhere dog! Im so grateful to you Kate Bond for taking pity on me in the field as i was being dragged along by Jasperoonie the 36kg labrador, and letting me join the academy.. my poorly back thanks you too .. the support from my fellow geeks has been amazing. My boy is a completely different dog to the one i joined with.. for all our newbie members who are feeling like i was 7 months ago please know this group changed the lives of me and my boy.. keep the faith, miracles do happen here. Pic of my Jasperoonie boy because i flippin love him and im super proud of the progess he has made "

12/03/2024

Which one are you when it comes to socialisation? A) Dog Park Wrestlemania Fan… or B ) Gentle Positive Exposure To The World

When did the benchmark of a 'well socialised dog' become their ability to cope in the Royal Rumble that is the dog park anyway?

If your dog doesn't cope well as 10 other dogs of various sizes slam into each other like WWE Wrestlemania Superstars - it's not your dog that's abnormal.

Dog park aspirations might not be a reasonable goal for your dog, and that is absolutely ok.

It not my goal for my own dogs either.

If you have a golden retriever puppy at the moment, and you're of the belief you need a dog park to help socialise your dog... Pause for a moment.

The most common struggle I see with goldens is the inability to remain calm around other dogs. Period.

Do you think they'll learn to relax at the Royal Rumble?

No, me neither 😆

And if you've already signed them up for the pro-wrestler role and you're regretting your ringside tickets, all is not lost. You can help them learn that not all dogs are a predictor of Saturday night raw chaos, but only if you make some changes now.

If this was of interest to you, you may wish to join us for our free 5 day live training challenge, starting on the 25th March inside The Golden Academy Training Challenge group

Respond in the comments with the word 'SORTED' to learn more about the free challenge 👍

11/03/2024

Has your golden retriever turned into a 70-pound jumping kangaroo? 🦘 Sit is not the answer to jumping up, my friends. Understanding breed-specific behaviors is the key to overcoming this pesky habit. Golden retrievers are enthusiastic, friendly creatures who love to jump up to greet you. Instead of scolding or simply telling them to sit, work smarter, not harder 🧠 Say goodbye to those springs in the paws and hello to a well-behaved pooch, as you'll all have your needs met 💙

10/03/2024

If you can explain your answer, I will be super impressed and award you eleventy billion bonus points 🏆

We will follow up with an explanation, so be sure to follow for the answer (it may not be what you think!)

10/03/2024

Happy Mother's Day

Dogs are not children, we all know this.

To liken a dog to a child is almost to deny their dogness!

My children don’t shoulder-dip in poo, consume manure as though is it a real delicacy or leave p*e mail sprayed around the village with gleeful abandon (…anymore )

We love dogs for who they are. In all of their filthy, goofy, disgusting glory.

We are their protectors, providers, companions, caregivers, guardians…

‘Mum’ is as close as we can get to a word that encompasses the complexity and depth of our bond.

But it’s not *quite* right.

Similar, but different

To all of you navigating the choppy waters of dogs who behave in ways we find difficult to understand - take a moment for yourself today.

They might not be our babies, but the visceral connection we feel to these incredible beings is something very special indeed.

09/03/2024

Did you know that a Golden Retriever's mouth is so soft that they can carry an egg without breaking it?

This unique trait comes from their carefully selected genetics as excellent hunting companions. Golden Retrievers were bred to retrieve birds for hunters without causing them any harm.

So next time your Golden Retriever gently takes a treat from your hand, remember it's all thanks to their impressive breeding history!

08/03/2024

Is your golden driving you NUTS? 🤯

Are you walking them 2 or 3 times a day and STILL they're raring to go or getting into mischief?

Maybe you've tried enrichment toys but they just turn their nose up at them?

Or they smash through a kong in 0.8 seconds flat, and that doesn't look very "stimulating"....

They might even be starting to cause arguments at home because they're just SO. MUCH. WORK.

Enter 👃 SCENTWORK 👃

So, why is scentwork so beneficial for your dog? Well, for starters, it provides mental stimulation that can help alleviate boredom and reduce destructive behaviors.

If you're currently struggling with your golden's behaviour, scentwork could very well be your 🎫 golden ticket 🎫 to finding inner peace, for both of you! Consider it mindfulness for dogs.


You see happy dogs are good dogs.

But making your dog happy doesn't come from more toys, more running, more, more, more.

It comes from enveloping yourself in the dog's world. Understanding and offering the things that truly move the needle towards a more fulfilled dog and as a happy by product,

A HAPPIER MORE PEACEFUL HOME LIFE FOR YOUUUUU! 🙌

The benefits don't stop there! Scentwork can also strengthen the bond between you and your dog. As you navigate through challenges together, you'll build trust and communication skills that will carry over into all aspects of your relationship.

Talk about two birds with one stone! A happier dog with better listening skills?!

YOU IN?! 🌟

07/03/2024

How food motivated is your retriever??

Did you know there's a gene present in around a quarter of labrador retrievers that predisposes them to obesity?

The gene, named Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC for short) contributes to obesity in Labrador Retrievers. A specific mutation of this gene has been shown to contribute to increased body weight, increased body fat, and increased food motivation in Labrador Retrievers.

There is also evidence of the gene in Flatcoat Retrievers...

Interestingly, it was found that 76% of the service dogs tested carried this genetic mutation. Could it be the genetic mutation increases trainability by making the prospective service dogs willing to work harder for their food rewards in training?

There is no evidence we know of yet of the gene presenting in Golden Retrievers....

Have you got a greedy guts or a slim jim?

06/03/2024

Are you stuck bribing your dog for a recall?

Do you know the difference between a reinforcer and a bribe? And why one works while the other is doomed to failure? Comment below if you know!

Always find yourself almost begging your dog to come back as you wave the contents of your pockets at them in mild panic and despair?

If your recall is looking a bit hit and miss, there's so much you can do to transform it from lacklustre to lightning fast ⚡

Ask yourself what your recall actually predicts to your dog right now, is it the end of fun times? Or does it mean it's about to rain awesome for your dog?!

If you want a recall like Cooper's then keep your eyes p*eled for our next free training challenge starting 25th March, join The Golden Academy Training Challenge to sign up free 🐾

05/03/2024

If you trainer tells you to squeeze your puppy’s mouth closed for puppy biting, shove your fingers in their mouth or tap them on the nose -

RUN. ⛳

We do not want hands to incite fear. Ever.

This is the quickest way to teach them that people reaching towards them is something to avoid or defend against.

05/03/2024

Louder for the ones in the back 🙌

Go follow Nanci Creedon Dog Behaviourist and start interacting with the things you want to see more of on social media. Share from accounts you love, comment on posts that resonate and are designed to shape a better world for dogs. Drown them all with radical positivity.

The algorithm will just show you more of what you love. Every time you share or interact with a page putting out quality content that helps dogs, you move the needle towards a better world for them. And us.

Thank you for helping us to help them 💛

04/03/2024

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐭?

Swipe through to see our top 10 golden retriever names and see if your pup is a trendsetter or a classic cutie 🐶

Tell us your favourites and if your golden is on the list or not!