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The Golden Academy Join the FREE 5-day Golden Retriever Training Challenge - sign up via the link below 👇

The Golden Academy - The world's first Golden Retriever specific online training community. We help struggling golden guardians transform their goofy goldens into Anywhere Dogs though breed specific training.

Feb 3rd wasn’t only National Golden Retriever Day, it was also the 32nd anniversary of the Disney adventure comedy movie...
07/02/2025

Feb 3rd wasn’t only National Golden Retriever Day, it was also the 32nd anniversary of the Disney adventure comedy movie, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey!

The movie that is responsible for so many of us falling in love with Shadow, and a lifelong devotion to golden retrievers 💛

Did Homeward Bound influence your love for Goldens? 🤗

Happy national golden retriever day 🐾🤗💛Share a photo of your gorgeous goldies in the comments to celebrate this special ...
03/02/2025

Happy national golden retriever day 🐾🤗💛

Share a photo of your gorgeous goldies in the comments to celebrate this special day! 👇🏻

How fortunate we are to share this world with such beautiful golden souls.

As a golden retriever specialist, I am extremely fortunate to only work with our beautiful breed. 🥰🥰🥰

Everyone talks about how Golden Retrievers are ‘perfect’—gentle, obedient, and calm. But what happens when your Golden i...
16/01/2025

Everyone talks about how Golden Retrievers are ‘perfect’—gentle, obedient, and calm. But what happens when your Golden is, well… Not?

Maybe they’re too excitable, bark at every squirrel, or pull like a freight train on walks.🚂

If you’ve ever thought, ‘Why doesn’t my Golden behave like the ones I see on TV or social media?’—you’re not alone. We see you. We’ve been there. 💛

Let’s start a conversation: What’s one behavior you wish you could change about your Golden? Drop it in the comments—we’d love to hear your story.

We’re ready 🫖☕️ it’s go time!! Today is day one of the Goofy To Golden Training Challenge 💪🦮 There’s still time to sign ...
25/11/2024

We’re ready 🫖☕️ it’s go time!!

Today is day one of the Goofy To Golden Training Challenge 💪🦮

There’s still time to sign up if you missed it (🔗 in first comment!)

Will we be seeing you on or today? 💛

**this post is not sponsored by Yorkshire Tea… Sadly** 🤭

Do you feel like the invisible person at the end of your Golden’s leash? 🐾When you go for a walk, do you feel more like ...
18/11/2024

Do you feel like the invisible person at the end of your Golden’s leash? 🐾

When you go for a walk, do you feel more like the fun police, constantly stopping your dog from doing everything they want to do?

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many Golden guardians find themselves:

❌ Hoping their dog will “grow out of it” someday.

❌ Spending money on leads, collars, or gadgets that promise quick fixes but never deliver long term.

❌ Becoming overwhelmed and frustrated fighting for a moment of their golden's attention in a group training class.

❌ Thinking more socialisation with dogs will solve the problem—but it doesn’t.

❌ Exhausting their Golden with endless exercise, hoping it will improve their behavior.

❌ Relying heavily on expensive high value treats, only for it to all fall apart when the treats run out.

If any of this feels like your story, we’ve got you covered! 💛

The Goofy to Golden FREE 5-Day Challenge starts Monday, November 25th, and it’s designed to help you transform your walks and your relationship with your Golden Retriever.

✨ Comment ‘SORTED’ below, and we’ll send you the invite straight to your inbox!

Let’s bring the joy back into your life with your Golden. 🐶🙌

Got a Goofy Golden and need training help NOW?! Fear not my friends, we’re back with a strong arm to pull you to shore (...
14/11/2024

Got a Goofy Golden and need training help NOW?!

Fear not my friends, we’re back with a strong arm to pull you to shore (and a packet of hankies for the tears and snotty noses🤧)

If your walks are leaving you asking yourself some hard questions about if you should have ever got your golden in the first place, this challenge is for you.

If you’ve found yourself overwhelmed and embarrassed by your golden’s behaviour, wanting the world to swallow you whole as they yank and bark their way through your walks, this challenge is for you.

If you just need to understand WHAT exactly you need to do to get your life back on track, we have your answers.

And we have bags of support for you to implement the plan 💛 because flying blind wrangling a golden goofball is no fun at all.

Come and join thousands of other golden guardians as we hold your hand through 5 days of free live training support. Our team of golden retriever specialists are on call throughout the whole week, with live training sessions and live Q&A sessions every day during the challenge.

It’s time to transform your Golden Goofball into the Anywhere Dog you dreamed of - no more Fenton moments! 🤪

You’ll find the link in the first comment to secure your free spot - We start on November 25th 💪

13 years ago today the world was gifted with this moment of educational and comedy gold 🥇 Never forget 🙏😂😂😂Link in first...
13/11/2024

13 years ago today the world was gifted with this moment of educational and comedy gold 🥇

Never forget 🙏

😂😂😂

Link in first comment (go on, spoil yourself, give it an anniversary watch 🤣)

𝐓𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠?If your walks leave you questioning your own sanity for ever being sucked into getting a ...
12/11/2024

𝐓𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠?

If your walks leave you questioning your own sanity for ever being sucked into getting a dog in the first place, I have some unconventional tips to transform those miserable marches.

Pulling sucks, let's not mince our words!

It's blisteringly frustrating when you can't get your golden to listen at all outside.

First things first, invest in a longer leash so your golden can have some freedom to roam and explore without feeling restricted.

I know, I know, you think they'll just yank you around on a longer leash too!

But trust me, just try it.

Go somewhere with lots of scents to investigate and not so many distractions for now.

(ahem, other dogs!)

And when they do make eye contact with you, make sure to reward them for it with something they love - positive reinforcement goes a long way.

When they're looking in your direction, they physically cannot be pulling you at the same time.

Think of every biscuit you feed for a behaviour you like, like a penny in a savings jar, they soon mount up 💰

Remember, it's important to control the environment, not the dog. Set them up for success by managing your surroundings.

If your dog is struggling, try a less distracting environment and level up more gradually.

Don't expect perfect loose leash walking in the park on day one, let's be realistic 🙃 You didn't go to university before infants, juniors and high school! 🎓

And whatever you do, keep your hands soft and your breath steady. It's all about gentle guidance and positive interactions.

It takes two to pull...

Lastly, don't forget to enjoy the walk with your golden. It's a bonding experience for both of you, so take a moment to appreciate the time spent together.

So, take a deep breath, and remember that with a little patience and some positive reinforcement, you and your golden goofball can conquer the walk together.

If you're on our mailing list you'll be invited to our free online training challenges including our super popular loose leash walking sessions 🦮

And you can check out our blog for even more tips on loose leash walking, the link is in the first comment 👇

This handsome chap is Luca and Luca is an Anywhere dog 🏆Kathea has built an incredible relationship and all the life ski...
11/11/2024

This handsome chap is Luca and Luca is an Anywhere dog 🏆

Kathea has built an incredible relationship and all the life skills Luca needs to live their best lives together through kind and gentle training methods in The Golden Academy

Only fitting for the kindest and most gentle of all the breeds, I'm sure you will agree 🥰

When Kathea sent me these gorgeous photos from a recent pet photoshoot I just had to share them with you all! Look at that handsome lad 😍😍 And in his Golden Academy bandana too 😁

Have you ever considered getting a photoshoot with your golden? Maybe you already have (plz share the pics below if so!!) or maybe you have done your own photoshoot with your phone camera - we wanna see your best shots!

Ful credit to the original photographer here too
IG: beccalynnphotography_

Over 6000 of you guys tuned in for our last free golden training challenge! And here's what you had to say 💛Our challeng...
14/10/2024

Over 6000 of you guys tuned in for our last free golden training challenge! And here's what you had to say 💛

Our challenges are one big golden party. A week of deep diving into all things golden retriever.

There's some tears, some laughs, some big ah-ha moments and LOTS of training wins!!

Have you joined us for a challenge before? We're always trying to grow and improve the challenges so we can better help you to help your golden.

💛👇

07/10/2024

Check out Tracy & Finn's amazing loose leash walking 👏👏👏

By working on core skills your dog needs first, you'll find loose leash and recall suddenly become a whole lot easier to unlock.

First, we need your dog to fall in love with the process of training.

If you think back to your school days, you likely had one specific subject you loved.

When your teacher is patient, kind and supportive, it's easy to fall in love with the subject.

Then we need some core skills: Calm dogs can focus. Focussed dogs can learn.

Then suddenly, all of the stresses and battles you've faced trying to train in the past without your foundation pieces in place melt away.

Suddenly, training becomes not only achievable, but something you both enjoy!

Training doesn't have to be hard, it doesn't have to be a slog, and it doesn't have to take forever.

There's just over a day left now to join The Golden Academy as a new member before we close those doors. Places are limited, don't be shut out!

https://www.goodasgolden.co.uk/academy

A few of members of The Golden Academy from the South East got together for a golden meet 🥰🥰🥰🥰Rachel and Kya, Anita and ...
06/10/2024

A few of members of The Golden Academy from the South East got together for a golden meet 🥰🥰🥰🥰

Rachel and Kya, Anita and Elmo, Carole and Amber, Julia and Eddie and Barbara and David with Freddie and Charlie.

What a gorgeous golden bunch representing The Golden Academy with PRIDE! 💛💙💛

Some of these dogs used to seriously struggle around other dogs in the past.

Anywhere Dogs are built; they're not born.

Congratulations team golden, you built this, and we couldn't be more proud of you all 🥰

Are you involved in the Stubborn Goldens Sorted Free Training Challenge? Over 6000 of you are taking part to transform y...
03/10/2024

Are you involved in the Stubborn Goldens Sorted Free Training Challenge? Over 6000 of you are taking part to transform your "stubborn" golden! (If you know - you know ;) )

There's still time to join us and catch up on this week's training lightbulb moments 💡

Have you had an awesome training win this week during the challenge? Let us know! 👇

Recall, is this skill standing between you and the dog walks you imagined?Not being able to let your dog off leash witho...
21/09/2024

Recall, is this skill standing between you and the dog walks you imagined?

Not being able to let your dog off leash without gripping anxiety is not what any of us imagine when we bring our golden nuggets home, but it’s the reality so many face.

It doesn’t have to be hard, it doesn’t have to take forever and it IS possible.

You just need the right plan and the right support to finally unlock the off leash freedom you dream of for your golden 🫶🏻

Want to learn more about how you can build better walks with your golden, so you can finally start to live your best lives together?!

Comment “sorted” below 👇🏻 and I’ll send you an invite to our totally free 5 day Stubborn Goldens Sorted Training Challenge. We start on the 30th September - see you there 🙌

Got a golden kangaroo? 🦘Getting tired of shouting "SIIIIIIIIT!" as the bouncing 35kg golden goofball just gets giddier a...
20/09/2024

Got a golden kangaroo? 🦘

Getting tired of shouting "SIIIIIIIIT!" as the bouncing 35kg golden goofball just gets giddier and gidder?

(and higher and higher?!)🤯

Skip the sit, it doesn't work anyway, let's work smarter - not harder on this one 👌

Imagine this: You’re at a lively party, excited to share some important news with a friend. As you eagerly approach, your friend cuts you off and says,

"Wait, sit quietly over there first."

You’re filled with excitement, and being asked to sit still feels frustrating, right? Now think about how your dog feels when you ask them to sit when they’re thrilled to see you.

🧠 Managing Impulses & Excitement Overload

Staying still when you’re bursting with joy is tough! Asking a dog to sit in those moments is like winding up a jack-in-the-box – eventually, they’ll spring up with excitement.

🤔 Why Dogs Jump

Before discouraging jumping, let’s understand why dogs do it. Often, it’s about fulfilling social needs and information gathering – they’re excited to greet you! Asking them to sit doesn’t satisfy the need that jumping fulfills, so it will fail.

🐶 The Golden Fix: Leaning In

What can we do instead? Let’s work with their natural instincts, like the Golden Retriever’s leg lean. Goldens love this move, when they turn their body away, then make contact with you with their hip. And it’s a great alternative for a jump-free greeting! When your dog leans against your leg, facing the same direction as you, and you reward them with a chest rub, they're much less able to jump – it’s a win-win that satisfies both of you.

Why is This Better Than 'Sit'?

✅Allows Movement: Your dog stays free to express themselves.

✅Fulfills Social Needs: Leaning gives them the connection they’re seeking through jumping.

✅Respects Natural Behavior: It aligns with their breed’s natural greeting tendencies.

Next time your Golden is excited, consider the leg lean instead of ‘sit’ for a less stressful greeting experience.

Want more tips on breed-specific training? Join our 5-day FREE Stubborn Goldens Sorted Training Challenge starting live on September 30th You can sign up free now via the link below 👇

https://portal.goodasgolden.co.uk/stubborn-goldens-sorted

To all the loving guardians of Golden Retrievers facing behavior struggles, I want to share a thought that may bring som...
13/09/2024

To all the loving guardians of Golden Retrievers facing behavior struggles, I want to share a thought that may bring some comfort and perspective. As we work with our dogs, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when their behavior seems unpredictable, or worse, when it feels personal. There are moments when it seems like they're purposely pushing your buttons, but in reality, they're often having a hard time, not intentionally giving you one.

Your relationship with your Golden is the foundation of everything you hope to teach them. It’s the bond you share that shapes their ability to learn, grow, and trust. When their behavior becomes challenging, it's not a reflection of your failure or their defiance—it's a signal that they need your patience, understanding, and guidance.

Our wonderful human brains give us an incredible tool: the power to pause, reflect, and choose our response. Between your Golden’s behavior and your reaction, there is a space. In that space lies the opportunity to shape the future, to choose kindness and consistency over frustration and overreactions. When we make thoughtful decisions in that moment, we not only help our dogs' emotions and behavior in the long run, but we also strengthen the bond that connects us.

By using the power of that pause, we can respond in ways that nurture growth—both in ourselves and in our beloved Goldens. It’s not about perfection but about progress, and every choice you make to connect rather than react brings you both closer to the partnership you envision. Keep going, keep showing up with love, and remember that you have the strength to guide your Golden through even the toughest of times. 💛

This photo is etched in my mind and my soul. A tangible reminder of the incredible devotion and the unshakeable bond bet...
11/09/2024

This photo is etched in my mind and my soul. A tangible reminder of the incredible devotion and the unshakeable bond between us and dogs.

On September 11, 2001, amidst the devastation and chaos, heroes of all kinds emerged to aid in the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero. Among them were highly trained search-and-rescue dogs, including several Golden Retrievers, whose tireless efforts helped locate survivors and provide comfort to rescue workers and victims’ families. These dogs, known for their intelligence, resilience, and gentle nature, played an irreplaceable role in the aftermath of one of the darkest days in American history.

Bretagne: A Young Hero With a Lasting Legacy

One of the most recognized Golden Retrievers from the 9/11 rescue mission is Bretagne, who worked alongside her handler Denise Corliss. Bretagne, just two years old at the time, was deployed as part of a Texas Task Force search-and-rescue team. For over a week, she worked 12-hour shifts at Ground Zero, searching through the rubble for any signs of life. While much of her work involved recovering the remains of victims, Bretagne’s presence offered more than just search capabilities—she also provided comfort to the firefighters and first responders, many of whom were emotionally exhausted from the traumatic work.

Bretagne's career didn’t end with 9/11. She continued to serve in other disasters, such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, before retiring. Post-retirement, Bretagne became a therapy dog, visiting schools and helping children with learning difficulties, proving that her capacity for service extended well beyond her years on the front lines. Bretagne lived a full and celebrated life, passing away at age 16 in 2016. Her legacy continues to inspire, as she was one of the last surviving dogs who worked at Ground Zero.

Riley: A Rescuer in the Rubble

Riley, another Golden Retriever, was also a key figure in the 9/11 recovery efforts. Trained as an Urban Search and Rescue dog by FEMA, Riley was deployed to Ground Zero with his handler, Chris Selfridge. Riley’s primary mission was to locate survivors trapped in the wreckage of the Twin Towers. Navigating the dangerous, unstable debris, Riley's sharp sense of smell and agility made him invaluable in searching for life beneath the rubble.

Though Riley primarily found the remains of those who had perished, his work was critical in helping the rescue teams recover victims, bringing some measure of closure to families waiting for news of their loved ones. Riley’s bravery and determination were not only instrumental in the rescue efforts but also a source of inspiration to the emergency responders who worked alongside him.

More Than Search-and-Rescue Dogs

The Golden Retrievers at Ground Zero weren’t only used for search-and-rescue missions. Their calm, empathetic natures made them the perfect companions for the many first responders who were emotionally and physically exhausted. These dogs brought a moment of solace to firefighters, police officers, and rescue workers, simply by being present, offering comfort in the form of a paw or a quiet moment of companionship.

A Tribute to Their Service

The Golden Retrievers who served during 9/11, including Bretagne and Riley, were part of a larger contingent of heroic dogs who gave everything they could to help in the rescue efforts. Whether they were searching for survivors, recovering victims, or comforting those on the front lines, these dogs demonstrated courage, resilience, and love in the face of unimaginable devastation.

Today, we honor these unsung heroes. Their service reminds us of the incredible bond between humans and animals, and how, in the darkest of times, that bond can bring light. As we remember the events of 9/11, let us also take a moment to reflect on the bravery of Bretagne, Riley, and all the other dogs who gave their all in service to humanity. Their legacies live on, forever a part of the history of that fateful day.

05/09/2024

Round of applause for Shay Kelly 👏👏👏

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