The stroking speed should not be too fast and the force should not be too strong

From our perspective, touching is a form of reward for dogs and a way for us to get close to them. However, incorrect ways of touching can unknowingly affect some of the dog's perceptions and have some impact on future work with the dog. Therefore, we need to be clear about which incorrect touching methods should be avoided as much as possible.

Golden Retrievers are quite docile dogs, so most people do not have fear of this kind of dog. Therefore, whenever they encounter a Golden Retriever, they can’t help but want to touch it. However, when we stroke the dog downward from the head with force, we can observe the dog's expression. Some dogs close their eyes tightly, wrinkle their face, and pull their ears into a tense shape. It shows that this kind of touching is not something they like.

Compared to forceful touching, gentle stroking is more suitable for dogs. We can make dogs trust our touch and reduce the stress caused by contact. Some owners like to grab the dog's muzzle to stop their barking habit, but the side effect of this action is that when our hand approaches the dog's mouth or nose, it instinctively creates some rejection. This will affect future activities such as brushing teeth, feeding medicine, and cleaning.

If the dog is already sensitive to our hands, we can first use the back of the hand to touch less sensitive areas such as the side of the face, chin, and head, and then move on to the body, tail, and limbs which are less frequently touched. When the dog gradually adapts, switch to normal touching methods.

Get the dog used to being stroked, so it won't resist too much during cleaning

The speed of stroking is also very important

When we are tense, it is not recommended to stroke the dog. Because at this time, our stroking speed and force are obviously faster and stronger than usual, and this quick and hurried stroking can easily make the dog more nervous and restless. Therefore, if you want to stroke the dog during this time, you must control your force and speed. In fact, after controlling well, stroking the dog can also alleviate your mood. This will not greatly affect the dog and can make them feel very comfortable.

Prepare for future cleaning work

There are many areas on the dog’s body that we usually do not touch, such as the limbs, tail, and buttocks. But when we need to clean these areas, we must touch them, especially the dog's limbs which require regular nail trimming. Therefore, we should increase the frequency of touching these parts in daily life.

When free, we can gently touch the dog’s paws and even lift the front paws for a handshake training. If the dog cooperates well, we should give some reward so the dog feels that touching its paws is not a problem and can earn praise. For activities like brushing teeth or feeding medicine, you can start practicing touching the lips, opening the mouth, and feeling the teeth. These seemingly routine touches are closely connected with many daily life necessities.