An image of a happy golden retriever - contact Dog Training Elite for your golden retriever training in Murfreesboro / Spring Hill, TN.

Professional Training For

Golden Retrievers

Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville

Request Free Assessment


Request Free Assessment


Our Golden Retriever Training Could Help:

Separation anxiety
Excessive barking
Overexcitement
Destructive chewing
Jumping on people
Pulling on the leash
Uncontrolled digging

Golden Retriever Training in Murfreesboro / Spring Hill, TN

At Dog Training Elite, we have extensive experience in Golden Retriever training in Murfreesboro / Spring Hill, TN, both as puppies and adults. This breed's eagerness to please and high intelligence make them relatively easy to train, whether the goal is basic obedience, therapy work, or specialized tasks. Our training programs are tailored to maximize the breed's natural abilities and ensure effective, lasting results.

By working with our team at Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville, owners can develop a strong bond with their Golden Retriever, guiding them through each stage of their development. We focus on harnessing your dog's inherent qualities, helping you raise a well-behaved, reliable, and loving companion.

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A well-trained golden retriever with their owner - our Murfreesboro / Spring Hill golden retriever puppy training can help your pup be a loving family companion.

Why Golden Retrievers Make Ideal Family Dogs


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Golden Retrievers have long been a favorite choice for families, consistently ranking as one of the top five breeds in America. Their intelligence, loyalty, and friendly disposition make them exceptional companions, especially in households with children. These dogs are gentle, fun-loving, and excel in various roles due to their strong work ethic and adaptability.

Despite their many strengths, Golden Retrievers are not naturally aggressive, which means they may not be the best choice as guard dogs. However, their calm and sociable nature makes them a perfect fit for families looking for a loving and dependable companion.

Get Your Free Assessment

You and your canine companion really can have it all. See how easy it can be to become a member of the elite pup society by requesting a free consultation today!

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Joe Mullvain
    Feb. 10, 2025
    Brad has been a tremendous resource for us and our new puppy. He is patient and has a wealth of knowledge that has proven to be very helpful in the training process! We would recommend him to anyone seeking some additional training resources for their dog!!
  • Jessica Rathbun
    Feb. 7, 2025
    They were amazing at getting our five year old Great Pyrenees to not be reactive and listen better. Their techniques are doable and I cannot thank them enough! Such an improvement!
  • Stephani Keetch
    Jan. 20, 2025
    Brad is PHENOMENAL! His patience with our VERY stubborn 4 year old dog was incredible! He never wavered or showed any signs of frustration, but instead continued to confidently show his expertise and knowledge, even still somehow seeming to enjoy himself! Brad's care, compassion and passion for what he does is palpable. Our dog loves Brad!
  • Tracy Davison
    Jan. 18, 2025
    The trainers at Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville were incredibly kind, patient, and encouraging, making the entire training process a positive and effective experience for both my family and our pup, ultimately transforming him into a well-behaved companion. With their exceptional expertise and caring approach, they helped us overcome our pup's behavioral issues and achieve the best results through their top-notch private in-home dog training.
  • Katthy Peidigo
    Jan. 7, 2025
    It was such an enjoyable time watching Brad train our German Shepherd Kilo. I will recommend to everyone that needs a great company to train their dogs.
  • Tamar Gillock
    Dec. 10, 2024
    Brad and Dog Training Elite Nashville were the absolute best thing to ever happen to my dog. Our family has a miniature Aussie and boy is he a handful! Within 3 training sessions our dog Bandit was a new man! Once we were finished with our in home session it was like Brad had given us a new dog, it was amazing. I can’t speak highly enough of Brad and his ability to work with not just dogs but their owners. I would recommend them over and over!
  • Amanda Corn
    Dec. 5, 2024
    Brad with Dog Training Elite has been FANTASTIC to work with. He is great at both dog training and training us to be confident and able to effectively train our dog outside of scheduled sessions. He has helped us be able to see and unlock our dog's potential. We thought we were doing okay on our own, but Brad has helped us take our dog's obedience to a whole new level. Highly recommend Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville.
  • Brett Hinson
    Nov. 25, 2024
    Helped out tremendously!!!! Night and day difference from day 1!! Brad has been amazing!
  • Sr. Catherine Marie, O.P.
    Nov. 24, 2024
    We have been so pleased with the work of Brad Okeson at Dog Training Elite. He has done wonders with our facility dog. Our school counselor was able to reenforce the skills taught. Our dog is now able to work effectively with the children in our school and they are responsive to him. Brad has been personable and great to work with.
  • Susan Akers
    Nov. 24, 2024
    Brad has done an amazing job with our Saint Rose School therapy dog, Cosmo. He has a gentle teaching style that works beautifully to encourage and teach Cosmo.
  • Regan Smith
    Nov. 22, 2024
    Brad is an excellent trainer. Our facility dog is pretty close to perfect!
  • Lauren Lewis
    Nov. 21, 2024
    They have done a wonderful job training our sweet Cosmo! I would highly recommend them to anyone!
  • Leissa Rich
    Nov. 21, 2024
    Brad is an excellent trainer, he was so accommodative with our schedule and AMAZING with our dog! We couldn't have been more pleased with the results shown through his training course, & would totally recommend him again and again to everyone and anyone. 🩷
  • Leslie Iorio
    Nov. 10, 2024
    Where to start: Brad Okeson is an outstanding trainer as well as a supportive listener and incredible teacher. He is all of these and also generous with his time and talent. Brad has been training our dog to be a therapy dog for our school. He assessed the puppies in our dog’s litter when they were 49 days old and chose our pup for his temperament, explaining how he was chosen. The very next week, Brad began working with our puppy, Cosmo, and me, as his owner and handler, in the environment for which Cosmo was chosen: our school. Brad has faithfully, continually, and patiently addressed issues, explained our puppy’s behavior, determined goals and helped us to reach them. Brad’s demeanor is pleasant and his style is gentle and firm - Cosmo adores him. He is delightful to learn from and watch in action. Cosmo is now eight months old and he is beloved by students and faculty alike. Cosmo’s behavior is so obedient, loving, and gentle that some of my colleagues have arranged to hire Brad to work with their own dogs in their homes. I cannot adequately express the admiration and gratitude I feel for Brad Okeson but I highly recommend him to you as you consider training for your pup.
  • Randi Pentzer
    Nov. 12, 2024
    Brad is the best!!! He is so attuned and amazing at his job. He made all of our dog dreams come true as he personalized our experience down to every detail. Everything little thing I wanted to change and work on, he made happen, happily and easily. I’m so thankful I went with elite before anyone else. I truly don’t know where else I would have gotten this wonderful experience with the best results.
  • Alvin Devendorf
    Nov. 11, 2024
    Brad was a pleasure to work with and very patient with our stubborn beagle. Our beagle had food aggression issues. Brad help us understand the reason for the behavior and how to best deal with it.
  • Laura Minguela
    Oct. 21, 2024
    Very reliable! I wouldn't look anywhere else for dog training.
  • Victoria
    Oct. 18, 2024
    Brad is great. If you need your dogs trained in the Nashville area give him a call!
  • Raymond Lombardi
    Oct. 18, 2024
    Brad has an incredible way with dogs. He’s patient, knowledgeable, and does a great job at making every session productive and enjoyable. Highly recommend him to anyone looking to get better at communicating with their dog and see real progress along the way!
  • Chris Lombardi
    Oct. 17, 2024
    Brad is phenomenal at communicating with dogs and has a unique ability to make training both effective and enjoyable for both dogs and their owners. If you’re looking for a trainer who truly cares and delivers real results, I can’t recommend Brad highly enough!
A well-trained golden retriever posing for a picture.

Murfreesboro / Spring Hill Golden Retriever Puppy Training

Training a Golden Retriever Puppy

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At Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville, we recommend starting dog training as early as possible. Puppies are capable of learning basic commands, and smart Golden Retriever puppies do great with early training.

Complete Murfreesboro / Spring Hill Golden Retriever Puppy Training typically takes a few months. We offer specialized in-home training. Working with a Golden Retriever puppy and the owner directly in the home prevents puppies from being distracted and allows dog trainers to create personalized training plans for individual puppies, as well as address any unique needs or issues. Once a puppy has completed in-home training, we offer puppy group classes for further training.

Beginning Golden Retriever training in the home also helps owners bond with their pup so when the dog trainer leaves, no progress is lost. It’s important for owners to be consistent with puppy training and continue it long term.

Training can be great mental stimulation, so a great exercise for Golden Retrievers as they get older is progressing their training. Once your puppy has mastered sitting, for example, train them to maintain the position until released. Once your puppy is a bit older, explore other sports and activities.

Additional Breeds We Train

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Golden Retriever Training Tips

Golden Retrievers are quick learners with a strong desire to work alongside their owners. Their intelligence and willingness to follow commands make them ideal for various types of training, from basic obedience to more advanced skills.

Here are some essential training tips for Golden Retrievers.

Golden Retrievers are considered “sporting dogs” and require at least an hour of daily exercise. True to their name, Golden Retrievers love retrieving things! Golden Retrievers can even participate in obedience and agility events, and they’ll enjoy every minute of it.

A Golden Retriever puppy that doesn’t get enough exercise is likely to develop bad behaviors like digging or chewing. During the first two years of a Golden Retriever’s life, however, make sure to take it easy with exercise as their growth plates are still forming - don’t go for long, strenuous runs or hikes until the dog is fully grown and try to always opt for grass instead of concrete.

Golden Retrievers can easily become overweight so owners will need to help manage their food intake. Measure out food twice a day instead of “free-feeding” and give treats in moderation.

If you have adopted a Golden Retriever puppy to become part of a family, make sure all kids and adults are on the same page with training and all practice basic tricks with the family dog.

At Dog Training Elite, we have developed training programs for puppies and adult dogs alike based on proven techniques. German Shepherd training with our in-home option is entirely possible.

Establish house rules for your dog, and then stick to them. If you choose not to let your dog on the couch, don’t ever let them on the couch for any reason. Golden Retriever training can help you establish routines and learn how to be consistent about enforcing them.
A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville.
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An happy, well manered golden retriever with training from Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville.

The Dog Training Elite Difference

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At Dog Training Elite Greater Nashville, we use modern training methods focused on balance and bonding between dog and dog owner. We never resort to the use of punishment to help dogs unlearn bad behavior. The difference becomes clear when comparing a dog that is trained out of anxiety and intimidation vs a dog who truly desires to please from the inside out.

The Dog Training Elite training theory for every dog breed is mostly based around classical conditioning, also known as the Pavlovian method or respondent conditioning. This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In its simplest form (after proper conditioning), when an owner says "sit," their dog automatically sits without thinking about it.

Through a combination of commands and an electronic collar, dogs learn to follow commands at once. The electronic collar is not a shock collar; it is a gentle electronic pulse, similar to the tug of a leash, used to get the dog’s attention. Other dog trainers use harsh static collars or spray collars which have been shown to be less effective. Our method nurtures a dog's loving and naturally obedient nature.

Ready to turn your Golden Retriever puppy into a loyal and loving companion? Find a trainer near you today!