All dogs must tolerate being touched and handled, and, fortunately, Goldens usually greet touch with enthusiasm. There is a big difference, however, in being touched for petting and playing and being held still for veterinary visits and trips to the groomer. If you break down each skill into its component parts and go at your dog's pace you will have a companion that is ready for everything and will tolerate just about any amount of handling for whatever purpose.

The best time to start teaching your dog to like being handled is as a tiny puppy. In fact, it is very important that your dog was raised in an environment where he was touched on a regular basis by lots of different people. Dogs that don't get this from their early environments will be fearful of new people, new experiences, and other dogs. These puppies will require lots of early intervention and triple the amount of socialization that the average puppy receives.

As soon as you get your puppy, begin handling him and inviting lots of different friends and relatives to do the same.

Here are the shaping steps for teaching your dog to enjoy having his ears handled:

• Prepare a supply of treats and have them nearby in an open container.

• Put your hand on top of your dog's head, and click and treat.

• Massage one ear gently, then click and treat.

• Turn the ear inside out, then click and treat.

• Put your finger in the outer part of the ear canal, then click and treat.

• Using a tissue, wipe out any debris present, then have a helper click and treat.

• Switch to the other ear and repeat.

If at any time your dog objects or tries to run away, slow down. Enlist the aid of a helper to keep your dog calm and keep the treats coming. Remember that your goal here is to make the experience of having his ears handled a pleasant one. It's important to move at the dog's pace. If your dog shows no objection, continue handling his ears on a regular basis. As with all handling, you can only maintain the good behavior by frequent practice.

Here are the shaping steps for teaching your dog to enjoy having his feet handled:

• Prepare your treats and have your clicker ready.

• Touch a front foot, then click and treat.

• Pick up a foot, then click and treat.

• Hold on to a foot for a few seconds and click and treat.

• Hold the foot for longer periods of time, clicking and treating periodically for gradually increasing lengths of time.

• Put your finger between each toe while clicking and treating.

• Touch each nail and wiggle it a bit, then click and treat.

• Switch to the rear feet and repeat from the beginning.

• Repeat these steps with nail clippers in your hand but don't cut the nails yet.

• Build up to touching each nail with the clippers, but don't actually cut the nails.

• Trim the slightest bit off one nail and have a helper click and treat.

Feet are a very sensitive part of a dog's anatomy and most dogs do not like anyone messing with them. Preparing your dog for nail trims and foot handling is crucial to his overall comfort since throughout his life he is going to need to have his nails trimmed and feet examined. Be sure you have adequately prepared him by teaching him that tolerating foot handling is worth lots of delicious treats.

Goldens are mouth-oriented dogs — they love to pick things up in their mouths and must be prepared to have people take things away from them on a regular basis.

Here are the shaping steps for teaching your Golden to enjoy having its mouth handled:

• Prepare your treats and have your clicker ready.

• Put the palm of your hand on top of your dog's muzzle and click and treat.

• Rest your hand there for longer periods of time and click and treat.

• Lift up your dog's gum with your thumb, then click and treat.

• With your palm over his muzzle, use the middle finger of your other hand to open his mouth, then click and treat.

• Gradually open his mouth wider, having a helper click and treat.

• Practice opening his mouth and putting a treat right on his tongue.

• Open his mouth and put yummy treats in on a regular basis so he comes to expect good things.

Most people only handle their dog's mouths when they are trying to get something back from the dog or when giving medication. It is crucial to the success of your training program to break this cycle by randomly putting good things in your Golden's mouth. You can open his mouth and put treats on his tongue, or put a ball or a toy in his mouth — anything that is appropriate and that your dog will find rewarding. Since this breaks with the usual pattern, your dog will come to expect good things when people handle his mouth and come to accept and even like it. Though time-consuming to teach, every dog needs to exceed at these skills when living with people.