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An elderly woman in a green cardigan holds the raised paw of a seated red-gold Golden Retriever on a patterned rug. 31 / 36

Grandma Odessa Offered Her Hand. Copper Offered Something Better.

AI imagegolden retrieverdog trainingliving room

Copper sits tall on the patterned rug with one front paw lifted into Grandma Odessa's open hand. She wears a green cardigan over a cream shirt, glasses on and silver hair bright in the lamplight, looking down at the paw as though it were a handshake worth taking seriously. Copper's mouth is slightly open, red-gold ears hanging, brown eyes focused on her. The cozy living room around them has a couch with a cream blanket, a woven basket, a table with a mug and a lamp glowing in the corner.

Shake is a nice first trick for any dog, and Golden Retrievers tend to pick it up quickly because they are eager to please. Hold a treat in your closed hand and wait for your dog to paw at it. When the paw lifts, say your cue word, shake it gently and reward. Keep sessions short, a few minutes at a time, and end on a success. Use tiny treats so you do not overfeed, and be patient if your dog gets confused. Training is also good mental exercise for dogs, and it builds trust. If your dog does not enjoy being handled on the paws, go slowly and talk to a trainer or your vet.

Copper has learned that a polite handshake usually earns a cookie. Grandma Odessa has learned that it earns her a friend for life.

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An elderly woman in a green cardigan sits with bare feet in the water on a dock beside a red-gold Golden Retriever.Grandma Odessa Dipped Her Toes in the Pond. Copper Stayed Right Beside Her.An elderly woman in a plaid shirt sews a patchwork quilt while a red-gold Golden Retriever sleeps on the fabric.Grandma Odessa Spread Out the Quilt Squares. Copper Found a New Bed.
An elderly woman in glasses reads a book on a couch with a dark red Golden Retriever beside her and a pale one before her.Two Retrievers Settled In for Grandma Odessa's Evening StoryAn elderly woman in a gray cardigan sleeps on the grass with her head against a sleeping red-gold Golden Retriever.Grandma Odessa Lay Down on the Lawn. Copper Made Himself Her Pillow.An elderly woman in an olive jacket and yellow scarf rakes leaves as a red-gold Golden Retriever leaps into the pile.Grandma Odessa Finished the Leaf Pile. Copper Left No Time to Admire It.An elderly woman with silver hair shapes cookie dough at a floury counter while a red-gold Golden Retriever watches.Flour Landed on Copper's Nose. Grandma Odessa Pretended Not to Notice.