When we went to pick a Golden Retriever puppy, it was as if he picked us. He ran to us, bit our shoe laces, jumped on our legs and licked our faces. There was no putting him down. We knew he was ours. We had no choice. He had picked us. Now how do we train this bundle to energy.
Training Method Must Be Consistent
The Golden Retriever puppy is very intelligent and playful, When training a puppy consistency is very important.
When the puppy’s behavior is positive, it should be rewarded with praise, petting or a treat.
If the puppy does something you don’t like, respond by not rewarding him. For example, if you are taking the puppy for a walk and he is jumping and pulling, do not walk until the puppy calms down.
Other members of the family should also react in the same manner so as not to confuse the puppy.
House Training Your Puppy
You will need a training crate, a gate, if possible, and a long leash.
When you bring your puppy home, you should put him in the crate for maybe ten minutes. Take him out of the crate for a little while and then put him back again. Let him get used to the crate. While he is out of the crate, he should be confined to a small area of the house. You should also watch him very closely.
Your Golden Retriever puppy should be taken out to pee or poop every half hour. When he poops or pees outside he should be praised but not rewarded.
If your puppy has an accident in the house, scold him only if you caught him in the act. If you did not catch him in the act, do not scold him. He will not know what he did wrong.
I would also give Buddy his food and water in his crate. About twenty minutes after he eats, he should be taken out to poop or pee.
If you are consistent, your puppy will learn very soon not to pee or poop in his crate or in the house.
Another Reason To Crate Train
Besides training your puppy to pee and poop outside, crate training also keeps you puppy safe when you are not home.
Puppies tend to get in trouble when they are not being watched. Some chew anything they can get to. The crate will protect your puppy and your belongings when you are not home or he is not being watched.
I found that Buddy was so used to the being quiet and in the crate when we were not home, that when I started to let him out when I was not home, he did not chew anything but his toys.
The crate became his private den. Even when he could have been trusted, he liked to go in his crate to sleep during the day or to chew his toys. He would also bring his toys in the crate so my sons could not take them.
The first couple of nights, I put the crate in my room so he would not be alone. After a while, I was able to let him out of the crate without constantly watching him. Of course, I looked for him every few minutes. Most of the time I would find him sleeping in the corner of my bedroom.
Make Training Fun
It is very important that your puppy learn his name. With a leash on, you should call his name and give the leash a little tug toward you. Each time he comes to you, he should be rewarded with a treat. Your puppy will soon learn to come to you when he hears his name.
Your puppy should have some toys that he can carry in his mouth. My dog just loved to carry his toys. Even as an adult dog he would like to carry a toy when we went for a walk. Buddy would pick up all the balls or gloves he found in the park or during our walks. If anyone lost a ball or a glove, it was probably in my house.
While on a long leash, you can throw the toy and teach him to bring it back to you. When he brings it back, play a little came of tug-of-war. Playing fetch will become his favorite game. Golden Retriever puppies are very playful and need ways to burn their energy.
You can start training your puppy to sit and stay. Always reward him for good behavior and a job well done.
Basic Training Done
With consistency and perseverance, in a few weeks you will have a puppy that pees and poops outside, knows his name, and will sit and stay.
This puppy will look to you for leadership and love you and be loyal to you for the rest of his life.
Of course, you will continue training him. Golden Retrievers are wonderful dogs. Just as he will learn from you, you will learn from him.
This is just the beginning. Their will be many times when you will smile just looking at this beautiful, warm and affectionate dog.
