Helpful Training Tips For Your Golden Retriever Puppy
When it is time to get a puppy for your family, the Golden Retriever is the way to go.
Yes, when full grown you are likely to have a 65-75 pound dog, but you will have one of the best family dogs ever! Raising a puppy is hard work and there is no way around it, however, there are things that you can do to ease the frustration of the process.
Three things to consider are the age of the puppy, establishing a routine and the environment.
Although puppies can leave their mothers at approximately 8 weeks of age, the house training tends to be easier if the puppy is a bit older say 12-16 weeks.
In this age range their mental capacity reaches full development and they respond to training much easier.
Start with feeding your dog at the same time each day.
This will help you learn when your dog will need to go to the bathroom, and help them to equate eating with when they need to go outside.
Of course there will be accidents, but there will likely be fewer than with a younger aged puppy.
Routines go beyond the house training process.
You must be consistent with how you interact with your puppy.
When you take her for a walk and begin developing proper walking norms, reinforce that you are in charge and you are walking her, she is not walking you! Each time she tries to 'walk you,'your response must remain consistent.
If you choose to use the word 'heal' you must use it regularly and she will learn the ropes pretty easily.
The same goes with other training issues like when the dog jumps on a visitor.
Use a short command such as 'down' and ensure she gets down.
Eventually if you tell her down before she jumps she will stay down.
If your puppy attempts to run off, use a command such as 'come' and she will then adapt to what you expect her to do.
Dogs respond best to single word commands.
Your consistency will essentially reduce the training time of your Golden Retriever.
Lastly you should seriously consider crate training.
You should not think of the crate as a cage.
Think of it as a den.
Dogs are pack animals and they love their own space.
The crate becomes that space.
Did you know that dogs do not like to go to the bathroom in their 'den?' If you have to go off to work or the store, the safest place for your dog is in their crate.
It makes them feel safe and keeps them out of mischief.
Most dogs tend to chew up shoes and socks when you are too busy to keep an eye on them, so the crate can work wonders! One important thing to note is that you should NOT use the crate to punish the puppy.
You do not want her to learn to dislike the crate, again the crate is designed to serve as their 'den' or their own private space.
Golden Retrievers are known for their desire to please their owners.
By employing some of these tips you are likely to enhance the training experience and be well on your way to a great future with your dog.
Yes, when full grown you are likely to have a 65-75 pound dog, but you will have one of the best family dogs ever! Raising a puppy is hard work and there is no way around it, however, there are things that you can do to ease the frustration of the process.
Three things to consider are the age of the puppy, establishing a routine and the environment.
Although puppies can leave their mothers at approximately 8 weeks of age, the house training tends to be easier if the puppy is a bit older say 12-16 weeks.
In this age range their mental capacity reaches full development and they respond to training much easier.
Start with feeding your dog at the same time each day.
This will help you learn when your dog will need to go to the bathroom, and help them to equate eating with when they need to go outside.
Of course there will be accidents, but there will likely be fewer than with a younger aged puppy.
Routines go beyond the house training process.
You must be consistent with how you interact with your puppy.
When you take her for a walk and begin developing proper walking norms, reinforce that you are in charge and you are walking her, she is not walking you! Each time she tries to 'walk you,'your response must remain consistent.
If you choose to use the word 'heal' you must use it regularly and she will learn the ropes pretty easily.
The same goes with other training issues like when the dog jumps on a visitor.
Use a short command such as 'down' and ensure she gets down.
Eventually if you tell her down before she jumps she will stay down.
If your puppy attempts to run off, use a command such as 'come' and she will then adapt to what you expect her to do.
Dogs respond best to single word commands.
Your consistency will essentially reduce the training time of your Golden Retriever.
Lastly you should seriously consider crate training.
You should not think of the crate as a cage.
Think of it as a den.
Dogs are pack animals and they love their own space.
The crate becomes that space.
Did you know that dogs do not like to go to the bathroom in their 'den?' If you have to go off to work or the store, the safest place for your dog is in their crate.
It makes them feel safe and keeps them out of mischief.
Most dogs tend to chew up shoes and socks when you are too busy to keep an eye on them, so the crate can work wonders! One important thing to note is that you should NOT use the crate to punish the puppy.
You do not want her to learn to dislike the crate, again the crate is designed to serve as their 'den' or their own private space.
Golden Retrievers are known for their desire to please their owners.
By employing some of these tips you are likely to enhance the training experience and be well on your way to a great future with your dog.