Housebreaking:
We are proud that most of our pups are half-way housebroken due to the way they are initially raised. This should carry over if you set up a similar situation as follows and institute crate training. Set up a location inside the home where you can fence in the pup creating its own area consisting of a potty area with "wee wee pads", a feeding area (near the crate - NO food in crate - only water), and crate area (their home for rest and sleeping - their "haven" - ONLY big enough for them to fit comfortably). The fence is a sectional fence in varying heights - 24" minimum, 30" recommended. It has about 10 - 24" wide sections and can be used as a full circle, or separated to fence off an area of a room. It works great and can be moved to another location as needed. Keeping it in one area for awhile is best. You will still need to institute basic crate training to instill them going potty outside and not in the house.
Most pet owners do recommend to crate train their Golden Retriever puppies; and this is the most practical way to train. It replicates how they were born and raised. This method starts by having a schedule where your pup either goes to the bathroom in the fenced area or is allowed specific time to go outside to eliminate. DO NOT LET THE PUP SOIL ITS CRATE - CLEAN IMMEDIATELY. This is where positive reinforcement comes into play. You will want to reward and praise your Golden Retriever pup when he goes to the bathroom in the correct place and simply state a firm "No!" when your pup goes to the bathroom anywhere else than the correct area. Do NOT strike or hit. You can gently rub its nose in it, IF it is immediately after they've made a mistake.
The crate is a big part of the training process. Following is a general summary, but see our full section on crate training. The pup will not eliminate in the crate if the crate is the primary resting area. This being said, you must understand that your pup will also need to go outside upon waking up and also right after eating. You must remember this and if you hear your puppy crying in its crate this probably means that the pup may need to go outside to eliminate. Also it is important to remember that puppies cannot hold their bladder all night long. They frequently will need to go outside at least two or three times in the middle of the night. This is where the fencing technique with "wee wee" pads comes into play.
It is important to be consistent as well. You must never use harsh or violent methods to correct when housebreaking your pup; only use the positive reinforcement techniques. The crate is your main tool to training; you have complete control over when the puppy can go to the bathroom and when he cannot.
Crying:
Your new Golden Retriever puppy may start to cry late at night when all is quiet and it is time for sleep. This occurs because the puppy by nature wants to be with the "pack" during sleep time. We've had great reports from most of our pups' owners of NOT having this problem though. The pup is lonely and can begin to panic. The pup may howl and yelp on and off for quite some time. The best way to solve this problem is to allow your puppy to sleep next to you, but NOT with you. If the puppy continues to yelp or cry you may want to say "No Sleep" or "Go to Sleep" to let your pup know you're there. The puppy will calm down and yelp less and eventually go to sleep.
If this doesn't work, you can place a toy near your puppy, and this may calm him down. The plush toy will act like a litter mate, and in turn; ease the puppy into sleep. You can use a little blanket or soft t-shirt right from the dryer and place it right next to your pup. This may also help to aid in the loneliness. Another possiblity is letting them sleep in a bathroom with a toilet. The toilet tends to make some "gurgling" sounds and helps the pup sleep. Your new pup may have a problem with the sleeping situation for a while but as time goes on will get used to the new environment.
Teething:
As your puppy starts growing, he or she will begin to show signs of teething. This will occur up to 4-5 months of age. Of course many Golden owners will claim this is years, not months! It is called "training"!!!
Teething is uncomfortable for the pup and they will often want to chew on things to ease this irritation. There are a few ways you can help ease the pain for your new pup. Make chicken soup ice cubes and place them in a bowl or hand them off to your teething puppy. As your Golden Retriever puppy tries to chew the cubes, he or she will numb the gums and mouth.
It is important to discourage your puppy from chewing on objects in the home. At times the pup will even try to chew on your arms and legs. The teething process causes a great deal of discomfort for your puppy and using the frozen compress or the ice cubes can help ease the pain.
Best Puppy Teething Toys:
Hard Rubber Toy (Kong Products recommended), especially one that’s fillable. The beauty of these types of toys is that they are nearly impossible to destroy. Also, a fillable toy like a Kong gives you the ability to add water and freeze it, adding a cooling element to soothe those sore gums.
Hard Nylon Toy (Nylabone Products recommended). Again, these types of toys are practically indestructible. Just make sure that you select the appropriate size for your pet (so that he doesn’t accidentally swallow it, causing a blockage.
Thick Rope Toy. With toys like this, quality is key. Make sure your puppy doesn't pull off any little fibers as they can cause an intestinal blockage that can make him very sick. Pups usually love to play tug-of-war with these; however, gentle tugging is the rule until your puppy is full-grown as it can affect their teeth as they grow in. A tip: Soak the toy in water and then put it in the freezer for a few hours or overnight. It will have a cooling effect on the sore gums.
NOTE: Toys from the dollar store, or even off brand ones from the pet store are generally NOT recommended due to inferior quality and quick "disintegration" of the toy!
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