Training Tips
Many website links below for training tips!
Here are some ideas for training puppies that we have learned from our dogs and that we have gained from others. Hopefully these tips will get you started on the initial training of your puppy. We recommend that you take your puppy to training later on. I will include helpful links below my training ideas.
Steps to Potty Training
1) Crate training: Your puppies will have had about 2 weeks of crate training before you get them. I normally start them off at 5-6 hours and will extend it to 8-9 hours by the time you get him. This means that he will have developed control of his bowel movements so he should be easier to train. He still needs to learn your expectations--something that can happen anywhere from 1 or 2 days to a couple of weeks. The length of time is puppy and family specific (some puppies are easier to train, some families are able to be more diligent and therefore get there faster).
2) Getting a potty location: it is recommended that you take you puppy to a specific spot that you would like them to use. Dogs generally will prefer a regular spot.
3) Create a potty schedule: Take the puppy outside first thing in the morning and then every 30 minutes to an hour so that he knows he is to go potty outside. Once he understands this, you can train him to give you a signal that he needs to go outside (some use a bell, others have the puppy go to the door and stand).
4) Feed schedule: Feed at the same time each day and then take your puppy outside after feeding. Puppies normally eliminate about 30 minutes after eating.
5) Watching for signs: Puppies will normally give signs that they are about to go. Watch for them and take him outside. If he makes a mistake, clean up and keep track of the time so that the next time, you can get him outside before the accident.
6) Positive reinforcement: Puppies are sensitive and respond best to praise for success rather than punishment for failure. My goal is to be more responsive to my puppies' needs to create an environment where he knows what is expected so that he can deliver. This takes time at first, but less and less as he knows the routine.
7) Enjoy your puppy: There is nothing like a relationship with the puppy to make him want to obey you. What I have found is that the more time I spend training my puppy, the more my puppy wants to obey and please me. Even time spent playing and loving the puppy leads to better success in training.
2) Getting a potty location: it is recommended that you take you puppy to a specific spot that you would like them to use. Dogs generally will prefer a regular spot.
3) Create a potty schedule: Take the puppy outside first thing in the morning and then every 30 minutes to an hour so that he knows he is to go potty outside. Once he understands this, you can train him to give you a signal that he needs to go outside (some use a bell, others have the puppy go to the door and stand).
4) Feed schedule: Feed at the same time each day and then take your puppy outside after feeding. Puppies normally eliminate about 30 minutes after eating.
5) Watching for signs: Puppies will normally give signs that they are about to go. Watch for them and take him outside. If he makes a mistake, clean up and keep track of the time so that the next time, you can get him outside before the accident.
6) Positive reinforcement: Puppies are sensitive and respond best to praise for success rather than punishment for failure. My goal is to be more responsive to my puppies' needs to create an environment where he knows what is expected so that he can deliver. This takes time at first, but less and less as he knows the routine.
7) Enjoy your puppy: There is nothing like a relationship with the puppy to make him want to obey you. What I have found is that the more time I spend training my puppy, the more my puppy wants to obey and please me. Even time spent playing and loving the puppy leads to better success in training.
Obedience Training Tips
1) Consistency: Make sure that each member of the family is delivering the same message. Puppies (and dogs) will be confused if one person has different expectations from the next.
2) Time: A study of intelligence in dogs (survey results from dog trainers) ranks Golden Retrievers at #4 out of 79 breeds surveyed (see helpful links page). It said that they would understand a new command in 5 or less repetitions and would obey the command 95% or more often. The raw material of obedience is there. Our job is to spend time training.
3) Understanding the dogs language: Puppies hear our words differently than humans do. Harsh words or anger are confusing to a dog and can lead to shame and shyness. Praise leads to confidence. Occasionally, less with a Golden Retriever, we must establish our position as "lead dog". My trainer said the best way to do this was to catch a puppy or dog trying to establish dominance (generally by jumping up on you or other aggressive behavior). When this happens, she recommended firmly taking the puppy and placing him on his back and holding him there until he submits (she described this as the same behavior that occurs between dogs to establish their dominance order). My experience has been that a single event like this is permanent--I have never needed to repeat it to re-establish dominance!
4) Mold behavior that we desire: What we as trainers need to do is mold already existing behavior into behavior that is a result of a command. For example, a puppy will already sit. To train this, we give the word command, accompanied by a hand command (an arm bent upwards in a stop signal). If the puppy obeys, reward him with a treat and praise. If not, sit him down by hand and then praise him. Repeat this until it is clear that he understands the command and desired response. Then continue to reinforce this throughout that day and the days to come until the command/obedience is permanent.
5) Select age appropriate goals. Puppies are not yet ready for advanced obedience. Take them step by step through the various commands until he is ready for advanced training.
2) Time: A study of intelligence in dogs (survey results from dog trainers) ranks Golden Retrievers at #4 out of 79 breeds surveyed (see helpful links page). It said that they would understand a new command in 5 or less repetitions and would obey the command 95% or more often. The raw material of obedience is there. Our job is to spend time training.
3) Understanding the dogs language: Puppies hear our words differently than humans do. Harsh words or anger are confusing to a dog and can lead to shame and shyness. Praise leads to confidence. Occasionally, less with a Golden Retriever, we must establish our position as "lead dog". My trainer said the best way to do this was to catch a puppy or dog trying to establish dominance (generally by jumping up on you or other aggressive behavior). When this happens, she recommended firmly taking the puppy and placing him on his back and holding him there until he submits (she described this as the same behavior that occurs between dogs to establish their dominance order). My experience has been that a single event like this is permanent--I have never needed to repeat it to re-establish dominance!
4) Mold behavior that we desire: What we as trainers need to do is mold already existing behavior into behavior that is a result of a command. For example, a puppy will already sit. To train this, we give the word command, accompanied by a hand command (an arm bent upwards in a stop signal). If the puppy obeys, reward him with a treat and praise. If not, sit him down by hand and then praise him. Repeat this until it is clear that he understands the command and desired response. Then continue to reinforce this throughout that day and the days to come until the command/obedience is permanent.
5) Select age appropriate goals. Puppies are not yet ready for advanced obedience. Take them step by step through the various commands until he is ready for advanced training.
Links to sites on Training Puppies
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Really helpful ideas about the order of teaching puppy various routines and lessons. I would recommend starting by reading this site, the rest will build from it.
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Excellent article on 15 Puppy Potty Training Problems and Solutions. It gives typical problems and how to solve them.
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A second article: How to pad train puppy
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Good site to get you going your first week. It links to several other articles that will be helpful as well. Article on Potty Training has many good ideas.
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Excellent site that explains the need to establish yourself as leader and then gives health tips, housebreaking, and dog walking tips.
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Puppy Training tips that start by understanding the language of the puppy. It gives ideas on how to read puppy body language in order to train them.
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Excellent information. This source uses entirely positive reinforcement to train. He recommends simply ignoring bad behavior. My personal approach is to occasionally use negative teaching--usually through a squirt of water. You could try his approach and if it doesn't seem to work, I would add in occasional discipline to mold behavior.
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Excellent site that a reader directed me to. This site goes through items in the home and yard that could be dangerous to your pet. Very practical site that will save you a lot of stress!
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By the Humane Society, this site outlines the steps to potty training. It will give you realistic expectations for your puppy. Good supplement to the information I gave above.
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By UKC, this site gives a few ideas on how/where to take your dog out so that he does not become shy.
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Ten questions and suggestions on how to approach training. Some helpful ideas and common sense.
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Updated May 19, 2016