Crate Training A Puppy
Crate Training Your Puppy Is The Way To Go
If you have just brought your new Golden Retriever puppy home, or are thinking of getting one, have you thought about the method of training you will use.
One very popular method is crate training. It involves using a crate, usually made out of wire or plastic mesh, that can be purchased at most large pet stores, to keep your puppy in when you are not spending time with him/her.
Initially people tend to think that this is cruel to the puppy, but I disagree. I think it is a great way to raise your new puppy.
Giving Your New Puppy A Rest
Having a new Golden Retriever puppy around the house is a wonderful experience for the whole family. Playing with your new puppy can be a lot of fun too. But eventually you, and even the puppy will need to take a break.
This can be a great time to put your puppy in his crate . Now your puppy is safe and you can do as you wish, without having to worry about what the puppy might be getting into. If you have children you could set a rule that when the puppy is in the crate he is to be left alone, giving the young Golden Retriever puppy his much needed rest time.
Puppies are like little children, and need to be supervised until they learn what is allowed, and what is not. Leaving a puppy loose in your home unsupervised is a bad idea, especially if you are not at home.
Keep Your Home And Puppy Safe
They will chew on anything that looks tasty to them, because it is a natural instinct, and makes their teeth and gums feel better. This includes your new shoes, furniture, electrical extension cords, carpets, and well you get the picture.
They will also try to eat anything they come across on the floor, like a pen, coins, or your slippers. Wouldn’t it be nice to leave the house and know that your puppy is safe and sound in his crate, and your house will be the same way you left it when you come home.
Crate training a puppy can also be a great way to have your puppy sleep at night, so you can get a good nights rest. It can be a place to put your puppy when company comes over, and can protect the puppy from getting stepped on by accident. It can also keep your puppy from jumping on people who may not share your love of animals.
The crate can be very helpful following surgery. If you decide to have your dog spayed or neutered, then the crate can help to keep them quiet following this surgery.
The bottom line is Golden Retrievers do not mind their crates. It actually becomes their little space to get away and rest.
I Became A Believer In Crate Training
I used this method on my present Golden Retriever Molly who is now four years old. It was my wife’s idea and I was totally against it, but she had already bought the crate, so I decided to try it.
I put a soft fluffy towel in the bottom, and a chew toy. The first couple of days when I put molly in it she would look at me and whine, but after a few days that ended.
After about three days, when I put here in the crate she would just lay down and go to sleep. But then something really strange happened.
We would leave the door to the crate open when she was not in it. After about two weeks, one night I was watching television and noticed that molly was not around. When I got up to look for her, she was in the crate.
She had gone in there on her own. That became a normal routine for her. In the evening she would go in the crate and go to sleep. She did that until she was almost one year old.
We never closed the door after she was about six months, because she was too big, and finally took the crate away at about one year.
If you think you are interested in this method, you should have the crate before you bring your new puppy home if possible, so they can get familiar with it right away.
