Crate Training
How To Properly Crate Train Your Puppy
Crate training a puppy is really easy to do, and is truly best for you and for your puppy in my opinion. It creates a safe environment for your puppy, and protects your home from the damage that puppies can often cause.
If you would like to use the crate training method for your new puppy, then you need to purchase a suitable crate for your Golden Retriever. There are crates made of both metal and plastic. I think the metal is better and will last a lifetime, but either one will work fine.
I recommend a crate no smaller than 24”W x 26”H x 32”L for smaller Golden Retrievers, and 28-30” W x 30-32” H x 36” L for larger Golden Retrievers. If there is a choice I would buy the bigger one, because it just gives your dog more room.
When you bring your new puppy home it is best to have your crate already there and set up. Set it in an area that is central to the family, so the puppy does not feel left out when in the crate, but not in a high traffic area that is too busy.
A good spot would be close to the door leading to an outside area where your puppy will be going to relieve himself. It is best to pick good location and then try to stick with it, to avoid confusing your puppy.
The first day you bring your puppy home put a couple of small biscuits, and maybe a chew toy in the crate. Then encourage your puppy to explore his/her new crate, using the biscuits and chew toy to create interest.
Praise you puppy every time he/she goes in the crate making a big deal about it. Continue to get your puppy to go in the crate throughout the day. After he/she seems comfortable with this process, put a new toy in the crate and then close the door the next time he/she goes in.
Stay outside the crate and praise him for being good. Golden Retrievers love being praised. Put your fingers through the holes in the crate and play with your puppy while he is in there.
After a few minutes walk away and leave him by himself. He or she may whine, but that is normal. Do not let him out at this point. Eventually your puppy will settle down and rest.
After a short period of time like 15 to 20 minutes go to the crate and give your puppy a lot of praise for being so good, and them let him out of the crate.
What you are doing here is getting your puppy comfortable with being in the crate. If you continue this basic plan with your own little variations for about a week, you will find that your puppy will probably go into the crate on his own when he is tired.
Leave the door to the crate open when the puppy is not put in it by you. You will find that after a week or two they will start to go in on their own when they want to rest. This is exactly what you want to happen.
When you first start your puppy with the crate train method I would advise you only leave your puppy in the crate for about three hours at a time before taking him out to relieve him/herself and get some exercise. As your puppy gets about twelve weeks old you can stretch it to about four hours.
It is important to prevent the puppy from relieving him/herself inside the crate if at all possible. An accident or two is going to happen, but if it becomes a habit, this can send a bad message to your puppy and make them start to avoid the crate. Golden Retrievers or any dog doesn’t like to sleep where they poo and pee.
How long you decide to continue crate training your puppy is up to you, but I personally would crate train until your pet is about nine months. When your puppy is about six to seven months old you should begin to give him/her a little more freedom around the house.
Between six and nine months you should be able to eliminate the crate, but don’t be in too much of a rush, because bad habits can resurface quickly.
The ultimate test is leaving your puppy out of the crate when no one is home. The first time you do this make sure it is only for fifteen or twenty minutes. If you return to no damage or mischief then maybe the puppy has learned well.
Slowly extend the puppy’s freedom time until you are comfortable with the outcome.
I think if you try the crate training method with your puppy you will come to the same conclusion I did after trying it for the first time. It is the only way to go.
If you are thinking that you will just use a cardboard box to put your puppy in, forget about it. Puppies hate cardboard boxes, because they can’t see anything once you put them in there.
That’s why they spend the whole day and night (while you’re trying to sleep) trying to climb over the side. Have you ever heard the sound of a puppy’s claws scraping the inside of a cardboard box at three a.m.
You don’t have that problem with a crate because they can see out while they are resting.
The crate training method is the way to go, for your benefit, and it’s in your Golden Retriever puppy’s best interest, and crate training a puppy is really easier than without a crate. Once you have tried it, I am sure you will agree.
