Crate Training Your Puppy
Many people normally have the incorrect conception when it comes to crates. This conception leads individuals to assume that crates are a punishment for dogs, and for that reason they won’t use them. Much to the contrary, crates are in fact one of the safest places you can put your Golden Retriever, which also gratifies his natural instincts to situate himself within a den.
If you have a crate and leave it open, your Golden Retriever will begin to head to it when he gets sleepy or when he gets confused. Although Golden Retrievers tend to like crates, you shouldn’t overuse one by allowing him to spend hours at a time inside of one. While you need to be training a Golden Retreiever to get used to the crate, you must never allow him out if he is barking. Once your dog starts to appreciate the crate, you can leave him in it for a couple hours every now and then – for instance when you’re away from home.
When you bring your puppy home and start Golden Retreiver crate training, you ought to already have your crate there and situated where you want it to be. You should set the crate up in a central area, but never in areas that have a lot of traffic. Most people who use crates tend to leave them in the kitchen area near a door, so your Golden Retriever may go outside whenever he has to relieve himself.
Once you bring the puppy home, you should put him inside the house and allow him to start looking for the crate. Leave the doorway to the crate open, and the puppy should start to wander inside and out of it. You may also put a toy or dog treat within the crate, to give your pup extra incentive to enter. Once he goes inside praise him, and let him know that he is doing the right thing.
If your Golden Retriever stays inside the crate on his own, praise him for doing this. Once your pup starts getting in the habit of going into the crate by himself, you should place a new toy or treat inside for him to play with. After a while, you can close the door and see how he reacts. If he begins to whine, you are able to speak to him and put your fingers through the door, although you shouldn’t immediately take him out – instead wait for him to settle down.
Although it may take time, crate training is ideal for your Golden Retriever. You can use the crate when you need to leave, if you have family over, or for whenever your dog has a medical problem for example diarrhea. If you use a little bit of patience and never use the crate for punishment – your Golden Retriever puppy should catch on to the crate pretty quick.



