The Golden Retriever is a perfect family dog with good looks, perfect size, friendly attitude, and intelligence. But the mess and odor of their puddles make it hard to welcome them inside the house. Hence, potty training the Golden Retriever can be the best option to maintain the house clean. Do you how to potty train your Golden Retriever puppy?
Though potty training your puppy seems tedious. But rather than cleaning the potty, the idea of a clean house after potty training sounds more relaxing.
You can potty train your Golden Retriever puppy using various methods like; crate training, paper training, constant-supervision training, and umbilical cord training.
Training your puppy will possibly be frustrating at first. However, with a bit of knowledge and consistency, it is for sure less time-consuming than the time spent cleaning the potty stains on your carpet.
What Is The Best Age To Begin The Potty Training For Golden Retriever?
You can begin the potty training of your Golden Retriever soon after birth. But, since the puppies have very little bladder control up until 8 -1O months, training them rigorously during this period is more effective.
If you are entirely new to this, you can either seek help from the Vet or use Puppy training pads.
How Long Will It Take To Potty Train Golden Retriever Puppy?
Generally, Golden Retrievers are intelligent enough to be fully potty trained by the age of 8 months. However, this estimated time can differ as per your training method, dog, and consistency.
Training Methods
There are four popular potty-training methods. They are;
- Crate training
- Paper training
- Constant supervision training
- Leash training
These methods are briefly explained later in this article. You can prefer any of these methods as per your comfort.
Nature Of Dog
Training time depends on the nature of the dog. Unlike most retrievers, if your dog is lazy, then it will take more time. Older dogs and dogs with health issues take a longer time to adapt to the training.
Consistency
While you are dealing with the training work, you need to be consistent. For this, you can start with making schedules for feeding, grooming, training, playing, etc. that makes your pet aware of the time for several activities.
Most puppies have a fast-acting digestive system and need to go to the bathroom after physical activity. So, the scheduling makes it easier to know when to take them out.
Moreover, since a puppy has a weak bladder, you can schedule a potty break after every 30-60 minutes at the initial stage. Then increase the time by 15 minutes when the puppy is eight weeks, another 15 minutes when it is ten weeks old, and similarly add more 15 minutes after it gets 12 weeks older.
Continue extending the potty breaks until the time reaches 2 hours when the puppy is 20 weeks older. And keeping journals to ensure the time can be helpful.
What Are The Essential Equipment Needed To Train A Golden Retriever Puppy?
According to the different methods of potty training, the equipment used may also vary. But, the most common ones used for potty training the puppies are:
- Leash and Collar
- Crate
- Pet Barriers/ puppy Gates
- Treats
- Poop Scooper
- Poop Bags
- Cleaning products
We have come a long way discussing the training period, equipment, and the best age to start the training. So, let us move further and know how to train a Golden Retriever puppy in detail.
How To Potty Train A Golden Retriever Puppy
As mentioned above, there are four ways to train your little friend. Let me first brief you about these methods.
Crate Training To Potty Train A Golden Retriever Puppy
Like their ancestor-wolves, puppies also have the same genetic rule in the brain that a den is a safe place and needs to keep clean. Hence, the concept that puppies do not like to mess where they sleep (crate) can be helpful. Apart from preventing messing up their sleeping space, this method can teach puppies to hold the bladder until you take them to the appropriate spot.
It is a helpful technique if you work and stay outside the home for long hours.
Steps for crate training your puppy are:
- You should set up a sleeping crate for your pet.
- Make the crate warm and welcoming by adding some toys and a blanket.
- A wider crate is a good idea for puppies weighing 75 pounds. But, with more space, your pet Golden Retriever may feel like excreting the waste inside the create will not harm their personal space. So, you can reduce the size of the crate with the wooden panel to make it of the appropriate size.
- Put the crate where there are people so that the puppy does not feel isolated.
- Give commands like crate or bed at the training and treat them if they successfully enter the sleeping area.
- Make a schedule. Leave your Golden Retriever inside the crate for some time and take them out to the potty. Gradually increase the time between the potty breaks.
Paper Training To Potty Train A Golden Retriever Puppy
Paper training teaches the puppy to go to the bathroom on paper or puppy pads. But since Golden Retriever puppies like pottying in softer places. Thus, putting paper down the hard surfaces forbids them from eliminating beds.
For this, leave a small piece of slightly spoiled paper where you want your puppy to eliminate. The puppies like excreting on the place they smell their previous offerings. It is the best method to keep the house clean on workdays when you cannot take your pet frequently out for potty.
Paper training is an indoor training method that involves the following steps;
- Use training pads in spaces where you choose your Golden Retriever puppy to potty.
- After the puppy begins using the training pads successfully, expand the area slowly and introduce the puppy to the rest of the house.
- Once your puppy is familiar with your home, decrease the number of paper pads and set only a single outside.
- Take the puppy outside when you suspect that your pet wants to potty. Once your puppy gets used to going out to potty, you can remove the training pads inside your house.
Constant-Supervision Training To Potty Train A Golden Retriever Puppy
Constant-Supervision training is more for you than your puppy. Here, you learn to identify when your puppy needs to go out for potty by constant supervision of the actions like circling, sniffing, etc. Since this training method requires a lot of time, it is best suited for those who have enough time to devote solely to train the new family member.
The steps for the training are:
- Buy a pet gate to help you keep an eye on your Golden Retriever puppy and to prevent them from sneaking off.
- Take your puppy out in their scheduled time or when they show signs like sniffing, pacing or circling, whining, or sneaking away.
- Constantly supervise them to avoid mistakes and mess.
Leash or Umbilical-Cord Training To Potty Train A Golden Retriever Puppy
Leash or Umbilical-Cord training is similar to constant-supervision training. The only difference is you can use a six-foot leash to connect to your pet. Besides this, it also limits the moving and roaming area for your Golden Retriever.
Take your Golden Retriever when it starts showing signs. It is a beneficial method for notorious pets that can provide additional security.
The training steps are similar to constant training. The only difference is;
- You need to put a collar on your puppy and set them on a leash.
- When the pet shows signs of the need for the bathroom and takes them out.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of The Training Method?
| Training Methods | Pros | Cons |
| Crate Training |
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| Paper Training |
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| Constant-Supervision Training |
|
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| Leash Training |
|
|
What Are The Secrets For The Successful Out-door Toilet Trips?
One of the vital potty problems of puppies is, they do not want to pee outside. But you can encourage your puppy to go out by applying the following tips;
- You can give them company and wait outside until they potty.
- You should come early and supervise them, teaching commands to pee.
- Ignore the accidents they make and reward them with treats if they go outside to potty.
- Observe them thoroughly and take them out when they show signs.
- Use the crate to train your dog to pee outside.
- Do not panic and become aggressive if they start having accidents. Instead, handle it with assertiveness.
- After your puppy is confidently toileting outdoors, introduce him/her to the rest of the house.
How To Potty Train A Golden Retriever Puppy Indoor?
Suppose you cannot consistently be around your puppy to take them out. You must train your puppy to potty inside. Peeing pads are best for indoor potty training. The steps for indoor puppy training are:
- Introduce your puppy to a suitable place to pee indoors.
- Use pee pads and newspaper sheets to indicate the correct place to pee.
- If you live in an apartment with no yard, you need to potty train the puppy indoor until their vaccination schedule is complete.
How To Train The Puppy To Pee On Pad?
Do not let your Golden Retriever puppy potty anywhere and everywhere inside the house. Instead, use peeing pads to make indoor potty training effective. You can train them by;
- Arrange the peeing pads in the appropriate places.
- Put a sturdy playpen to attract them.
- Since puppies instinctively pee where they’ve peed before. Keep some previous offerings to make them pee there.
- Make the peeing pad of sizable length so that they can easily pee or poop on the covered part of the floor.
Potty Training A Golden Retriever When You Are At Work
Using pads is only effective when you need to leave your puppy unattended for a short period. You cannot rely on them for a longer time.
Since the Golden Retriever puppy needs attention, it is better to ask someone to take care of them while you are out for work.
How To Potty Train A Golden Retriever At Night?
The time between pee breaks varies according to the age of the puppies. A nine to ten weeks puppy can last from midnight to early morning without peeing. But some eight weeks old puppies can last only for six to seven hours.
We cannot control the bladder of the puppy. So take the pet to the toilet when you suspect the pet might need to go.
For this:
- Keep the eighth-week-old puppy in a crate or double-sided box near your bed.
- Carry your dog out in the toilet area if he stirs in the night.
- Wait until your god pees or poops.
- Praise him after he successfully potties outside.
- Carry him back to his bed.
- After some practice, you will get an idea of the time the puppy needs to pee. You can then keep a Golden Retriever puppy in a separate room and set an alarm of the specific time when he usually pees.
- Wake up with the alarm and take him out for the toilet.
- As the Golden Retriever becomes older, the alarm time will shit closer to the mornings.
Can You Potty Train A Golden Retriever Puppy In 7 Days?
Since training a puppy is tedious, potty training sessions for a long time are frustrating. Thus, the owner opts for quick training. And since a Golden Retriever is an intelligent breed, it takes very little time to learn.
Though it seems unbelievable, you can train the Golden Retriever in 7 days by following the above procedures consistently. A little consistency and hard work can pay very well.
Have you tried training your puppy?
How long did it take?
When To Take A Golden Retriever Outside To Potty?
Undoubtedly, it is a better idea to should take your puppy out frequently. Yet, some specific list of time when the puppies typically need to go out are:
- After drinking
- As soon as they get out of the crate
- After eating
- Early in the morning, after waking up.
- After playing and exercise
- After a nap
- Before going to bed
If you take your pet out in the above situations, you can save yourself from handling the mess.
Signs That Indicate Your Puppy Needs To Potty
When you constantly observe your Golden Retriever puppy, you will notice that they show some significant signs when they need to potty. The most common are;
- Circling
- Sitting at the front door.
- Wining
- Sniffing around abnormally
- Pawing or biting
- Barking or asking for more attention than normal
Have you ever noticed these signs in your puppy?
Traits To Follow While Potty Training Golden Retriever
Training a puppy requires a lot more effort than you could imagine. Training becomes successful only when you follow the following traits;
Be consistent
Come back at lunch early. Think about the time the golden can hold and set alarms of certain times of day to go out. Wait for them until they complete.
Use commands
Make the Golden Retriever puppy familiar with the command of-Go potty as early as possible.
Be realistic
It takes time for your puppy to learn. So, consistently put effort into the potty training.
What Are Some Of The Potty Problems?
Look at the reasons why your puppy keeps having potty accidents more often than usual. Some of the reasons are;
- You are not taking the puppy out enough.
- You fail to recognize the signs shown by your puppy when they need to go out.
- Lack of reinforcement when your puppy follows your command and goes out for potty.
- A poor diet that includes unhealthy treats and leftovers
- Your puppy does not enjoy going to the bathroom around you or anyone else in the house.
- Lack of enzymatic cleaner.
- Pushing the puppy more than their bladder limits
- You may have startled them or put them off from going out to pee when they need.
- Getting angry or punishing them when they eliminate at the place they should not have. (Instead, remain calm and assertive, distract them and guide them to the appropriate place.)
- 6-9 months Golden Retriever experiences more potty problems to show their dominance in the house. (Spaying and Neutering reduces this behavior)
How do you think you can manage these problems?
How To Handle Puppy Accidents?
Although you do not expect it, your puppy can become messy one day at the least time or place. And if you are parenting a small puppy, the way you handle it is crucial. It will determine whether your pet may repeat it or not.
- When you spot your puppy in the middle of creating a mess, correct it quickly with an assertive and calm voice.
- If your puppy has already made the mess, try out some positive reinforcement so that the puppy understands the right place to potty is the location you have set for them.
- You can apply some tips to clean up the mess; Clean it properly and put down fresh scent to get rid of the smell.
Tips To Potty Train A Golden Retriever Puppy
There are few universal rules helpful in every training method you use. They are;
- The Golden Retriever is a large and intelligent breed and picks up potty training more quickly than small breeds.
- It may take two weeks to 7 months in general to potty train a Golden Retriever puppy.
- Wake up several times per night to take the puppy out.
- Take them out only when they need to go.
- A one-month-old puppy can hold its bladder for one hour, two months for 2 hours, and four months for 3 hours maximum.
- Never punish your puppy for the mess they create.
- Praise them if they go out for potty by giving treats.
- Be calm and use an assertive tone to teach them about the place you allocate them to potty.
- Take them to the same spot to potty each time.
- Clean the accidents with an enzymatic cleaner.
- Be well known about the signs your puppy uses when it needs to go out.
We all desire a well-trained dog. Do not we?
Trained dogs are more loved and liked by visitors. Thus, disciplining your retriever is very important.
Which method will you prefer for potty training?
Do share your outcomes and troubles with us.
Some FAQs
Is it hard to train Golden Retrievers puppies?
Golden Retrievers are easy to train but training them is not as easy as walking in the park. Since they are smart, they can also be mischievous.
What is the earliest a puppy can potty trained?
It is difficult to potty train a dog under eight weeks old due to its weaker bladder. However, you can start laying groundwork when they are as young as three to three and a half weeks old. Also, this is the age when puppies start moving around.
Which is the most troublesome dog to potty train?
Of all of the terrier breeds, the Jack Russell is the most difficult to housetrain. Jack Russell is one of the most stubborn dogs.
Should I take my puppy up to pee at night?
Puppy aged four months and younger don’t have the capacity or control to hold their urine all night so, you should take them out at least once during the night.
How often does a 10 weeks puppy need to pee?
A puppy of 10 weeks needs to pee every 45 minutes.
Can I leave my 2 months old puppy alone?
A two-month-old puppy will rarely be capable of holding his bladder for more than two hours. Thus, you can leave your 2 months old puppy alone for 2 hours only.
Where should my puppy sleep on the first night?
It is best to keep your dog in a crate in your bedroom for the first few nights. And it helps establish important boundaries while also lets your puppy know that you are nearby should they need you.
Should puppies sleep in the dark?
To keep your dog’s sleep cycles regulated, it is a good idea to turn off the lights. If your dog fears dark, a low amount of light can help ease a dog’s fear of the dark. Since the dog can adapt sleep cycles of humans, they sleep better in the dark.
Should I use puppy pads at night?
Puppy pads are a must during the night time since you’re going to be asleep. A puppy’s bladder isn’t going to control itself, which means it may need a spot to relieve itself indoors. Setting up a simple pee pad is one of the best ways to manage a situation like this.
