Create Training Your Golden

You're going to have to get over your old idea that crates are punishment for dogs. The truth is
that your Golden Retriever will love his crate. It's a safe place that satisfies his natural instinct
for his den. All dogs are instinctively den-dwelling creatures, and his crate may be an excellent
substitute that meets your Golden Retriever's genetic need for a warm, safe place, particularly
when he's afraid or confused. At the same time, it's not a good idea to let your Golden stay in
his crate for hours on end, as this could cause other behavioral problems that will be difficult to
solve.

When you bring your Golden Retriever puppy home for the first time, the open crate should
already be there in the spot you want it to be permanently. The crate should probably be located
centrally in the house but not in a high-traffic area. Many people leave their crate near an
outside door so that their Golden Retriever can go outside to potty when he needs to. Put a toy,
a dog treat, or a blanket in the crate to provide a point of interest or comfort.
But don't take the puppy to the crate or put him in it. Just let him roam the house, sniffing
everything and finding his way around. Your Golden Retriever puppy will find the crate, and he'll
probably want to visit it often. When your Golden Retriever puppy finds and enters the crate,
give him lots of praise. If the puppy seems to want to stay for a while, you can close the door to
see how he'll react.

Stay nearby at first and, if the puppy whines, reassure him with gentle words. If he gets upset,
excited or is barking, don't let him out of the crate. This will reward the puppy for bad behavior.
Rather, leave your puppy in the crate until he calms down. Then opening the door will be a
reward for good behavior. Once the puppy is comfortable with the crate, it'll be safe to leave him
in it now and then, for example when you have to leave the house for a little while. After your
Golden Retriever puppy gets used to his new home and family, you can leave the crate door
open. He'll probably start to wander in and out of the crate. Remember, praise him while he's in
the crate to reinforce the behavior.

It will take some time to crate train your new Golden Retriever puppy, but not nearly as long as
you may think. Crates can be a safe haven for your puppy, so never use it as punishment or a
"time out." Consistently show your Golden Retriever that his crate is his own private home, his
place and his alone. Natural instinct and positive reinforcement will accomplish the desired
behavior.