Why Golden Retriever Training Calls for No Punishment During Accidents

One of the most important points to housebreaking not only golden retrievers, but all dog breeds in particular, is this: if puppies are not visually caught face-to-face committing an accident, then they must not be punished, for their sanity's sake! Incredible as it seems, it is more sensible in dog training to just clean up the mess you found (not to mind the dog even if it is just meters away), and forget about it.

The point is that disciplining only matters if the dog is caught in the act, otherwise the dog will have no idea what the scolding is for. Your puppy was already used to peeing and pooing many times prior to its meeting you, and there is simply no way it can comprehend punishment for something it did even 30 seconds ago! Just like some kid's brain, a pup's brain is not focused on what happened in the past, but only what lies ahead. This makes the pup's memory really threadbare-poor.

The golden retriever training solution? We human owners need to admit we are the solution; it's our fault and responsibility, not that of the pups. If we can will recall, it was a bit obvious that something was coming up, since the puppy was walking around, or running in circles, nose sniffing around for the best toilet area (it actually prefers areas it has soiled before, so this is one more hint). While these pre-accident events and behavior may vary from dog to dog, the "warning signs" will nonetheless be generally noticeable.

Next time you catch your dog in the middle of pooing or peeing, be aware that things are still within your responsibility. You could have been watching or at least paying attention for the signs, yet its not too late. In fact, there is still time to correct the dog and condition it to perform good manners routinely. So whats to be done? Never get mad, and instead just pick up your dog and give it a firm and stern "No." Bring it outside, or bring it to to its poo or pee "pads." Try pushing the dog's tail down as you hold the dog, since this sometimes temporarily holds back the dog's pooing or peeing.

Lastly, how to get the dog all excited whenever you take it outside or to the pads? Practical golden retriever training tells us you need to stay with it for a while until it finishes its business, then reward it at random with either a pat, a dog treat, or a simple yet perky and happy "Good dog." This way the dog associates relieving itself outdoors with getting treats and perks.