Taking puppy out/Letting puppy out

We have a fenced yard with a few little gaps here and there that we reinforced with heavy pieces of lawn furniture once we brought our puppy home.

She is a Golden Retriever, a little over 3 months old. She is 99% house trained. Usually accidents are our fault now for not paying attention to her. She rings a bell to go out most of the time.

I've been taking her out, into the yard on a leash to do her business then letting her off the leash to run around and play. Catching her or getting her to come in isn't easy.

When were you able to start letting your puppy out as opposed to having to take them out each time How do you get them to come back in?

Re: Taking puppy out/Letting puppy out

We actually trained our Golden with a piece of cheese.

I would go to the back door (or outside, just outside the door)...make her sit, we let her sniff the cheese and tell her go potty...it worked after a while.

Re: Taking puppy out/Letting puppy out

I still take my dog out to go to the bathroom because we live in an apartment, but when we are at my parents house where they have a fenced yard I let her out on her own.

I started letting her out on her own right away when we were there. I didn't leash her to go to the bathroom when we were there. I would always stand out there and watch in case she got herself into trouble. In order to get her to come back I trained her with the come command in the house. I'd stand in one room my husband in another and have her come. Once she mastered that we started on it outside. In the beginning I always had a treat when she came back inside.

Re: Taking puppy out/Letting puppy out

I have a golden too! I would let him outside off the leash once he had all of his shots and the vet gave the ok.

At this point, your dog is old enough to be let out in the yard without the leash.

Re: Taking puppy out/Letting puppy out

I would defiently work on the come command using treats

also 0 i would also look into a puppy kindergarden classs- i know a good instucter in the huntington/commack area - the dog may not jump now but golden's start jumping later and it is hard when they are big - i have a 21 month golden - he is still a work in progress but he is great and i let him run with me off leash and he stayes with me

Re: Taking puppy out/Letting puppy out

Re: Taking puppy out/Letting puppy out

the trainer had one of us hold him and the other show the treat - make her want it - then walk away - say come and other let go - he would go flying - move the distance further and make him sit before getting the treat


don't worry my golden jumps like a rabbit goinf for a ball, howls at the fire department signal - they may be pre breds but they get funny trais

Re: Taking puppy out/Letting puppy out

My dog Ellie is 9 (choc. lab) and still is NOT OK to be off a leash to do her business. She is still too excitable to get her inside. My experience with goldens is they mellow out fairly quickly, so I'd say by the 1 year mark she'd probably be fine to be off the leash.

Re: Taking puppy out/Letting puppy out

Come should be the very first command a puppy learns.

You can make it a fun game. Start with everyone within sight of the pup, with a treat. Take turns calling, "[Puppy], Come!" When she comes, give the treat. Ignore mild misbehavior (mouthing or wetting) because the focus is just on obeying the "come" command. This game also helps the dogs learn their names.

Once the dog has mastered this when people are within sight, start going to different rooms where she can't see you. Repeat the game, calling "[Puppy], Come!" and give a treat when she comes.

Always use a super excited voice and animated movement at first if necessary. NEVER punish the dog when she comes to you.

Once she's mastered the multi-room, out-of-sight game, play the game in the yard. At first, don't do it only when she has to come in. Do it several times and just give her a treat. You don't want her to always associate the "come" command outside with having to go inside.

Good luck - I'm sure she'll figure it out soon enough. If you reinforce it every day, she'll pick it up in no time!

ETA - Keep sessions light, fun, and short!

Message edited 1/6/2011 4:05:14 PM.