Golden Retriever

　　1. Training Golden Retrievers to Urinate and Defecate

　　However, when raising them indoors, if toilet training is not done properly, dogs will urinate and defecate anywhere, which causes great hassle. Some people think that if the dog’s toilet has the smell of urine, the dog will go there to relieve itself. There are also similar "toilet attracting liquids" sold on the market. But in fact, the method of using newspapers or toilet paper soaked with urine smell to let the dog remember the location of the toilet almost always fails.

　　Because Golden Retrievers do not like to urinate in places that smell of their own urine, even if the surface of the newspaper or toilet paper has dried. But clever Golden Retrievers will still use their sharp sense of smell to detect this strange odor and consider the area dirty, then they will go elsewhere to relieve themselves. So how exactly should toilet training be done? The secret lies in the dog's habits.

　　1) Conventional Golden Retriever Toilet Training Method

　　First, we need to see how old the Golden Retriever is. Generally, it is best to start toilet training the puppy for fixed times and places after five months old. First, ensure that there is enough time to understand its defecation patterns and signs before elimination. Once you find the pattern, training becomes easier. If you don’t have the time, you can use another way to confine it—if possible, use an airline crate; otherwise, a wooden crate or cardboard box will also work. It just needs to be big enough for the dog to lie down. Put it inside and ignore it.

　　Every time you take it out, bring it directly outside and give it enough time to relieve itself. If it goes outside, promptly reward it with food. If it eliminates in other non-designated areas, loudly scold it but do not hit it. This method may take longer and requires patience. Lastly, keep in mind the dog's habits: dogs do not relieve themselves where they eat or sleep; dogs usually eliminate soon after waking up or after eating. Understanding this routine should make it easier to train the Golden Retriever to develop good habits.

　　2) Common Mistakes in Toilet Training

　　Some people think that when the Golden Retriever urinates or defecates anywhere, they must immediately punish it—such as pressing the dog’s head to smell the odor, scolding it to let it know it must not toilet anywhere. But in fact, this is a big mistake. Although the dog was punished, it does not understand human reasoning and cannot reflect on not toileting indiscriminately.

　　The correct method is to immediately take the dog to another room while the owner quietly cleans the urine and removes the odor. Most failures to learn proper toileting occur because the dog is allowed to roam freely inside without a fixed doghouse. Finding the real reason makes it easier to properly train Golden Retrievers on how to urinate and defecate appropriately.