First off, I have ALOT of questions. I want to make sure I don't mess up when training my Golden Retriever. Oh and to note, I am near clueless when it comes to dog training, though I have listened to a few of Ed's podcasts and read a couple articles.

I have a 9, nearly 10, weeks old Golden Retriever named Kiba. I wrote about how I got him in my introduction topic.

I'm having a few problems though, I don't think there too big and hopefully they can be taken care of pretty easily.

I do not have a backyard. I do not have a fenced in yard. Is this a problem? Our side lawn is pretty good sized it works when were playing.

What kind of games should we play and how should we play them?

Should I start not allowing people pet him and start making him sit before I do myself?

He bites. Hard. I've listened to Ed's podcast about this and tried everything he suggest. I pick him up by the scruff of the neck and shake him and tell him to knock it off, in that low voice, but he just screams, growls and tries to bite my hand (He does not show teeth) and I set him down and BAM! Right back to phase 1. Even when were playing, he'd rather go for my hand then his toy. Also, I have started leeshing him in the house and crating him whenever I can't give him my full attention.

How many walks should I give him? Right now, since its summer and hot, I give him two 45 minute walks, in the morning and at night. I always bring a backpack with a few things he might need (Like water). Also, when were walking, he constantly tries to sit down, or lay down even, he tries jumping on me too. When were about two blocks from the house he tries to pull alot more.

He chews on EVERYTHING! He prefers our rug over his tug.

He doesn't respond well at all, in fact he constantly ignores me. Lately I never raise my voice but he still doesn't listen, even with a hard jerk on the leesh.

What commands should I teach him and how should I teach them to him? He seems to have mastered sit, but thats about all.

There is no puppy kindergarden here either, what would be a good way to develop his social skills? Should I take him to the humane society to meet the dogs there?

Thanks in advance!

 Quote: nathan tierney

I do not have a backyard. I do not have a fenced in yard. Is this a problem? Our side lawn is pretty good sized it works when were playing.

Lots of walks and mild play (not rough due to his puppy joints) should keep him worn out.

 Quote: nathan tierney

What kind of games should we play and how should we play them?

Fetch, hide and seek, easy games of tug

 Quote: nathan tierney

Should I start not allowing people pet him and start making him sit before I do myself?

I would create a bond with him forst before allowing everyone to play and pet him, and by no means would I allow anyone else to teach him commands.....

 Quote: nathan tierney

He bites. Hard. I've listened to Ed's podcast about this and tried everything he suggest. I pick him up by the scruff of the neck and shake him and tell him to knock it off, in that low voice, but he just screams, growls and tries to bite my hand (He does not show teeth) and I set him down and BAM! Right back to phase 1. Even when were playing, he'd rather go for my hand then his toy. Also, I have started leeshing him in the house and crating him whenever I can't give him my full attention.

How long have you had him? Has he had time to adjust to his new surroundings yet? I would not be scruffing this pup at all but rather trying to redirect his mouth to something acceptable....like his toy....make it fun for him to have the toy and ignore his mouth on other things.....

 Quote: nathan tierney

How many walks should I give him? Right now, since its summer and hot, I give him two 45 minute walks, in the morning and at night. I always bring a backpack with a few things he might need (Like water). Also, when were walking, he constantly tries to sit down, or lay down even, he tries jumping on me too. When were about two blocks from the house he tries to pull alot more.

He is a puppy and he needs to be positively taught.....I would up the walks three or four and shorten them in length and time....1/2 hour maybe.....If he sits or lays, let him rest. Jumping on you is a completely normal puppy thing as well as pulling on the lead. He needs to learn that it is not acceptable, but NOT by force at all.

 Quote: nathan tierney

He chews on EVERYTHING! He prefers our rug over his tug.

Again, redirect his mouth to an acceptable chew toy

 Quote: nathan tierney

He doesn't respond well at all, in fact he constantly ignores me. Lately I never raise my voice but he still doesn't listen, even with a hard jerk on the leesh.

YIKES...no hard jerks on the leash......no yelling, no crating as punishment, no scruffing.....this puppy needs to know that you are the funnest thing in the world.....make it fun for him to come to you and use food rewards to reinforce this behavior.

 Quote: nathan tierney

What commands should I teach him and how should I teach them to him? He seems to have mastered sit, but thats about all.

There is no puppy kindergarden here either, what would be a good way to develop his social skills? Should I take him to the humane society to meet the dogs there?

Thanks in advance!

I would work on him coming to you first, then be ready, because his "mastered" sit will go away so you will have to work on that as well. This should all be done as a fun thing to do and when he does what you want correctly then it is a BIG PARTY with lots of praise and some treats.....I would use a moist treat to train with as dry crunchy stuff takes puppies a while to chew and then they have forgotten what they were doing.

Your training sessions need to be short (5 minutes or less) for a puppy and always end it on a good/positive note.


Good luck with your pup.....he is a cutie!!!

Hi Nathan,

I'll take a stab at a few things that jump out at me:

1. You have a BABY. Hard leash jerks are inappropriate at this age. Physical corrections are inappropriate at this age. Scruffing is something that Ed has said he doesn't advise anymore since too many owners don't know how to do it correctly. Keep toys on hand and redirect your pup with a new toy when he latches onto you. A "NO BITE" (said firmly and calmly) followed by a real happy "YES" when he grabs on to the toy will work...but it takes time and patience and a good supply of band-aids

2. 2 45 minute walks/day seems like a lot to me at this age, particularly since you said he's stopping quite a bit. Pups shouldn't be walked too much while they are growing. He'll get plenty of exercise and stimulation just playing with you.

3. Play tug, play ball...make it fun, keep it short, and use this as a great opportunity to teach "come" and work on "sit". Read Ed's advice on marker training and reward your pup with a treat or a toy everytime he does something you like. No corrections!

3. Please don't take him to the humane society...or dog parks to meet dogs. He doesn't need *social skills* with anyone but YOU at this point. Your relationship with him needs the most attention right now.

Get Ed's DVDs "8 Weeks to 8 Months" & "Basic Obedience"...they are worth it! Read EVERYTHING you can on this site about puppies. And keep asking questions

Hope that helps!

Cripes...I type slow! Carol said it best.

Yup! I agree with what the ladies said Nathan. This is the page you need to add to your favorites and read daily. http://www.leerburg.com/puppytraining.htm

Get those 2 DVD's also. They are defintely worth the money.

All EXCELLENT answers to the O.P. !

http://www.leerburg.com/120.htm

http://www.leerburg.com/302.htm


I agree 100% about the videos.

I have "assigned" number 302 to humans whose dogs I was working with.

Oh yeah....

I am assuming you will want some advice on housebreaking.......

http://www.leerburg.com/housetraining.htm

This page is full of info..

Just remember, frequent outside visits and if you can, wait until he goes, then make it a BIG, FUN, GOOD GO POTTY, PARTY.....

If he does not go and you must go back in, take him to his crate and wait 5 to 15 minutes and try again.
Puppies eliminate after eating, sleeping and playing. Make sure that you have your eye on him at all times when he is out inside. If he does go in the house, do not yell or punish him, but rather pick him up, even if he is still going because he should stop, and take him out to finish and praise him.
Invest in some Natures Miracle or OdoBan (I use this in my kennels) and make sure you clean the area well if he has an accident.

Remember that it is an accident because he does not know to go in the house. He may be a little harder than most pups coming from a pet store, but with your persistance he will get it.

Also, no matter how loud he cries (if he does) in his crate, DO NOT let him out while he is noisy. You can cover the crate with a blanket to help him quiet down....once he is quiet then you can calmly walk over and let him out. He will soon learn that the crate is a good place and a place to settle. Do not ever use the crate for punishment.

Yep, yep, hes housetrained already, although he did go once a couple of days ago, simply because I forgot to take him out after dinner (I haven't since). I'll read up on the article anyways, it would be stupid not to.

I don't use the crate for punishment but I have let him out when he was crying.

Thanks for all the advice and such, I'll get the DvDs as soon as I can, but that probably won't be for a couple of weeks unfortunately.

One more question though...is there such a thing as too much praise?

 Quote: Nathan Tierney

One more question though...is there such a thing as too much praise?

No way! If he earns it and it's timed right, dump as much praise as you can on the little guy.

Personally I do not think so, however, you do not want to create a dog that bugs you for pets and scratches.

I am liberal with my praise when I praise, but my dogs also know to go and lay down when I tell them enough and to go "settle" also. My Mal is a glutton for love AND she is young, but she is learning to settle nicely in the house when I say enough is enough.

Sounds great! I was told not to give very much praise, just enough to satisfy him. Oh, and to never play with him, but that was very hard....I'm glad I found the site, other wise I would still be doing both of these!