This subject is all over the web so I’ll not go over all the different methods of doing it; the key thing is to start early and be consistent. You should always be training; rewards should only be given when earned. Golden Retriever puppies from Texas TLC Goldens will have a head start as we plan to use artificial turf just outside their whelping box as well as a safe confined area in the back yard to give them safe places that simulate or actually are grass. Dogs don’t like eliminating near their food or where they sleep so once they are big enough to climb out of the box through the provided short opening (around 3 or 4 weeks old) they will start moving to the turf area to do their business. They will not be completely trained but they should have a head start when they go to their forever homes.
Notes before we start:
Your Golden Retriever puppy WILL have one or more accidents inside the house, guaranteed. It serves no useful purpose to scold them for this and frankly, is might be your fault (read on below). When this happens, clean it up quickly and thoroughly, especially if it happens on carpet. The smell will draw them back to that spot if you do not get it completely gone immediately. Be sure to use good clean water with soap on hard floors. On carpets sop it up with towels as much as possible then use one of the many sprays made for the purpose that include enzyme treatment, or preferably, shampoo the spot and then treat with enzymes.
- No matter which method you choose to potty train, there is always one key component; you must pay attention 100% of the time. You must know what your Golden Retriever puppy is doing at all times until they are thoroughly potty trained, maybe even on a leash. Keep them in the same room you are in, pay attention and respond properly; you must be observant and respond properly in a very consistent fashion.
- Training is at times, frustrating. Deal with it; you will be glad you did; it’s absolutely worth the effort.
- The methods I supply below are not nearly the only ways to potty train your Golden Retriever; they are just the ways that we have used with good success. Do your own research, make a plan and act on your plan with consistency.
We’ve used two different methods for potty training that have been very successful. You can even combine both methods.
Puppy Pads
I don’t particularly LIKE this method since it typically takes longer than the manual method (below) and because I don’t particularly like cleaning up their messes on the pads constantly but it did work for us for three of our dogs years ago. It is also a good method to use if you cannot be right there with the puppy 100% of the time. It can also be used in conjunction with a specialized crate (see the YouTube video at the end of this article).
- It’s best to use pads made for this purpose. Google them as there are many but proper pads will be waterproof on the bottom and come with an attractive scent that draws the pup to the pad.
- Keep your puppy in a restricted area on hard floors with puppy pads placed away from their food and sleeping area. Place the puppy on the pad every time you think they might want to potty; praise them whenever they go on the pad; change the pads often. Never scold them for missing the pad but ALWAYS praise them when they succeed.
- Once the puppy is addicted to going on the pad, start moving the pad closer to the back door then eventually out onto the porch then into the grass and continue to praise theme very time they are successful. Make sure the puppy continues to follow the pad wherever it goes.
- This process can take weeks to a month or two but it does work. Once they get onto the grass, keep pads there for a week or two and encourage the puppy to go on the grass as much as possible including effusive praise every time they go on the grass. You can stop using the pads as soon as they get used to the grass.
- Important note: once you move the pads outside it’s incredibly important that you watch the puppy closely. They will not know how to ask you to open the door and this is a critical transition time. If you see them standing at the door, they want to go outside. If you see them wanting to go potty in the house, immediately pick them up (they typically won’t have an accident while you carry them), take them outside and praise them when they eliminate in the proper place. If you miss them and they go in the house, just clean it up quickly and move on; it serves absolutely no purpose to scold them.
Potty Training by Hand
This has become our preferred method since I work from home and Terri is currently a full time student from home. We’ve found it to be quicker, less messy and much more effective than the puppy pad method but it requires a lot of work, close attention and consistency on your part. We used this method on our first two Golden Retrievers Harley and River and we have had two.. count them.. TWO accidents in the house since we first got them at 8 weeks old and they are over 2 years old now. The keys are vigilance, consistency, making it positive and thoroughly cleaning up accidents to prevent allowing the scent to draw them back to that spot. Believe us when we say it’s worth the effort.
The method is simple in design but work to execute. WATCH your puppy like a hawk and don’t let them wander off into other rooms (close those doors; they are sneaky little buggers). If you catch then in the act, try clapping your hands to surprise them a little and hopefully make them stop or if you spot them getting into “the stance” or carefully sniffing around the floor (you’ll learn to recognize it), immediately scoop them up cheerfully saying a key phrase like “go potty!” and carry them outside. Use the same phrase every time so that they can begin to learn that when they hear it, they should go outside and do their business. 
Don’t worry, they will almost never have accidents while you are carrying them. Take them to the specific place you want them to go and gently set them down, stand back, and watch. If they go, praise them when they are done. Be effusive and use consistent words that include her name like “Yes! Harley pottied outside! Good Harley, she pottied outside!” Note the key word “Yes”. If you are not using a clicker for training, always use a short, single syllable keyword that signified they did something good and always use it when they do ANYTHING good. Don’t say it over and over; once is much more effective. Also use the pup’s name, even if you only have one dog.
Note: If you do not have a fenced yard, take them out on a leash but give them time with plenty of free leash. Some puppies have to get over a “shy bladder” and may take a bit until they get used to it.
You should not just wait for the pup to show she needs to go. There are times that you will KNOW it’s needed. Generally a Golden Retriever can “hold it” for around one hour per month old up to around 6 to 10 months old once they learn that they SHOULD hold it. Also note that even when potty trained, male puppies may leave little dribbles on the floor when they get excited or play hard. This is normal and they will just grow out of it. You are looking for real puddles or piles, not tiny dribbles. Just clean the dribbles and move on.
Some examples of where you should proactively take the puppy outside:
- Immediately on waking up from any of their many naps. Puppies usually want to relieve themselves right after any nap.
- 10 minutes after eating or drinking
- Every 45 minutes when very young gradually moving out to longer and longer times. We actually set alarms on our phones so that we would not forget.
- Just before YOU go to bed at night and at least once during the night, twice if they are very young. They will tend to “hold it” longer in the dark when they are asleep but don’t count on it. This is even true if you use a kennel at night. Their tiny bladders just don’t hold enough when they are young.
Teach Them to ASK to Go Out
So yeah, you’ve taught them that outside on the grass is the right place to go, but how do you know when they want to go out once trained? There needs to be some recognizable sign that they want to go out and it needs to be one you will notice, preferably with some sound. It could be a bark, a bell, scratching the door, pulling on your sleeve or some combination of these.
It is important you teach them to tell you when they want to go out or all your training will be for naught. We suggest you start this training at the same time you are potty training them. This training is not all that difficult. You can simply put a treasured toy (or a treasured human) outside a glass door and encourage them to get it. You may need to assist them a few times so that they will get the idea. Once they do the desired action, let them outside with effusive praise. Do this every day, every time until they start doing it consistently on their own.
A bell is easiest since you can have them ring the bell with their nose (even if in your arms) EVERY time they go out. The challenge with the bell is you need to have one at every door and you will not likely have a bell with you when you take them other places so you should also teach other methods as well.
If a bark is your desired method, first teach them to “speak” using any of the thousands of methods available via Google then have them “speak” every time before the door is opened. The upside of the bark method is they will always have it with them. the downside is… they will bark which can be loud and annoying.
Scratching the door is effective and usually audible enough but that means they will potentially leave marks and/or dirt on your doors. No method is perfect for everyone so choose your method(s) and TRAIN it.
Yes, a doggie door is nice and can save you many, many trips to the door but understand you will not have a doggie door with you when you travel.
Difficult Case – Real Life Example
We received our beautiful Emma in early October 2018 at 4 months of age. Apparently she was unintentionally TRAINED to do her business on concrete or other hard surfaces before she arrived in Texas. We can only assume that she was housed in a kennel with a concrete floor during her first 4 months of life in Europe, and learned (essentially was trained) that going on hard surfaces was the thing to do. When we first got her she had over 8 “accidents” in the house every single day including overnight. The only saving grace was that she never went on the carpet; only on our hard floors. It was frustrating and required a LOT of careful attention but we caught her doing it maybe half the time initially and immediately scooped her up, carried her outside directly to the grass and followed the method described above, occasionally offering treats along with the praise for a job well done.. After around 10 days she was making it though the night without an accident and has maybe one event in the house during the day every two days. After 3 weeks we had her fully trained (we thought). She rang the bell we mounted for the purpose to go out and was consistently making it through the night. This lasted for over two weeks and we thought we were done, then we went on a week long holiday trip to two different relatives homes 200 miles away. The first thing she did was pee in my brothers tile floor, twice in the same day, in the same spot, even though we took her outside plenty. After a day of working we were able to convince her that my brothers back yard was also a good place to go then she did fine. Apparently she originally accepted that OUR back yard was a good place to go but a NEW place had to be trained. Eventually we hope that she just accepts that GRASS is a good place to go, not just the location. She is a work in progress but our beautiful girl is worth it.
Interesting Idea
The following video is a blatant advertisement for the training crate they are selling but it also give a LOT of good ideas and advice; is worth the short viewing. We don’t use crates at Texas TLC Goldens but they are absolutely a valid choice for many. It’s possible this specific crate will be right for you but we’ll leave that choice to you with no recommendation either way. It could also be used in conjunction with the “Puppy Pads” method I described at the top of this article. It is very similar in nature to how we plan to get the puppies started on their training at around 3 or 4 weeks old.
Final Comments
Yes potty training can be hard and not an exact science but it WORKS. The potential difficulty can also speak to finding a breeder that does not house their puppies in fixed kennels with floors that resemble your house floors. We at Texas TLC Goldens plan to provide turf areas where the new puppies can start to go on (usually starting at about 3 weeks old). We will also take them outside to a safe 8’x12′ fenced off area inside our yard to let them experience real grass. While this will not completely train the pup, it should make your lives MUCH easier.
About the Authors
Bryan and Terri Curry love all dogs in general, especially Golden Retrievers. They have had dogs for all but 6 months of their long lives and all have lived happy and much longer than average. Bryan and Terri are co-owners of Texas TLC Goldens; a small responsible breeder producing high quality Golden Retriever puppies.
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