You’re going to have to get over your old idea that cages are punishment for dogs. The truth is that your Golden Retriever will love his cage. It’s a safe place that satisfies their natural instinct for their den. All dogs are instinctively den-dwelling creatures, and their crate can be a great substitute that satisfies your Golden Retriever’s genetic need for a warm, safe place, especially when he’s scared or confused. At the same time, it’s not a good idea to leave your Golden in his cage for hours on end, as this could cause other behavioral issues that will be difficult to resolve.
When you first bring your Golden Retriever puppy home, the open crate should already be there where you want it to be permanently. The box should probably be located in the center of the house, but not in a high-traffic area. Many people leave their crate near an outside door so their Golden Retriever can go to the bathroom when he needs to. Place a toy, dog treat, or blanket in the crate to provide a point of interest or comfort.
But do not take the puppy to the crate or put him in it. Just let him wander around the house, smelling everything and finding his way. Your Golden Retriever puppy will find the crate and will probably want to visit it often. When your Golden Retriever puppy finds and enters the crate, give him plenty of praise. If the puppy seems to want to stay for a while, you can close the door to see how he reacts.
Stay close at first, and if the puppy complains, reassure him with kind words. If he gets angry, excited, or barks, don’t let him out of the cage. This will reward the puppy for his bad behavior. Instead, leave your puppy in the crate until he calms down. Then opening the door will be a reward for his good behavior. Once your pup is comfortable with the crate, it’s safe to leave him in it from time to time, such as when you have to leave the house for a while. After your Golden Retriever puppy gets used to his new home and family, you can leave the crate door open. He will probably start going in and out of the box. Remember, praise him while he is in the crate to reinforce the behavior.
It will take some time to train your new Golden Retriever puppy, but not as long as you think. Crates can be a safe haven for your puppy, so never use them for punishment or “time out.” He constantly demonstrates to his Golden Retriever that his cage is his own private home, his place and his alone. Natural instinct and positive reinforcement will achieve the desired behavior.