some problems/expensive carpets

[cutelilgoldens]

hi,i done a poll on "inside or outside" to check where do people keep there dogs..so im gonna keep my dog inside when i get it but theres a problem.im scared it will pee and poo on the carpets(theres like carpets everywhere).they are very expensive carpets(hand made)so is there a way to make them not pee or poo on them so they get house trained?(i want them to give me a sign or something to tell me that they needa "go" so i can take them out.

[theGoldenPup]

Timing!
Take the pup out often to the 'potty spot' in the yard. Take out treats and praise! after he is done.
Supervise. There may be a few accidents, so you can get some special cleaners, or put up the carpets for a few months (so that they don't get chewed either). Supervision is the key.
After the pup has started learning where to go you will start learning what to look for and/or can teach him to ring a bell/sit at the door, but supervision is the most reliable way.

Possibly consider adopting/buying an older dog that is already house trained?

Dogs can be messy, they shed, and there are many things you may have to clean up if they would get sick. Soon you'll be cleaning up without a thought.

GoldenPup

[MyBoyGus]

An older dog is a good idea. If you go with a pup make sure you get baby gates or a crate so you have a way to confine him or her when you aren't there and at night. It isn't just the peeing and pooping, puppies can also be quite destructive while they are learning what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. Good luck with your pup!

[johnwa]

I'm not going to pull any punches here. Statistically, owners with expensive furnishing have come to this board complaining that their golden retriever chewed this or destroyed that. Golden retrievers shed, puppies will have pee/poop accidents, and they can't tell the difference between cheap and expensive carpeting. Additionally, there is no point to getting a golden retriever, if you are going to keep it outside 24 x 7.

[goldenlover]

I agree with johnwa. Goldens generally like to stay with their pack (that's us), and we're usually inside.

[goodtim'n]

If your carpets are that important then you had better get a good carpert cleaning machine. I re-carpet every 2 years, not do to urine, It just that my dogs LIVE on them and I don't buy expensive carpet, I do not put much value on disposible things such as carpets, couchs, chairs, bedding, pillows, they can all be replaced. You don't just replace your dog!!!! These things are materialistic THINGS, no big deal...I posted last night a post called, TEST DRIVE, you should read it. The point I was making is that with owning a Large Breed and a breed that loves to go with you, that I had to make sure my choice of vehicle was totally accomidating to my dogs. People ask me, "how may dogs do you own? I say none, They own me!!!" There just isn't anything more important than my familiy, which is my dogs. They are my hubby's and mine's greatest moments and shared laughter, Wouldn't trade it for anything. :dogbark

[Harshy]

So true Goodtim'n - also being a dog owner, golden or other wise there will be accidents through out the dogs life, puppyhood, midlife & seniors. What would we do if we caught a bug or ate something that didn't agree with us & then had to depend on someone else to get us to our bathroom area. What if the person that helped us wasn't home at the time? Accidents will happen & we just have to understand that & treat our dogs with compassion just like we would any other member of our family! :)

[coopersmom04]

it's not just peeing and pooping though...sometimes, puppies actually chew the carpet. I have caught Cooper pulling one particular corner of the carpet up. Plus, dogs do get sick sometimes, and throw up. Now, my lab tries to make it to the kitchen or hallway tile, but sometimes, they just can't make it.

We are due for new carpet around here, but we will now wait until Cooper is fully housetrained. He's been doing really well, and hasn't had an accident in over a week, but we'll wait until he's at least 6 months old if not more, just to be safe :)

[goodtim'n]

If a person is going to be totally, "ANAL" about everything "THEY" own while owning a pup/dog. Then maybe "THEY "shouldn't own one!!!!!!! I am not directing this towards "ANYONE" when owning an animal, destruction of certain things, "HAPPEN"----Get over it, and move on!!!!

[johng723]

Roxy has actually digged up several corners in my room and has gotten sick- meaning throwing up and diarrhea. This is all stuff that I expected so I wasn't angry or surprised. If you want any type of puppy, be prepared! :woofpup

[goodtim'n]

cutelilgoldens:::::Just take a look at the training and behavior forum in the threads, EATING TREES-DIGGING, it is not only an inside thing, These pups/dogs, also have a GREAT time outdoors!!! rofl3 rofl3 rofl3 My goodness I can't tell you many times I've :laugh2 my way to the local nursery and furniture store!!!! Now I just bought a newer, bigger vehicle (cuz by other one they outgrew) to keep my little :dogbark :angel1 happy!!!!

[cutelilgoldens]

lol...cool thanks guys i dont care about the carpet now.can you guys tell me around what times i need to take the pup out to pee and poop?

one more question....when its time for breakfast,lunch and dinner how many cups of food do i need to put?

[theGoldenPup]

Time to go out and get a few books on goldens, puppies, and basic dog behavior! There are many great ones. My current favorites are "Before and After You Get Your Puppy" by Ian Dunbar and "Outwitting Dogs" by Terry Ryan and...someone else.

Puppies need to go out before and after they eat, play, sleep, play, and all those activities. You supervise or crate at all times, reward for going outside, and you won't have much of a problem. You can write down what times you take your pup out and what happens, and after a few days you will see where the extra unnecessary trips are.

How much a puppy eats depends on the pup, the age, the activity level and type of food. Your breeder should be able to help you here.

Again, many thanks for doing your research!
GoldenPup

[HenryWI]

lol...cool thanks guys i dont care about the carpet now.can you guys tell me around what times i need to take the pup out to pee and poop?

one more question....when its time for breakfast,lunch and dinner how many cups of food do i need to put?

The books are a good idea. I learned a ton of things I didn't know by doing my homework before bringing our puppy home. I read for months before I felt prepared. As far as what times to take the pup out- many, many times. I was home with Henry the first week we got him, and I took him out every hour. If he went, I rewarded him with a treat and tons of praise. If he didn't go, we went back out in a half hour/45 minutes and tried again. This worked very well for us. Now that I'm back to work, he is crated during the day, and my husband or I come home every 3-4 hours to let him out.

They need to go out a TON, so definitely don't get a dog if you aren't ready for that! It's very cold up here, but whenever Henry eats, drinks, plays, sleeps, etc......guess what- outside we go!

The amount of food depends on what you feed him/her. Young puppies need to be fed about 3 times a day (said my vet), then 2 times a day as they get older, and then down to 1. Best of luck.

[clement's golden rule]

Hi
just wanted to post, that the reason that Goodwin, came to be with us, ( at less than 5 months old)is because, his first home, was not condusive to puppies.. He was not provided with the supervision necessary to properly care for all his needs, and was crated, for all the wrong reasons.. (all day long, while everyone was at work/school) and then when they came home, the 13 yr old, couldn't seeem to let him out the door to poty, so he wasn't getting trained to potty outside.. then he got scolded, and backin his crate... poor guy..
Don't get a dog, if you're concerned more about your stuff, than in taking the time to train a puppy... It's such a matter of consistency, than anything else.. and you'll never be able to foresee, the diarrhea, the upset bellies, the mud, the wet, the very essence of a field dog... dirty, wet, happy, sloppy, messy, furry, exuberant, golden retrievers.( and if they're never that way, then you're doing something wrong). They are BIG dogs, and will provide lots of opportunity, to be upset about carpets... If you;re hell bent on a golden, or any puppy for that matter,,, roll up those carpets, store them for a month, and see if you can live with out them.. then consider, why you even want a dog??
but don't get a puppy, if you can't afford it, the time and patience that any breed would require.. I'm here to attest to the disservice that Goodwin had done to him, in his most formative months.. ps, his given name, was OWEN, but I thought that it sounded too much like the "NO's " that he heard everyday of his life, so I changed it to goodwin..
PLEASE consider your priority. a little puppy, hasn't the choice. We're all here to help, and that is my only mission, in posting this...
jenn, jaeger and goodwin

[angenbear]

hi,i done a poll on "inside or outside" to check where do people keep there dogs..so im gonna keep my dog inside when i get it but theres a problem.im scared it will pee and poo on the carpets(theres like carpets everywhere).they are very expensive carpets(hand made)so is there a way to make them not pee or poo on them so they get house trained?(i want them to give me a sign or something to tell me that they needa "go" so i can take them out.


They say a pup isn't fully potty trained til over a year. The first two months, there will be accidents. So if you are very worried about your carpet, I suggest getting lots of thick rugs to put over them if you really want a pup. Having a pup takes a lot of responsibilities, and sometimes you have to prioritize them first. If you are thinking of having the golden outside after awhile, then you got the wrong breed as others have said, they are inside dogs, they are social and they need to interact. Most dogs that are left outside tend to be neglected at times and don't get the attention they deserve. So please reflect on what your priorities are. A crate is a great idea, it does help with potty training. However, if you are going to be in the house, then you shouldn't use the crate. You should get the pup adjusted to your house, and not to go inside. In the first two months, puppies can't hold their potty for long. I suggest taking the pup out when he/she wakes up, after he/she eats, before you play. I would say every half hour take him/her out and praise the pup excitingly when he/she goes. So a crate would be helpful. And as I suggested earlier, get rugs and have the carpet covered. You do realize that later on, goldens will shed. Goldens like to chew too, so make sure the pup is supervised at all times when the pup is free to roam. Also, get one of those portable carpet cleaners, they are great, I have one, and a bigger one. Natural miracle from what I hear is great. If you get the urine out immediently then it shouldn't affect the carpet. Just do some research on how to clean the carpet.

As for food, I suggest you research that tooo, there are so many kinds, you have to decide which would be best for your pup. I suggest natural, it's more healthy, and there are less stools to clean up, and easy on the digestion. Every dog product also has different servings.

[Cassidy'sMom]

I think after reading this thread we can all agree that getting a golden is a lifestyle change. Cutelilgoldens, nothing will ever be the same again after getting your golden. Yes, puppies are cute and fun. But they require lots of time, training, patience and money. And they don't stay cute little puppies for very long . . . in just a few months time you will have a over 60 pound dog on your hands.

I'm glad that you are doing your homework, I'm just worried that you are rushing things a bit. You said you are getting this pup in one month, yet you are asking some very basic questions - how to potty train, how to feed. Is one month enough time to learn? We all do A LOT of learn-as-you-go, but you should have basic dog care under your belt, first. Instead of coming here and asking tons of basic question, go out and buy as many books as you can on dog care, health, obedience.

As I said above, this is really a lifestyle change - going from no dog to a golden is a very big step. For example, before I got Cassidy I finally saved up enough money to buy my "dream car". This is the car I've dreamed about since 16 years of age. However, it is a small two-seater sports car. Cassidy does fit in the hatchback with room to spare. However, I feel guilty. This is MY dream car, but not the best car for HER. My lease is up on my car at the end of the year and I already have my eye on a new car - an SUV. My dream car is no longer my dream car because it is not best for my golden. Another example: I have bad spurs in my feet because I used to be a dancer (ballet). I built a new house 5 months ago. Because of my bad feet, hard floors really hurt to walk barefoot on. Initally I thought, for my own sake, that I would carpet my whole house. However, carpet is not pet or pet-hair friendly. With a golden you have muddy paws, tons of shedding and general dog roughness. What did I go with . . . carpet only in the bedrooms. Hard floor was best for my best friend so I just don't walk around barefoot through the house. Like I said . . . its a lifestyle change. But any devoted golden owner does not mind this change. The love from a great golden is worth all the sacrafice. I just hope you know there will be personal sacrafices to make.

Thanks for reading this very long post. I hope I've gotten my point across. Good luck to you and your new best friend.

[GoldCountryGirl]

I had posted that I couldn't find my reply here, but I just found it on another thread. :rolleyes:

[johng723]

I have to agree with Cassidy'sMom. Getting a golden is not something to take lightly. I too love sports cars, and am also in the market for a new car since my car is just about dead. However, because of Roxy, I think I'm going to be shopping around for SUV's. May not have been my first choice, but hey, anything for our children. :D

[Rusty-14]

What a cute little baby you have there. Yes, we have a SUV also. Its for the dogs. :woofpup