Buckeye Goldens Puppy Foundations: Your Puppy’s First Steps
Hello! I’m Lillian from Buckeye Golden Retrievers, and I’m thrilled to welcome you and your new puppy to our Puppy Foundations program—a special boarding and training experience in a cozy home setting where we focus on building a healthy bond with humans. Congratulations on your furry addition!
Lillian (right)
At Buckeye, my goal is to set you and your puppy up for success during these precious early weeks. This program is like a puppy preschool, offering the essentials to ease the challenges of puppyhood and lay a strong foundation for your journey together. It’s not about creating a perfectly trained puppy in a short time—full crate training, house training, or sleeping through the night depends on your consistency at home, your puppy’s developmental stage, and their unique personality. I focus on giving your puppy a confident start.
I’ll keep you in the loop with regular updates, including pictures and videos, and I’m always here to answer your questions and share what I’m noticing about your puppy’s progress.
What We Offer
Here’s what your puppy will experience in our program:
Healthy Attachment: I work on building a secure bond with your puppy, helping them feel safe and confident with humans. For the first 3–4 days after picking them up from the breeder, I focus on earning their trust, reading their body language, and adjusting to their unique needs. A secure bond means a happy, confident dog ready for future training.
Healthy Attachment
Positive Reinforcement: We reward good behaviors with treats, praise, and play, never punishing mistakes. Potty successes and moments of confidence are celebrated, and we handle messes calmly. Patience is key—each puppy progresses at their own pace.
Positive Reinforcement
Name Recognition: I teach your puppy their name with a cheerful tone, rewarding them when they respond with a wag or a glance.
Name Recognition
House Training: We start a consistent potty schedule, watching closely and taking frequent outdoor trips to build good habits.
Leash Walking: I gently introduce your puppy to a harness and leash, helping them get comfortable with light pressure.
Car Rides: They’ll also have short car rides to ease them into new experiences.
Regular interaction with 3 children during the program
Gentle Play: Puppies love to explore with their mouths, so I redirect nipping to toys and use frozen puzzles or lick mats to soothe teething. We also work on keeping all four paws on the ground, only engaging when they’re calm or inviting them to sit on my lap.
Who's a good boy?
Socialization: I expose your puppy to a variety of people, friendly adult Goldens, household noises (like appliances or music), and environments in a safe way. The 3–16-week window is prime for socialization, and I tailor each experience to your puppy’s comfort level, helping them build confidence.
Crate Training: Crates can be tough at first, but they provide a safe space for naps or observing busy moments like mealtimes. I introduce crate time gradually, keeping it to about 2 hours for two-month-olds.
Feeling sleepy
Program Details
Age: Best for puppies 8–16 weeks old, when socialization is most effective.
Duration: Typically 2 weeks, depending on your puppy’s needs.
Updates: You’ll get regular photos, videos, and notes, plus the chance to chat about your puppy’s progress.
Tips for Success at Home
Your puppy’s journey doesn’t stop when they come home! Here are some tips to keep the momentum going:
Keep training sessions short (5–10 minutes) to hold their attention.
End every session on a high note, celebrating even small wins.
Use high-value treats sparingly for big achievements.
Train when your puppy is alert, not tired or overexcited, to avoid nipping or jumping.
Consider a positive reinforcement-based puppy class to continue socialization and connect with other puppy parents.
If you hit a roadblock, don’t hesitate to reach out to a trainer.
Trev + Puppy
A Lifelong Adventure
Raising a puppy is a beautiful, rewarding challenge. Every moment you spend teaching, playing, or just cuddling strengthens the trust and love between you. I’m so honored to play a small role in your decision to welcome one of our Golden Retrievers into your life.
Ready to give your puppy their best start? Reach out to info@buckeyegoldenretrievers.com to learn more. If you’re ready to enroll, you can pay for the training online on our FAQ page. I can’t wait to help your puppy shine!
