Puppy Training Institute
One of Recherche Goldens’ greatest distinctions is The Puppy Training Institute in which every puppy is enrolled. From families that are extremely busy to families that haven’t trained a puppy in years…this is the English Cream Golden Retriever training program for you.
Our Puppy Training Institute has trained over 500 English Golden Retriever puppies and we have learned by experience exactly what training works and what doesn’t. It has taken more than 10 years to develop this program, and nothing on this page is here by accident.
We offer 5 training levels in our Puppy Training Institute. EVERY puppy from Recherche Goldens is trained in at least the first level of these programs. Explore available pups here.
See below for full descriptions of each phase of training.
Each program is built to be able to provide not only a beautiful healthy puppy but a puppy that’s emotionally and mentally stable for life, and forms a foundation to become a therapy dog, a hunting dog or the best family dog you could ever have.
Training Levels Overview
Puppy Academy
- 6-12 Weeks of Age
- 250 Hours of training
Training always begins at 6 weeks of age and continues until 12 weeks of age. That’s an average of 250 hours of professional instruction in 6 weeks of training.
Canine College
- 12-16 Weeks of Age
- 350 Hours of training
This is an additional 4 weeks of valuable training, and most of our pups are required to be in Canine College, because it’s so essential to the continued advancement of the pups.
Master’s Program
- 16-20 Weeks of Age
- 450-475 Hours of training
Once a pup graduates from Canine College, they are fully inoculated, enabling even more diverse training. This includes field trips and real-world distraction training.
Doggy Doctorate
- 20 Weeks to 6 months of Age
- 600+ Hours of training
This is the perfect program for people who want fully reinforced training in their pup, and an easier transition to their new home.
Double Doggy Doctorate
- 6 months through 7-12 months of age
- More than double previous training programs
Our newest and fastest growing program, we continue to train pups into young adulthood. After a pup graduates from Doggy Doctorate, they will go into a completely new facility with new surroundings and their house training, obedience training and socialization training will be stretched.
Your pup will learn a completely new place to potty train. Your pup will be extensively socialized. They will continue to be obedience trained but the focus will be on pushing your pup in a new environment and getting them out of their comfort zone. We can see more easily any weaknesses and work on them. We can also customize their training to meet the clients needs more directly. Most DDD pups will also be Canine Good Citizen certified.
Each program is designed to provide not only a beautiful, healthy puppy but also one that is emotionally and mentally stable for life. It builds a solid foundation for future therapy dogs, hunting dogs or the best family dogs you could ever enjoy. Below is a detailed listing of what’s covered in each extended puppy training program.
4 Pillars of the PUPPY TRAINING INSTITUTE
Our training programs focus on 4 core areas designed to prepare each of our English Golden puppies for both life in their new home, and life outside the home. These core areas are expanded and added upon with each program, and you can find additional information about each in their respective sections below.
1
House Training
Six days a week there is a dedicated house trainer working with puppies in three shifts – about 22 hours out of the day.
- Crate trained– training to acclimate the pups to being crated at night, when eating and for breaks. Each pup works through progressively longer crate stays to learn how to successfully spend a full night in its crate.
- Potty trained– training the pups to hold the restroom indoors and to notify the owner when they need to go to the bathroom outside.
- Chew trained– training on what is appropriate to chew and what is off limits.
- Bite trained– training not to be aggressive or bite humans.
- Jump trained– training to not jump up on couches, people, chairs, etc…
2
Obedience Training
Every day each pup is worked with individually on commands. This takes much time and effort, but by 12 weeks of age most pups are better trained than most 12 month-old pups in these areas!
- “Sit“- to sit on a verbal and hand command.
- “Stay” – to stay on a verbal and hand command.
- “Down“- to lay down on verbal and hand command.
- “Come“- to come with duration and distance.
- “Off“- to jump down when they jump up.
- “Sit/Stay“- to hold a sit position.
- “Down/Stay“- to hold a down position.
- “Place“- go to a designated dog cot and remain there until released.
- Stair Trained– a challenging area worked on daily is going up and down stairs fluidly. Many Goldens have issues with the stairs.
3
Socialization Training
- Stranger Trained– each puppy goes on multiple “field trips” to various safe locations to get them used to different people. They are taken to pet friendly stores and are handled weekly by strangers. We have multiple guests visit from our church, Christian school and from our family getting each puppy used to every type of personality, gender & race.
- Child Trained– We will have children introduced to the pups so they learn not to jump up on them and respect them.
- Cat Trained– We have 1 feisty cat that is friendly to our pups. Occasionally you will see them playing with each other.
- Vet Trained– Pups are accustomed to handling by a veterinarian. Every precaution is taken to ensure the pups have “happy visits” when they are there.
- Noise Trained– Between the vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, industrial fan, television and our piano…each puppy is used to hearing loud noises and is not frightened by them.
- Grooming Trained– Pups are continuously given baths and are accustomed to being bathed, blow dried, nails clip, ears cleaned and even their teeth brushed.
4
Outside Training
- Leash Trained– every day, each individual puppy is trained to appropriately walk on a leash. This is also associated with “heeling” or making sure the puppy walks beside you. We train each pup to walk on a certain side, and not walk ahead or drag behind. They are taken up stairs and down stairs on a leash. They are trained on a training lead.
- Car Trained– once fully vaccinated, pups enjoy weekly field trips to help with socialization and reduce car sickness. Our goal is to have each puppy used to riding in a vehicle and not experience motion sickness.
- Spot Trained– from the beginning, each puppy is trained to use the restroom in a certain area. With the right technique, each puppy is spot trained by 6 weeks of age. They are continually spot trained for the remainder of training and can be easily spot trained when they go home. In other words, the client can determine where specifically they want their puppy to use the restroom!
- Thunderstorm Trained– we make sure every puppy is acclimated to a variety of loud noises including thunderstorms. We have yet to see one puppy develop a phobia of thunderstorms.
Puppy Academy
Starts at 6 weeks and ends at 12 weeks of age
Offering around 250 hours of Professional training, Puppy Academy is our core program that every puppy is enrolled in at Recherche Goldens. This program teaches puppies during their most important phase, and lays the groundwork for our more advanced programs.Below is a detailed video describing Puppy Academy & showing typical graduates!
1
House Training Goals
- Crate trained-be crated 4-5 hours at night without having an accident.
- Potty trained– be able to hold restroom for 1 hour during the day.
- Chew trained– understand the word “no” when chewing something they shouldn’t.
- Bite trained– understand the word “no” when play biting too hard.
- Jump trained– begin to understand the word “off” when they jump up.
2
Obedience Training Goals
- “Sit“- obey sit verbally and with a combination of verbal & hand commands.
- “Stay” – stay from a distance of 5 feet for a duration of 5 seconds.
- “Down“- obey down with a combination of verbal & hand commands.
- “Come“- to come with a high-pitched peppy voice from short distances.
- “Off“- to understand that “off” means to not jump up.
- “Down/Stay“- to hold a “down” position from a distance of 5 feet for a duration of 5 seconds.
- Stair Trained– to be able to slowly make it up and down stairs.
3
Socialization Training Goals
- Stranger Trained– acclimated to being picked up and handled by various people that work with us. Since pup is not yet inoculated they still won’t leave our facilities but will experience ongoing socialization with all employees and visitors.
- Child Trained– all pups will be introduced to my young daughter, clients’ children and our niece and nephews.
- Cat Trained– since they are not inoculated we limit exposure to other animals…even our cat.
- Vet Trained– able to be picked up and taken into vet without incident.
- Noise Trained– accustomed to a television at regular levels. Still may have some issues with blow dryer and very loud new sounds.
- Grooming Trained– to be comfortable and calm while being bathed, ears cleaned and dried. Still may have some issues with blow dryer and many pups have issues with nail clippings. They experience nail trimming and baths often, which helps reduce anxiety over time and repeated exposure.
4
Outside Training Goals
- Leash Trained– to walk on the left side with limited distraction and pull. To begin to “auto-sit.”
- Car Trained– to take a ride without having any potty accidents for a duration of 2-3 hours.
- Spot Trained– to consistently eliminate in a specified area on river rock.
- Thunderstorm Trained– to never have any issues with thunderstorms whatsoever.
Canine College
Starts at 12 weeks and ends at 16 weeks of age
With 350 hours of Professional Training, Canine College is the second portion of our core training, and most of our puppies are automatically enrolled. Canine College takes each puppy from their core habit-forming training in Puppy Academy, and starts to add more real-world training and enforcement of those habits.Below is a detailed video describing Canine College & showing typical graduates!
1
House Training Goals
- Crate trained-be crated 6-7 hours at night without having an accident.
- Potty trained– able to hold restroom for 2 hours during the day.
- Chew trained– understand the word “no” quickly when chewing something they shouldn’t.
- Bite trained– to rarely bite hands, and understand the word “no” immediately when play biting too hard.
- Jump trained– to hesitate to jump up, and if they do they respond to the word “off” quickly.
2
Obedience Training Goals
- “Sit“- to obey verbal command alone and hand command alone.
- “Stay” – to stay from a distance of 10 feet for a duration of 10 seconds.
- “Down“- to obey verbal command alone, as well as combined with the hand command.
- “Come“- to respond to command given in peppy voice from a distance of 20 feet.
- “Off“- to respond quickly to the word “off” and know it means to not jump up.
- “Sit/Stay“- to hold a “sit” position from a distance of 5 feet for a duration of 5 seconds.
- “Down/Stay“- to hold a “down” position from a distance of 10 feet for a duration of 10 seconds.
- Place Trained– to go on command to our designated “place”…a Kuranda Dog Cot and stay there at a distance of 5 feet for a duration of 5 seconds.
- Stair Trained– to be able to go up and down stairs at a reasonable pace.
3
Socialization Training Goals
- Stranger Trained– accustomed to being picked up and handled by various people that work with us. Since pup is not yet inoculated they still won’t leave our facilities but will experience regular socialization from employees and guests.
- Child Trained– all pups continue to be played with by my young daughter, client’s children and my niece and nephews.
- Cat Trained– since they are not inoculated we limit exposure to other animals…even our cat.
- Vet Trained– capable of walking into the vet slowly without incident.
- Noise Trained– accustomed to a television at louder levels and have improved level of comfort with the blow dryer. Still may have some issues with very loud new sounds.
- Grooming Trained– accustomed to baths, ear cleanings and being dried. Will have fewer issues with blow dryer and very few issues nail clippings.
4
Outside Training Goals
- Leash Trained– to walk on the left side with moderate distractions and rarely pull. They will also “auto-sit” when we stop walking with few mistakes.
- Car Trained– capable of riding without any potty accidents for up to 3 hours and rarely get car sick.
- Spot Trained– consistently using a specified potty area on river rock .
- Thunderstorm Trained– never have any issues with thunderstorms whatsoever.
Canine College is the next level of training after Puppy Academy. Even though every Puppy Academy puppy is worked with for an average of 250 hours, no puppy is perfect. Canine College is another intense 4 weeks where each section of training (House Training, Obedience Training, Socialization Training & Outside Training) is reinforced daily.
As mentioned earlier, most of our pups are required to be enrolled in Canine College because it gives the puppies an extra 4 weeks to mature, solidify each command, be even more potty trained and grow emotionally and mentally stronger. Every puppy has a different “light bulb” moment when the pup realizes it is being trained. Once that happens we see enormous growth in their training. An average Golden will have that moment when they are around 10-12 weeks old. This usually makes the additional 4 weeks of training in Canine College crucial for pups to retain all the commands they have learned.
Master’s Program
Starts at 16 weeks and ends at 20 Weeks of age
Totaling around 450-475 hours of Professional Training, our Master’s Program adds a new dimension to our core training programs. In addition to more extensive training in each of our 4 focus areas, each puppy is finally allowed to leave our facilities and interact with people, places, and other animals in less controlled environments.Below is a detailed video describing Master’s Program & showing typical graduates!
1
House Training Goals
- Crate trained-be crated 7-8 hours at night without having an accident.
- Potty trained– able to hold restroom for 3 hours during the day.
- Chew trained– to rarely chew something inappropriate while someone is present and to respond to the word “no” immediately when chewing something they shouldn’t.
- Bite trained– to never bite hands.
- Jump trained– to start noticeably resisting the temptation to jump up and if they do they respond to the word “off” immediately.
2
Obedience Training Goals
- “Sit“- to master response to verbal command alone and consistently obey hand signals alone.
- “Stay” – stay from a distance of 15 feet for a duration of 15 seconds with limited distractions.
- “Down“- to master response to verbal command alone and hand signal alone.
- “Come“- to obey command given with a normal voice from a distance of 30 feet.
- “Off“- to consistently not jump up but if they occasionally do, to respond to the word “off” immediately and know it means to not jump up.
- “Sit/Stay“- to hold a “sit” position at a distance of 10 feet for up to 10 seconds.
- “Down/Stay“- to hold a “down” position at a distance of 15 feet for up to 15 seconds.
- Place Trained– to go to our designated “place”…a Kuranda Dog Cot and stay there at a distance of 10 feet for up to 10 seconds.
- Stair Trained– to go up and down stairs at a regular pace.
3
Socialization Training Goals
- Stranger Trained– at 16 weeks old all pups are fully inoculated and are free to be taken out on various field trips to stores, the city, etc… These pups will be used to being handled by many strangers because of the weekly field trips.
- Child Trained– since pups are inoculated, they will be introduced to more and more children.
- Cat Trained– once fully inoculated, pups will be able to meet our cat and get used to seeing her.
- Vet Trained– able to walk into the vet without incident.
- Noise Trained– calm and relaxed with a television at louder levels. To be fairly comfortable with the blow dryer. Still may have minor issues with very loud new sounds.
- Grooming Trained– used to baths, ear cleanings and being dried. May have minor issues with blow dryer and no issues with nail clippings.
4
Outside Training Goals
- Leash Trained– to walk on the left side with several distractions and rarely pull. They will also “auto-sit” when we stop walking with very few mistakes.
- Car Trained– able to take a ride without having any potty accidents for up to 4 hours and rarely ever get car sick.
- Spot Trained– fully accustomed to eliminating in a designated spot on river rock .
- Thunderstorm Trained– to never have any issues with thunderstorms whatsoever.
At 16 weeks old, every puppy is fully inoculated, meaning they have received all of their puppy shots including distemper, parvo, rabies, kennel cough and more. Until this time, our pups are only allowed to be on our property and guarded against being around other animals. If they are on a field trip or visiting a vet, they are not allowed to touch the ground because they are very susceptible to diseases. Once the Master’s Program begins, then our pups are free to go anywhere and training expands drastically.
In addition to our 4 core areas of Puppy Academy & Canine College, puppies learn the following:
- Distraction Training – we continue to do the detailed training that is outlined in Puppy Academy with the additon of distractions. This reinforces all the commands so they can be recalled throughout the life of the puppy. It also makes the transition period much smoother between the new owner and Recherche Goldens.
- Extensive “Stay” Training– the two most difficult commands for a young energetic pup to master are “stay” and “come.” They learn these in Puppy Academy but the length of their “stays” and “comes” are fairly short. A good Puppy Academy graduate will hold “stay” for 5 seconds. A good Canine College graduate will hold “stay” for 10 seconds and a Master’s Program graduate can hold stay for an average of 30 seconds. Consistency and maturity are the key. We train each Canine College puppy to hold “stay” longer and longer every day. As they mature (there is a BIG difference in a 5 month old puppy’s maturity) then they are able and willing to “stay” longer.
- Extensive “Come” Training– “Come” is the most difficult of all the commands but perhaps the most important. A puppy learns “come” at a young age (usually around 8 weeks old). A common problem typically occurs around 10-14 weeks of age….they don’t WANT to come. They understand the command but they start to develop a will, especially if there’s something they are more interested in like a stick, caterpillar or a tasty meal of grass, and they won’t come. Like our extended “stay” training, pups in Master’s Program are trained to come over longer and longer distances. With consistency and maturity a puppy will mostly outgrow their strong will and happily run to us…with a lot of bribery!
- Extensive Socialization– Every week, our Master’s Program pups come in contact with dozens of people a week. We take the pups on field trips every week and also have many people coming in and out of the house because of business, church and friends/family.
Doggy Doctorate
Starts at 20 Weeks and ends at 6 months of age
With an outstanding 600+ hours of Professional Training, our Doggy Doctorate program is where each puppy really begins to show maturity. While still having plenty of the “puppy phase” left, our Doggy Doctorate pups show a more permanent understanding of their previously learned habits, and much less work is required once they go home.Below is a video describing Doggy Doctorate and showing them in action!
1
House Training Goals
- Crate trained-be crated 9-10 hours at night without having an accident.
- Potty trained– able to hold restroom for 4 hours during the day and begin giving owner signals to communicate a need to eliminate.
- Chew trained– to never chew something inappropriate while people are present and respond to the word “no” immediately when chewing something they shouldn’t.
- Bite trained– to never bite hands.
- Jump trained– To rarely jump up and if they do, response to “off” is immediate.
2
Obedience Training Goals
- “Sit“- to master response to the “sit” verbal command and hand signal, when given independently of each other.
- “Stay” – able to hold a stay at a distance of 30 feet for up to 30 seconds with limited distractions.
- “Down“- to master response to the “down” verbal command and hand signal when given independently of each other.
- “Come“- to obey the “come” command give in a normal voice from a distance of 45 feet and given in a quiet, low voice from a distance of 10 feet.
- “Off“- to rarely jump up but if they do, they respond to “off” immediately.
- “Sit/Stay“- to hold a “sit” position at a distance of 15 feet for a duration of 15 seconds with limited distractions.
- “Down/Stay“- to hold a “down” position at a distance of 30 feet for a duration of 30 seconds with limited distractions.
- Place Trained– able to go to our designated “place”…a Kuranda Dog Cot and stay there at a distance of 30 feet for a duration of 30 seconds.
- Stair Trained– able to go up and down stairs at a good pace.
3
Socialization Training Goals
- Stranger Trained– in 5 more weeks of field trips they will be introduced to dozens of strangers appropriately and will be able to handle new people in most situations without incident.
- Child Trained– they will have 2 field trips to the Christian School and will be handled by dozens of children. They will be taught how to respond better to young children and be very patient with them.
- Cat Trained– since inoculation, pups will be able to meet our cat several times and get use to seeing her and even playing with her…if she’s in the mood.
- Vet Trained– to walk into the vet without incident.
- Noise Trained– accustomed to a television at louder levels. To rarely have issues with blow dryer. Will also have fewer issues with very loud new sounds.
- Grooming Trained– to be calm and relaxed while being bathed, ears cleaned, dried and nails clipped.
4
Outside Training Goals
- Leash Trained– to walk on the left side with several distractions and never pull. They will also “auto-sit” when we stop walking with no mistakes. To walk at a varied pace, and with a variety of people, and still do a fairly good job.
- Car Trained– able to take a ride without having any potty accidents for several hours and rarely get car sick.
- Spot Trained– consistently eliminating in a specified potty spot on river rock .
- Thunderstorm Trained– to never have any issues with thunderstorms.
Our Doggy Doctorate program is our most popular training program and is perfect for the family that wants a puppy that is so well trained they can’t mess it up. Six month old pups are wonderful because they still have several months of puppy left in them but they are mature enough and well trained enough to know and remember their commands for life.
With any Golden Retriever, the greatest challenge is going to be maturity. A Doggy Doctorate puppy has twice the training as a Canine College pup, so they have all of their commands mastered. They can sit, stay, lay down, come, heel, walk on a leash, go up and down stairs, etc… easily. They are also much more potty trained. An average Doggy Doctorate pup can hold their restroom around 3-4 hours inside during the day and 8-10 hours during the night. That’s quadruple a Canine College pup on average. Doggy Doctorate graduate will have received over 600 hours of professional training. It’s a very long, detailed and intense program.
In addition to what the pups have learned in Puppy Academy, Canine College & Master’s Program, Doggy Doctorate pup will learn the following:
- Extended Potty Training– A Puppy Academy puppy should be able to hold their restroom for about 30 minutes to 60 minutes during the day. A Canine College pup doubles that. A Master’s Program pup is around 2-3 hours and a puppy that graduates our Doggy Doctorate program can be trusted around 3-4 hours during the day.
- Extensive Chew Training– Goldens are notorious chewers. They love to chew and chew and chew. Goldens in our home have chewed books, wood, corners of tables, shoes, clothes and even drywall. One of our Goldens swallowed a shaving razor and required surgery to get it removed! No matter how much training you give a Golden Retriever pup, there is no way to stop it from chewing completely except by carefully watching it and allowing it to grow and mature. A 6+ month old Golden Retriever with 500 hours of training is MUCH more mature than a 4 month old Canine College pup. They are not fully chew trained but they are ten times farther along than a Canine College pup and many of them are fully trustworthy.
- Master All Commands– It is rare for a Puppy Academy pup and not common for a Canine College pup to fully master EVERY command perfectly. Like people, puppies have strengths and “needs.” Because a small number of pups are in the Doggy Doctorate program, we are able to work extensively on every puppy’s weakness. What is a challenge truly varies widely from pup to pup. Some pups have a hard time laying “down,” others going up and down stairs, others coming, etc… Wherever pups are weak, our professional trainers will spend extra hours helping each pup to not only learn but master the commands.
- Extensive Socialization– After Canine College, all the pups are fully vaccinated. They will not need another vaccination until they are over 1 year of age. Therefore, they are free to go anywhere and meet anything. Because of this we are able to take the pups on many more road trips, field trips and to gatherings. We are always taking older pups with us to get them used to new people, new places and more.
Doggy Double Doctorate
Starts at 6 months and can end between 7-12 months of age
Our Double Doggy Doctorate program is the highest level of training available. Because training is done for multiple hours every day 7 days a week, showing the amount of hours trained is very difficult. It is well over double the amount of prior training, and gives them training in completely new environments.
All DDD pups includes our 30 Day Guarantee! If for some reason you are not satisfied with your puppy you are able to return your pup back to Recherche for a replacement pup or partial refund. Read below details on Guarantee:
- Return your pup for a replacement pup (minus deposits) or a 75% refund (minus deposits) within 30 days.
- You must keep the dog for 3 weeks minimum. Be willing to work with “Recherche Tutors” if needed.
- Replacement pup is same breed at same training level if available
- Recherche has right to choose for refund instead of replacement
Goals Listed Below are for training until 8 months only.
1
House Training Goals
- Crate trained-be crated a full long night without having an accident and not being vocal in the crate.
- Potty trained-able to hold restroom for 5 hours during the day and to signal to owner when needs to eliminate.
- Chew trained– to never chew something inappropriate while someone is present and to rarely chew inappropriate items when unsupervised. They are much more mature and trustworthy than a 6 month old pup.
- Bite trained– to never bite hands.
- Jump trained– to not jump up and if they do, to respond to “off” immediately.
2
Obedience Training Goals
- “Sit“- to master “sit” verbal and hand commands when given independent of each other.
- “Stay” – to stay at a distance of 45 feet for a duration of 45 seconds with moderate distractions.
- “Down“- to master “down” verbal and hand commands when given independently of each other.
- “Come“- to obey “come” spoken with a normal voice from a distance of 60 feet and with a quiet, low voice from a distance of 20 feet.
- “Off“- to not jump up but if they do, to respond to the word “off” immediately.
- “Sit/Stay“- to hold a “sit” position at a distance of 30 feet for a duration of 30 seconds with limited distractions.
- “Down/Stay“- to hold a “down” position at a distance of 45 feet for a duration of 45 seconds with limited distractions.
- Place Trained– to go to our designated “place”…a Kuranda Dog Cot and stay there at a distance of 30 feet for a duration of 30 seconds with extreme distractions.
- Stair Trained– able to go up and down stairs at a fast pace.
3
Socialization Training Goals
- Stranger Trained– weeks of field trips will acclimate them to introduction to strangers, and reassure them that strangers are a pleasure, not a threat. This will also give them plenty of practice on not jumping up on people.
- Child Trained– they will have 3 field trips to the Christian School and will be handled by dozens of children. They will be conditioned to respond to children in a gentle and patient manner.
- Cat Trained– Since inoculation, pups will be able to meet our cat several times and get used to seeing her and even playing with her…if she’s in the mood.
- Vet Trained– to walk into the vet without incident.
- Noise Trained– exposure to a television, blow dryer, vacuum cleaner results in few to no incidents. Will also have very few issues with very loud new sounds.
- Grooming Trained– fully accustomed to baths, ear cleanings, getting dried and nails trims.
4
Outside Training Goals
- Leash Trained– to master walking on the left side with extreme distractions and never pull with our trainers, with strangers and even with children. They will also “auto-sit” when we stop walking with no mistakes. To walk successfully and politely at varied paces and with a variety of people.
- Car Trained– able to take a ride without having any potty accidents for several hours and rarely get car sick.
- Spot Trained– consistently using a designated potty area on river rock.
- Thunderstorm Trained– to never have any issues with thunderstorms.
In our newest and fastest growing program we continue to train pups into young adulthood. Your pup will experience new surroundings and their house training, obedience training and socialization training will be stretched. Your pup will learn a completely new place to potty train. Your pup will be extensively socialized and will continue to be obedience trained, but the focus will be on pushing your pup in a new environment and getting them out of their comfort zone. We can see more easily any weaknesses and work on them. We also can customize their training to meet the clients needs more direct. Most DDD pups will also be Canine Good Citizen certified.
In addition to what the pups have learned in all the other training programs, DDD pups will learn the following:
- Extensive Potty Training– Our DDD dogs are able to hold their restroom like any mature adult. An average 10 month old can hold their restroom 5-6 hours during the day and all night long. With Puppy Academy/Canine College pups and even Doggy Doctorate pups we always tell our buyers to never leave their Golden unattended. They must be supervised at all times or they will get lazy and have an accident. DDD pups can be trusted. Every puppy matures differently, but most DDD pups are fully trustworthy and can hold their restroom as long as a well trained adult.
- Extensive Chew Training– Goldens are notorious chewers….especially when they are losing their puppy teeth and growing in their adult teeth around 5-9 months of age. They love to chew and chew and chew. Goldens in our home have chewed books, wood, corners of tables, shoes, clothes and even drywall. One of our Goldens swallowed a shaving razor and required surgery to get it removed! No matter how much training you give a Golden Retriever pup, there is no way to stop them from chewing altogether without you watching them carefully and allowing them to grow and mature. An 8+ month old Golden Retriever with 800 hours of training is MUCH more mature than a 4 month old Canine College pup. An average Golden gets over their chewing phase around 10-11 months of age, so the longer that the pup is in training the better for your pup…and the furniture.
- Additional Command Training– we work with each DDD pup on some additional commands such as “wait” when opening doors, a true “heel,” and more. They are not the foundational commands taught in Puppy Academy/Canine College but they are keeping their little brains sharp and receptive to whatever new commands you have for them.
- Specialized Training– if you have some specific training you want or need us to work on then we definitely will fit it into our schedule. Some clients want to make sure their pup goes up and down stairs fluidly. Some want us to introduce their pup to the doggy door. Some travel in a vehicle and want their pup to never get car sick. Some want us to work on “fetch.” Whatever it is, we are flexible and will add that into the DDD curriculum.
- Exhaustive Socialization– Again, after Canine College, all the pups are fully vaccinated. We will continue sending them on field trips and expanding their horizons. They are walked and trained in a downtown city setting. They are trained extensively to adjust them to their new environment, wherever that may be.
- Canine Good Citizenship– Every pup after turning 6 months old will be tested for Canine Good Citizenship. Not all the pups will pass this test but 95% of our pups do because of our training. This certification is validation that your pup meets the AKC standards to become an incredible loving pet. It’s not guaranteed every DDD pup will pass but they will be tested and trained accordingly.
Puppy Training Reviews
All the reviews below are from clients that had their puppies trained by us in the past.
(Click on the names on the left to switch between reviews)
“Over the last 16 years, Kathy and I have had 3 Goldens, 2 American Goldens and our recent new European Golden, K.C., from Jamel and Charity. We have learned a great deal about how important a quality breeder is during our 16 year experience. Our first Golden was purchased from a back yard breeder (Mistake!) and our second from a kennel breeder (Better). We loved and cherished them both but their overall quality and demeanor pales in comparison to K.C. Kathy and I are convinced that this is due to the attention that he received while in Jamel and Charity’s care.
Jamel and Charity delivered on every aspect of providing a loving foundation for K.C. and a pleasant experience for us. The puppy updates and pictures provided, starting at K.C.’s birth, made us feel that we were close to him, despite the fact that we were a few states away.
We decided to have K.C. participate in Puppy Academy and found it very rewarding. Again, Jamel and Charity delivered on every promise that was made. K.C.’s training foundation, provided by Jamel and Charity, made it very easy for me to continue with his training once he was with us.
He was responsive to all basic commands, easily potty trained, comfortable with the crate and the car and was socialized beyond our expectations. Our neighbors, all of whom have dogs, just couldn’t believe that K.C. was only 12 weeks old when they met him. They were all amazed that he approached them calmly, without the over enthusiasm and jumping that puppies usually partake in. K.C. is now close to 6 months old and his demeanor has remained consistent. He is well beyond where you would expect a pup of 6 months old to be. Again, Kathy and I are convinced that this is a result of quality breeding and breeder involvement!
Kathy and I highly recommend Jamel and Charity. I’m sure that you can invest less in a Golden but I will guarantee, based on our experience, that you won’t get near the quality.
Thank you Jamel and Charity!”
“We bought two puppies from Recherche. They are beautiful English Cream Golden Retrievers – extremely bright and extremely healthy. They are now six-month-old pups and we couldn’t be happier. During the early stages, Recherche was so helpful and informative with us. They immediately answered any questions, were warm and inviting to us when we asked to visit, and spent the time a new pet owner would want from their breeder. They are loving people and the dogs and puppies are evidence of their care.
We elected to have some early training through Recherche and the pups came to us with some good basic skills, crate trained, and nearly house trained at only 12 weeks old. Since then they have proven easy to train and are sweet and adorable. We can’t take them for a walk without people stopping us to pet and play with them.
Our vet was favorably impressed with the level of care and overall health of our puppies. We have had numerous requests for referrals to about Recherche or about the Hamkas.”
“After 12 years with our lab, and a one year break after her death, we were ready to ad a puppy to our home again. We thoroughly researched breeders of Goldens that were within driving distance of our home. First I talked with Jamel on the phone. He was so kind and answered so many questions. Before making a final decision on Recherche as a breeder, I took my family to visit the facility. Charity spent hours of her time talking with us, showing us the facility, and letting us meet Mom, Dad, and all the pups.
The visit sealed the decision to get a puppy from Recherche. The facilities are immaculate, the dogs are all happy and healthy, and very well loved. Charity and Jamel clearly love what they do, and love the dogs as their own.
We received very detailed weekly emails from Jamel. We had pictures, puppy rating scales, recommendations for things to have ready, and health information. Katie completed puppy academy and we got her at 12 weeks. She is a DELIGHT!! She is very calm, loving and obedient- a wonderful addition to our family.
Our vet has been extremely impressed with her health and temperament. We are so glad we chose Recherche as our breeder. I wholeheartedly recommend them. I would most certainly buy from them again.”
“We got our puppy Finlay on May 20th, 2013 at 12 weeks. He attended Puppy Academy with Charity. Finlay came to us with his initial training and was really an amazing pup from day one. Our trainer and dog walker were both amazed at his progress for 12 weeks old!
Before we decided on Fin, we researched as many breeders and dog parents as possible and decided that Recherche© had the very best. We also really researched temperament and a breeder who would work with us to find the puppy we really wanted. When we found Finlay, we were thrilled with the bloodlines, but even more important the time Jamel took with us on multiple conference calls, a full day at their home, and then many more calls, emails, and even a Facetime video training with Charity after we made our decision on Finlay.
Without children in our home, we were very concerned about energy levels and disposition. It was important to us that we find a dog that would fit into our family and lifestyle and thrive in our environment. Finlay is the most calm, mature, easy-going puppy I have ever known and everyone who encounters him says the same.
While it was not our intention to start, but after seeing him with all ages of people, we are proceeding with therapy dog training so that others can also get to know this amazing animal. He has brought us so much joy in such a short time and we just know that there are years and years of love to come for us and for Finlay. He completes our small family and is truly a dream dog. Everyone should have this experience with a pet!”
“We are the Viverette’s from North Myrtle Beach. Riley was born on August 9th and we picked him up on RileyOctober 30th. Our experience has been great! Riley is beautiful, fun and smart. He attended the Puppy Academy and has retained much of what he learned. He is good on a leash and has a good sit stay. He has a beautiful coat and is growing rapidly!”
“We purchased our puppy Sadie, from Jamel and Charity about a month ago. Through the process I had many many questions and Jamel always took the time to answer every question completely. He even took phone calls from me and he couldn’t have been nicer or any more patient with me. Our little Sadie girl attended the puppy academy and it was so worth it!
Everyone that meets Sadie is so impressed with with her calmness and her sweet demeanor. Even our vet commented on how healthy and sweet she is! I have zero regrets with the purchase of our puppy from Recherche Goldens.
I would highly recommend them. The care and attention that these puppies receive before arriving at their new home is just priceless! Sadie has been such a great addition to our family.”
“We got our puppy, an “English” retriever from Jamal in May of this year. Apollo had attended the “Puppy Academy” and was, at 12 weeks, fabulously well-trained. From the day he arrived, he was stair trained and crate trained. After a few minor accidents, he was fully house-trained. He has always been friendly with children and other dogs. I’m not exaggerating when I say that he is a perfect puppy!
Our local dog trainer even borrowed him to make dog-training videos. I would rate Recherche Goldens a full six paws, if that were an option!”
“Our experience with Recherche Goldens was a wonderful one! Our “Ranger” is a beautiful Golden with an unbelievably calm temperament. He was enrolled in the Puppy Academy and came to us with a solid understanding of the commands sit, come, stay and down. Throughout the entire process (decision to purchase, while in the Puppy Academy and even since Ranger has been in our home), Recherche has been there to answer all of our questions very patiently and thoroughly.
We have been extremely impressed with them as both breeders and trainers. Ranger is a healthy, bright and gentle dog who has been a wonderful addition to our family and we are thrilled we chose Recherche Goldens.”
“Our experience with Recherche Goldens was a wonderful one! Our “Ranger” is a beautiful Golden with an unbelievably calm temperament. He was enrolled in the Puppy Academy and came to us with a solid understanding of the commands sit, come, stay and down. Throughout the entire process (decision to purchase, while in the Puppy Academy and even since Ranger has been in our home), Recherche has been there to answer all of our questions very patiently and thoroughly.
We have been extremely impressed with them as both breeders and trainers. Ranger is a healthy, bright and gentle dog who has been a wonderful addition to our family and we are thrilled we chose Recherche Goldens.”
NOTE: With every training level, we have specific goals outlined. These goals were put together after training hundreds of Goldens and knowing how far we can take our average Golden with our training program. These are goals and not promises. Pups are not robots. We take each pup as far as they are able and willing to go but please realize that pups all mature at different ages and stages. We do promise to train them professionally and to invest the necessary time in them. The continuance of the commands has as much to do with the new family as it does with our training, so it is important for you to be prepared to maintain the given protocols.
We also promise to provide a detailed “Report Card” grading every area you read above. A pup does not “graduate” from their training program unless they have a “C” or better in EVERY area. If they are doing worse, we will give you heads up and provide free training to get your pup at the graduate level.
Recherche Goldens will also provide training instructions, YouTube videos and a lifetime of support so you can continue training and socializing your pup.