Providing a stimulating environment for a Golden Retriever puppy will ensure that he grows up to be a smart dog. By experiencing the cause-and-effect nature of life, a puppy begins to learn how the world works. Puppies need to climb on things, chew on things, smell and taste different textures, and walk on slippery floors, carpet, sand, and grass. They need to learn that when they bite a littermate too hard, the other puppy will shriek and go away. They need to learn that when they go potty outside of the sleeping area, their bed stays warm and dry.

The more interesting and stimulating their early environment is, the easier it will be to train the dog that puppy will become. Rotating your dog's toys on a regular basis, going new places, seeing new people, playing with dogs of all shapes and sizes: All of these experiences will give your dog creative thinking skills. Some suggestions for making your puppy's living environment more interesting include boxes to climb over, a child's tunnel to crawl through, lots of different sizes and texture of toys, a paper bag with a cookie inside, different surfaces to walk on, toys that make noise, toys that dispense treats, or a laundry basket with a treat or toy under it.

Whatever you decide upon for toys, be creative and vigilant. Be sure that you supervise your dog with different toys, making sure that he doesn't tear them apart and consume the pieces. Rotate the toys frequently. Don't put so many out at one time that your Golden gets overwhelmed and ignores all of them.