Labrador Puppy Training Tips

Almost on the verge of extinction, Labrador revived with the help of many efficient breeders. Labrador descents from St John's water dog and newfoundland dog. Having a prodigious vision for hunting and motivation of retrieving the waterfowl or other prey for the hunters, strengthened their physic and psyche. The ability of bringing back the prey without damaging, made these Labradors popular and desirable for the hunters. This class of gun dog, is highly praised for their intelligence and temperament. Their working and retrieving abilities have earned them the reputation of ideal family dogs and good companions for hunters. Decline of hunting activities, introduced other roles for this breed. Being excellent sniffers, they are used in case of bomb detection or other suspicious objects. The loving and friendly nature of this bloodline made them suitable pets for the family. Keeping in mind the determination and motivation and taking on some of the Labrador puppy training tips, will groom your lab pup and strengthen the bond between you and the dog.

This class of gun dog comes in black, chocolate and shades of yellow. Hunting skills required these dogs to track down the waterfowl or bird and retrieve them without creating further harm irrespective of the circumstance. These skills contribute to the energy, hyperactive and motivation level of this breed. The behavior and temperament of Labrador is linked to its hunting abilities, which coaxes the Labrador to act independently at times, which might be inappropriate during the training process. Therefore, before bringing in a new Labrador pup, study the breeds hunting capabilities, characteristics and temperament. Their athletic and tough physic makes them good at sports such as agility, swimming and fetching tasks.

Training a Labrador Puppy

Bringing a pup home is like bringing a new family member home. Labradors cannot deal with separation and tend to become restless as they are introduced to a new environment. Bestowing all the love and affection on your Labrador pup is the key in strengthening the bond and developing a comfort level with the puppy. The initial days of the Labrador pup are very crucial in raising your dog. It's always enjoyable to watch the pup acquainting itself to the environment. However, if its left unattended, the whole house will be in a mess which should be the cause for disciplining your pup. The process of Labrador training must be slow and patiently dealt.

House Breaking
Dogs have a sense of selecting an appropriate place to poop. In case of a pup, as it lets itself get acquainted with the new place, it might end up dirtying the house. That's where the first lesson of house breaking should be introduced to the pup. When the pup shows signs to poop, place it outside the house or the place where it should shit. To save your house from getting dirty, take the lab for a walk after 5-10 minutes it eats its food, the moment it wakes up in the morning, before it goes to bed at night and after playing. Patting or talking to your pup will encourage him to obey your commands.

Many lab owners face the problem of night barking. Leaving Labradors alone results in anxious behavior. This behavior sometimes generate the feeling of fear and insecurity. Therefore they need to be attended all the time. To reduce the irksome barking of the Labrador pup, arrange a sleeping bed inside or just outside your room. This will give them a sense of comfort and ease their stress.

Organize Training Sessions
As the Labrador mature they tend to be energetic and hyperactive. Having some organized and consistent training sessions can instill some manners in Labradors. You can appoint a professional dog trainer to make your dog obey your instructions. Sometimes, you can even start with small commands like "no", "sit" or "fetch" which can bring some discipline into your dog.

Training Collar
After your dog learns to obey your commands at home, it is time to take him for a walk then. It is always a great experience to take your dog for a walk. Labradors are curious and want to explore. Hence, they get excited when there is a change in the environment. During this time the pup might try to pull the master rather than walking with him. To save yourself from getting dragged by your dog, train it to walk with you. When the pup tries to pull away, slightly pull the leash so that the dog understands your command and begins to obey you.

Training without a Leash
Try to make your dog independent by training it without the leash. It will help you get over the fear of the dog running away. This training helps the dogs to understand and remember the route back to its house. Begin this training in the house and slowly move out of the house to train the dog without the leash. Use specific body gestures and voice commands while you train your lab puppy without the help of a leash.

Manners and Respect
A dog with proper manners is always loved and appreciated by all. Dogs have the tendency to bark, growl, jump, steal food or chew things that are easily available. These manners tend to irritate and can leave the master frustrated. To avoid such problems, become the leader and take efforts to bring some manners into the dog. If the pup behaves bad, immediately discourage the dog, addressing by Bad Dog or No. Soon the pup will begin to understand the command and free the master from embarrassing situations. The master must praise and respect the dog whenever it tries to obey the command so that it stays motivated, which gradually grooms the dog well.

Teaching How to Swim
Labrador love to swim. They have a very solid build and have a water resistant coat. Their webbed feet allow them to swim easily. Here are a few tips on training the lab puppy to swim.

• If you are taking the pup to a lake, make sure that the water is calm.
• Have a firm grip on your lab while you take it into the water.
• Support the pup by holding one hand under the tail and the other under the stomach.
• As you lower the pup into the water, comfort it by talking to it.
• The moment your labrador puppy touches the water it will start paddling. Thus, you must have a strong grip on your pup.
• Once the paddling becomes stronger, gradually release your hand from under its stomach holding its tail.
• Once, the puppy begins to feel a little confident, slowly remove your other hand from under its tail. At this stage the paddling will have become stronger and faster.
• Praise the puppy when it slowly begins to swim on its own.
• Accompany your lab puppy till it reaches the bank of the lake.
• Praise and treat your puppy after his first swimming lesson to encourage and keep it motivated.
• Repeat these lessons, till your puppy becomes independent enough to swim alone.

Training needs a lot of time as it plays an important role in raising a pup. The master has to be patient with the pup, to avoid any problems during the process of training. Bringing up of the pup needs to be handled with care as your behavior with it can leave an impact on the dog's temperament. Violence or any sort of abuse can make the pup turn into an aggressive and disobedient dog. Choosing the right method of training and some Labrador care can make your dog your best and true companion.

With the help of the above mentioned Labrador puppy training tips, It is not difficult to bring discipline into a little dog. Shower all the love, affection and care towards your dog and treat it like a family member and your dog will love you even more.