Labrador Training

Not for no reason is the Labrador, the world's most popular dog breed by registered ownership - these dogs are intelligent, faithful, loving and even tempered, which make them one of the best breeds for a family.

Labradors are often called retrievers, since they were used in earlier times to retrieve fishing nets and hunted wildlife, to this day their intelligence makes them one of the most popular breeds trained as assistance dogs. They are also trained for bomb detection and tracking by law enforcement agencies and paramilitary forces. Labrador training is relatively easy as most pups respond well to learning activities - they are also quick to pick up commands and are, like most dogs, eager to please. If you've brought home a Labrador puppy, and are bemoaning its boundless energy, the following Labrador training tips might help you out.

Labrador Training Guide

Lab puppies are gifted, and they're very willing students though at this age, you may find their energy levels difficult to keep up with. However, obedience training for dogs needs to start early, because before you know it, that small bundle is going to grow into a much larger bundle, and it's much much harder to train a full-grown dog - you really don't want to have to control an excited 80 pounds of fur and muscle. Of the many Labrador training methods that can be employed, what works best with lab puppies is positive training - this is non violent, and reward based. As with all dog training techniques, use the same signals of voice and hand consistently, to allow your dog to associate, and avoid confusion. The following are some basic Labrador training techniques.

House Breaking
The first rule of Labrador puppy training, and one that you will be as eager to get ingrained, is house breaking or puppy potty training. You need to start this as soon as you bring your puppy home - to succeed, remember that the first 2 months are critical, and need your constant attention. Accidents do happen, and do require reprimanding, but do this through tone, not violence. Take your puppy out at regular intervals, as well as first thing in the morning, and just before bedtime. Every time your puppy behaves as he should, praise him, or slip him a doggy treat, this trains by association.

Chewing
I think it's best to assume that you will lose something of consequence when you get a pup home - take it as inevitable. Puppies chew when they're teething just like babies, but they may also be destructive and chew as a result of pet separation anxiety. To make your displeasure known, look him straight in the eye and say "No" firmly. Initially, your puppy may take it as a game, and pull, or bark , but it's up to you to make it known that you're serious. Get a few chew toys that he can play with if you wish, though in my experience, it's rare that what's meant to be chewed is, and tomorrow's presentation, or your favorite mules aren't.

Barking
Although most labs are quiet, sometimes your puppy will bark incessantly, especially when people come home. This part of dog obedience training is vital to ensure that your dog can greet guests with curiosity, but good behavior. At times, this is out of friendliness, and excitement, and accompanied by jumping up - this exuberance becomes particularly troublesome when your puppy grows into a big dog, so again, reinforce your displeasure repeatedly with a firm "No." If this isn't working, you may want to ignore him on arrival when he jumps up, with time, he will begin to understand what you want and respond in a more suitable manner.

Labrador training also incorporates other basic dog obedience commands like sit, heel, stay and fetch. When training to sit, push his bottom down to the floor, while voicing the command. Teaching your dog to fetch is probably what he will enjoy the most, give him free rein to run and expound his energy. You also need to teach your puppy to walk on a leash without straining and pulling. All these issues will no doubt sort themselves out with regular training sessions over time. It's also very important to get your puppy to socialize with other dogs and people from an early age, this helps in all round development and is vital to ensure that he feels comfortable around people other than immediate family. Training your lab should be a fun activity, both for you and your puppy. Once you get the initial cranks sorted out, you're sure to have a well-behaved pup (is that an oxymoron?) on your hands!