Last Updated on January 19, 2023 by Kunthida
Labrador Dog Training – Tips For Starters
Labrador retriever training is an important responsibility dog owners ought not to ignore.
Through it, the pet is taught several lessons to enable him to act in ways not just acceptable by humans but also to ensure the safety of everyone around.
Due to their even-temperament and capability to learn, training a labrador retriever may not be as hard as training other stubborn breeds.
However, training may not be easy as well if owners, especially first-timers, do not know what training techniques work.
Labrador dog training begins the first day your pup got home. But during this period, training doesn’t necessarily have to focus on advanced or complicated lessons like teaching him to ring the bell when he wishes to head outdoors to potty nor amusing tricks like rollover.
Be it a young pup or an adult dog from the shelter, your new pet’s first few days at home are always adjustment stage and familiarization. Gradually introduce him to the new atmosphere you brought him into but don’t forget to set limitations as to what he’s allowed to gain access to.
If you do not want him to access the bedroom or the living room couch, make it clear to him once and for all. If there are other pets at home, say a cat or birds, make their first meeting as tension-free and enjoyable as possible.
Expose him to things, places, persons, and other sights and sounds he’s more likely to deal with later on. But before you take him out to meet the world outside your home, make sure to secure the approval of the vet first.
Young pups mustn’t be permitted to mingle with other dogs unless they have completed recommended vaccines to avoid various health problems.
While you can’t expect a young puppy to totally avoid accidents, potty training must begin as soon as possible.
Get him accustomed to potty at the spot you desire by bringing him there on a regular schedule like after waking up each morning, after meals, when nervous or excited, after activity, and before going to bed at night.
Labrador retriever training is a continuing procedure and ought to be started right in order for it to turn outright.
Find out tips about Labrador Retriever training. Stop by at this Labrador Retriever training website for more advice from Kate Truman.
Labrador Dog Training: How To Do It Properly
Dog ownership isn’t just about having fun with your labrador retriever – it is more about ensuring the pet’s well-being at the same time providing appropriate labrador retriever training.
Even if there are many methods and tools one can utilize during training, it is vital for owners to determine first which among these methods or tools is well suited for a certain labrador.
Proper training begins as soon as you bring your new pet home.
But training at this point in time does not necessarily mean involving complicated lessons like teaching how to play fetch or rollover.
A new pet, be a puppy of about two months or an adult dog from the shelter, should be given the opportunity to socialize and to adapt to the new atmosphere you brought him into.
Make every encounter with other pets, people, things, and places as much positive as possible.
Labrador retrievers are usually even-tempered dogs hence harsh or punishment-based labrador retriever training isn’t a necessity.
With perfect timing, consistency, and determination, you’ll be fine with positive reinforcement training, a training approach in which a dog is rewarded for doing good behavior to encourage him to display that same behavior again.
Rewards, also called positive reinforcers to include food treats, toys, praise, and time to have fun with the owner or other dogs.
Positive reinforcement is also an excellent method to use during housebreaking. If you reward your dog for doing his business every time you take him to the right area, he will eventually realize that he gets good things for doing that specific behavior.
This in turn will motivate him to keep on doing what he is doing and will soon help him develop a regular potty schedule.
You never have to wait for potty training to be over before you start training the basic obedience. While potty training your pet, you can start training the basic obedience too.
Every pet needs to learn the commands like sit, stay, come, and down before training them to learn more complicated commands such as fetch, crawl, roll over, and others.
The Labrador retriever is an intelligent breed so make certain you are equipped with awareness concerning effective labrador retriever training.
Need more help with Labrador Retriever training? Visit Kate Truman’s site for useful Labrador Retriever training information both you and your pet will definitely love.
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Labrador Dog Training Objectives
You don’t provide Labrador dog training mainly because you are expected to do so. Training ought to be provided because it is necessary for making your dog healthy and happy.
While it’s the general goal of every training, a labrador can be trained to focus on achieving a particular objective like becoming a:
Guide dog
Also called disabled-assistant or seeing-eye dogs, guide dogs are trained to guide individuals with disabilities particularly those who are visually impaired.
Prospective guide dogs are trained early on commencing on socialization, potty training, and basic obedience training. After a dog is fully-trained and can be trusted in guiding, he’s then matched with a blind person.
When the right dog is partnered with the right person, both are trained to work out together as partners.
Due to their intelligence and work ethics, Labradors, as well as Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds, are the most popular options however, other breeds like Yorkshire Terriers, Poodles, and Boxers can become guide dogs too if given appropriate Labrador dog training.
Hunting dog
Labradors are widely-used in hunting as well exactly like other gun dogs. Having been bred to help retrieve fishing nets, Labradors have webbed paws and water-repellent coats, qualities that help make fishing and waterfowl hunting easy.
Furthermore, this breed is famous for being athletic and for their love for water and swimming therefore whatever activity that has something to do with water is rarely a dilemma.
Therapy dog
In addition to their intelligence, the Labrador is famous for its stable temperament and friendliness to strangers thus they are commonly used as therapy dogs to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, nursing facilities, and other areas with traumatic conditions.
Since the work of a therapy dog is to allow people even strange ones to make physical contact, a potential one needs to be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and relaxed at all times. To become a good therapy dog, a Labrador must undergo a thorough Labrador dog training process and improve such habits.
Search and rescue dog
The Labrador is an inquisitive and exploratory breed with a great sense of smell. They even have a reputation for following the smell until they find it. Search and rescue dogs are frequently used to find missing victims in the wilderness, disaster areas, avalanches, and sea.
Detection dog
In addition to search and rescue, one more role Labradors can perform due to their great sense of smell is detection. Many Labradors are trained to discover explosives, illegal drugs, and even blood.
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Labrador Dog Training Tips to Attain Positive Result
The labrador retriever is one of the most intelligent breeds of a dog, however, labrador retriever training isn’t always as easy as you want it to be.
Just like when training other dog breeds, training and intelligent labrador retriever can be very challenging if not frustrating. You must be armed not just with the right knowledge but with proper training tools as well in order to attain positive results.
In the internet, you’ll find many tips that will help you get that well-trained labrador retriever you’ve been dreaming of. But not all those strategies are applicable to all pets at all times.
Sometimes, a specific method might not be as effective to you as it is to your neighbor who also owns a labrador. Check out the tips you certainly do not want to overlook:
Labrador Dog Training – Evaluate your dog’s capabilities
The Labrador retriever is a generally healthy and intelligent breed – characteristics that contribute to achieving successful labrador dog training.
But even though they are of the same breed, each dog differs from the other hence you shouldn’t expect that your pet can perform whatever the other dog can do. It would be best to examine your dog’s abilities first instead of expecting results too soon.
Is he healthy enough to endure strenuous activities? Can his stomach tolerate homemade training treats? By figuring out such information, you will know what areas to pay attention to and what are the things to avoid.
Labrador Dog Training – Create a routine
Dogs can’t understand English or any other human language for that matter. The only way for them to learn is through a routine.
By taking your furry friend to the area you selected as his toilet and rewarding him every time he urinates or defecates there, he’ll eventually figure out what you want him to do. Exactly the same principle ought to be utilized when teaching commands sit, down, come, and many more. But just be sure to;
Labrador Dog Training – Remain consistent
Since dogs learn through routine, it’s of utmost importance to stay consistent with your approaches to prevent confusion. For basic obedience training, use a particular word or phrase for each command. If you are using the command “sit” when training your dog to sit, do so consistently to prevent causing confusion.
Labrador Dog Training – Avoid setting high expectationsExpecting too much too early is one sure way towards frustration. The Labrador retriever is an intelligent breed but not all successful labrador retriever training can be achieved in one day.
In some cases, it may take days for a pet to perfect a certain command. Patience, along with determination must be applied rather than expecting too much.
Never use physical punishment when correcting your pet
Physical punishment isn’t the most effective remedy to modify your pet’s bad behavior. In fact, it will do more harm than good since the action can potentially induce trauma to your beloved pet.
Labrador Dog Training Treats For Your Pet
The treat is one of the most effective tools a dog owner may use to achieve successful labrador dog training. Given as a reward to a dog for each desirable behavior exhibited, the use of treat aims to encourage your valuable pet to repeat the behavior he’s rewarded for.
Like for instance if you’re rewarding your Labrador whenever he poops or pees at the spot you picked out, giving him rewards after every deed will help him fathom that he obtains good things for doing such act, therefore, will try to do it repeatedly to get more rewards.
With the rising popularity of dogs as household pets, a lot of people also see this as an excellent opportunity to earn by selling different kinds of dog stuff – from collars, leashes, toys, and beds to dog foods, supplements, and treats.
Indeed, there are various types of treats to choose from. Treats vary according to size, color, shape, texture, taste, and even scent thus it is very important to ascertain what type of treat does your beloved pet finds undeniably satisfying.
Treats intended for labrador dog training should be small enough for your pet to chomp at once so that you can immediately proceed with the training. Furthermore, it shouldn’t be chewy neither too hard but just soft enough for him to consume it quickly.
The color is an important factor to take into account as well since it is what catches a dog’s focus more often. The same holds true with the treat’s shape.
It must be noticeable on the floor so that it will be easy for your pet to see it and for you to notice if you unintentionally dropped one on the floor. Brightly-colored treats work best when training in dim areas while treats shaped like a bone is the most common.
Since treat is given as a reward for doing a good job, it should be really tasty, something your dog really likes. You may also opt for homemade dog treats such as pieces of cheese, hotdog, sliced steak, and hamburger.
Additionally, there are homemade dog recipes containing peanut butter, liver, oatmeal, carrots, banana, and many more.
Nowadays, there are several treats specifically formulated for training. You may want to opt for this one to help make labrador dog training really easy. However, if you’re not keen on using such treat, regular treats would do good. Just make sure that it does not contain too many calories to avoid weight gain issues.
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Great Tricks to Teach Your Dog During Labrador Dog Training
If there is just one thing labrador owners want to achieve, that is successful labrador dog training. Through training, a dog learns how to respond in ways acceptable by his human companions thus in turn can strengthen the pet and owner relationship.
Socialization, basic obedience training, and housebreaking are best taught in the beginning to prevent undesirable behaviors from developing. While these matters are considered as the most essential one can teach his precious pet, owners may also teach extra tricks that will definitely amuse everyone.
You may want to teach your pet these tricks:
Labrador Dog Training – Fetch
Training a labrador to master fetch shouldn’t be so tough given that this breed is hard-wired for retrieving. They can carry things in their mouths very gently and their webbed paws make it easy for them to get stuff in the water.
Some labradors can figure out the command by themselves but if your pet requires training, you have to begin teaching the command “take it”. To do so, hold a treat and give the command “take it”.
If he has associated the command with the action, you’ll soon find him opening his mouth immediately after he hears you give the command. Take this opportunity to slip a dumbbell inside his mouth and leave it there for a few seconds. Praise and reward him with a treat.
Once he is used to having the dumbbell in his mouth, continue with “hold it”. After he picks up the dumbbell, lightly hold his mouth and command him to “hold it”. After a while, command him to “give” the dumbbell and allow him to spit it out.
Carry on working with each command and afterward with the take it-hold it-give sequence. Lengthen the distance between your dog and the dumbbell gradually and do not forget to reward him with praise or treat for every good behavior exhibited.
Labrador Dog Training – Speak
One more trick you can teach during labrador dog training is speaking. To get going, you will need to choose a hand signal; twisting your closed fist, snapping your fingers, or whatever is convenient for you.
Give the hand signal and reward him with praise or treat if he barks. If your pet doesn’t bark, keep on giving the hand signal until he barks. Regular practice of the command will eventually help him understand the trick.
Labrador Dog Training – Kiss me
Basically, you never need to teach your pet to kiss due to the fact dogs naturally love to kiss humans especially their owners.
The only thing you might want to teach him is to carry out the trick only after the verbal command is given. Give the command “kiss me” and lower your cheek in front of his mouth. Reward him with praise or treat when he licks your face on command.
These three tricks are just some of the many things you can teach your precious labrador retriever.
Although labrador retrievers are known for being obedient and highly trainable, keep in mind that training a certain command normally takes time. Just enjoy the training sessions rather than forcing your pet to learn things too quickly.
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Labrador Retriever Training in High Distraction Areas
Labrador Retriever Training: Valuable Leash Training Tips
Leash training a labrador retriever can be a very tiresome and complicated task. However, it is really prudent that you make leash training an essential part of your labrador retriever training programs.
Failure to properly leash train your hyperactive and joyful labrador pet might lead to numerous troubles and accidents. A number of behavioral problems might try to take place.
The good thing is that labrador retrievers are tuned in to training. In addition, there is a bunch of useful labrador retriever training tools and information to choose from. And many dog training strategies and tricks are waiting to be implemented.
Be sure you employ the right kinds of equipment and techniques. Be informed of the hottest labrador retriever training procedures and remedies, particularly those designed to make leash training an advantageous and rewarding endeavor.
Don’t just settle for general options; instead, know what’s best for your own dog. See to it that what you are doing is suitable to your own labrador pet. It is absolutely essential that you be familiar with your own dog.
You should be able to ascertain his distinct needs as well as those factors that could lend you a hand when training your dog. Discover ways to decipher his body language so you will understand his behavior and responses.
It’s also advisable to consider the importance and great things about being a reliable leader of the pack. You will need to make it clear that you are the alpha dog and the pack leader.
You have to take your place in the pack hierarchy so your dog won’t try to dominate your household. Make sure that you build leadership in the right manner.
Avoid coercing your dog or acting too bossy; otherwise, aggression and several other behavior problems might try to show themselves. Additionally, leash pulling along with other improper habits should not be tolerated.
Of course, you have to be persistent, disciplined, and consistent when carrying out your leash training routines. The truth is, consistency is required should you wish to be successful in labrador dog training.
Basically, it’s unlikely for one to become successful in any dog training endeavor if discipline and consistency are not given emphasis. Hence, do your best not to skip any of your dog training sessions. Always be patient and don’t give up on your dog.
Note that that basic labrador retriever training for obedience must first of all be completed just before doing your leash training routines.
That way, your lab already knows what is required of him and which commands to adhere to. Just make it a point that you are distinct and consistent with the commands that you use. Otherwise, confusion and disobedience might take place.
Proper socialization should also be undertaken so you will no longer have a problem coping with your dog should you do outdoor leash training routines. Evidently, a well-socialized and obedience-trained labrador is easier and more fun to leash train with.
Kate Truman is a professional article writer of various labrador dog training tactics and advices. To learn more about labrador training, be sure to to visit her website by clicking here.
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Labrador Dog Training: The Benefits of Crate Training
Are you aware that crate training has to be an essential element of your labrador retriever training programs? Perhaps you have no idea that crate training is one crucial and advantageous endeavor.
Indeed, it’s quite necessary that you properly crate train your labrador pet as early as possible. This way, you can help your dog grow more obedient, satisfied, and reliable.
In addition, the sooner you can crate train your pet, the easier and more fun it gets to accomplish several labrador dog training courses and activities.
Not so many people take into account the benefits and worth of engaging in proper crate training. For that reason, they are often confronted with many problems concerning their dog’s habits and behaviors.
Those people who ignore the need for proper crate training are usually having a difficult time working with their dogs. They often have trouble with behavioral problems like dominance, stubbornness, and hostility. Undesirable habits such as furniture chewing, urine marking, and digging also take place.
This is among the many reasons why smart and serious labrador owners make it a point that they effectively crate train their pets.
It is for a fact that a lot of behavior issues can be averted or completely eradicated if you do crate training correctly and consistently. In fact, the more labrador retriever training lessons and courses you set about, the lesser chances you have of rearing a troublesome pet.
For this reason, it is truly wise that you start dog training as soon as possible. Remember, with dog ownership comes to the great responsibility to do various dog training programs.
Failure to properly train, exercise, feed, and take good care of your pet can result in quite a few troubles and accidents. You won’t really take pride in owning such a marvelous dog.
Crate training is also the key to beneficial potty training or housebreaking. In fact, the moment you get started on crate training should also be the moment that you start potty training your labrador pet.
You must make use of your dog’s crate so as to teach him proper toilet habits together with other sensible traits.
Naturally, your labrador must have your guidance, leadership, and consistency.
You always have to be very persistent, disciplined, and patient. That way, you can enjoy a pleasurable, successful, and rewarding dog training endeavor.
Furthermore, separation anxiety along with destructiveness and other frustrating dog habits can also be warded off if you can successfully crate train your labrador retriever pet. You are not as likely to contend with a hyperactive and unruly labrador.
You will definitely be able to raise a rather obedient and well-mannered pet.
And the sooner you can finish the process of crate training, the quicker you can also start taking on complex levels of labrador dog training. Now isn’t this something that you and your dog want to successfully accomplish?
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Labrador Dog Training Solutions: Get To Know Your Dog Well
How well do you know your own labrador retriever pet? Don’t you realize that the more you learn about your dog, the easier and more enjoyable it gets to carry out various labrador retriever training activities?
Indeed, it’s truly important for you to get to know your own pet before aiming to conduct dog training. Failure to do something regarding this matter could trigger failure and the manifestation of many troubles and accidents.
Besides, who doesn’t want to learn about his own labrador dog? Who doesn’t want a good, impressive master-dog relationship?
Virtually all expert dog trainers firmly advocate that dog owners should really go to the trouble of learning about their own pets. Doing this won’t only improve your relationship with your pet it could also enhance your dog’s training progress.
Being familiar with your dog is the first step that you ought to take when it comes to achieving fun and successful labrador retriever training.
You should be able to understand what interests your dog so that you can put together the right forms of lessons and activities. This way, you can help your labrador become the best that he can be.
Seemingly, the more you know your own labrador retriever and the right means to overcome his tantrums, the more praiseworthy results and benefits you can get.
As you can see, becoming familiar with your dog is also a way to establish a strong, positive connection with your pet. It could also be your way of reinforcing your socialization routines.
But of course, knowledge and information should work in conjunction with hands-on experience. You will definitely discover a lot of things as you spend more time with your dog.
And so, do your best to manage consistent dog training sessions. This way, you and your pet get to spend more quality time together.
A dog owner that has a mutual understanding with his pet dog is more resourceful, active, and productive. You will really be able to accomplish many different labrador retriever training courses. Fortunately, getting to know your dog is not really a difficult and intricate endeavor.
There are many hassle-free yet helpful approaches to getting acquainted with your pet. The most reliable way to become familiar with your own dog is to try to study or have an understanding of his body language.
Indeed, discover how to read and decipher your labrador’s body movements. Through this, you will know how to deal with his reactions, habits, and behaviors.
Hence, make sure that you study your labrador properly just before aiming to conduct many different dog training programs. In fact, it is essential for anyone who is aiming to adopt a labrador retriever to first be knowledgeable of the many things that concern such a breed.
You have to know what the breed is like, its genes, possible habits, and behaviors, the skills it possesses, along with the best methods to cope with and take care of such a dog. Be a well-informed leader of the pack so you will know just exactly what to do, especially in the course of your training sessions.
Kate Truman spends most of her time helping lots of people do proper labrador retriever training. She provides a wide variety of helpful labrador retriever training strategies and solutions.
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Very Important Issues Associated With Successful Labrador Training
An important part of effective Labrador training stems from gaining a better understanding of the breed. Labradors are naturally lively, carefree, and very attentive. They are also very alert and playful, and they enjoy showering their owners with affection.
Even though labrador training will not be as challenging as training various other dog breeds, it is also essential to realize what exactly you are carrying out before you possibly commence training your puppy.
You may simply abide by all these easy methods to efficiently instruct your puppy for being the perfect Labrador that he may be.
Consistency – To be truly successful in Labrador training, you will have to be very consistent. This means using the same words for each command that you give. If you have family living with you, you’ll have to ask them to use the same words in giving the commands as well.
Repetition is the key to successful dog training. It may also be necessary to keep training sessions short in order to make it more fun and interesting because dogs normally have a very short attention span.
Endurance – Apart from regularity, one more key element to effective Labrador training is a lot of endurance. Despite the fact that a Labrador features all of the features which make training enjoyable as well as simple, not any doggy is perfect as well as you will have instances when your pet may truly test your patience.
During these moments, make certain you never scream at your puppy or penalize him in any way. In its place, look him direct on the eyes and present a firm NO; and then, show him the right way to carry out what you simply just asked him to accomplish and also encourage him while he does it.
Positive Reinforcement – It is the ultimate way to cultivate excellent actions in any pet dog. As soon as your Labrador does exactly as he is instructed or simply while he demonstrates very good actions voluntarily, lavish him right away using compliments and present him snacks if it is possible.
Dogs never get tired of hearing praise and getting rewards, and these things only make them more determined to do things the way you like.
Now read through our free dog training guide and discover fast, convenient solutions to all main puppy behavior issues. Thus point your web browser this way – and acquire totally free labrador training ideas.
Health Issues That Could Affect Labrador Training
There are certain medical conditions that could greatly affect your labrador retriever training routines. Although Labrador retrievers are generally healthy and active, they are also predisposed to a few hereditary and environmental health problems.
Indeed, such breed is prone to different health conditions, particularly if they are deficient in the forms of exercise and training as well as in diet and nutrition that their bodies scream for. Still, the primary activator of the majority of labrador health problems is their genetics.
This is exactly why you ought to make certain that your dog has been properly-bred so that you can avoid handling untoward occurrences, especially those situations concerning your pet’s health and well-being.
You must always be cautious about your dog’s health and be well-informed of the many things that could affect his health and training. In this manner, you can have more fun, ease, and success when implementing several labrador retriever training courses.
And so, what are some of the worrisome health issues that you should be watchful about, particularly if you wish to complete a number of dog training programs?
Hip and joint problems
Hip and elbow dysplasia are the prevalent orthopedic issues that almost all large dogs like labrador retrievers are afflicted by. A combination of genetic and environmental factors could induce its progression, particularly if your dog has not been carefully bred and cared for properly.
This condition frequently ends up in a degenerative joint disease that results in increased pain and immobility.
Moreover, some symptoms may not be noticeable. This is why it’s a must that you do routine vet visits, particularly if your dog exhibits pain during training or exercise.
Basically, certain restrictions must be considered, particularly with regards to the forms of training and exercise that you wish your dog to achieve. You need to make sure that you’re not pressuring your lab to its limits. Be the one to take command, yet be sensitive to his necessities.
Eye disorders
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is perhaps the most serious and frustrating eye disorder that a labrador retriever can experience. Such condition is one of the many genetic degenerative eye diseases that affect the dog’s retina. It brings about vision impairment that often ends up in blindness.
PRA is the most dominant cause of blindness that is widespread in adult dogs of just about every breed and size. Sad to say, there is no cure for this condition; be it through surgical procedures or drug remedies.
Still, it can actually be suppressed or slowed down. Nowadays, there are particular diet programs being promulgated to help decelerate the progress of such ailment. What’s more, you can diagnose some early symptoms of the disease by having your lab inspected by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist.
Of course, a dog that is experiencing any eye disorder is not actually efficient during training. Even so, such a condition shouldn’t be a reason for you to give up on your dog. Evidently, labrador retrievers that are visually impaired aren’t really worthless and miserable. Remember, canines have an excellent sense of smell; your dog will work with his other senses so as to function normally.
What you ought to do is give your lab the guarantee that you will always be there for him, to guide and look after his needs. For a dog, blindness doesn’t mean the end for him. You can still perform various labrador retriever training activities despite your dog’s condition.
Kate Truman is a reputable article writer of several labrador training tactics and advice. To find out more about labrador training, please to check out www.labradorretrieversavvy.com.
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