The Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States, as well as in many other countries around the world. Labradors exhibit many qualities that make them great pets and don’t require as much behavioral training as other dogs. With that said, Labradors certainly do need to be trained to some degree, and they can become quite a nuisance if not properly trained. In this article, we will take a look at some of the characteristics of Labrador retrievers that you can use to your advantage while training them, as well as some Labrador puppy training tips.
Training Labrador puppies is easier than with most dogs, because Labradors are naturally well-intentioned and eager to please. They are excellent with both children and other dogs, and are extremely gentle on both teeth and play. Labradors can carry an egg in their mouths without breaking it! That said, they love to chew, and many Labradors can make a mess of your home if they aren’t taught what to chew and what not to chew. However, Labradors are also highly intelligent dogs and most commands can be taught with simple positive reinforcement through treats and praise, and negative reinforcement through scolding.
The best way to use positive and negative reinforcement is right after or even while the pup has done something he likes or dislikes. For this reason, many people use a dog training clicker when training their Labrador puppy, as this will allow them to tell the dog that what he is doing at the time of the click is the cause of the scolding or the treat. So, if you catch your Lab pup trying to escape from the yard, don’t hesitate to scold him. However, if you find your Lab puppy outside the yard, scolding him will only confuse him. It is important to remember that patience is the best virtue to practice when training a puppy, as some puppies learn faster than others.
Once you have developed some ground rules for your pup, you can try teaching him commands. Labrador puppy training is a great way to get your dog to follow basic household rules, but since Labradors are such intelligent dogs, they can be taught a number of different tricks. Try a few different ways to train your puppy, as each dog adapts more quickly to different types of training techniques.