Labrador Training Introduction
By: Sharda Baker
Hello and Welcome to this introductory
article on Labrador
Dog Training.
The Labrador Retriever, like all dog breeds, requires training that should begin as soon as
possible.
In fact, the first 16 weeks of a pups life, the socialization phase, is
believed to be the most important in terms of developing a
Labrador's, or any dog's, personality.
It is important therefore, to develop and use a consistent training plan
from day one. A plan that all the family are involved in where possible.
This is the first of many training artciles that I will put together
for you.
Please enjoy. OK, lets get started then.
TIPS FOR TRAINING YOUR
LABRADOR PART 1 :
Training your Labrador does
not have to be a difficult time in your life, or in the
life of your dog. By following a few simple tips and strategies, the
process can be pleasant and rewarding for all involved.
The major issue
in training a dog is to make sure that your puppy is at the correct
stage of its life to be able to understand and internalize the
training.
As There are
seven distinct stages that a puppy goes through, and some
stages will foster independence and assertiveness in the puppy, while
others will be more “training friendly”. By
understanding these phases and stages you can avoid a lot of
frustration and learn to work with the dog, rather than fighting
nature.
For purposes of this discussion, the focus will be on training a
Labrador puppy rather than retraining an adult dog. The strategies used
will be similar however, and can be interchanged. Remember that different dogs may respond
differently to training techniques, and the individual
personality of the dog will impact on the strategies that are
most successful.
In addition you should research your Labrador as much as
possible and talk to trainers about the different stages and
temperaments of the breed. In general hounds and dogs from the working
group tend to be high-energy puppies, and may be rambunctious and have
difficulty focusing on training exercises.
If you follow these training guidelines, it's worth realizing that
the principles can
work for other dog breeds you may have at home but
remember; toy breeds can tend to be high-strung and prone to barking.
The larger dogs such as Akitas, Shepherds, Rottweilers, Malamutes and
Huskies tend to be very stubborn dogs and require firm and consistent
training and work best with one trainer rather than multiple people.
Small breeds can also be very stubborn, and usually tend to bond
closely with one or two people initially. They can then come to respond
to others appropriately later.
MAKE TRAINING FUN
Make sure that you are in a positive and enthusiastic mood when you
begin training sessions. If you are tired, stressed or unhappy this
will be communicated to the dog, and it will make the session less
pleasant and more difficult. Take time to praise the Labrador puppy
when something is done correctly.
Small healthy treats and lots of verbal praise, pets and hugs make the
Lab feel positive about training sessions. Try to have a play session
at the end of each training session when the session has gone well -
this will help the puppy focus on the training.
In addition, always exercise your Labrador puppy before the training
session starts. This allows their excess energy to be burned off and
gives the puppy the opportunity to focus. If a puppy is not exercised
before training, it may be focused on running around and having fun
rather than on the business of learning.
Most puppies enjoy learning, being praised, and spending time with
their owners. They will look forward to these training times if they
are done in a positive atmosphere where the puppy feels successful.
Part two will expand on what we have covered here.
That's it for now.
Please go back to the
training article page list and choose the next training
article for your Labrador.
Take care and bye for now.
warmly,
Sharda Baker
Dedicated
To Helping Make Those Dog Experiences Happy Ones.
