Dogsmanship - The Dog Lover's Survival Guide

Tips and Guide to Training A Labrador Puppy

The Labrador breed is a very well known and well-liked breed of dog. This dog was first bred in Britain to be a hunting dog, and as such still has the webbed feet and coat for retrieving waterfowl. The Labrador is a people oriented dog; they want to be with their family at all times. Training a Labrador puppy can take some work, but having a well-trained companion is worth it.

Important Puppy Training Steps
When training a Labrador puppy, keep in mind that this is still a baby. They will have accidents and they will chew things up. It is up to the owners to teach the Labrador puppy expected types of behavior.

Labrador pup training should involve the process of house training the puppy. This step can involve training the puppy with a crate. As Labradors want to be with their families, they may become insecure when you’re not home. An insecure Labrador is just looking to chew things up to express its unhappiness. A crate not only confines the dog, but gives them a sense of security. The crate is in essence the Labradors own “room”, a safe place.

When in the crate, the Labrador will be unlikely to have accidents. Dogs do not like to mess up the place where they sleep. By taking the Labrador out before and after they are in the crate, you create a pattern the dog will quickly adjust too. When not in the crate, paying attention to your Labrador puppy can help in the house training process. If the puppy appears ready to go, take them outside immediately. Praise the puppy constantly for good potty behavior. Being consistent with potty training is important when it comes to training a Labrador puppy.

Labrador pup training should also involve teaching them to not jump up. It may be cute when they are little, but no one wants an adult Labrador jumping on them. When the puppy jumps up on you, gently put them back on the floor and say firmly, “No”. This process may need to be repeated many times, as a Labrador is full of energy and so happy to see their family members.

Make sure when training a Labrador puppy that they learn to socialize properly. Expose them to people, children and other dogs. A socialized, well-trained dog will be healthy and happy.

Training a Labrador puppy to be a well adjusted and nicely behaved dog will make both of your lives easier. The Labrador wants to please you, make sure they understand what behaviors are acceptable and what aren’t.