Suggestions for Training a Labrador Puppy
The Labrador is a very well known and well recognized breed of dog. This dog was initially bred in Britain as a hunting dog. Even today, the Labrador therefore, has a webbed feet and coat for retrieving waterfowl. The Labrador is a people oriented dog and wants to be in the company of their family at all times. Training a Labrador can be a demanding task. But, if you have a well trained companion, it would immensely reduce your labor in training the animal.
Some Important Steps
Once into training a Labrador puppy, it is essential to remember that it is still a puppy. ‘Accidents’ are bound to happen and they are more likely to chew on things that come their way. The owner must therefore devote t time, and teach the Labrador puppy, the expected behaviour patterns.
House training would ofcourse be the starting point. A crate is a handy tool to go through this training. Since the Labrador enjoys being with its family all the time, your Labrador may feel insecure when you are away from home. Its unhappiness can at times manifest in the form of chewed up shoes, upholstery etc. A crate therefore will not only be a secure place for your puppy but would also save your precious belongings from possible damage.
While inside the crate, the Labrador is unlikely to have accidents. This is because of the innate nature of animals not to mess up the place where they sleep. Taking the Labrador out before and after he has been in the crate, can establish a pattern for your puppy. When your Labrador puppy is not in the crate, pay attention to its activities, because, it would help you in the housetraining process. If the puppy signals to tell you that it needs to excrete, take him out forthwith. Praising the puppy consistently and at frequent intervals will fetch you good dividends.
Your Labrador puppy will also need specific training not to jump up. During its infancy, the Labrador jumping at one of your family members may be a cute act.
But, a grown up Labrador jumping at anybody cannot be enjoyable or cute. Therefore, when the puppy jumps at you, put him back gently on the floor and tell him a firm ‘no’. This process may need to be repeated several times since your Labrador is also an energy machine.
Socializing techniques must be taught to your Labrador puppy as part of the training process. You can achieve this by exposing your puppy to people, children and other dogs. A properly socialized and well trained dog will be quite happy and healthy. |
