Tips For Training A Labrador Puppy

Training a Labrador puppy is something you will start to think about as soon as you have your new pup, or maybe even before you get her home.

There are many methods of dog training available depending on what you want to have your puppy learn. Labradors are retrieving dogs, they love to fetch. So after house training, which is what most people focus on first for obvious reasons, you can start your Lab puppy on getting used to the idea of training with some go fetch play.

Labradors are very sociable dogs and they are great with kids. They love to play and to swim. You can use all of these natural tendencies when thinking about how to train your Labrador. If you have kids, involve them in the puppy's training. The puppy will learn to play nice with them and they will learn what behavior is acceptable from them and the dog.

It takes time and patience to teach a puppy, so do not expect her to learn anything overnight. They will learn even slower than a child. It is important to stay consistent. If you get bored and start doing things that are the opposite of the training, like giving treats at times when the puppy did not do what you wanted, you will confuse her and everything will take twice as long. So stick with it no matter how long it takes.

However, Labradors are smart and usually learn fast so you should be able to teach the basics in a short amount of time compared to some breeds of dog. Make sure you stay positive and stay focused on training. Puppies love to play so if you can find a playful way to teach your desired outcomes, or use play as a reward, you will both have more fun.

Knowing how to train a Labrador puppy is as important as the training itself. There is no point hitting or yelling at a puppy. Spike collars and choke collars are not recommended. Dogs should be trained with rewards, not punishment. Labradors are known for being a bit stubborn so be prepared to deal with that. Just keep on task and don't let the puppy frustrate you.

When training a puppy its easy to become frustrated and give up. But life in the future will be much simpler and happier for both of you if you teach your dog certain things while she is young. So if it seems too difficult for you, then instead of giving up, find a dog training school or a personal dog trainer, or pick up a full dog training program online.

Make sure that your puppy is praised and loved before, during and after training sessions. As with all puppies keep your training sessions short. Reward good behavior and always keep your frustrations under control. Make the most of this opportunity while your dog is young and teachable.

Remember that your dog will be a lifelong companion to you and your family. If you can keep this positive attitude, you already have the most important part of training a Labrador puppy.