by Derek White
If you are planning to buy a Labrador Retriever anytime soon then you should know that training is probably the most important part of raising a dog of this breed.
Labradors are known to be well-behaved dogs and generally wonderful pets to have, but it is actually your responsibility to make sure that the Labrador's reputation for good behaviour remains intact. Retriever puppy training will also help ensure your dog's safety because it allows him to fully understand and take stock of different situations, a trait that can be very helpful in case of emergencies.
Taking the wrong approach to training, however, can actually backfire on you and bring on more problems than having an untrained dog. For this reason, it is very important to gain adequate knowledge on Retriever puppy training before you even think about buying a Labrador Retriever. Following are some basic tips that can guide you in training your Labrador puppy.
It is most advisable to start training your puppy as soon as you bring him home, or at least before he reaches the age of eight weeks. It is much easier to conduct Labrador Retriever puppy training when the dog is still less than eight weeks old because he is less likely to have developed any bad habits at this age. And if he has, in fact, already developed some unacceptable behaviour, it is much easier to correct while he is still young. This is not to say that you can no longer train older dogs; it only means that the process will become much more difficult the longer you wait.
One very important reminder in training any dog is to use positive reinforcement. This means that you are giving your dog something to look forward to - a reward for each time he does things right. This will increase the chances that your dog will perform the acceptable behaviours and refrain from unacceptable ones. Praises and treats are the most common and effective forms of positive reinforcement. You should bear in mind as well that your tone of voice matters in Retriever puppy training. Give commands in a calm and firm voice, and be sure to use the same words for every command so as not to confuse the dog.
Just as positive reinforcement is very important in ensuring the success of your Retriever puppy training, it is equally important to refrain from physical punishment. Of course, mistakes must be corrected, but physical punishment isn't necessarily the right way to do so. Giving a quick and sharp "No!" coupled with a quick tug on his collar should be enough to let your dog know that he just made the wrong move. You could also hold the treats so that your dog will know that what he just did will result in the loss of his reward.
Finally, you should remember to keep Retriever puppy training sessions short in order to make sure that you keep your puppy's interest and focus. A fifteen-minute session focused on one command works a lot better than an hour of working on different commands.
Labradors are known to be well-behaved dogs and generally wonderful pets to have, but it is actually your responsibility to make sure that the Labrador's reputation for good behaviour remains intact. Retriever puppy training will also help ensure your dog's safety because it allows him to fully understand and take stock of different situations, a trait that can be very helpful in case of emergencies.
Taking the wrong approach to training, however, can actually backfire on you and bring on more problems than having an untrained dog. For this reason, it is very important to gain adequate knowledge on Retriever puppy training before you even think about buying a Labrador Retriever. Following are some basic tips that can guide you in training your Labrador puppy.
It is most advisable to start training your puppy as soon as you bring him home, or at least before he reaches the age of eight weeks. It is much easier to conduct Labrador Retriever puppy training when the dog is still less than eight weeks old because he is less likely to have developed any bad habits at this age. And if he has, in fact, already developed some unacceptable behaviour, it is much easier to correct while he is still young. This is not to say that you can no longer train older dogs; it only means that the process will become much more difficult the longer you wait.
One very important reminder in training any dog is to use positive reinforcement. This means that you are giving your dog something to look forward to - a reward for each time he does things right. This will increase the chances that your dog will perform the acceptable behaviours and refrain from unacceptable ones. Praises and treats are the most common and effective forms of positive reinforcement. You should bear in mind as well that your tone of voice matters in Retriever puppy training. Give commands in a calm and firm voice, and be sure to use the same words for every command so as not to confuse the dog.
Just as positive reinforcement is very important in ensuring the success of your Retriever puppy training, it is equally important to refrain from physical punishment. Of course, mistakes must be corrected, but physical punishment isn't necessarily the right way to do so. Giving a quick and sharp "No!" coupled with a quick tug on his collar should be enough to let your dog know that he just made the wrong move. You could also hold the treats so that your dog will know that what he just did will result in the loss of his reward.
Finally, you should remember to keep Retriever puppy training sessions short in order to make sure that you keep your puppy's interest and focus. A fifteen-minute session focused on one command works a lot better than an hour of working on different commands.
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