Pointing Labs

The hunter's choice as an upland pointer and water dog.  Pointing Labradors are a versatile gun dog.  Labrador retrievers are the country's top choice as a family dog.

How to Train Your Lab

Training your Labrador Retriever in general obedience is essential to the enjoyment of your new family member.  Labs are eager to learn and have a desire to please.  They are intelligent and learn quickly. Here are a few tips to a successful training experience.

• Start training with your new puppy right away.  Create habits in your puppy that you will expect as an adult dog.  Example:  If you do not want your adult Lab to get on the couch do not allow the dog as a puppy to get up on the couch.  It’s much easier to teach them correct habits from the beginning.  It's hard to change behaviors.  
• Make the training fun and reward your Lab with verbal praise when they exhibit correct behavior and obedience.  Keep your training sessions short.  Normally a 10 to 15 minute session works well. Young dogs are like children.  As puppies they have a short attention span.
• Keep your commands simple.  Use their name and a one word command.  Example:  (Lucky, come)( Sam, sit)  You will find using the dog’s name before the command will help when you have more than one dog you are controlling.
• Learn to anticipate what your dog is going to do.  This will take a lot of frustration out of the yard training for both of you.  Example:  When the pup is held by command in the SIT, STAY position, he will normally give a warning sign that he is about to break the STAY command and come to you.  Learn to give the release command right before he breaks.  This reinforces two commands that he has completed correctly.
• Your Lab puppy needs his own spot in the house if you are allowing your new pup in the home.  Provide a blanket or pillow that he can identify as his spot.  This is a place the dog can feel safe. 
• When a dog jumps up he’s trying to show you that he likes you and wants to be friends.  It’s important to stop the jumping right away.  The best way to handle his jumping is with a knee from underneath.  When the puppy starts to jump bring your knee up under the dog and say, NAME, DOWN.  Then take control and command the puppy to sit.  Reward him with praise and love.
• Be sure to take the time to play with your new Lab puppy.  This is important to help with the bonding process as well as exercise.
• Get your new puppy on leash for walks right away.  Do not allow him to drag you down the walk.  Keep him controlled and teach him to walk at your left side and sit when you come to a stop.  Simply pull up on the leash and give the SIT command. 

These are a few simple tips on obedience training.  We hope they will be of help to you.  Enjoy your new companion.  You’ll find that the Labrador Retriever is a loving and loyal family dog.  They are in the top 10 most popular breeds world wide.  Remember that the Lab is a social animal and craves your attention.  They can actually become depressed or develop social disorders if they are not with people for an extend period of time.

Your Ad Here

Contact us for rates at pointing-labs@cox.net

Home | Purchasing A Puppy | Do Labs Point | Family Dog |  Gun Dog |  Bird Dog |  Training |  Breeding |  Force Fetch |  History of the Retriever |  Cost of a Good Dog |  Facts About Retrievers |  Origin of Labradors |  A Labs Life Expectancy |  Advantages to Owning a Lab |  Lab Friendly Sites |  Contact Us