The Labrador Retriever is a sociable, calm dog with an excellent learning ability. This great ability, combined with its high concentration, attention, and motivation for work skills, makes it a magnificent dog for training, allowing it to be taught anything within its capabilities. However, not all dogs are the same, and you have to understand that some learn faster than others, so give your Labrador the time it needs.
History of the Labrador Retriever and its different facets at work
Their ability to learn and work with humans, as well as their kindness and intelligence, have made this breed a popular police dog in various roles, such as a search and rescue dog or in anti-drug and explosives operations. Before becoming a Labrador Retriever, its precursor was the St. John’s or Newfoundland dog, a water dog that helped local fishermen in their daily lives; they were also used as hunting dogs and for retrieving birds from the water, and were also bred to hunt ducks. The Labrador Retriever breed was officially recognized in 1903, although references to this name can be found in paintings and photographs as early as 1841. Its popularity also reached the point of being seen in both exhibitions and films.
Labradors are one of the most docile, obedient, and hard-working dogs in existence, both in ancient times and today. They are well known today as guide dogs for the blind, assistance dogs for the disabled, and therapy dogs for both children and adults.
Before training, educate your Labrador puppy.
If you’ve just adopted a Labrador puppy, before thinking about how to train a Labrador, the first thing you should do is properly socialize and train your four-legged companion. Their first few months are the most important stage for ensuring their character and behavior are exemplary throughout their life, a nd for a happy dog.
In addition to allowing your puppy to socialize with people, dogs, and other animals, they also need to get used to everyday situations like noise, cars, fireworks, and being left alone at home. This way, as an adult, they’ll be used to all these things and won’t be afraid of them, making them a well-balanced dog and a fantastic companion. Regarding the first steps in their training: the puppy must learn their name very well; the word “no” to correct bad behavior; “come” or “let’s go” so they pay attention to you both at home and on the street; they must also learn to walk on a leash without pulling and not jump on people, since, although they can be fun as a puppy, as adults they will weigh more than 40 kilos and will be annoying and dangerous.
How to train an adult Labrador retriever?
Although the best way to train a Labrador is from an early age, their intelligence and great learning capacity, as well as their obedient and hard-working nature, make them easy to train and teach new things as adults.
To know how to train a Labrador, we must understand that training involves several phases, in which the level of demands and objectives progressively increase. Training sessions should last no more than 10 minutes, as dogs have a limited attention span, and exceeding this will be unproductive. The best way to teach your dog is always through calm and friendly behavior, with positive reinforcement techniques, without scolding or loud voices, and with rewards ( dog treats ) and praise after each success.
Whenever you want to teach your Labrador a command, the language should be very simple and clear, with one-word commands and, if possible, short. In each session, only one new command is taught, but we always regularly review the ones they’ve learned before so they don’t forget them. Remember to praise their behavio;, treats aren’t always necessary; you can do it with petting and showing them enthusiasm. Labradors are very energetic dogs, so don’t forget to do some physical activity with them, such as walking, playing, or running; you can do this before the training session so they’re not so restless.
