Labrador Training
Information and Resources
Training a Labrador puppy is one of the easiest and most rewarding experiences in the dog world. No wonder they’re so popular!
Labradors are smart, sensitive, and very social. They’re also cute as can be.
When you begin training a Labrador puppy, you’ll notice right away that they’re willing and able to understand your instructions, and are basically eager to please.
Jump to: Breed Information, Temperament, Health Issues, or Training a Labrador puppy.
Breed Information – Labrador Retriever
The fishers of Newfoundland discovered this eager intelligence, and put Labrador Retrievers to work as fishing assistants. The dogs would swim out and fetch nets, and even help remove the fish from the nets. These Labradors were literally making fishers more productive and profitable. Now that’s a good dog!
Labrador Retrievers have had many nicknames over the years, but now we just call them Labs.
Labradors have a short, dense coat made for every kind of weather. The fact that they’re made for adapting to the weather, does mean they’ll shed. Male Labradors grow to nearly two feet in height, with females only a couple inches shorter. A fully grown Lab who gets enough exercise will weigh between 55 and 80 pounds.
Whether a specific dog is known as an English or American Labrador, they come in three recognized colors: Yellow, Chocolate, and Black Labradors.
If you think about the name “Labrador,” it’s easy to assume the name means “worker dog.” Same goes for when you think about the breed itself, because Labradors are definitely exactly that. Many serious kinds of jobs can be done if you train a Labrador puppy the right way. Many grow up to be police dogs, seeing-eye dogs, and rescue workers.
Social Temperament – Labrador Retriever
This is the main reason that training a Labrador puppy is so easy and so fun: In a world of different dog breeds, all known as being smart and loyal, Labs stand out as being perhaps the “perfect dog.” They tend to get along with everyone instantly.
Using our information about puppy socialization training on your Lab puppy only makes this fact even more obvious. You’ll find them to be little geniuses, loving and attentive to all, energetic and outgoing. If you’re about to be a first-time dog owner, or if you already have other pets, or children, Labs are highly recommended.
The Labrador breeds have evolved to work and live especially close to people. With this mental makeup, Labrador Retrievers do have a slightly increased risk of separation anxiety, because most of their self-worth revolves around keeping busy and being around people.
Unique Health Problems – Labrador Retrievers
Of course, the first thing to know is that the breeder you buy a Lab from needs to be reputable. Popular dog breeds can make a few breeders into “bad apples,” and you don’t want to keep those breeders in business.
Aside from that, there are a few unique health issues that Labs can face.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia, which is a hereditary problem involving deformed joints.
- Eye problems, especially Progressive Retinal Atrophy and cataracts.
- Lack of exercise will have more serious effects for Labradors compared to other breeds.
- Labradors don’t like hot, dry climates. They were bred for cool or temperate areas.
Training A Labrador Puppy
My experience training a Labrador puppy is what led me to write elsewhere on this site, “some breeds of dog almost train themselves.” A labrador puppy is smart, and eager to please. Learning new things, and doing their jobs, are two of the biggest joys in a Labrador’s life.
However, they don’t really train themselves. No matter, whether you’re training a Labrador puppy or a full grown Lab, make sure to begin some level of training right away, in order to start out right. Otherwise, your Lab won’t know what to do with all that energy and power.
In most respects, training a Labrador puppy is just like any other dog. Follow my guides on how to train a puppy, but expect them to learn faster than the time lines I describe. Also, they have a bit more patience for the length of each training session, because they crave “purpose” more than some breeds.
When it comes to puppy socialization, this again will be easier than the average pup. Spend some time showing your Labrador puppy that you approve of his natural tendency to be sociable. Give him opportunities to practice their friend-making skills to build confidence.
Because they grow up so big and strong,
it’s important when training a Labrador puppy to include “heel” and “down.” Make sure to train them not to jump up on people or play rough.
Additional Resources on Training a Labrador
The Labrador’s strong family bonding and eagerness to learn, makes training a Labrador puppy at home a good idea. Between that, and the risk of separation anxiety in Labs, consider getting a comprehensive and specific resource that handles training a Labrador puppy in detail. This membership-only site, DogProblems.com, is just such a resource. Highly recommended!
Go back to the dog training portal, or the list of popular dog breeds.