Training and education of a Labrador

People often get dogs for themselves. It is important that the pet is trained or taught the most important rules. If a Labrador is about to appear at home, his owner must clearly understand what kind of dog he will live next to him, what are its features, and what to do with it. Education and training are very important aspects of working with any dogs, but each breed has its own characteristics.

The Labrador breed has existed for more than 1000 years, initially these dogs were intended for protective purposes, but they are the most difficult to cope with this task. Instead of a guard and defender, we managed to get a great friend, companion and assistant in various matters.

Due to the nature of the character, training a Labrador is a rather difficult task, because by the nature these dogs are very active, emotional and impulsive, therefore it is difficult for them to concentrate on any task for a long time. Despite the difficulty in raising, these animals are considered real family dogs. The characteristics of the breed are as follows:

• the animal is perky;
• with a playful temperament;
• has a great love for children;
• serves faithfully to his master, tries to help in everything;
• loves long walks in the fresh air.

In addition, it is worth pouring the main advantages of the breed, which help in successful training, these are:

• good learning basic teams;
• have an excellent memory, knowing their master and the closest associates;
• Stay in a cheerful mood in almost any situation;
• love to play any sports-oriented games;
• the possibility of training dogs for children from the age of eight.

To manage to raise an obedient and good dog, it is necessary to start work as early as possible. As soon as the puppy has matured and began to show character, it is worth taking up the matter.

The Labrador is a very active and playful dog, so you cannot raise him without any kind of training, otherwise living together will bring more discomfort than pleasant moments. To train a dog, you can take him to specialized dog training centers where experienced instructors will conduct the work. But this option is not suitable for everyone. Professionals are needed only if there is a need to train the Labrador in some specific functions, or if the owner himself can not cope with his pet.

You can train a dog at home, for which it is enough to read specialized literature on the topic, watch the relevant video tutorials and decide what exactly the dog will learn. The optimal time to start training is considered the age of 2 or 3 monthswhen the dog is already quite independent, leaves the parental care or is more active.

It is very important to immediately come up with a nickname for a pet and use it constantly so that the dog quickly gets used to it. Giving a lot of tasks and commands is not worth it at once, it is enough to master 2-3 tasks and improve them.

Best education takes place between the ages of 3 to 6 monthswhen the dog is at such a stage of development that allows you to quickly perceive a large flow of information and remember it. In order for the training to be successful, it is necessary not only to know what to give the dog, but also the methods of exposure in order to quickly achieve the result without injuring your pet.

In order to independently and correctly raise a Labrador, you need to know the basic rules of training, which are as follows:

• you can’t beat a puppy; this gives rise to reciprocal violence;
• do not use devices for punishment: strict collars, a shocker or a noose;
• it is worth taking into account the natural instincts of your pet;
• for fast and lasting consolidation of the knowledge gained, it is necessary to encourage the success of the pet treats.

In order for the process to proceed successfully, it is worth consulting with a dog handler to determine the correct strategy for working with a dog. It is very important to make it clear to the dog that she has a master - a person whom she must listen to and obey him. To implement this plan you need:

• name the Labrador and let him get used to the nickname;
• try to be in full view of the puppy in the first months of his life in a new house;
• play with the puppy, communicate, take care as much as possible.

The work must be carried out purposefully, choosing the tactics of rewards for correctly executed teams. As soon as the puppy is 2 months old, you need to teach him the basic commands:

• "To me";
• "A place";
• “Voice / quiet”;
• "Fu";
• "Sit";
• "Lie down."

So that the Labrador can memorize knowledge, it is necessary to submit them in small portions. The first lessons should last 10-15 minutes, and as soon as the dog begins to memorize commands and respond to them without being distracted, you can gradually increase the load.The optimal time period that you need to strive for in the issue of training is one hour, during which the dog must be assembled and concentrated, fulfilling the old commands and learning new ones.

It is very important to treat a pet only when he deserves it, not giving anything in advance to stimulate quality and serious work. The first training should take place in a quiet and secluded place, where there will be no distractions.

The training process must be structured so that the Labrador performs a certain set of commands, and finish the lesson with what is already confidently and well obtained, for which to give a reward. Another important point is the “Walk” command, which should sound after each lesson so that the pet knows that for a good job he will get a treat and the opportunity to frolic freely.

Dogs living at home should be able to use the toilet in clearly marked places and, in older adults, into the street. This procedure begins with the fact that a puppy has a tray or a place with newspapers, where he will have to defecate. Most often, this process occurs after eating, so you need to carefully monitor the dog, and as soon as she becomes in the position for going to the toilet, you need to transfer it to the designated place.

So that the Labrador willingly went into the tray, and not dirty the corners of the apartment, it is necessary to encourage, praise and iron after each successful going to the toilet. The same principle works on a walk. It must be explained that the dog may empty itself outside the house and this will be correct. Through praise and approval, the dog will understand that he is doing everything right. Gradually, it is worthwhile to wean the puppy from going to the toilet at home, teaching patience and waiting for a walk, and, as these events are successful, praise your pet.

Walking around the city with a dog suggests a collar, but the procedure for training him should be correct. It is worth choosing a new accessory for the pet, introducing it to it and putting it on. So that the dog does not try to remove it, it is worth distracting it with your favorite toy or treats. Initially, you need to wear a new product for a short period of time, gradually increasing the duration of wear.

As soon as the Labrador is accustomed to the collar, it is worth adding a leash to it. Initially, it is better to attach it to the collar and allow the dog to run with it on its own. In order for the dog to get used to walking alongside the owner, it is worth walking alongside the dog, but not holding it. The next step will be a little control and direction of the pet without pulling the leash, so as not to hamper the movement of the dog. As soon as the Labrador is accustomed to being near the owner and calmly reacts to a leash with a collar, the training process can be considered successful.

So that a walk on the street is safe for the life and health of the pet, it is necessary to teach him the basic rules of behavior, which include:

• restrained reaction to the appearance of familiar people, the dog should not rush at them, even if it does not pose any threat;
• a ban on contact with strangers so that someone else doesn’t steal your dog;
• the ban on eating food from the hands of a stranger, because it can be harmful to the dog, or even completely poisoned;
• a ban on picking up food of any origin from the land.

If you do not teach your dog these basics, she may become ill or become a victim of dog catchers.

The training course for the main teams is very important, and it must be carried out according to certain rules:

• need a clear sequence of actions that allows the dog to quickly understand what is expected of it;
• it is important to have certain commands that the dog should do;
• it is necessary to pronounce each command loudly and clearly.

The first to me team is to learn, for which the algorithm looks like this:

• the owner prepares a treat;
• calls a dog by name with the addition of a command;
• stretches a hand in front of himself and waits

Throughout the entire learning process, it is worthwhile to consolidate the material covered, treating it to work out well. The next important team is “Place”, because the dog living in the room should be in a clearly defined place. The learning process looks like this:

• pick up a rug or pillow for the pet where it will be indoors, and tell the puppy that this is a “Place”;
• during sleep, transfer the animal there and after waking up, praise the pet and treat it, because it is in its place;
• during wakefulness, training takes place by means of a voice command and waiting for the result, at first it will be necessary to transfer the puppy to the appointed place on his own, and later he will understand what he needs to do.

The next command to learn is Fu, which is taught in this way:

• put a treat in front of the puppy;
• as soon as the dog wants to take it, say "Fu" and gently slap it with a newspaper or something similar in the face of the dog;
• after several such trainings, the puppy realizes that after the Fu command it is impossible to take food.

The training of the Sit team is also important, which is done in this way:

• the owner becomes near the dog;
• pronounces the command "Sit" and with one hand supports the chest, and the second lowers the puppy's pelvis down;
• This exercise is repeated until the puppy remembers it, and after each successful repetition, the dog must be encouraged with a treat.

Next is training for the Lying team, for which you need:

• fix the puppy in a standing or sitting position;
• give the command "Lie", holding a treat in his hand;
• press the dog a little on the back so that he lies down, while holding a treat in front of the dog's muzzle;
• If the dog lies down and does not get up, give the treat.

In order for the training process to be successful, it is important to avoid common mistakes, including:

• the use of physical force and punishment for puppies, which completely discourages the fulfillment of requirements and contributes to the manifestation of aggression in adults with respect to people;
• the use of adult dog training techniques if you have a puppy (each technique is developed taking into account the breed of the dog, its age and characteristics of character and development);
• varying terminology, if the “To me” command was learned, you cannot use any other interpretations, because this will negate all the efforts of the training;
• the puppy should not be allowed pranks that will be punished in the future, the dog must understand from a very early age what is possible and what is not;
• you should not educate the Labrador those qualities that are unusual for him, for example, the skills of a watchdog;
• no need to give the puppy too much stress - both mental and physical, all activities should be feasible for the dog.

Following the rules of training, a friendly attitude towards your pet, patience and the desire to raise a good friend and a polite dog will be soon rewarded.

On the features of training and training a Labrador, see further.