Puppy Training Hints

 Training your puppy may be one of the biggest responsibilities you will have as a new puppy owner. Fortunately, most labradors are fast learners and eager to please you! Here are a few tips for teaching your puppy basic commands and proper behavior.

•   First of all, consistency is key! For example, if you give Pup an old shoe to chew on, he won't understand the difference between that one and your brand new Nike sneakers or your favorite Ariat boots. (Believe me, we know...) Use the same command word every time. This includes your word for telling Pup to do his business. You should not say "go potty" one time and "do your business" another time.

 

•   Most times, a sharp, loud "uh-uh" or "no" is sufficient to reprimand your puppy. Your tone of voice often means more than the words themselves, so sound stern and unhappy. An effective form of discipline is the scruff hold. Hold Pup on both sides of the neck and make him look into your eyes and pay attention. This is similar to a mother dog's discipline in the wild and will help establish you as leader of the pack.

•   Don't let Pup do anything you would not want him to do when he is full grown. Some people think it's cute when puppies jump up or chew on your hands, but very few think it "cute" when a 75-pound adult continues such behaviors! Avoid letting him form bad habits like barking often and jumping up on people.

•   Always recognize with praise when Pup does the right thing. When he comes when called, stops jumping up, sits promptly, and so on. Many people unknowingly train their dog not to come. For example, when Pup is roaming too far away or investigating something inappropriate, the owner calls for him to "come". Pup stops what he is doing and starts to come. The owner, now satisfied, turns away and ignores the dog. Eventually, Pup learns that "come" must not mean "come all the way to me" and he learns to ignore the owner as the owner ignored him.

•   Keep training sessions short--maybe 5-10 minutes at a time, up to twice a day--and end on a good note. Try to teach new commands somewhere with as few distractions (young children, other animals/pets, etc.) as possible.  Reinforce good behavior and obedience with praise and small treats. If you feel you are losing your patience or Pup is not concentrating at all, stop (preferably on a good note) and try again later.

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  Patience and consistency are your keys to successful puppy training. You might be surprised how quickly your pup picks up on and learns simple commands!

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