http://www.traininglabradors.co.uk/labrador-puppy-training/ - The essentials of Labrador puppy training. Short and to the point.

1. Labrador Puppy Training
Pamela Blackwood Duncan
WWW.TRAININGLABRADORS.CO.UK
Authored by: Pamela Blackwood Duncan

2. Labrador Puppy Training
Pamela Blackwood Duncan
Labrador Puppy Training
Time
The first step in ensuring success in your Labrador puppy training is to make sure you have
set aside enough time to introduce your puppy to his new home. Five minutes isn’t enough,
and even a whole day isn’t too long.
Try to put yourself in the Lab’s position and realise just how naive your puppy is to the ways
of the world and all the sights sounds and smells in his new home.
Spending enough time to give your pup the proper introduction to his new home will be
rewarded over and over throughout the rest of your time Labrador puppy training.
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3. Food
Even before you bring your puppy home you should have a good idea of what makes a
healthy Labrador puppy diet and what foods are just not good for you Labrador. You should
also be aware of how your puppy’s diet should change as they get older.
Have a plan for what food items you plan to give your Labrador puppy as treats. Remember
that a treat item should not be something that forms part of your dog’s normal diet. You
will need to be prepared to experiment too, to make sure your Lab does actually enjoy the
food item you have chosen, otherwise your dog won’t see it as much of a reward.
Despite your plans for what you want your Labrador to eat in the future, you need to know
what his current diet is. Knowing what he eats currently and feeding him this at first will
eliminate one source of stress from your puppy’s transition to his new home.
Then, if you don’t agree with what he’s been used to, you can gradually change his diet to
your choice over the next few weeks.
Labrador Puppy Training | http://www.traininglabradors.co.uk/labrador-puppy-training/
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4. Toilet Training
You should realise that, just like any infant, your Labrador puppy cannot go for very long
without going to the toilet. So you will need to be patient and be prepared to have a few late
nights and early mornings while your Labrador puppy training progresses.
You should give your Labrador puppy the opportunity to go to the toilet every 45 minutes
to one hour. If he doesn’t ‘do his business’ then, don’t stress him, but give him another
opportunity shortly afterwards and remember to show him how pleased you are when he
succeeds.
Don’t set your Labrador puppy up to fail by leaving him unsupervised for an extended
period, particularly when it’s been more than 30 minutes since his last toilet success.
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5. Socialisation
In important part of Labrador puppy training is to ensure your Labrador is safely exposed to
as many different situations at as young an age as possible. This helps to get him used to the
idea that ‘new’ experiences aren’t frightening or stressful, and at the same time reduces the
number of situations that he might react badly to in the future.
Helping your puppy feel safe in each new situation is the key to success throughout the part
of Labrador puppy training. For instance, let him get used to the noise of a domestic
appliances – the vacuum cleaner for instance – from some distance away, before gradually
letting him experience it at closer hand, all the time making him feel safe and encouraging
him to stay calm and start to ignore the diversion.
Getting your puppy used to travelling by car to new places is also a great help. But take care
to make sure the place is actually safe for your puppy, and keep encouraging him to stay
calm.
Labrador Puppy Training | http://www.traininglabradors.co.uk/labrador-puppy-training/
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6. Obedience
While it is never too late to start your Labrador puppy training, but unless your Lab comes
from a litter in your own home, it is pretty much never too early either. By the time your
puppy is old enough to leave his mother and come to live with you, he is old enough to start
simple training.
You can start with simple obedience training exercises to get him to sit, stand and lie down.
The basic idea behind this early Labrador puppy training is that if you bring a treat or toy to
his attention, the pup’s eyes and body will follow.
So, if he’s lying down for instance, you can get him into a sitting position by getting him to
follow your hand, and then give him a nice clear ‘Good Sit’ when he’s in the sitting position.
Follow a similar pattern to get him to stand, and also to get him to lie down from a sitting or
standing staring position.
Summary
Throughout your Labrador puppy training, always put the emphasis on reward for success
rather than on punishment for failure.
www.LabradorTraining.co.uk
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