Labrador: puppy training, maintenance rules, care, recommendations from veterinarians and cynologists

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Before you start raising and training a Labrador puppy, the owner should also learn. An alternative way out is to go with your pet to a special school for dogs, or, if you have at least minimal knowledge and time, do the training yourself.

What is taught in school

In such establishments, groups will consist of 10 puppies on average. It is here that the Labrador will understand how to behave in the environment of other representatives. It will be other breeds, and not only peaceful puppies like himself.

The owner will not be left without attention either. For example, it is here that they will talk about the meanings of various commands for their pet. The secret will be revealed that for the team you need to choose specific words, otherwise the Labrador will not understand what they want from him. Also, it is in the club that the owner will be taught various subtleties in the lessons of training a Labrador puppy and prepared for any situation with a dog.

On my own

Labrador training at homeconditions for beginners will be difficult if a person does not understand what needs to be done. But there are also advantages. For example, the pet will not be deprived of attention, and the schedule of classes can be flexible and unlimited, which will not interfere with the owner.

A person will be able to arrange classes as it is convenient for him, saving the budget. He also eliminates any unexpected injury by giving the Labrador his full attention and avoiding potentially aggressive dogs.

There are also disadvantages. For example, you will have to specifically distract the dog by training. This is necessary due to the fact that Labradors must follow all the orders of the owner, not paying attention to the conditions. No matter what is happening around, the dog is focused on the owner and his commands. Therefore, the Labrador must drop all his affairs and follow orders.

A well-trained dog will never continue to play with his fellows or run after a cat if his owner called him. Also, she will not follow a stranger if he calls or lures with a treat.

For training, you can contact an instructor who will teach lessons in training a Labrador and pay attention to a puppy. He will teach him everything. Just remember that the Labrador will get used to the commands from this person. Subsequently, it will take some time for the dog to adapt to the orders of his master, not the teacher.

Teams

The first commands that are implied when training a Labrador at home for beginners should be on knowing their own name and place. itit is quite simple, you need to address the puppy by his nickname, and soon he will remember it. The "Place" command will save the furniture, and the dog will not want to get into the bed with the owner, knowing his place.

The forbidding command, pronounced in a stern voice, will also be useful. The “Fu” order should be a last resort, and a simple “No” will do for all occasions. It is worth starting to learn at the age of two to three months. In the future, the forbidding command should be reinforced by a jerk of the leash. But before the year it is better not to experiment with this because of the pain.

After 4 months, it is worth starting to teach the puppy the commands "Sit", "Lie down" and "Stand". Until the age of three, a dog can still be trained.

The Close command is perfect from the moment the Labrador is put on a collar with a leash and taken for a walk. He must understand that he needs to move next to his master. This will lead to good behavior on the street and in front of strangers.

Gradually, the "Place" command begins to take on a more complex meaning. After this order, the dog must take the place indicated by the owner. For better memorization of this command, puppy things are used. This object is placed in a specific place, which makes the Labrador return to it.

It is recommended to complicate the "Come to me" command as well. Now, to complete it, you need not just run to the owner’s foot, but stand right next to the left foot.

Important to know

Don't forgetthat these commands should cause only positive emotions. The Labrador is a very good-natured dog, so a strict collar should not be allowed in training. The pet should feel good and receive treats for the commands they complete.

Don't overdo it on your dog. When the pet is very small, then training a Labrador puppy should not last more than 20 minutes. All commands must be repeated every day for successful memorization, and the training time should be extended as your pet grows older. This can take you up to an hour. There is no need to go overboard with breaks, as the Lab is able to forget commands without repetition.

Recommendations

You should train your dog to wear a muzzle. Although the breed is very friendly, but she will have to wear this element of the wardrobe. It is better to teach a Labrador to wear a muzzle than to scare and swear at passers-by because of his absence.

Because of its large size, an adult dog looks quite intimidating, especially for small children. In addition, it is not known how the dog will react if they start running in front of him in a panic, screaming or waving their arms. Also, do not forget about the fine that you can get walking your pet without a muzzle.

Labrador can also be trained to obedience without a voice, but only with gestures. To do this, voice commands must be accompanied by movements. Each order has its own specific gesture. Thus, the dog will remember the command and the owner's movement, if it is repeated, then he will know how to react and whatdo.

It is worth remembering that gestures should be clear and understandable, like words. In the worst case, the Labrador will get confused and will try to demonstrate all the commands he knows to please the owner.

Don't swing at the dog and beat it. In the future, this will lead to the fact that the pet will be afraid of every wave of the hand, associating it with unpleasant sensations. In addition, this will only set the Labrador against the owner, and you need to remain friends with him.

Smells

Do not forget that the Labrador has an innate instinct. He must be taught to use his scent correctly and to be able to use his nose. Many Labradors become successful rescuers or get caught by bloodhounds. Such dogs are specially prepared from six months of their life. For this, special exercises have been developed. For example, you can start playing hide and seek with the dog.

You can test your instincts by throwing a ball far away. If the dog wanders in search of him, then everything is sad, but if he goes to the goal, then at least somehow, but she knows how to use the scent.

You need to remember that rain will dampen the smells, and snow plays no role. The ideal temperature for such activities will be from -10 to +25 degrees Celsius.

Care

Labradors have amazing cleanliness. They are able to take care of their own hair. The owner will only need to clean it with a special mitt or brush. A wet towel works well when the pet starts shedding.

Smooth-hairedthe dog does not need to be bathed often. With care in this case, everything is much easier. The dog can even live a quiet life without taking a bath. But the latter will be necessary in the event that the Labrador smells unpleasant or he rolled in the mud during a walk. Washing should be done with a special shampoo, which can be purchased at a pet store.

If you need to give shine to the light coat of an animal, you can walk on it with talcum powder. This tool will take dirt well. But such a procedure should be carried out only on the street. You should be careful. The dog must not inhale the talc.

Ears should be cleaned with a slightly damp Q-tip. Do not try to immerse it deep - this will only harm the dog. The eyes should also be cleaned every day with a cotton swab. With discharge from them, you need to urgently show your pet to the veterinarian. Special nippers will be needed in the care of the claws. You need to cut them just below the living part.

Games

Do not forget that Labradors are very mobile animals. They also need close human contact. Walking will be a successful solution to all these issues. It will only be better if active games are added to them.

You need to understand that the load of a puppy and an adult dog is different. Even in games, it is desirable to increase it gradually so that there are no undesirable consequences and severe fatigue in the dog.

You can please your pet with the opportunity to swim. In winter, snow will be an alternative to beaches and reservoirs.

Vaccinations

Don't forget about vaccinations. Although the dogs of this breed can boast of good he alth, but regular prevention will not be superfluous. The obligatory vaccination is the rabies vaccine. The rest is done at the discretion of the owner of the dog. It is recommended that you take your pet to the veterinarian for a check-up at least once a year.

Food

Unfortunately, Labradors are not picky eaters. Because of this, cases of obesity are frequent, as these dogs literally "sweep" everything in their path.

You need to take a responsible approach to choosing a pet's diet. The best way out in this situation is to turn to ready-made feeds, because they are balanced in composition. Don't skimp on dog food. The selection of the ideal option will depend on the condition and age of the Labrador. The diet for obese or feeding puppies will vary.

There should always be water available for the dog. You need to teach the Labrador to eat at the same time. If he has not finished eating, then it is better to remove the bowl.

It is absolutely impossible to feed a Labrador with sweet, hot, fatty, semi-finished products and bones. If the choice fell on natural food, then you need to think through and take into account many points.

The first question will be the cooking process itself: will it be served raw or will it be cooked. In this case, you need to consult a veterinarian, only he will give the right recommendations.

Complete dog food is already balanced, which is not the case with natural products. Here the owner will have tochoose your own diet. The intake of proteins, fats and carbohydrates should be balanced. Enough protein can be found in dairy products, meat and fish. Carbohydrates are found in cereals, and for fats, you can also turn to dairy products.

Labrador needs more meat products than anything else. Everything is calculated depending on the weight of the dog. You can also add vegetables to the diet, but pre-chopped.

You will also need various vitamin complexes, supplements. We also need specialist advice on this matter.

Recommendations from veterinarians and dog handlers

Experts advise a responsible approach to the study of this breed. Based on its characteristics, you can begin to think about how to train a dog.

It is recommended to choose a place for training with a four-legged pet. Ideal would be a yard or open space outside.

Never, ever raise a hand to your pet. This is also unacceptable in cases where the dog did not remember and went to the toilet in the wrong place or soiled the owner’s new bright sofa with dirty paws. The Labrador responds well to both praise and displeasure. Therefore, in order for him to understand that he did something wrong, it will be enough to scold him verbally. It is better to demonstrate anger through a voice, and not a physical assault.

Since the Labrador needs movement, we must not forget about constant walks and training. It is necessary to play with your pet, and he will be happy.

Conclusion

It is recommended to be patient so as not to quit training if something does not work out. Only constant training of commands when training a Labrador puppy at home will be beneficial on its own, and the dog will remember a lot of the right words.

If you take care of your pet, then it will repay with devotion. It is quite possible to raise a disciplined dog.