Before starting to educate and train a Labrador puppy, the owner should also learn. An alternative way would be to go with your pet to a special school for dogs or, if there is at least minimal knowledge and time, do the training yourself.
What is taught at school
In such institutions, groups will consist of 10 puppies on average. It is here that the Labrador will understand how to behave surrounded by other representatives. It will be other breeds, and not only such peace-loving puppies as he is.
The owner will also not be ignored. For example, it is here that they will talk about the meanings of various teams for their favorite. 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. It is also in the owner’s club that they will teach various subtleties in the lessons of training a Labrador puppy and prepare for any situation with the dog.
Independently
Training a Labrador at home for beginners will be difficult if a person does not understand what to do. But there are pluses. For example, a pet will not be deprived of attention, and the schedule of classes can be moving and unlimited, which will not interfere with the owner.
A person will be able to build classes, as it is convenient for him, saving the budget. He also rules out any unexpected injury, giving the Labrador full attention and avoiding the potentially aggressive dogs.
There are also disadvantages. For example, you will have to specifically distract the dog by training. This is due to the fact that Labradors must follow all the orders of the owner, not paying attention to the conditions. No matter what happens around, the dog is focused on the owner and his teams. Therefore, the Labrador must give up all his affairs and follow orders.
A well-trained dog will never continue to play with his brethren or rush after a cat if called by the owner. Also, she will not go after a stranger if he calls or lures with a treat.
For training, you can contact the instructor, who will teach the lessons of Labrador training and pay attention to the puppy. He will teach him everything. It is only worth remembering 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 its owner, and not the teacher.
Teams
The first commands that are implied when training a Labrador at home for beginners should be to know their own name and place. This is completely uncomplicated, you need to contact the puppy by his nickname, and soon he will remember her. The “Place” command will save the furniture, and the dog will not want to get into bed with the owner, knowing his place.
A prohibitive command made in a strict voice will also be useful. The order "Fu" should be an extreme measure, and for all occasions a simple "Do Not" is suitable. It is worth starting to teach at the age of two to three months. In the future, the prohibiting team must reinforce itself with a leash. But up to a year with a similar, it is better not to experiment because of pain.
After 4 months it’s worth starting to train the puppy with the “Sit”, “Lie” and “Stand” commands. Up to three years, the dog can still be trained.
The “Near” team is ideal exactly from the moment when they put on a collar with a leash on the Labrador and take them for a walk. He must understand that you need to move next to his master. This will lead to exemplary behavior on the street and with outsiders.
Gradually, the “Place” team begins to take on a more complex meaning. After this order, the dog should take the place indicated by the owner. For better memorization of this command, use the puppy's things. This item is placed on a specific place, which makes the Labrador return to it.
It is recommended to complicate the “To me” command. Now for its implementation it is necessary not only to run to the owner’s foot, but to stand specifically near the left foot.
It's important to know
Do not forget that these teams should only evoke positive emotions. Labrador is a very good-natured dog, therefore, in training, you should not allow the use of a strict collar. The pet should feel good and get goodies for fulfilled commands.
No need to overdo it with the load for the dog. When the pet is very small, then training for a Labrador puppy should not last more than 20 minutes. All teams need to be repeated every day for successful memorization, and the training time should be extended as your pet grows older. So you can walk up to an hour. There is no need to overdo it intermittently, as the Labrador is able to forget the team without repetition.
Recommendations
The dog should be accustomed to wearing a muzzle. Although the breed is very friendly, 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 curse passers-by because of his absence.
Because of its large size, an adult dog looks pretty intimidating, especially for young children. In addition, it is not known how the dog will react if they start running away in a panic, screaming or waving their arms. Also, do not forget about the fine that you can get by walking your pet without a muzzle.
You can teach a Labrador 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 repeats, then it will know how to react and what to do.
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 that he knows to please the owner.
Do not swing your dog and beat it. In the future, this will lead to the fact that the pet will be scared of each wave of the hand, associating this with unpleasant sensations. In addition, this will only set the Labrador against the owner, and with him you need to remain friends.
Smells
Do not forget that the Labrador has an innate flair. He needs to be taught how to use his nose and how to use his nose. Many labradors become successful rescuers or fall into the bloodhounds. Such dogs are specially prepared from six months of their life. For this, special exercises are developed. For example, you can start playing hide and seek with a dog.
You can arrange a flair test by throwing a ball far away. If the dog wanders in his search, then everything is sad, but if he goes to the goal, then at least somehow, but she knows how to use the scent.
It must be remembered that rain will weaken odors, and snow does not play any 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 hair themselves. From the owner will only need to clean it with a special mitten or brush. A wet towel will work well when the pet begins to molt.
A smooth-haired dog does not need to be washed often. With care in this case, everything is much simpler. The dog can live a quiet life without taking a bath. But the latter will be necessary if the Labrador smells unpleasant or during a walk he fell out in the mud. Washing must be done using a special shampoo, which can be purchased at the pet store.
If you want to add shine to the light coat of the 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 should not inhale talcum powder.
Ears should be cleaned with a slightly damp cotton swab. Do not try to immerse it deeply - it will only harm the dog. Eyes also need to be cleaned every day with a cotton swab. When discharging from them, you must urgently show your pet to the veterinarian. Special nippers will be needed in claw care. You need to cut them just below the live part.
Games
Do not forget that Labradors are very mobile animals. They also need close contact with a person. 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 the puppy and adult dog is different. Even in games, it is advisable 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 ponds.
Vaccinations
Do not forget about vaccinations. Although dogs of this breed can boast of good health, regular prevention will not be superfluous. A mandatory vaccine is the rabies vaccine. The rest is done at the discretion of the dog owner. At least once a year, it is recommended to take your pet to the veterinarian for an examination.
Nutrition
Unfortunately, labradors do not differ in legibility in food. Because of this, there are frequent cases of obesity, as these dogs literally "sweep away" everything in its path.
You need to responsibly approach the choice of pet diet. The best solution in this situation is to turn to finished feed, because they are balanced in composition. Do not save on food for the dog. The selection of the ideal option will depend on the condition and age of the Labrador. The diet for obesity or feeding puppies will vary.
Free access for the dog should always be water. You need to teach a Labrador to eat at the same time. If he hasn’t finished, it’s 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.
Ready-made dog food is already balanced, which cannot be said about natural products. Here the owner will have to choose a diet on his own. The intake of proteins, fats and carbohydrates must be balanced. Enough protein is found in dairy products, meat and fish. Carbohydrates are in cereals, and for fats you can also turn to dairy products.
The Labrador needs more meat products than any other. Everything is calculated depending on the weight of the dog. You can also add vegetables to the diet, but previously chopped.
You will need various complexes of vitamins, supplements. In this regard, specialist advice is also needed.
Recommendations of veterinarians and dog handlers
Experts advise a responsible approach to the study of this breed. Based on its features, 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 an open space on the street.
Never and never should raise your hand at your pet. This is also inadmissible in cases where the dog did not remember and went to the toilet in the wrong place or stained the owner’s new bright sofa with dirty paws. Labrador responds well to both praise and discontent. Therefore, so that he understands that he did something wrong, it will be enough to scold him verbally. Demonstrating anger is best through voice, rather than assault.
Since the Labrador needs movement, we must not forget about constant walks, and about training. You need to play with your pet, and he will be happy.
Conclusion
It is recommended to be patient so as not to give up training if something does not work out. Only constant training of teams when training a Labrador puppy at home will bring benefits on their own, and the dog will remember many necessary words.
If you take care of your pet, then it will repay devotion. It is quite possible to raise a disciplined dog.