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Understanding Labrador Retrievers – Three Things You Can Rely on When Raising a Labrador Retriever

Rick — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 05:23:53 +0000

Labrador Retrievers, also known as labs, are wonderful animals. They are a popular pet on television shows and in homes worldwide.
To absolutely understand the true nature of the Labrador Retriever, you have to have a firm grasp on the three most significant aspects that make up this animal’s personality and personality. These are:
1. Labradors Must Have Good Training: As hunters, Labradors must be able to follow precise directions in order to find birds. Even if they do not have a direction to move in, they will keep hunting without stopping. So, a good Labrador will actually take matters into its own hands in order to get the job complete.
These character traits are great for people to enjoy having a service dog that can take on its own in certain situations. On the other hand, it’s bad for dog owners who are incapable of providing absolutely no direction whatsoever. This is where most problems lie with new Labrador owners.
Many people see perfectly trained Labs at the park or walking with their owners and think to themselves “I want one of those dogs. They are so well trained!” Little do they realize that dogs are never born trained. It takes nonstop progressive commitment to specific training protocols, all based on a Lab’s genetic make up. This can prove too much work for some owners to handle and end up with nothing but problems and aggravation with their pet.
2. Labradors Are Like A Bowl of Fruit: Another important thing to understand with Labradors is that they are unusual and not every Labrador is the same. Labradors are like a bowl of cherries. So, you never know just what you will get as they grow up.
Most Labradors show the same interests, hunting, running, retrieving, and swimming, but oftentimes you may get a Labrador puppy that may absolutely hate water. If you are lucky enough, your Lab may not have an oral fixation, which causes many to eat anything they can get their little mouths on.
The one thing you can certainly count on is that every Labrador is unique. Through proper training, you’ll have a wonderful dog that will display the utmost in loyalty and affection until its last day on earth with you.
3. Labs Are Born To Hunt: Unlike many other hunting dog breeds, Labs do not just wait for its human hunting companion to tell them to retrieve fallen birds. These dogs have to be so attentive that they can mark the fallen foul on their own.
It is said that Labrador Retrievers are more conscious of their surroundings than other hunting dogs because of their heritage. When hunting, Labs wait for the right signal from their hunter when seeking out to find the prey. Likewise, at home, they frequently wait by their owner’s side for the next task or command, no matter of what it may be. It could even be a walk or even a treat. This is what makes a more needy for some pet owners.

Hunting Dog Training – Some Things to Consider

Rick — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:30:10 +0000

When people hunt small prey, they usually use hunting dogs to bring their kills. If hunting dogs didn’t exist, hunters would need to go find the prey they hit on their own, losing time. A hunting dog that is trained properly will reduce the amount of useless work that the hunter needs to do. But, you can’t just train any dog to help with hunting. There are special breeds designed to perform best in the conditions that hunting requires. But, you can’t find a hunting dog like you would any other normal dog breed. These dogs are well trained to be able to meet the requirements of hunting. The training process for a hunting dog is usually a long one, that needs the trainer to be patient and to know how to work with the dog. As for the dog, he needs to have the right attributes to become a proper hunting dog. Choosing the right breed As I said before, you can’t use just any type of dog to train for hunting. You should work with a dog breed that is specially designed for this, and that has a history of serving men in this capacity. You need a dog breed that is made to do this kind of job. Some of the dog breeds that are well suited to be hunters include pointers, spaniels and retrievers. Each of these three have their own traits that are unique to them. Once you choose such a dog, the trainer needs to make the most out of their unique traits. One trait that all hunting dogs have is a great sense of smell. This helps them track the prey in the field. Another trait is that they’re adapted to outdoor life and can be easily trained. If you want the best possible hunting dog, choose a breed that meets all the requirements. In most cases, people choose Beagles, Dachshunds, Bloodhounds or Labradors as hunting dogs. What dog to choose? If you want to train a dog to hunt, you shouldn’t choose one that is already fully grown. You should go with a puppy, since his behavior isn’t formed yet and he can be trained easily. The second requirement would be for the dog to have some affinity to the handler. You can’t expect for that affinity to form alone. This is why you should train the dog personally, or at least assist the trainer with it. What does training usually entail? A hunting dog needs to be able to master these six tasks: a) Quartering b) Retrieving c) Steadying d) Marking e) Shaking f) Following hand signals What about scent and gun fire? Some dogs will be scared when they hear gun fire. So they need to be specially trained to get used to it. Usually, this is done by conditioning the dog, by getting him used both with game birds and gun fire. Game birds will be associated this way with gun fire. When he will hear it in the future, he will know that when the hunter shoots, he needs to look for the bird. After they get the prey, they will expect to hear the gun fire again. One thing you should do when training the dog, is getting him used to a certain scent, depending on what you want to hunt with him. If you’re looking to hunt boar, than he should know the boar scent, so he can track it. It’s much harder to do dog training than it is to train them in other areas. But, if you’re a true hunter, you will need a great dog to assist you.

How to Train a Labrador Retriever – 3 Important Things To Know

Rick — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:24:51 +0000

You are going to need to have some idea’s about how to train a Labrador Retriever, before you start your training program. You will need to think about what techniques to use, how long to make your lessons and how many lessons to have daily.

I have trained my very own Labrador Retriever and I will share a few important tips with you. Firstly let me say that you own a very intelligent dog and if you train your Lab correctly from the start, you will have many hours of enjoyment during the whole process.

Tip 1 – Lots of positive reinforcementThink about it for a moment, when you are learning something new, you are pretty ordinary at it at first, right? So how can you expect your puppy or dog to be any different. You have seen dogs sit, or stay or heel many many times, but your dog has never seen or heard of it ever. Be patient with your Labrador and when he/she does what you want, then give him/her a treat. Never give a treat for a half hearted attempt by your dog, or when your dog just doesn’t do as its told.

Tip 2 – Don’t hit your dogDogs respond to body language or the tone of your voice. It’s enough for you to say “No” in a short deep voice for the dog to get the hint. They will also notice your body language isn’t as friendly as usual. Hitting or kicking your dog will just cause the dog to rebel and you will not get the best out of him/her, it could possibly bring out an aggressive side. The best way to discipline dogs is to catch them in the act, and deal with it then, firmly but fairly. This way they can associate the discipline with the act. I realize that dogs can be very trying at times, especially when they have just chewed up your best shoes – again. However, hitting the dog hours after the event, will just confuse him/her.

Tip 3 – Make sure your dog know who’s the bossThis one is a common mistake. Believe me, you are not doing your dog any favors at all by treating them as an equal. Simple things such as making the dog sit, before it is fed. Going through a door first before the dog or not stepping over your dog, if it happens to be in the way, the dog needs to move in order for you to pass through. All of this will send the message to your dog that you are the “Top Dog” and they will not challenge you, knowing that you are the boss.

Keep your lessons short, you will get to know how long before your dog loses concentration, but try about 5 – 10 minute lessons, depending on the age of your dog, 3 – 4 times per day. This is more than enough for you to train your dog.

Basic Things You Need To Know In German Shepherd Training

Rick — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:23:03 +0000

There are few things cuter than a German shepherd puppy, but without some serious training, that pup may grow into a dog that is difficult to control. The size and appearance of an adult German shepherd is an intimidating sight to many, but a dog that does not obey his master’s command can terrorize the home and neighborhood.

That is why it is so important to begin German shepherd training from the first day you bring your pup home from the breeder, to ensure your dog grows into an enjoyable member of your family. Check out these tips on German shepherd training to start you and your puppy on the right foot together.

Who’s The Master?

Hopefully you are, when it comes to German shepherd training. These dogs are pack animals all the way, so establishing yourself as the Alpha dog, or leader of the pack, is essential if you want respect and obedience from your pup. This can be done by working with your dog on basic commands like “come” and “sit”, with plenty of praise when he obeys your instruction.

Do not ever allow your dog to nip or snarl at you.