Labrador Training
Pamela Blackwood Duncan
http://www.traininglabradors.co.uk
○ http://www.traininglabradors.co.uk/labrador-training
Labrador Training
Labradors - one of the most popular
breeds
Often the breed of choice as working
dogs
Do they really require special training?
Let's take a closer look.
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What Makes Labradors
Different
Labrador training is relatively easy
Remember – that cute little puppy
Will one day be a big, strong dog
If that's not already the case
So make an early start.
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What Makes Labradors
Different (2)
Labradors have their own behavioural
traits
Inherent in their blood line
Understanding these inbuilt traits
The key to making Labrador Training
○ More simple
○ More successful
For both you and your pet
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What Makes Labradors
Different (2)
Remember your Labrador
Is still a dog
No matter how intelligent
If you treat your dog like a person
You lose the upper hand in training.
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If you neglect to
Train your Labrador
You are actually putting him at risk.
Strength and size, can be trouble.
Biting and chewing can be a problem
But both are trainable behaviours.
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The Fundamentals of
Labrador Training
Starting Young
The right routine
Times to avoid
Treats and rewards
Commands and hand signals
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The Right Routine
Establish a proper training routine
So your dog understands what is expected
Five minutes or so
At any one time - to get the hang of it
Without getting bored or distracted.
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The Right Routine (2)
Leave a reasonable time between
sessions
Four or five sessions a week
○ Enough to start with.
Don't go too quickly
○ Find a pace that suits
The dog's age and
Standard of behaviour
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The Right Routine (3)
Build dog's training schedule from
Your dog's progress
Not
Your own desires to have a show winner
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The Right Routine (4)
Find the right place is important
A quiet place free from distractions
Makes training much easier.
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Times to avoid
Know the times that are difficult
Times that you won't get attention
include -
Too soon after feeding time
Too soon after previous lesson.
Too soon fter being in crate
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Times to avoid (2)
When particularly
○ Energetic
○ Tired
When other people around
○ Particularly strangers
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Treats and Rewards
Important part of training regime
But only while they are treats
If given too often
Treats will no longer be a treat
Treats will completely lose effectiveness
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Treats and Rewards (2)
A treat must be a little bit different
e.g. Never give part of normal diet
A little bit of some 'human' food
e.g. A small piece of cheese
○ but check it's Pet Friendly first
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Treats and Rewards(3)
Unlike treats where not given too often
ALWAYS reward your dog with praise
Whenever does training task well.
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Treats and Rewards(4)
Only give when task done correctly
Give more often when a new task
the first few times
Once he's got the hang of it
only give randomly
○ doesn't directly link the task
○ with getting a treat
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Verbal Commands and
Hand Signals
For any given task
Always the same instruction
○ One or two words
Use a particular hand signal
○ Always at the same time
○ Always in the same way
http://www.traininglabradors.co.uk
Verbal commands and
Hand Signals (2)
Lab associates simultaneous use of
The command
The hand signal
As a clear indication of what to do
And associates the instructions with task
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