Labrador Training: Training Your Lab To “Down” On Command

Once you’ve trained your Labrador to sit” you can move on to the “down” command. This is one of the most important commands for establishing leadership as well as keeping your dog safe. It can be extremely useful for Labs that have a tendency to run into the street, display dominant behavior and get overexcited. Believe it or not, “down” is even helpful for shy or fearful dogs, as it teaches the dog to stay calm.

You’ll need the following supplies to get started:

• Collar or harness and leash


• Treats


• Quiet area with grass or a soft surface (exercise mat)

Training Your Labrador To “Down” On Command

Training your Labrador to master this command can be done in just a few simple steps:

• Place a collar or harness and a leash on your Lab.


• Ask your dog to “sit” and give a reward.


• Next, say “down” while guiding your Labrador into the correct position with treats and by slightly pulling down on the leash.


• If your Lab needs extra encouragement, you can gently pull his or her front legs forward and place some pressure in the shoulder blade area. As soon as your Labrador is in the “down” position, give a treat and a lot of praise.


• Repeat the previous steps 10 to 15 times for the next 2 training sessions or so.


• At this point, you want your Labrador to understand that the command and action go hand in hand. Do this by saying “down” prior to moving the treat downwards. You may also want to practice giving the command without a treat, but pretending that there is one in your hand. As time passes, you won’t need to use as many treats and your Labrador will be able to execute the command on only the verbal cue.


• Lastly, try the “down” command from various positions so that your dog doesn’t just know how to get “down” after sitting.

Additional “Down” Training Tips For Your Labrador

• When your Labrador is responding to the “down” command about 90% of the time, it’s time to test him or her by holding training sessions in an area with more distractions (park, pet store, etc.)


• Have your Lab stay “down” for approximately 5 seconds, and then move up to 10 seconds, 15 seconds, and so on.


• Give your dog the command and create distractions such as playing with a ball, placing his or her meal nearby, and opening a bag of treats.

My dog! what remedy remains,

Since, teach you all I can,

I see you, after all my pains,

So much resemble man!

William Cowper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlUdcwIFVNU

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Labrador Training: Teaching Your Lab The “Drop It” Command

In Labrador training the “drop it” command may only seem useful for playing fetch with your Lab, but in reality, it can be a life-saver. This is especially true for those with Labrador puppies, as they are fond of chewing and swallowing inedible objects. Unlike chasing your dog, “drop it” allows you to have more control and prevents them eating toxic substances/food and hazardous objects.

The things you’ll need to get started with Labrador training include;

• A few of your Labrador’s favorite toys.


• Treats


• Collar and leash (to avoid having to chase your puppy)


• Distraction-free training area

Training your Labrador to “drop it”

This training command isn’t too difficult to teach, but it does require repetition and patience. Learning the “drop-it” command can be accomplished in just a few steps:

• Have your dog take one of his or her favorite toys and allow a few minutes of playtime. If your Lab puppy is unwilling to take a toy, give some encouragement by bouncing the ball, squeaking the toy, etc. Praise your puppy immediately after they grab the toy.


• Hold a treat with one hand while allowing your Lab to smell it. This should get your Labrador to let go of the toy. As soon your dog releases it, give the “drop it” command, and then reward with the treat. Alternatively, you could use another favorite toy if your Lab isn’t too interested in food or treats.


• After a few training sessions of 5 to 10 minutes each, have your Labrador wait longer before a reward is given. You can start with 5 seconds and work your way up to 10 sec., 15 sec., 20 seconds, etc. Soon, your dog will associate the command with the action.


• Once your Labrador is confidently responding to the “drop it” command, practice it while you’re playing fetch. This will really test your dog’s obedience, as it’s easy for them to get carried away during playtime. If your Lab does not obey, stop the game immediately. You can start the game again a few minutes later when your dog has settled down. Remember to be generous with rewards until your Labrador has mastered the command.


• Practice the command with different objects or if your Lab won’t take anything, keep an eye out for training opportunities throughout the day. It doesn’t have to be necessarily when your dog takes an “off limits” object; it can be when they’re picking up the food bowl (Labs are known for doing this when they’re hungry), taking his leash before going out for a walk, etc.


• Finally, you want to reinforce the “drop it” command in different environments so that your Labrador knows he or she is to obey no matter what.

My Labrador retriever had a nervous breakdown. I kept throwing him a boomerang. – Nick Arnette

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Labrador Retriever Puppies Asleep In A Pile! Adorable Lab Video!

This large litter of Labrador Retriever Puppies is all snuggled together for a nice nap!

The puppies are all two weeks old, and still need to stay together in order to stay warm.

Each color band on their neck helps to tell them apart when the litter is so large.

The caring parents also make a cameo in this video, making sure everyone is taken care of and happy.

Let us know what you think!

Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below!

Enjoy!

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Labrador News: Labrador Helps Students Cope With Stress

Image: www.chicagotribune.com

A black Labrador, Tivo, is helping students cope with stress!

The loving Labrador Retriever is on duty in Loyola’s Wellness Center. He meets with students who are homesick or need a break from the pressure of college life.

“They’ll come in, pet him, he’ll wag his tail, lick their faces, if they want their faces licked,” explains Joan Holden, associate director of the center. “If you’re a dog lover, being with a dog makes you feel better. He’ll show his tummy, wag his tail — all the things to make you feel good.”

Loyola’s search for a therapy dog started last year. They asked Tops Kennels in Grayslake to be on the lookout for a suitable candidate. Tivo was already well-trained at the time and soon went on to become a certified therapy dog.

The Lab lives with the Rev. Justin Daffron, Loyola’s associate provost for academic services.  “They live in the dorm together, the honors dorm,” Holden says. “Tivo’s a very smart dog.”

Tivo is, extremely popular. “We took him to the opening of our new student center,” Holden says, “and they were chanting his name.”

Sometimes all you need in life is a lick and a cuddle from a loving Lab to get back on track.

You can read the full article here.

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Labrador Retrievers At Work! Interesting Lab Video!

Watch these Labrador Retrievers at work!

Love Labrador Retrievers?

Then you’ll love seeing them doing what they love!

These Labradors are busy fetching and bringing game back to their owners on the hunt, something the Labrador Retriever was originally bred to do.

Trees, brush and water are all places Labs like going in search of their treasures.

No obstacle is too great when returning game faithfully to their owners!

Let us know what you think!

Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below!

Enjoy!

 

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Labrador News: Labrador Adopts Ophaned Chick!

A Labrador in the UK has adopted an orphaned rare breed chick.

Freddie the yellow Lab and Harold the yellow chick are best buddies, but parenting is apparently making poor Freddie “doggone” tired.

Watch how gentle and curious this yellow Lab is around a chick.

Freddie is the resident Labrador at Mountfitchet Castle.

This is not a first for Freddie. Last year he rescued and adopted Dennis, another chick. Dennis, who was abandoned next to the brook near the tourist attraction in Stansted after his mother was killed by a fox.

Harold could join the rest of the animals that already live at the historic castle where they are hand fed by visitors.

You can read the full article here.

Aren’t Labradors just wonderful creatures? Labs have such kind hearts and such generosity of spirit: they’ll befriend and nurture virtually any creature.

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Labrador News: Yellow Labrador Retriever, Bella, Survives After Being Shot And Thrown In Canal!

The Montrose County sheriff is looking for whoever shot a Labrador in the head and threw her in a canal, left for dead.

A woman found the yellow Labrador retriever crawling out of the canal on Tuesday,  the sheriff’s office said.

Photo: http://www.thedenverchannel.com

“She was in shock. She was a real sweet dog, even in the midst of that,” sheriff’s animal control officer Charles Long told the Montrose Daily Press.

Long told the newspaper that the dog was shot with a small caliber weapon in the top of her head behind her left eye. The bullet passed through the yellow Lab cleanly, exiting below her jaw. She was taken to the veterinarian’s office and was kept overnight for observation. The Labrador survived without loss to vision or other impairments, said Montrose County spokeswoman Katie Yergensen.

Yergensen said  the dog’s owners were located on Wednesday. The owners noted that their dog, Bella, ran away on Sunday and had been missing for three days.

Sheriff Rick Dunlap said he wants to find the person who committed such a violent act on the animal.

“If anyone knows who did this, I want to prosecute. Talk about animal cruelty,” Dunlap told the paper.

The canal where the Labrador was found is at Olathe near Amber and 60.00 Roads.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 970-252-4023.

You can read the full story here.

Labradors in the news

Labrador retriever from Norman is American Kennel Club’s 2013 national agility NewsOK.com. Henry a black Labrador retriever owned by Dennis Butler of Norman and Hubert Bereman of Oklahoma City is the American Kennel Club’s 2013 national champion agility dog. The 8-year-old Labrador won the title last month at the American Kennel Club’s.…

Labradors from around the Web

Labrador retriever English setter sparkle in 46th annual All-Breed Winner’s Trial. Plain Dealer. HARTSGROVE TOWNSHIP Ohio A sleek and sassy English setter named Abby campaigned by Dick Motz of Bath and Amber a talented black labrador retriever handled by young Justin Reznik of Columbia Station were the big winners in Saturday’s 46th.…

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