Though many of them are fluffy and cuddly like stuffed toys, dogs will not survive on hugs, kisses or cuddles alone.  Owners and potential owners must know (yet others fail to realize) that having a dog is a significant commitment.  You don’t bring back home a Labrador simply to hug and play.  You must be prepared to provide care, grooming, Labrador training and other things a Labrador needs to grow healthy and ecstatic.  

Although the Labrador is smart as a breed, Labrador training could be a bit challenge to first time lab owners.  But with correct training tips and advice, training a Labrador may not be as hard as what it appears to be.  

Positive methodology: A Labrador is a powerful and large breed with generally good temperament.  Not surprisingly, positive training strategy works best for this breed.  Using positive reinforcement such as praise and treats can be way effective than training based primarily on punishment.  

Start early:  Although you can still teach old dogs with new tricks, it is always a wonderful idea to start training your puppy as soon as achievable.  Puppies at 6 to 8 weeks of age can start learning commands however, socialization should start earlier.  

Short and fun training sessions: Dogs, particularly puppies have short attention span; therefore it is always recommended to keep the training sessions short and fascinating.  Training should last around 15 minutes and must include challenging activities to keep his body and mind working.  Reward him with praise or treat every time the session ends so that he will associate the training with something rewarding.  

Communication: Training a dog is really more on communication.  So as to achieve positive result in training, one must be able to communicate well with the pet.  Naturally, dogs do not talk the way humans did.  They communicate thru body signals and expressions – owners must try and understand that.  A dog that’s unwell, confused, nervous or excited will not learn efficiently so keep a look out for signs.  

No punishment required:  While training a dog can be infrequently frustrating and giving punishment can be so alluring, punishing a dog is not truly a desired and effective kind of training method.  Actually it’ll do more harm than help so avoid it as much as practical.

It is advisable to read the guide on training a pug. So, without wasting time go to How To Train Your German Shepherd.