Yellow lab puppies are not only lovable but make marvelous family pets. Their particular intelligence means they are really good to work with and easy to train if you know what you're doing. It is best to however, as with any puppy, you have to start training at an early age, in order that, eventually, this pup will be your best friend. The first part of yellow lab puppy training will involve toilet training.
Housebreaking is critical. If you wish to be successful early on, it is best to set a consistent routine for taking your puppy outdoors. A straightforward command will have to be used each time. This presents a particular sign for your pup that it must go outside. It is important to make this happen at regular intervals, maybe every couple of hours or so. The puppy will soon relate this command with going to the toilet. You need to have the discipline to achieve as you cannot really expect a puppy to do this on their own. Look upon it as your training also!
The next yellow lab training tip you must concentrate on is how to walk your pup on a leash. This is something you have to get right. Numerous labrador retrievers can be immensley powerful as witnessed once when on a camping vacation with friends. I was amazed at the power of my friend's yellow labrador retriever. We tied him to a dinghy trailer whilst we pitched the tent (to prevent him wandering off and getting into trouble). The trailer had a boat on it that was loaded to the gunnels with sailing and camping gear. Lord knows how much it weighed. At this point, a dog wandered onto the camp site and came up growling at our lab. He rapidly attempted to chase this dog off whilst still attached to the trailer. He managed to drag it a number of yards before it ground to a halt. It was amazing! For this reason it is so important to have them walk under control on the leash.
Although a yellow lab is quite a strong and independent dog, it's also one who would like to please. This means it is important to teach them to walk alongside you, and not in front or behind. Continually turn your puppy in the opposite direction when he begins to pull at the leash, returning to the original direction only when he has settled down. This way, your puppy regards you as the leader, which is essential in other aspects of behavior training.
All puppies bite as they teethe. Another problem to be aware of is biting as soon as they teethe. Keep in mind this is a natural thing for dogs. What you have to do here is use that instinctive behaviour in a positive way. In other words, permit them to bite the appropriate things. A common theme here (and in fact all dog training) is to gently correct unacceptable behavior. Don't shout at them or smack them. All this will do is frighten then and fear is no good as a training aid (despite what some idiots think). Personally, I have found the best way is for the pack leader to be dominant (make sure you are the one in control) but also turn everything into a game. I have been told by some self proclaimed experts that this is called "play training". I know many people who have done this through the years but were blissfully unaware that it was "technique".
Along the way you are going to teach them what is an acceptable thing to bite, and that doesn't include people, even when done in play. To reinforce this you must give them many rubber toys or rope to chew on until their teeth grow fully. Should they do nip you, gently correct them and continue to offer a toy as a substitute.
Your yellow lab puppy is a bundle of energy, just waiting for direction. It's no surprise this breed is often employed in police work, search and rescue and guide dog service.
Successful yellow lab puppy training must have a good balance of physical activity, and strong, consistent instruction. You need to always work with your puppy using positive, and consistent frame of mind, never using punishment to fix undesired behavior. Before long, your puppy will grow into a dog who lives to love and please you.
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