All You Need You Know About Labrador Retriever Puppy Training

Do you have a happy playful Labrador puppy that is starting to become a bit of a handful, well get great tips and advice here and start your Labrador retriever puppy training today.

Training your Labrador puppy from day one is essential, as they have the most playful personalities with boundless energy to go with it. Training your lab puppy from day one will help set boundaries and rules for when they are an adult.

~ Provide A Puppy Crate ~

One of the best things you could ever do for your puppy is provide them with a safe environment to live and sleep in. In the wild dogs would never sleep in open fields or land, so some puppies feel really vulnerable when provided with a big open plan kitchen or room to sleep in. They love small tight spaces so providing a puppy crate is the best thing you could do, to make your puppy feel safe in its new environment.

Introduce the crate slowly by feeding them in it, and you will soon see your puppy going in and out of it with ease.

Using the crate will help with toilet training your puppy, as they do not like to soil their bed, so they will hang onto their bladder longer. The crate can also be used as a time out period for yourself, as having to watch a pup 24/7 can be exhausting. This can give you a tea break and a sit down while your puppy plays with a toy in the crate.

~ Socialize Your Puppy ~

Introducing your puppy to all different noises from the start will help your puppy not be nervous. Car noises, lawn mowers etc are all very important for a dog to get used to, as well as meeting other dogs. It's all a great confidence builder for them.

~ Watch Your Puppy Like A Hawk ~

Labrador retriever puppies love to experiment by putting things into their mouths and having a chew. So watch your puppy like a hawk when in the house, as wires are a favourite, and also outside in the garden as they can easily get caught in a wire fence.

Providing them with a Kong toy which you can fill with treats is great to keep them amused, or a sand pit outside with treats hidden so they can dig and find them.

~ How To Correct Your Labrador Puppy ~

There will be times that you will want to correct your puppy for doing something naughty. Be careful because there is a right and wrong way to do that. When correcting your puppy the timing and your voice tone is critical, always reprimand a puppy when in the act of doing something wrong, never after the event, as they will not know what you are correcting them for. Puppies respond to voice tone, so reprimanding in a guttural tone is far better than smacking, as they will always see that as an aggressive act and you could find that your puppy starts not to trust your actions, and may start to be aggressive towards you.

~Teach Leadership Skills~

Your puppy should always look to you as the leader of the pack, so here are some top tips.

1. Go through all doorways in front of your puppy.

2. Don't allow your puppy to sit on the window ledge or back of the sofa.

3. Never play tug with your puppy.

4. Always have your puppy walking next to you on a lead, never in front.

5. Ignore your puppy on arrival for a short time, and all attention seeking behaviour like barking at you to do something.

Providing a safe haven and a little training will make your Labrador retriever puppy very happy and you will see a well behaved dog.

Need more help with training your Labrador retriever puppy, well find out how over 200,000 dog owners used some powerful and easy to use techniques to solve many dog and puppy issues here. http://www.freesecretstodogtraining.info

Click the link for more FREE advice on all dog issues and puppy training.

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Choosing the Right Labrador Retriever Breeder

Once you've decided to add a jovial Labrador Retriever to your family, purchasing your puppy from a reputable and responsible breeder is the best way to assure that your puppy will be healthy, have the good temperament you'd expect from a Labrador Retriever and have an appearance as close to the breed standard as possible.

However, before you set out to find a breeder you'll need to decide exactly what you're looking for. Different breeders have different priorities. Some breeders may strive to produce show quality dogs that will excel in conformation dog shows while others are interested in producing puppies that will excel at being great family pets.

With a responsible breeder, every aspect of the breeding and care is important. Each mating is carefully organized and every litter receives the best possible socialization, nutrition and health care. The responsible Labrador retriever breeder also keeps detailed records on each dog including information such as registration papers, pedigree, health record and show record.

Like any other purchase do your homework and shop around. Once you've found a possible breeder you want to work with, ask a lot of questions. Because reputable and responsible Labrador retriever breeders are very particular about to whom they sell pups, your failure to ask questions may signal to the breeder that you're not serious about owning a dog.

Here are a few questions to ask a prospective breeder:

* What professional affiliations and activities does he participate in?

* How many years has the breeder been active and how many litters has the breeder bred in that time?

* Can you meet sire and dam (father and mother) of the litter?

* What health care have the puppies received and what post placement support does the breeder offer?

Assuming that the breeder has answered your preliminary questions satisfactorily, if possible, make an appointment to see the puppies, their sire and dam.

Every responsible breeder should welcome this visit because it gives them the opportunity to interview you as well. Be on time for the visit and bring a notepad, pen and any other family members that will be involved in the puppy's life.

Labrador retrievers are naturally very affectionate dogs. How do the puppies act around the breeder? Are they excited to see their beloved caretaker or are they indifferent?

Is the puppy area generally clean? Understand that these are babies and an accident or two is probable at any moment but are there signs of long term neglect? Are the puppies being socialized, do they seem skittish around humans or do they waddle right up to you? As you examine the puppies take note of the puppies' general look and demeanor. Are their coats clean? Are they bright eyed and energetic or do they look sick?

Does the breeder seem interested in how you will manage and raise the puppy or is he simply trying to sell you a dog?

A good Labrador retriever breeder knows his puppies and will probably want some information about you and your family. He may want to know where you plan to keep the dog, why do you want a dog and possibly how much you know about Labs. These questions are not designed to violate your right to privacy but to determine whether the breeders' puppies will fit into your particular situation and home. A good breeder will want to know that you are committed to being a good dog owner and you should be hesitant to continue the deal with a breeder without any concern for where the puppies are going to live.

When seeking a Labrador retriever breeder keep in mind that a responsible breeder is someone who works to improve the breed by breeding only the highest quality dog that he possibly can. Anyone can say that they're a responsible breeder but actions speak louder than words.

If you're looking for a professional, caring, Labrador retriever breeder then you should visit http://www.soggyacres.com, for your next canine companion.

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FREE sample of Rachael Ray Nutrish Premium Dog Food

We've had free samples of Rachael Ray Nutrish premium dog food posted on All About Labradors before, mostly from Walmart that have expired. For those of you that missed out on her free dog food sample, over at her website they are still offering free sample.

Information from Rachael Ray: Okay, you know I don’t mess around when it comes to feeding my family and yours nutritious meals. And we all know my dog Isaboo is my baby. I am putty in that girl’s paws. So I had this awesome idea to work with a team of pet nutrition experts to create a pet food made with simple, natural ingredients that any furry family member would love. With Rachael Ray Nutrish, my Isaboo gets all the delicious goodness she loves to gobble up and all the nutrition I want her to have. Real meat — like chicken or beef — is the first ingredient. There are no fillers. No junk. Just lots of good, wholesome stuff. How cool is that? And you know me. I’m all about giving back, so all of my proceeds from Rachael Ray Nutrish go to charities that take care of animals who have no one else to look out for them. Wow. How good do you feel now?"

Rachael Ray Nutrish™ has:

• Real meat — like chicken or beef — as the first ingredient
• No meat by-products, fillers, artificial flavors or preservatives
• Simple, natural ingredients for overall health and wellness
• 100% complete and balanced nutrition"

Fill out the form on the Rachael Ray website to request your FREE sample of Rachael Ray Nutrish Premium Dog Food.

Scroll down towards the bottom of her website and click on the "Switch to Nutrish" image.

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FREE Better Than Ears Plus Sample

Walmart is offer a free sample of Better Than Ears Plus.

Information from Targeted Pet Treats LLC: With its tantalizing taste and doggone ultra-realistic texture, Better Than Ears dog treats are the perfect palate pleaser for even the pickiest of pooches. These premium healthy dog treats satisfy your dog’s insatiable craving for those tasty, tempting pig ears... without all the fat or mess.

Request your FREE Better Than Ears Plus Sample.

The free Better Than Ears Plus sample is available while supplies last and limited to one (1) sample per household. Samples are only available to consumers in the United States.

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FREE Purina One Dog Food at PetSmart

Get a coupon for a Free 6 oz. pouch of Purina One Dog Food at PetSmart, when you join PetPerks.

To get you FREE Purina One Dog Food, log in or register for PetPerks. After you have logged in or registered, click the "PetPerks Benefits" and then click on the "PetSmart Coupons – View Coupons" link to access the coupon. Print out the coupon and visit your local PetSmart store to get your free 6 oz. pouch of Purina One Dog Food.

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Labrador Retriever with Leash Aggression

Subject: Labrador Retriever with Leash Aggression

From: Hayley (Canada)

Labrador Retriever Name: Topaz

Reader's E-mail - Hayley Writes:

Our family has a problem while walking our yellow Labrador Retriever, Topaz. We recently moved to a new home and while walking Topaz through the neighborhood, he would growl and pull on the leash when other dogs passed (two dogs that live down the corner). When this happens, it scares me and my daughter as we don't know how to help stop this. Can you please be of help to us. Thank you.

Hayley

All About Labradors Answer:

Hello Hayley,

The information given here is to help you learn more about your Labrador Retriever and not to replace your veterinarian's or specialist's advice. Disclaimer:

Thank you for visiting All About Labradors and for your question. Without knowing more information about Topaz here are some things I can recommend:

Make sure your Labrador Retriever is getting enough exercise. I tired Labrador Retriever is a good Labrador Retriever and it might make Topaz less likely to release his pent-up energy in such a negative way (aggression towards these dogs).

Make sure that Topaz understands "heel" command. If he knows this already that's wonderful, if not I recommend you train the command to him (if you need help with this, let me know).

When walking Topaz, make sure to hold the leash loose (not so loose that he can pull out of your hand). You don't want to be holding the leash really tight, causing tension, as he will naturally want to resist and pull even harder, causing your Labrador Retriever to act even more aggressive. Remain in control of Topaz.

You might want to try a Gentle Leader for your Labrador Retriever's walks. The Gentle Leader can help eliminate pulling on the leash, offers control of your Labrador for anyone walking him and helps with controlling lunging and jumping. It is a tool that can help control Topaz when he is acting dominant.

Here's a video in regards to the Gentle Leader:



Do some distance training and desensitization exercises with your Labrador Retriever. Susie Aga of The Atlanta Dog Trainer shows you how to do some counter conditioning in the following video:



I would also definitely recommend signing up for some group obedience classes so Topaz can practice being around several dogs while on a leash.

Hope this is of help to you and Topaz. Please let us know how it goes.

Take care of yourself and Topaz,

Fay

Have some tips in regards to leash aggression, don't hesitate to share!

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FREE bag of Natura Dog Food

Natura Advantage is offering a coupon for a FREE 5 lb – 6.6 lb bag of dog food for new customers.

Information from naturaadvantage.com and naturapet.coma: "Save on Natura’s natural pet foods – HealthWise®, Innova®, EVO®, Karma® and California Natural® – including the new California Natural grain free formulas!

No pet food company in the world makes natural pet foods like Natura. We use only high-quality ingredients: fresh meats, whole grains, all-natural fruits and vegetables, and complete vitamin and mineral supplements. For us humans, a diet of natural, wholesome food is essential to living a long healthy life. We believe this fundamental principle is true for your pet, too.

Request your high-value coupon today and experience the benefits of Natura."

FREE bag of Natura Dog Food

The coupon is available for the USA and Canada. Good while supplies last.

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When Labrador Retrievers Become Destructive

The difference between a good Labrador Retriever owner and a disastrous one depends on whether or not that person leads an active lifestyle. To put it in simple terms, labs were bred to be extremely active when in the company of hunters, from dawn to dusk. They used to run, swim, and retrieve foul for up to 16 hours each day, or more.

Labs have extremely high energy levels and just because your Labrador Retriever does not go out hunting, it does not mean that this dog is missing its inner expression to release the same amount of energy. This is great news for active people who like to swim, jog, and play fetch games as often as possible.

The term "disastrous dog owner" would best describe a person who is raising a Lab but absolutely hates going outside and being active. There are many people out there who love nothing more than to sit around the house all day watching television while they expect their Lab dogs to lay quietly alongside their feet with no need at all to run and play.

These types of people tend to complain that their pets are "overactive" and causing too much trouble around the house. However, the truth is that the dogs are perfectly healthy and literally wired and itching to move around. It is the way they were genetically programmed. It is what they were bred to do. Therefore, the problem lies within the owner, not the Lab.

Think Long & Hard Before Buying A Lab Puppy

Most people who run out and buy a puppy, especially one as active as a Labrador Retriever, have a tendency to overestimate the amount of play-time they can invest in their dog. Eventually, the excitement and joy of playing with a new puppy subsides and when the dog owner gets bored, these little balls of energy are left to entertain themselves.

Adult Labrador dogs need a minimum of one hour each and every day, both in the morning and again at night, to participate in strenuous, interactive physical activities. This does not mean simply letting your dog out in the yard by itself while you cook dinner. This will not suffice as "playtime". Labs need a partner to run and fetch with. Left to themselves for physical activity will prove unsuccessful as Labs tend not to exercise by themselves in a constructive manner.

When Labs Become Destructive

You can't just open up the door and tell your Lab to go play. While some dogs are independent enough to run around outside by themselves, Labrador Retrievers need someone to play with and if you are not around then they may become destructive. Behaviors such as non-stop barking, chewing, and digging up the yard will become commonplace.

Should your Lab start to demonstrate these types of negative activities, the last thing you want to do is become frustrated and deem your pet aggressive. The truth is that he is just doing what you wanted him to do: entertain himself.

Unless you are there to direct your Lab and be the "leader" while taking fun trips outside in the form of a hike, a jog, or retrieving games in the water, you must take responsibility for his destructive behavior and know that it is your fault and your responsibility to take charge of your Lab's physical needs.

Tristan Andrews is a freelance author who writes about labrador retrievers and dog breed descriptions.

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Recall Alert: United Pet Group Voluntarily Expands Recall of Nutritional Supplements For Dogs

"United Pet Group Voluntarily Expands Recall of Nutritional Supplements For Dogs to Include Additional Tablet and Powdered-Form Products for Dogs and Cats Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk"

United Pet Group, Cincinnati, Ohio is voluntarily expanding its recent recall of its Pro-Pet Adult Daily Vitamin Supplement tablets for Dogs to include additional pet nutritional supplement products for dogs and cats due to possible Salmonella contamination.

The recalled products are sold nationally at various retailers. The products include various United Pet Group Pro-Pet and Excel branded products for dogs and cats, and certain other private label brands of the same products. All of the affected products are in tablet and powdered form. These products are being removed from retail stores and consumers should immediately stop feeding these supplements to their pets. The affected products are those with expiration dates that include and are between "01/2013" and "06/2013." Products with expiration dates earlier than 01/2013 or later than 06/2013 are not included in this recall. The expiration date can be found imprinted vertically on the right side of the product label.

Laboratory testing has revealed that some lots of some of these products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The company is recalling the additional products out of an abundance of caution.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

People who handle these products can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with them or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with the product should contact their healthcare providers.

To see the TABLE OF RECALLED PRODUCTS and read more about this expanded recall visit:

United Pet Group Voluntarily Expands Recall of Nutritional Supplements For Dogs

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Puppy Toilet Training Top Tips

After breeding Labrador Retrievers for close to fifteen years, I have managed to learn a few golden tips on how to overcome some of the not-so-pleasant aspects of owning that new puppy.

So many times I have new owners call me in absolute despair wanting to know how on earth they can get their newest family member to pee or poop ANYWHERE except on the floor of their home. For me, it is a devastating statistic that the number one reason puppies find themselves in shelters is due to house training issues. This is such a simple obstacle to overcome, so long as you know how. So, how do we keep you and your pup from any more accidents that may be starting to stretch your friendship?

House training puppies can be a monumental task if the owner is naive of what specifically is required to have their pup behaving in an acceptable way. Think of it for a minute from the pups perspective... They have just arrived from a litter where their mother has fed, cleaned and disciplined them. Life was pretty easy there, they could mess about with their siblings and pee or poop wherever they liked AND (within the first two weeks of being born) mother would clean the mess up! Your pups mother would also lick and groom the pup clean of everything that stuck to their small body. Then, you came along. You and your pup have arrived back home... Minus the other litter mates and mother. Suddenly, the environment has changed, the social group has changed and the rules are SO unlike to what your pup was used to. Your life has also altered now. You have a little body that needs guidance and boundaries for it to understand what is needed in order to live harmoniously inside your home.

The only truly winning way to teach your pup how to be house trained is (drum-roll please...) for YOU to be trained! Nope, I don't mean that we have to train you to go potty and I'm sure you are house trained by now... However, if you feel you need revision on your own house breaking needs feel free to apply it to yourself :) Pups and dogs in general are creatures of habit.. A little like you and me. They flourish on regularity and thrive with repetitive actions. If you wanted to teach your dog the instruction to sit, you would use that instruction every time you requested it of him. You wouldn't say Plop yourself down or Take a load off along with a myriad of other phrases if all you wanted was for him to simply sit. Using that one term over and over will allow your dog to learn faster and with more success. The same is true for toilet training your pup or dog. If your pup learns that you are clear, consistent and easy to understand this will pave the way for everything your pup needs to know. If, however, he finds that you are frightening, angry and inconsistent you may look forward to a life with a dog that has no clear direction or boundaries on behaviour, and certainly no success at house training him or her.

Knowing the right commands and having the correct environment for your pup to go potty is paramount to your pup or dog learning for life. If you are able to learn some proper techniques to use, pick up on the signals your pup gives you and most of all... BE CONSISTENT, your pup will most certainly thrive under your care. Remember, every mistake teaches your puppy the wrong habit. Knowing what tools you must have for successful training will have your battle already half won. I constantly refer my new puppy owners to my website below for a fast and inexpensive sure fire way to combat the potty accidents, and to achieve a rewarding and satisfying relationship with your pup up for life. I wish you years of enjoyment and puppy potty training success!

To learn more about Potty Training for Dogs - GUARANTEED, check out House Training Now

Sarah has been breeding and training Labrador Retrievers for 14 years. She refers all her new puppy owners to the most economical guide available on the market. It is concise and accurate and extremely affordable. Available to visitors from this article for $9. Please visit NoNonsense Potty Training. We wish you many happy years with your dog. Sarah Gladman Article 2010© All Rights Reserved.

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