Golden Reti Blog

Labrador Retriever training can be a trying experience that can be made easier with the correct collar choice. There are several types of collar that are used by trainers to make their life easier when training a boisterous Lab. Some of these collars can be helpful in certain cases, some can be outright dangerous to the dog, and some can be detrimental to training progress.

The types of collar are Flat collar, Choke Collar and Spike Collar. Flat collars come in many designs and widths. You have the choice of color, design and decoration. There are also several buckle types. Does your boy need to feel macho; you can pick a black leather collar with studs. Perhaps your little girl needs to feel a bit more dainty; a thin pink collar with a bow may be more your style. For training, a utilitarian collar made from woven nylon or leather is the best choice width should be ¾ to 1 inch and the length will vary depending on the neck of your dog. Metal buckles provide a secure way to attach the ends but the plastic clip type closure will work just as well. Make sure that the ring that is on the collar is welded, as a strong Lab, intent on chasing the local squirrel, will exert quite a bit of force on this point.

Choke and Spike collars are specified by lazy trainers. These trainers wish to get quick results; move on to the next client and with any luck, the clients will come back in the future to have the behavior problems that are created by these collars corrected. These two types of collar act by causing pain to the dog. Spike collars can actually damage the dog's neck by piercing the skin if the correction is severe enough. Spike and choke collars have been shown to damage a dog's larynx.

The correction provided by Spike and Choke collars is known as negative reinforcement. If the dog is not doing what you wish, they get a correction to induce them to do the correct behavior. The main problem with these collars is that negative reinforcement does not make for a happy dog. Negative reinforcement has been shown in clinical trials to have short term benefits whereas positive reinforcement provides long term results.

There is yet another form of collar that can be used to control a dog at a distance. This is the electronic collar, known as an e-collar. These come in several forms. The most common of these is provided to establish a fence around the perimeter of your yard. These collars deliver a shock to the dog when a certain condition is met. Many will provide a tone that can precede the shock or can provide a good dog indication. These collars can be effective at reducing unwanted behaviors they can also cause problems if used incorrectly. When used as an electronic fence, you must keep in mind that this only works for the dog wearing the e-collar. I will not prevent other animals from entering your property and causing problems with your dog. This collar also provides negative reinforcement and has the same problems shown with the other negative reinforcement collars.

It is not an easy task to find good breeds of dogs easily as many people might sell you breeds which are not pure and you accidentally pay those more because you thought that your puppy was of a good breed. Dogs are the most friendly and loving animals on earth and they are widely kept as pets throughout the world. Dogs are kept for different purposes such as dogs to be kept at home as pets and in other fields such as in law enforcement agencies.

Dogs are helpful in many ways such as finding suspects and narcotics and also they are used in hunting as they have the great sense of smell from which they can smell things from a distant place as well.

Labrador retrievers are also one of the most popular breeds which are used in agencies and also for hunting purposes. If you want to buy puppies for domestic reasons to stay and play at home with children and you then too lab retrievers are a good option as they are very loving and are well mannered and obedient. The best thing about them is the color of their fur, most lab puppies are available in three colors and the most famous one is the chocolate color.

Lab puppies are of good nature and they tend to learn things quickly. You should thoroughly check the breed and consult a vet because they know and can easily judge the breed of the dog and check if they are from a pure breed or not. Lab puppies can be a great addition to your family as they can easily adjust to situations and if they are properly trained then they will be friendly with others and not irritate you and others around you.

The best things about these puppies are their affection and attention towards you; if the puppy has this quality then he is an obedient and enjoyable pet and will perfectly fir in your family. You should not buy lab puppies from any other place because if you want to buy pure Labrador retriever puppies then you have to find them through internet or through advertisements and check them.

You might have to even wait in order to get a good breed because dog breeders take orders and make them wait for even a year to give them their puppies. It takes time in breeding dogs and you need to be patient enough to find pure breed.

The best breeds of dogs are called pedigree as they come from the purest breed and their puppies are pure as well. Pedigree is basically a label used for pure breed of dogs and they can be of any breed either Labrador or German shepherd. You should avoid buying puppies from pet shops as you might not know that it is of a pure breed or not. If you want pure lab puppies then you should consult pure dog breeders and make your booking in well advance time.

Temperament: The Labrador Retriever is a loyal loving and affectionate dog. This is one of the most popular breeds in America. Making a great family pet that is really good with children. This dog is very intelligent and will not play, especially in water. With good reliable temperaments, they crave human contact and good leadership.

This breed does well as part of the family and is easily trained. Socialising well as a puppy will help build a well rounded character. Training is important, as they become stronger in adult life. This breed can become destructive, if not given enough exercise, and good leadership from the owner. This dog requires mental and physical exercise daily.

Problems can occur, if not enough exercises given with the dog becoming highly strung. The English line of the Labrador retriever is a calmer and more laid-back breed than its American counterpart.

Health issues: The Labrador Retriever breed is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, eye disorders and PRA.

Grooming: Due to the short smooth coat, grooming a Labrador Retriever is easy and it just needs brushing weekly. Bathing only when really needed is best for this breed. This is an average shedder.

It is very important to make sure your puppy or dog is up to date on all vaccinations, de-wormings and heart preventatives. It is also suggested that you have a complete check-up done on your dog at least twice each year to make sure there are no unseen health issues that need attention.

Living conditions: The Labrador Retriever can live in an apartment if they have been given good daily walks and mental exercise. This breed would do well in an average size garden.

Regular nail trimming is important to your Labrador Retriever's health and well being. Nails that are not properly clipped can crack and split, which can lead to infection in that area. Long nails can be uncomfortable for your Labrador and for an owner's leg. A regular trimming, at least once a week or every two weeks, will save both you and your Labrador Retriever a lot of pain and aggravation.

Purchase a good quality nail clipper, one that is appropriate for your Labradors claws. You might also want to purchase a clotting agent, such as Kwik-Stop, or a styptic pen. It is not unusual for people to clip a toenail short and for bleeding to occur.

Start by having your Lab lie down or secure him with his collar and leash.

What you are looking for is called the quick (pink part of the nail), which is the live tissue inside the nail. This will be easer to see in yellow nails than dark ones. Here's a tip, shining a flashlight through the back of the nail will help you locate the quirk. You want to cut back to the beginning of the quick. Cutting the quick will cause some bleeding, which happens from time to time.

Black nails can be a little more difficult to locate the quick.If you turn your Labs paw over and look closely you will see a little round thick part on the bottom side of the nail, which is the quick.

When you're ready to cut, make sure you aren't on the quick, and make a smooth, quick squeeze with your clippers, letting the nail fall away. If you clip small, thin slices off of the nail tip, you will be able to see a small black or pink, moist looking disk in the center of the cut nail. This disk is the start of your quick, and this is as far as you should trim. Some people do cut the nail back until a slight amount of bleeding occurs, in an attempt to shorten the nail further. However it's not advisable as it can make for an unpleasant experience for your Labrador.

Continue clipping until all of your Lab's paws are complete and then you can file down the sharp edges, or just let your Labrador wear the edges smooth.

Every now and then you might hit the quick when trimming. Don't panic, just blot with a towel and apply your Kwik-Stop, or styptic pen and this should stop the bleeding after a few minutes.

Follow the above steps and in no time you will be clipping your Labs nails just like the professionals.

I hear this question all of the time "How do I train my Labrador Retriever to not pull when walking her on a leash?" from family and friends that have this beautiful breed.

It is no secret that Labrador Retrievers are a very energetic and rambunctious breed that requires a lot of love and attention. It is also no secret that they give back 110% of that love and attention making them one of the best breeds to have as a family pet.

It really bothers me to see folks struggling with their Labs and getting frustrated with them while doing something as common as a walk in the park, it's not their fault that we take such a high spirited dog and try to domestic them. So I decided to go online and do a little research to see if I could find the techniques used by other owners in order to answer the question presented in this article.

I found many answers to this question from Yahoo's Answers and what I found seems to be solid advice that can be followed by anyone now owning or those interested in obtaining such a beautiful dog.

Listed below are several good options for preventing your Lab from pulling while on a leash.

• You should really sign up for a Labrador puppy training class.
• For older dogs, Labrador Retrievers Obedience Training is a good idea.
• Buy something called a Gentle Leader; it is a collar that basically goes around the neck right behind the ears (not like a regular collar a bit higher) and another loop around the muzzle. It doesn't keep her mouth closed but when you pull it pulls their muzzle. Do not yank the dog but instead a short swift tug and release will help the dog feel that quick snap causing her to slow down and wait for you. Leave the gentle leader on her in the house to get used to it even it's not attached to any leash.
• When she is walking and she pulls ahead, stop and call her name. Wait for her to come back to you and give her a pat and a treat. If she looks at you but doesn't move try stepping back excitedly and she should come. Do this on every walk.
• Keep the leash very short while you are walking (like 6-8 inches). This keeps her from being able to gain the momentum to pull. As you let the leash out just a bit, if she pulls, STOP, wait until she quits pulling to continue. Each time she pulls either stop immediately or turn and go the opposite direction.
• Part of the problem could be the collar placement. Most collars lay at the base of the neck, which is where the hard muscle is. The only problem is that with rambunctious dogs like labs is that they can pull hard and be unfazed due to the strength of that muscle. Try fitting a collar higher on the neck, behind the ears. There is much less muscle there so she gets less leverage to pull. It also gives you, the owner, greater control over where she goes and how much momentum she can get. Hold the leash so that when your arm is comfortably at your side, the dog has a little bit of slack. This keeps her close to you without choking her. Then, if she decides she wants to go one way or the other, she meets the resistance of the collar and leash before she's more than a few inches away.
• When she pulls hard, correct her by pulling back on the leash. You don't have to jerk her off her feet, but pull sharp enough that she gets the hint. At the same time, use a sound that will get her attention, like warning a child. Keep her close to you and do not give an inch. If she pulls harder, stand your ground and make her sit down. This will stop her advances further and helps to bring her attention back to you. She will get the point rather quickly and will be walking nicely before you know it.
• Before leaving the house, make sure you go out the door first. If she tries to pull you because she has seen something she wants, command her to STOP, sit and stay, a firm "Leave it" should help. Repeat it often.
• Sometimes adding weight to her will calm her down like a back pack or vest with pockets of water bottle on each side.

It will take about a week or so with this type of training before successfully walking her in public, if anyone wants to pet her while you are doing this just explain that she is in training and most people will understand and wish you good. I hope this advice will help make your Labrador a better walking partner.

She is your friend, your partner, your defender. You owe it to your Labrador Retriever to provide the training worthy of her devotion.

Not much else can soak in your attention as much as a family dog that suddenly displays unusual, destructive behavior. And so it is in the case of the family Labrador retriever that has the eccentric problem of ripping only into a specific set of objects, such as objects used to contain food (lunch boxes, paper bags) or objects that are handled and belong to one family member (a shirt, a wallet).

Such a Labrador Retriever Training mystery requires quick thinking, unless people do not care about a lab that has a potentially destructive mission to put into action! The best place to turn to for help is of course, a dog trainer or a Labrador retriever dog breeder.

But before we jump right into some general advice, keep in mind not to ever punish or reprimand a dog by locking it up in its crate. Heaven forbid that the dog think of its crate as where the banished and the unloved go!

So how is the case above likely to be attributed to separation anxiety?

To answer this, people need to check what kind of changes have happened in the daily schedules of those people the lab interacts with closely. Does the dog destroy only the things of a certain family member? Has anything also changed in the schedule of this person so as to affect very much the behavior of the dog? Has the dog also experienced responsible free reign in the house before?

If anything can make a home-alone dog turn to destructive behavior, it could also be boredom.

So it is useful to examine in what way has the exercise routine of the dog changed; if it has been shortened, then the dog may just miss those. The same might also be true if the dog used to attend some training classes, and may actually miss attending activities.

To end, general solutions (which this article offers) in Labrador Retriever Training will need to be paired with how well you know your dog's needs. But experts and trainers still see longer walks or playtime as prudent solutions, possibly paired with crating the dog when it will be alone for extended periods.

Though many of us Labrador Retrievers grow up to have gentle, affectionate temperaments, there are sometimes Labradors that develop the behavioral problem of biting. This is natural behavior for puppies, though can become worrisome if it continues into adulthood. If you help us to understand that biting is bad behavior at an early age, us Labradors are much more likely to not develop problematic biting when we reach our adult size. Anti-biting training should be started as soon as possible, ideally when we're still in the puppy stage.

Harmful Biting

This is the type of biting that can present significant problems for a dog owner, as well as your relationship with your dog. This type of biting is meant to induce pain, and usually occurs when your dog becomes afraid of something, or feels threatened. This is the type of biting that may cause your dog to attack a stranger, or be aggressive towards a strange dog. This is not usually common with Labrador Retrievers, since they have a naturally gentle temperament. However, some Labradors that came from abusive homes, or were neglected, may be conditioned to partake in fear-induced biting.

The most common cause of harmful or fear-induced biting is a lack of a proper socialization program. The majority of aggressive biting is caused by fear, as your dog is trying to protect themselves from something that makes them feel threatened. Good socialization involves exposing your Labrador Retriever to as many situations and events as you possibly can, while reinforcing that this is a positive experience for them. This is also a great way to earn your Labrador Retriever's trust, as you are establishing that you are comfortable with these events, and since they are not harmful, your dog doesn't have to be afraid of them.

A dog that is not properly socialized may constantly be afraid of things such as umbrellas, people in hats, loud noises, strange dogs, or unfamiliar people in your home. Since this will cause them to experience fear, your dog may act to protect themselves by biting or displaying aggressive behavior. It's your responsibility, as your dog's owner and teacher, to help your dog to be comfortable with experiencing the world without being afraid.

Non-Harmful Biting

This is type of biting is also called "play biting". This is very common in puppies, since puppies tend to bite while wrestling with their litter-mates. These bites are not meant to be harmful, and are meant only as a sign of playfulness or affection. Puppies in the wild eventually learn not to bite their litter-mates, since eventually they make the connection that being bitten induces a pain response. However, most domestic puppies are usually adopted before this learning process is complete, and may need additional training from their owners.

Another kind of non-harmful biting is usually seen in puppies that are about four months of age. At this time, your puppy will begin to develop their adult teeth. Teething is a very important process for your puppy, though it also provides them with a significant amount of discomfort until all of their adult teeth have erupted. To help with the pain, many puppies will attempt to chew on anything they can, as having an object in their mouth will help distract them from the pain of developing teeth. This is completely normal, and you can help your puppy get through this stage by always having enough chew-toys available. Try to find toys of different textures and materials, until you find one that your puppy prefers. Toys can help your puppy refrain from biting furniture or other people during teething.

Another type of non-harmful biting is actually your Labrador's way of showing you affection. Gentle "mouthing" of the hands, or light pressure of their teeth on your skin can be your Labrador's way of showing you that they respect you as a dominant pack member. This display of affection is instinctual for dogs in the wild, and may be exhibited by your dog when they begin to reach adulthood. To help your dog understand that this is negative behavior, there are many training tactics that you can use.

How to Stop Your Dog From Biting

One of the most effective methods for discouraging biting is called the "Yelp and Shun" training tactic. This tactic helps to trigger an instinctual response in your dog, as this is also part of how your dog would learn not to bite in the wild. The best way to execute this method is to immediately "yelp" as loud as possible as soon as your dog bites you. This is very similar to how puppies learn not to bite each other, and also how they make the connection of biting with a pain response. After you have "yelped", turn away from your dog, completely ignoring them. Even if your dog whines or seems unhappy, do not interact with your dog. If this is done enough times, your dog will begin to understand that biting is negative behavior.

Another good way to reinforce that "not-biting" is good behavior for your dog is to reward them when they are able to engage in playtime without biting. If your dog bites, stop playing, and completely ignore them. If your dog is able to play without biting, it's important that you praise them, and give them a treat reward. This will help us dogs to understand that "safe" playtime means that we get rewarded!

Sometimes, due to our interactive nature, it may be necessary to provide a "distraction" to your dog when they are about to bite. Try carrying a yummy-smelling treat in your pocket, and immediately take it out when your dog seems about to bite. This will capture our attention, and immediately become much more interesting than chewing on your arm!

Above all, try to be patient with your dog. We Labradors only want to please you, though it may take us a few training sessions to fully understand that biting is bad behavior.