In obedience dog training, there are five basic directives or behaviors that a dog is taught. They are:

Down

This order is ordinarily uttered to calm an especially exuberant dog. Your dog may be the overly excited kind that loves to paw folks, lunge at them or even tug at their clothes. Teaching a dog to stay down when you order it to can assist to keep its excesses in check. The ‘down’ order is simply a position of subservience the dog adopts when it is being excessive in its behavior.

Sit

You can train your dog to sit down in a precise place. This command is also used to keep your dog in check. A sitting dog can’t jump on people. You can teach your Labrador Retriever to sit when you are greeting people, etc.

Stay

Most people think that a stay is always used with a sit, but you can also have down stays and stand stays. Essentially, you keep your dog in a stay when you don’t want them to leave a specific spot. You can use a stand or sit stay while waiting to cross a road, or a down stay when you are busy drawing money at the ATM.

Recall

Calling your dog to you is the most important command to master. This can get your dog out of dangerous situations or, simply prevent you from having to run after your dog once your visit to the park is over. This is also one of the most difficult to master.

Close or loose leash walking

You need to teach your dog how to respond to a leash. One basic dog-training tool, the leash enables you to do a variety of things ranging from walking your dog to correcting your dog. A dog that isn’t used to a leash may not be able to respond favorably to your other directives. You might also need to put him on a leash to take him to a vet, which could be extremely dangerous if he isn’t used to a leash and he’s injured.

Which words to use

The actual word you use for each command is up to you. Usually, the following words are used, but so long as you always use the same words and you don’t use words that sound similar to each other, you’ll be fine:

Down, Sit, Stay, Come. For walking on the leash, Heel is most commonly used, but the Heel command is actually used to get your dog to walk in a position just off to your left and walking at the same pace as you. For general leash work, you might want to give your dog more freedom, but teach them to always keep the leash loose. You don’t need a command for this, they should always be doing that.

These dogs are also  widely known for their ability to work side by side with law enforcement officials in investigation work. They are incredible work dogs as well as incredible house pets and for some, they are a little of both at the same time. This breed is smart but does need to be trained in order to stay in line, as they will not automatically know the rules of your home.
All of the Labrador types seem to be excellent choices when it comes to finding a dog that would be a great match in your home. But Labradors Retrievers all grow to become pretty hefty dogs with the females generally being slightly smaller then their male counterparts. The males tend to grow to be between sixty-five and eighty pounds in weight and the female end up being somewhere between fifty-five and seventy pounds. Either way you look at it, these are not small dogs and you really have to watch for them gaining too much weight.

As far as the look of the Labrador types, they are all pretty much the same besides some color difference. The all have this straight tail that helps them to swim as it acts like a little rudder in order to help them change direction while swimming. Their smooth and short coat also makes a great addition as it helps them swim being it is almost waterproof. An important thing to remember is that the tail is pretty strong and a good whack to the head of a baby can really hurt so watch the little ones on the floor.
Black Labradors are certainly an ideal pet for families as they are extremely gentle. In fact, they can be so gentle that some Labradors have been known to be carry to carry an egg in their mouth without ever breaking it. They are also not very aggressive or territorial like some other breeds and this is great because those things can cause trouble from time to time. You have to keep in mind that Labrador puppies are very exuberant and clumsy (And they have keep the puppy temperament until after they are fully grown), so while they won’t intentionally hurt somebody, it is very easy for them to knock over and injure children or elderly people.

As a Labrador owner, you need to keep in mind to watch your personal belongings, as this dog does like to chew. As long as proper training is given, this habit will become manageable, but Labrador puppies are hard work. Labrador puppies will always need to have chew toys, and you have to watch them very carefully for the first year. Generally speaking, if you don’t want it chewed up, make sure your Labrador can’t reach it.

And in case having more independence is important to you, know that the females are generally more self-sufficient then the males, but ALL Labradors need a lot of interaction and attention. If you work the whole day, getting a Labrador is probably not a good plan – They will become very destructive if they are neglected  or bored. Also, in order to keep your pet at a safe weight, you really need to watch how much your Labrador eats as they are prone to obesity.

Out of all of the Labrador types it seems that a lot of people prefer Black Labradors – This is probably because they’ve been recognized as a pure-bred Labrador for the longest time, but the color of your Labrador retriever isn’t very important as it doesn’t influence their temperament. When thinking of bringing a Black Labrador home, you want to make sure that you are reading up on as much Labrador information as possible. I would also suggest you watch Marley and me – Your average Labrador isn’t likely to be as badly behaved if you keep a few basics in mind when you start out, but Marley is by no means the exception.

It’s such a blessing that there are Chocolate Labradors. Chocolate Labradors are fairly rare for a couple of reasons. The first reason is genetics, Only a couple of different pairings in adults will produce chocolate colored Labrador puppies.

Mostly though, the scarcity of Chocolate Labradors is due to human ignorance. In the past, when Chocolate Labradors were more abundant, breeders treated them unkindly and deemed them genetically abnormal. People would drown Chocolate Labradors in order to erase them from the genetic bloodline of Labradors. Because of this cruel act, Chocolate Labrador’s genetic line is almost eradicated; which at the same time makes owning one a novelty. 

Due to the shortage and scarcity of the Chocolate Labradors gene pool, unscrupulous breeders would cross breed any brown dog just to produce Chocolate Labradors. The result is an unruly and temperamental half-breed Labrador that tainted the reputation of Chocolate Labradors. Purebred Chocolate Labradors are really as good-natured and loving as their Black and Yellow counterparts.

When a breeder shows you pedigree papers and registrations, be wary. Fake papers are a dime a dozen. Find a reputable breeder who really specializes in Chocolate Labradors. It may be a bit expensive, but you will be able to save yourself from future problems.

If by accident you do buy a fake Chocolate Labrador, expect that you could meet some problems. Chocolate Labradors that are not really Labradors can be a bit rowdy, neurotic, anxious and a bit mouthy. Health problems due to genetic incompatibility can also become a headache for you and treating the illnesses will be costly.

To get purebred Chocolate Labradors go to a reputable breeder and inquire about Chocolate Labradors. You may have to wait for a while for that Hershey colored pet, because it takes time to find the right sire and dam to produce Chocolate Labradors.

However, if you are one of those lucky ones who can find Chocolate Labradors, be responsible. Take care of your Chocolate Labrador, make sure that you are ready for the arrival of the puppy and that you have everything he needs. Prepare the place in which he is to stay in. Provide proper love, care and attention, and you will reap the rewards of having a Chocolate Labrador.

How a dog looks, and its built is determined by the Labrador types. English Labradors are stockier and more muscular, while American Labradors are tall and lanky. Reliable Labrador information can be gleaned from the American Kennel Club.

Hopefully, from this information, you understand now that while purebred Chocolate Labradors are more rare than their black and yellow cousins, they still possess the same Labrador temperament that makes the Labrador such a wonderful dog. The main appeal for having a Chocolate Labrador is the novelty of having people comment on your Labrador whenever you take him anywhere.

When a dog goes to his owner and deliberately barks, it is simply meant to attract attention. You must try to guess his general behavior, rather than from the circumstances and his general behavior, rather than from the particular form or pitch of bark he makes. The howling or baying of hunting dogs is an instinctive hunting cry informing the pack that the dog is on a trail. Barking at strange noises is a warning as well as a threat display.

A lonely dog who bowls may be sending out a gathering cry to other dogs nearby. Wild dogs on the other hand, very rarely bark, they only howl. Could the barking of domesticated dogs be a form of communication more closely resembling speech? A pet dog that shares a close relationship with his owner and has been taught to understand many words obviously makes an effort, sometimes quite successfully, to give meaning to his own utterances.

A dog who wishes to assert his importance and boldness instinctively employs all of the effects that make him look bigger and more frightening, raising his back to increase his height and holding his head high in defiance. A dog who wants to show submission does just the opposite, making himself look small by crouching down with his tail between his legs and his ears laid back flat.

A dog who wishes to assert his dominance will take a perpendicular position with his head over the other dog’s shoulders, while nudging or pushing, with his neck arched, head and tail raised and tense. The conventional play invitation is a posture with the forehead crouched, the hind quarters high, a wagging tail, bright eye and a little yap. A rigid stance with a steady gaze and a high, trembling tail is hostile. A high, steady tail signifies self confidence, and held low indicates inferiority, fatigue, ill health, or a bad mood.

Pawing at the neck is an expression of affection, nose-nudging is another invitation to play. Paw-giving is a conventional canine gesture with two possible meanings. When he gives his paw to his owner he is likely saying “I’m here, don’t forget me.” When he offers his paw to another dog, it’s a sign of submission.

An owner, who takes the trouble to observe his dog and pay him the courtesy of listening to him, can establish a simple two-way communications system with his pet. Canine messages are generally very elementary, as he asks much less of us than we do of him. “I’m hungry,” “I’m thirsty”, “I need to go out”, or “Come with me I think something is wrong” are among the messages he manages to convey very well considering his limited means. His most eloquent utterance is the emotional gurgle of barks that means to say “I’ve missed you!”

When should potty training start?

Potty training dogs can be done at any age, but the best age to begin is as soon as you bring your puppy home (This should be when she is between eight and ten weeks old). If you set up a housebreaking routine as soon as you bring your puppy home, she will begin to get the idea fairly quickly.

Potty training requires some basics to make it simple. The first thing required is some patience from you. Potty training a puppy is a process that takes time. Provided you are consistent, you will see great results in as little as 4-7 days, but remember that accidents will happen. Puppies will not soil where they sleep or eat, so you can use this to speed up her potty training. Make sure that you contain her in a small area with her blanket or pillow, and feed her in the same area. You have to make sure that you don’t leave her for to long though. The easiest way to do this is to use a crate.

The Advantages of Using a Crate

A crate allows you to confine your Labrador puppy when you can’t constantly watch her. Some people hate the idea of a crate and view it as a punishment for your dog, but provided you introduce it to her slowly and make it a pleasant place to be, she will love it.

Be sure the crate is big enough for your puppy to turn around, but don’t leave so much room that she can eliminate in one corner and lie down in another corner.

Watch her like a hawk

Keeping a close eye on your puppy is a key factor in getting her properly potty trained. Whenever you see that she is sniffing, circling or beginning to squat, immediately take her outside to the place where you want her to go and see if she eliminates. If she does, praise her lavishly. A good idea is to have a cue, such as “hurry up” or “go potty” so that your puppy knows what you want her to do. Being able to eliminate is a great help in many situation. You can get your puppy to eliminate before going into somebodies house, etc.

Whenever she is eliminating, repeat the cue and then give her lots of praise for a job well done. It is better to take her out and nothing happens then take a chance of an accident happening.

Have a Schedule

Feeding, watering and walking your Labrador Retriever on a regular schedule will make housebreaking that much easier. A Labrador puppy thrives on a routine. Try and take her out around the same time every day so they will be able to adjust their bodily functions. The first thing you should do in the morning is take your puppy from the crate and don’t let her feet even touch the ground – If you let her she’ll want to explore. Bring her to the place where you want her to eliminate, give the cue, and praise her lavishly as soon as she is done. Take your puppy out at least every two hours (Even more often if she’s still very young), right after eating or drinking and especially after play. Before you know it, your puppy will be letting you know it is time to go out and do her business.

Don’t Let the Puppy Roam

Letting your puppy roam around the house is a sure fire way to have accidents. If you have decided you don’t want to use a crate, and even if you do use one, confining the dog to certain areas of the house can make potty training much easier for everyone. It is difficult to keep track of a puppy when she has the run of the house, but if you gate her in the kitchen or lounge, she will still be able to be part of the action and can be better supervised in case of an accident.

Don’t Get Discouraged

There will be times when you first begin potty training a puppy that you feel your puppy is just not getting it. She may have accidents in the house as well on occasion. There is no need to be discouraged. If you stick to your routine, keep a good eye on her and make frequent outings to her outdoor bathroom, in no time your puppy will be house trained. Another good idea is to use the same door all the time when you are taking her out so that when she has to go, she will scratch on the door to be let out. Once this happens, you can say hurray and know that your puppy truly is beginning to understand that eliminating in the house is a not allowed.

How big should it be?

You should begin your dog house building process by making sure the house is big enough to accommodate your Labrador’s potential adult size. Humans enjoy having about 2 feet of air above us in a room in order to live without feeling claustrophobic. Your dog will also need a bit of extra space, but not too much. The comfort zone for both humans and dogs is about 1/3 of their standing height. To figure out how much room the dog will need get out a tape measure and measure your dog.

Measure him standing straight up, sitting on his haunches and above all measure the full dimension of the dog when he is the most comfortable, relaxed and stretched out position he can get into. Your dog should be able to look out the front entrance while both standing up and sitting. So the dog will not have to significantly lover his front shoulders or scrape his belly make sure that entrance is high enough. Stand over the dog and measure the width of the widest point of the animal’s shoulders.

Weather and ventilation

Remember to raise the dog house several inches from the ground to allow air and water to flow underneath. To dissuade pests from invading the dog house and taking your dogs health into consideration remember how important ventilation is. Put in a few nickel-sized holes in the walls under the eaves. Install a wind block inside the house so the dog can use the heat of its own body to warm up the area if it is really cold or windy outside.

Consider adding a partial wall which will allow your dog to escape the bad weather. Your animal can choose to just sleep in the entry room or go around the inner archway maze wall into the inner sanctum. Your Labrador Retriever would probably love having a pillow or some sort of bedding to sleep on.

To avoid rain coming into the dog house make the floor just a bit slanted toward the doorway and build the roof a little bit slanted, as well. Make sure the house is well insulated but you should not paint the inside.

In the United States most storms come from the south and west so make sure the dog house faces a different direction. Most dog house plans suggest that the dog house door faces east. The cold air will not be able to whip through the entryway then.

Cleaning the dog house

You should make sure that the roof can either lift off completely, or that you put hinges on the roof of the dog house. This makes it easier for you to clean out your dog’s home. You should clean the dog’s house whenever it starts getting smelly or you can visually see that it getting dirty.

If your dog lives outside then he deserves to have a comfortable place to sleep and get out of harsh weather, but even inside dogs might have to be outside in bad weather. Hopefully these easy tips on building a dog house will help you get started.

Dogs do not understand English until we teach them.

One of the most adorable things about a Labrador puppy is the way they completely trust you, and the way you become the center of their universe. When you first get a Labrador retriever puppy, they study you to learn your body language, your facial expressions and your language. Until we teach them the English language, it’s all they have. If you aren’t consistent, they just can’t understand you – If you say, “Wanna go out?” one day, “Have to go potty?” the next day, and, “Have to pee?” the third day, they will be confused. They will probably figure out what we want, but it is because we have picked up the leash and moved toward the door! If you want to speed up his training, teach him YOUR language. Pick a command for EACH behavior and stick with it. Tell all in your family to use the same words and commands, and your puppy will amaze you at how much faster he learns.

Basic potty training

The younger your puppy is, the faster he is growing, the more food and water he needs to fuel his metabolism, and the more often he has to go potty. You can not ever punish your puppy when he makes a potty training mistake. These are YOUR fault. Your puppy’s age in weeks and his breed size determine how often he must go out. Once an hour is not too often for a large breed 6-week old puppy, especially if it is summertime. Dogs also love the exciting smells outdoors, so there is no excuse to not have him house trained within a couple of weeks. Right after a nap, after he eats and after grooming or playing are the key times, and he will signal you. Outside of these times you will also need to take him out at regular times based on his age and size.

You need to learn to watch for the signs. If he is happily chewing a toy and gets up suddenly with his nose to the floor, move quickly! And every time he goes potty outside, praise him to high heaven! “What a good BOYY!” and the like. Dogs love our happy faces, and they will do anything to get it.

Dogs live for our facial expressions and body language.

This is not entirely accurate – Dogs love to please us, and they measure our reaction by our body language. Because of this, the worst punishment you ever need to give your dog is a scowl and to turn away from him. You can see his tail fall down and his face get so sad. He will learn the lesson, I guarantee it. With very young puppies, you only need to ignore them for 30 seconds, but as they get older you can increase it to 3-5 minutes. More than this isn’t likely to make a difference as he’s already forgotton what his done by that time.
Physical punishment is never necessary. Use consistent commands and loving praise and he will know what you want of him before you know. He will become a master of your body language and facial expressions in no time at all.

Naturally there are many aspects of training your Labrador puppy well. Loving kindness works just as well for puppies as it does with children, creating a happy, well-adjusted and obedient dog for life. These three important tips, used consistently with confidence, will start him well on his way.

Professional photographers fill bookstores with over sized books of professionally taken Labrador pictures that are in brilliant color and have wonderful high definition to them. You can see the beauty of the dog’s markings in many of the pictures as the Labrador loves to pose for its picture and lends itself well to good images. They are also very athletic dogs and they can take some breathtaking action pictures as well.
You can find a variety of Labrador pictures on one particular kind of website called a compilation website. There are compilation websites on the Internet that allow people from all over the world to post a picture of their dog for the world to see. The pictures can be personal pets, or maybe even beautiful show dog pictures, or sometimes you can even catch the athletic police dogs in pictures on these sites as well. If you are looking for a wide variety of Labrador pictures then you should check out one of these compilation sites.

Sometimes Labrador owners will host their own site where they will post a daily diary of their dog and regularly updated pictures. You can get a really good look at a Labrador at home with the pictures on these sites and you can also get an idea of how a Labrador likes to interact with people on a daily basis. There is a lot to be learned from checking in on a Labrador’s daily activities.
If you want to see what the different types of Labrador pictures look like at their very best then you can check out the websites hosted by Labrador breeders. A breeder is going to post only the very best pictures they have to offer so that the world can see the quality business they run. You also get to see quality pictures of all of the different colors of Labradors as well and this can be both educational and interesting. If you need to see a variety of Labrador types in the same place then take the time to check out a breeder’s website.

There are so many places to see Labrador pictures that you could literally spend hours just going through them and still not see all that there is to see. Don’t forget to also check out the video websites such as Youtube as well because there are a lot of interesting Labrador videos out there that can give you an even better idea of the capabilities of the Labrador breed and what you can expect from it.

Pictures and videos of Labrador puppies can give you a better idea of what you can expect from the breed – Both the good and the bad.

Burmese mountain dogs, Saint Bernards and Labrador Retrievers are among the most common breeds favored for search-and-rescue training. Their roles may include all or some of the following: wilderness rescue, avalanche searches, drowning searches, natural disasters, and in some cases, corpse retrieval.

Labrador rescue dogs in particular, being one of the more common breeds, are generally classified as one of the following: air scenting, tracking, or trailing. Air scenting dogs are trained to follow airborne human scents, while tracking and trailing dogs follow scent trails that have been deposited on the ground. Each of these types is limited by terrain and changing atmospheric conditions.
While the importance of Labrador rescue dogs is undisputed, the methods used for their training are far from trivial, and are dependent upon the trainer’s dedication and likewise, upon the dog’s disposition. Training is an intensive process that is often life-long, and begins when the puppy is between eight and ten weeks old. The dog may be deployed as early as six to eighteen months after training has begun.

Because every dog is different, the training is as important to the handler as it is for the dog. The handler needs to become familiar with the dog’s body language, so as to be certain that he has indeed made a find. When the rescue dog follows a scent or trail to its end, for example, the dog may return to the handler and give him a certain look. During the dog’s training, it is essential the dog and the handler become comfortable with each other and learn each other’s eccentricities. This is the reason why dogs change partners very rarely because a bond develops during training.
If the Labrador rescue dog has a competent trainer, it is expected that the dog’s skills will improve very rapidly, and often daily. Still, the many skills required of a search-and-rescue dog are essential and should be drilled routinely. Some of these skills are obedience, socialization and agility. Each of these skills should be trained daily for anywhere from ten minutes to one hour. Scent training is also an essential skill, and should be trained from three to seven days per week for five to thirty minutes.

As the dog’s skills progress, obedience, agility and socialization training should continue with the same frequency. Scent training, however, can become less frequent with time, and should take place three to five times per week, but should increase in duration to between twenty and sixty minutes. Focus sessions, which stress very specific skills such as scent discrimination, should be added after the dog has become reliable in the primary training area.

Labrador rescue dogs can begin training when they are between eight and ten weeks old, and may be deployed six to eighteen months after training has begun. Labrador information will explain the discipline involved in raising a properly training rescue dog.

Perfectly good Labrador Retrievers of all backgrounds and colors end up in Labrador rescue centers for any number of reasons. Some owners abandon their dogs, and they end up in Labrador rescue. Other owners reluctantly surrender their pets to Labrador rescue because they can no longer afford to care for them, or because their housing situation has changed so they can no longer keep a dog. A small number of owners give up their dogs because they have a new spouse or child that is allergic to the dog or, for whatever reasons the new relationship is affected negatively.
When you adopt a dog from a Labrador rescue organization, you will be asked to pay a scaled adoption fee based on the age and health of your dog. This fee helps cover Labrador rescue’s operating expenses. Labrador rescue organizations are independently licensed from state to state, but most if not all are 501(c)3 non-profit organizations.

Rescue Labs who are not already spayed or neutered have this surgery before they are put up for adoption. Your fee helps pay for the medical cost of the spay or neuter and for the cost of a foster family to care for your dog while it recuperates.

Labrador rescue works with families, owners, shelters, and veterinarians to make sure all rescue dogs are groomed, given a health examination, and are current in their vaccinations and heartworm medications. Your adoption fee helps defer the expenses that Labrador rescue incurred to rescue and care for your dog before you adopted it.
Labrador Retriever rescue has offices in every state, and the dogs that are available for adoption in each state vary from one location to another. Once you start looking at the dogs available for adoption, you’ll see how many there are to choose from.

Often, many older more than younger dogs are available for adoption. Lots of people like to keep puppies when they are young and small and cute. It’s the older dogs that tend to get abandoned, after their puppy appeal wears off.

If you want to adopt a Labrador from Labrador Retriever rescue, you must complete an application process that includes filling out a written application and submitting to a home visit. You must be twenty-one years of age or older, provide landlord’s written permission to have a dog if you rent, and commit to get regular grooming for the dog. The application also asks about prior dogs you have owned.

Don’t get your next Labrador from a mall or breeder. Contact Labrador rescue instead. For Labrador information on rescue donations, contact the Labrador rescue organization in your state.