Training

Bonding with your Puppy

Spending one on one time, training your puppy provides you with an opportunity to truly bond with her. Remember, your puppy's attention span is short, therefore it is important to keep these training periods brief, positive, and most importantly, FUN! 

Things to begin working on as soon as you bring her home include: 
  • Housetraining and crate-training
  • Leash training
  • Basic commands such as sit, come, down, stay, and leave-it
  • Grooming
When you introduce a new command, be sure to set your puppy up with a chance to be successful by eliminating any distractions. Oh, and have plenty of rewards available for those opportunities where immediate praise is needed! 

Puppy Kindergarten

Training your puppy not only creates an opportunity for bonding, but it is also a necessity for living a harmonious life together. Basic training is important for daily life, and begins with puppy kindergarten. This class will not only help you teach your dog basic manners, but will also create a perfect way for you to help socialize your puppy and expose her to a wide variety of people, places, sights, sounds, and most importantly, other dogs.     

Remember, while any kind of obedience class is helpful, it is essential to continue to practicing the skills you learned once you return home. 

Obedience Training and Beyond

Your training shouldn't end after graduation from puppy kindergarten. Labradors are eager learners and extremely intelligent. Enrolling them in obedience classes, participating in AKC sanctioned events such as Obedience and Rally Trials, Agility competitions, and working towards getting certifications such as a therapy dog through TDI and the AKC's Canine Good Citizen, are all ways to allow your dog to do what she does best. These classes and events are also a great way to keep your intelligent Labrador's mind challenged and stimulated.