Doggy Mentor

Posts Tagged ‘Labrador Retriever’

The time has come for you and your family to get a dog, but everybody in the home is still in a deadlock what particular breed to get. After doing research and talking to neighbors and friends about their own dogs, the problem is still unresolved. However, one breed in particular that gets mentioned again and again is the labrador retriever. And in fact, nothing can prepare you for the joy and fulfillment of a labrador home. All that this dog asks of you is unconditional love, and possibly, the good manners that training Labradors can teach.

There are many reasons that make the lab a clear and distinct favorite among dog breeds, and pets too, for that matter. Their capacity for affection and loyalty is almost endless, and they are gentle, energetic and also mellow. A lab owner need to make time for a very active puppy interested in play; this period of solid activity will be with the dog until three. As adults, labs are still after sports at heart, and will want to be the target of a garden hose, or to retrieve things for its owner. Frisbees and balls are favorite toys.

The time for Labrador training begins as soon as the dog is mature enough to comprehend basic requests. Its no problem if you don’t have the time nor expertise to personally train the dog, since you can always get your pet into an obedience school. Labs are brainy animals that will soon be at the top of their class. Their large amounts of pent-up energy and large size call for obedience so that they learn to avoid puppy behavior when they are bored. Not only do they aspire to win their master’s favor, but they also catch on to new things rather fast.

Most labs are kept as indoor dogs, and their day is made when they are able to maximize being a participative member of the family. Like all dogs, they also love attention. But their loving nature makes them not the ideal guard dogs, and often, not at all. But to give them the benefit of a doubt, they do pack a robust bark that can scare away most unwanted company. Labs from well-chosen breeders have few vices, and practically all labs are strangers to being territorial, aggressive, destructive, or possess the bad habits other breeds are prone to.

A high-capacity love for food and treats is one serious weakness in the lab however (although what is in the power of the power cannot be called a vice either!). This dog will need to stay on a steady diet to keep off obesity which can be a source of problems later on in the dog’s life. This way, it is possible to enjoy up to 14 full years with your lab.

Labs are one of the most active and social dogs that people have as pets. To be happy, Labradors need do be around people and other dogs often. Otherwise, they can get bored. Many owners don’t realize that a common source of digging is that the dog isn’t getting the attention and interation that it needs. To keep this problem from happening, you have to really understand what causes the problem in the first place.

First off, you need to know that digging is an instinctal behavior for a dog. Dogs dig for one of several reasons. They may do it to cool off from the heat or warm up from the cold, a dog could be digging to hide its food, or it could just be doing it to gain attention. Before you can do anything else, you need to look and see why your beloved pup is digging to China.

The First Step

Watch your dog, if she is burying something (bones, food, toys) then do not provide him with something to bury. If you just can’t stand to keep a good bone from your dog, then give it to her inside the house and do not let it be taken outside.

Want a quicker answer? Click here to read more on stopping labrador digging. 

Another thing to watch for is if your dog is laying in the hole that it dug. If this is the case, give your Labrador a shady area for warm days and a nice warm place to get out of the wind and cold. A dog house can go a long ways in proving shelter for your Lab.

Is your dog digging to get to something on the other side of the fence? This problem can be a little more difficult to deal with. Since Labradors are such social animals they don’t like to be alone. Your dog may be digging because she is lonely.

There are a few ways you can solve this type of labrador digging problem. Start by exercising your dog often. Dogs love “play” exercise – throw a ball or go for a run. If you have to leave the dog alone, give him plenty of toys to play with while you’re out.

If nothing else works, try giving your dog a special place to dig. Whenever he digs in the designated area, give him a reward. As a last resort, bury chicken wire where your Labrador likes to dig. This works because your dog won’t like the feel of the chicken wire.

Overall, not giving your dog free range while you are away is the best option. Try sectioning off a part of the yard to keep her in when you are out. This limits the overall damage that could be done otherwise.

Digging is preventable. It is simply a matter of determining the cause of the problem and fixing it. Getting mad at your digging dog won’t work. This just confuses him and makes matters worse. The best way is to provide a good alternative. Lots of love and exercise goes a long way to a happy, healthy Labrador. The secret to any dog training is lots of love and positive reinforcement.