How to train my Lab pup?? I'm in hell!!?

Question

My Labrador puppy such a trouble! He keeps biting my trousers and shoes. He looks fierce but hardly ever barks. He always does his *jobs* all over the back yard. Pls.. if you have any experience with Labs or any dog. Pls give me some advice to train my pup because I want to bring him up well. Thank you!
*At the moment he's just turned 8 weeks old.

Answer 1

He needs entertainment, for one thing. He needs play, he needs exercise-this will help keep him in line. He just has so much energy-he needs a constructive way (chew toys, learning to retrieve, etc) to get that energy out.

Basic training will also help. Teach the puppy to sit. When the puppy starts nipping at you, give him a stern "No" or "Bad dog" then have him sit and praise him. He will soon learn that being calm and cool in your presence will elicit the response he desires, which is love & affection.

Also keep in mind that he is just 8 weeks old. He's a cute little fuzzy ball of energy & mischief! The time to get him settled is now, before he turns into a 70 pound ball of energy and mischief!

Good luck to you!

Answer 2

Labs are very hard to train up until they start to get out of "puppy hood", around age 2. My friends have one and for the first year and a half tried to get rid of him but no one would take him because he was so bad. He is now going on 3 and has mellowed considerably. It takes a lot of time and patience to raise a lab but if you are consistent, firm and loving they can be awesome pets. Try getting some training books or even better, contact a trainer and send you puppy there. Don't let people discourage you about this breed. Like I said with a lot of diligence on your part you can have a great dog. But for now keep EVERYTHING put away out of his reach because he will eat it!! :)
As with the outside thing. Even if you have a fenced in yard try taking him out on a leash for now. Always take him to the same spot and eventually he will understand that this is where he is supposed to ""go". Good luck!!

Answer 3

yes labs can be very difficult. I have a friend whos lab jumped out the truck window. ( while he was driving down the road) He now rolls the window up. Set aside 30 minutes of training time every day and start with one thing at a time. once your dog understand how to get your attention by doing things right it will want to do them. And believe me when I say when you dog turns 2 you will think it is totally someone else's dog. Because a dog is a pup until 2 years of age.
I would try to teach it to walk right first. on a leash. don't let it bark at another dog or want to break away to play. And do not turn around to get around the dog. keep stopping and trying over until you can pass the other dog with out problems.

Answer 4

One person only should be training the dog to begin with. At eight weeks you have a long way to go they have to mature.
In your yard pick a corner and put down some bark mulch put his droppings there and every time you take him out walk him to that spot do not let it get to dirty you want him to go there. Dogs respond to praise and reward when he does something good give him a little milk bone treat. Give him his own area with toys blanket etc put your shoes and other things out of his reach. Young puppies love to chew they will grow out of it but you have to watch them like kids. Try not to yell labs are very sensitive and you could create other behaviours. Keeping them locked up for a while and yes they will cry is a good way for them to know you are the one in charge when you come to let them out.
Lots of play with a good diet no junk or overfeeding and you should end up with a nice dog.

Answer 5

Labs are not dumb, just pre-occupied with food mainly. So thats how you train them. Small pieces of nice smelly chews, like a beef jerky or dried liver will have him doing want you want in no time.

Give him his own toys, never your old shoes or other personal items. If you don't want crap in the yard then take him for regular walks, at least twice a day and with some variety of location if possible. Even taking him around the same route in a different direction will add to the interest. Let him socialise with other dogs and people as much as possible.

Pups are like small kids, they thrive on attention and get troublesome if they are ignored.

Answer 6

@ 8 weeks he is still a baby, and you won't teach it much at that age.
You should be starting it's crate training (see link below) and socialization should be your main focus. Introducing the puppy to things like stairs, deck railings, etc,etc before fear memory develops @ about 12 weeks is also important.
http://www.retrievertraining.net/crate/kennel.htm

QUOTE
"Labs are very hard to train up until they start to get out of "puppy hood", around age 2."

Stacy
That is true only to the age of about 5-7 months of age, not two years. We have our Labs running Qualifing stakes, and Open All Age at two, so they are well allong in their training by then

Answer 7

i have a lab and you need to get yourself a training clicker and want to take a lot of walks.they can be hell but if you don't start now your really going to have a problem.if you work do yourself a favor and get a cage for the day time they won't mess were they sleep. there a kind of dog that needs restriction.and lots of them and if you feel you can't do this for this dog, you need to find someone who can these dog are very active.training books are good too,if you don't have one go get one.my lab only barks when needed like , someone at the door or outside but hardly ever tells me when she has to go out,with her you have to be a mind reader.please take your time and be patient you will enjoy it in the end.

Answer 8

Go to the Pet Store/Vet and see if they have any training programs.
There are also places that you can leave the puppy for a month or so and have them do the training with training classes for you to interact with the dog.
We have a black lab for 12 years and she was the best dog ever! I still miss her!

Good Luck!

Answer 9

First off get him to a puppy socialization class. Go with him when you take him out to do his jobs. Decide in your yard where a good spot is-take him there always as he is doing his business . I also recommend you develop command words for both peeing and pooping. Mine for my dog is pee-pee and poop. You can choose any word you like-so long as you don't use it in everyday conversations. Some people choose words from a different language. Just say good pee-pee or good poop as he is doing his job. Esentially you are giving him positive feedback and will eventually go on command-where you want him to andno more standing in the rain or cold for 25 minutes.

As for the biting at your pants and shoes. Have a toy handy at all times to redirect his attention. Firmly tell him "No" , put the proper toy in his mouth. Praise him when he uses the toy and not your pants. If he continues give him a "time out" in his kennel or crate. Teach him to sit and praise him when he behaves.

You will want to crate train him as well-there's lots of good books on this subject.

I don't know if you have kids but make sure he understands that kids sometimes get rough. With my dogs--when they were puppies I tugged on their ears and tail (not hard enough to hurt) grabbed at them. Basically I did things to them a toddler or small child might do, it teaches that these things happen and not to react. Also teach children the proper way to pet a dog or any animal.

Food and toys. When my puppies were little, I taught them that me or my kids can take anything away at any time (If you don't have kids-borrow some, take him to places where kids are etc) If they are playing with their fav toy-I will take it right out of his mouth-if he growls or tries to bite I make da@m sure I get it. Do the same with his food-it teaches them not to be possessive and that they are not alpha. Besides what if they have something that is dangerous? You will want to get away from them. Its easiest to teach him now as a pup, rather that at a year of age or older.

Answer 10

Your first task is to train your canine to respond to "NO." at any time when your dog does something you do not want them to do, you need to sternly demand the dog to discontinue by way of saying "NO!" in no way use the canine's name. Simply say no, and get the behavior to stop. That small step is the baseline to coaching a canine. You must be capable to get them to discontinue unhealthy conduct. A different twist on this, if the dog is just not halting the conduct you detect...Is to position pennies into an historic soda can, tape it shut. When you have the possibility, use the "NO" command and throw the can instantly close the dog. The noise will frighten the canine and grow to be related with your "no." You by and large will ought to do that however two or 3 times. It worked for me when our viszla dog desired to dig up the yard. However your first mission is to get the canine to halt any bad or flawed conduct together with your vocal command of "NO." After that, that you may concentrate on other instructions and behaviors.