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As you probably know a great choice for a gun dog is a Labrador retriever especially if you want a good all rounder for shooting and hunting. I find these are probably the easiest to train especially for a beginner.
Like all breeds of gun dogs Lab’s have good and bad points, Here are some of the Pro’s and Con’s of training and owning a Labrador Retriever.
The Pro’s
Of all the hunting dog breeds the Labrador is the strongest swimmer, which makes him excellent at duck hunting. The breed was originally bred and trained to jump off fishing boats to bring the fishing nets to shore. Most Labs have webbed feet that aid in swimming
They are affectionate and patient dogs. They are known for being good natured, loyal, intelligent, and friendly. They are also great as a family pet as they are great with children.
Talents include tracking, retrieving, hunting, police work, They also do excellent work as guide dogs for the blind and the disabled. Other activities they are used for are sledding, competitive obedience, and search and rescue.
The Con’s
There is not much not to love about Labradors, maybe the only problem is their love of food. You need to moderate food intake, Labs are big eaters, and may Quickly Become Overweight if given the wrong diet.
Another problem is they need regular exercise. They love long walks and also like to swim whatever the weather, so if you have a lake in your local park it will love a swim a few times a week. Plus plenty of exercise.
The Labrador Retriever may become nervous and destructive if their human owner does not act as “pack leader” or if they do not receive enough exercise, it is best if you at least have a large yard to own one of these great hunting dogs.
There may seem a lot to worry about here but most Lab’s turn into wonderful gundogs and/or family pets. More things you may want to know about the Labrador are below:
Height and Weight
Adult males are usually between 22-24 inches tall and weigh around 60-75 pounds.
Adult females are usually between 21-23 inches tall and weigh around 55-70 pounds.
Life Expectancy
The average life of a Labrador retriever is about 12 years.
Grooming
Their smooth double coat is easy to groom with a brush with firm bristles. Pay attention to the undercoat, and bathe only when necessary. Even when they swim their skin stays dry due to the undercoat. They are also moderate shredders of hair.
History
As I mentioned earlier the Labrador Retriever was breed by fishermen in the 1700′s, originally from Newfoundland and known as St. John’s Dogs, They are now one of the most popular breeds in the U.S. and throughout the world.
Grouping
Gun Dog, AKC Sporting
Recognition
CKC, AKC, KCGB, ANKC, NZKC, CCR, ACR, UKC, CKC, NKC, APRI, FCI
Training:
The great thing about a Labrador Retriever is the ease with how you can train him as a gun dog. We find the best way to train is to train your Labrador is by doing it in short bursts maybe only 10 minutes twice a day. The only thing to beer in mind is not to many treats if you use treat training as your dog may put on to much weight.
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You are going to need to have some idea’s about how to train a Labrador Retriever, before you start your training program. You will need to think about what techniques to use, how long to make your lessons and how many lessons to have daily.
I have trained my very own Labrador Retriever and I will share a few important tips with you. Firstly let me say that you own a very intelligent dog and if you train your Lab correctly from the start, you will have many hours of enjoyment during the whole process.
Tip 1 – Lots of positive reinforcement
Think about it for a moment, when you are learning something new, you are pretty ordinary at it at first, right? So how can you expect your puppy or dog to be any different. You have seen dogs sit, or stay or heel many many times, but your dog has never seen or heard of it ever. Be patient with your Labrador and when he/she does what you want, then give him/her a treat. Never give a treat for a half hearted attempt by your dog, or when your dog just doesn’t do as its told.
Tip 2 – Don’t hit your dog
Dogs respond to body language or the tone of your voice. It’s enough for you to say “No” in a short deep voice for the dog to get the hint. They will also notice your body language isn’t as friendly as usual. Hitting or kicking your dog will just cause the dog to rebel and you will not get the best out of him/her, it could possibly bring out an aggressive side. The best way to discipline dogs is to catch them in the act, and deal with it then, firmly but fairly. This way they can associate the discipline with the act. I realize that dogs can be very trying at times, especially when they have just chewed up your best shoes – again. However, hitting the dog hours after the event, will just confuse him/her.
Tip 3 – Make sure your dog know who’s the boss
This one is a common mistake. Believe me, you are not doing your dog any favors at all by treating them as an equal. Simple things such as making the dog sit, before it is fed. Going through a door first before the dog or not stepping over your dog, if it happens to be in the way, the dog needs to move in order for you to pass through. All of this will send the message to your dog that you are the “Top Dog” and they will not challenge you, knowing that you are the boss.
Keep your lessons short, you will get to know how long before your dog loses concentration, but try about 5 – 10 minute lessons, depending on the age of your dog, 3 – 4 times per day. This is more than enough for you to train your dog.
Most dog owners wish that they could have more control over their dogs. With dog training collars, however, you can get what you want, i.e., better control with more comfort, and making sure that you are leading your dog more effectively. You will find that there are basically two types of head halters that are available for dogs. One type is known as the gentle leader and the other type is known as the Halti.
Though both dog training collars are useful, the gentle leader has an advantage because of its better design that ensures better control. The design is simpler, as it settles behind your dog’s ears and then goes around the muzzle. Under the dogs chin, it is connected with nylon straps. But do not confuse it with muzzle. The dog can be controlled simply by using of general leader to control his nose. This is sure to make your dog follow.
The second type of do training collar is the Halti. It has been made following the same type of principles as the gentle leader. However the design is much more complex and this can even cause problems as it might interfere with its functioning. Infact, at times, these dog training collars have been known to cause injuries in the neck and the spine of the dog.
There is another type of dog collar available that looks kind of intimidating. This is known as the prong collar which is quite effective for controlling dogs that are large, and have a thick neck. However these are not meant for those that yank in your arms. The collar, that tries to pinch the dog’s neck by using light pressure, may remind you of a torture device used in the medieval times. However, as the pressure is mild, it does not really hurt the dog, and thus it does not cause any harm. It only helps to make sure that your dog moves in the right direction. These dog training collars must not be used for dogs that tend to steadily pull on the leash, since this is essentially a correction device, not a constant collar. This type of a dog training collar should not be used if you have just become a dog owner, and extensive studying on its use is yet to be done.
Also, it is always advisable to consult your vet before you fit it to your pet.
An old type of a standby, known as the choke chain, is also available. As it comes in last it is definitely not for the novice. There have been many studies proving that a number of neck injuries are caused with this type of collar. Therefore it is not advisable to use these dog collars, unless you are quite an experienced trainer.
So, when you are selecting a dog training collar, get some information on their proper use and use some common sense too. You and you dog are sure to make a happy pair!
Known as man’s best friend, Dogs are the most loved domesticated animals in the world. Having a dog or puppy in a family is quite exciting for that family. But just having a dog or a puppy is not all. One should also pay attention to training his/her dog properly so that he can become an obedient and accepting part of the family. Dog training is not a simple job; it demands certain skills and approaches in order to make it useful, which can be learned in course of training. It is believed to be a good idea to train your dog yourself, though you can appoint or hire an expert or specialized dog trainer to look after the job. But both the ways have their respective merits and demerits.
Though you might commit mistakes and there could be instability in your approach it is always helpful to train your dog yourself as it gives you a better chance of establishing that significant contact or communication between you and your dog. You will gradually understand how your dog is reacting to any particular situation or what cause them to do a specific action – like barking. On the contrary, appointing a skilled person gives you immediate results but does not allow you to experience the “trial and error” method possible when training personally, which can be useful at some point of time.
Some will ask you to go for a blend of the two – train yourself, but also join a professional dog training class. This helps you to attend several things, its like eating your cake, and still keeping it. It also cuts down your expenses, needed in the case of professional trainer and still providing with the professional direction for the training. At the same time it also allows you to establish that special bond, which is possible when you train your dog by yourself.
Always keep in mind that patience; environment, and rewards are very important factors, irrespective of how you chose to train your dog. These factors affect a lot and give you total success if properly maintained.
While training you need patience, keeping in mind the fact that you are going to communicate with someone who does not speak your language or follow your way of using any communicative methods. If you see that your hard work is not yielding any satisfactory results or that you are not being able to proceed with it just do not give up. It will take some time to make your dog bark or sit by simply uttering or calling out some words to him as it is not a language which is natural or previously known to him. You have to go for many repetitions and must praise him, whenever he does something correctly, to get results.
Environment also plays an important part in dog training as dogs are very much influenced by their environment. It is better to do the training session in a quiet place with fewer disturbances, as any disturbance at the time of training can easily distract their attention. On the other hand you can select a noisier place for advanced training, but only after he is trained in basic obedience.
Dogs, being man’s good friend, always try to please their owners and keep them contented. So in order to get a profitable result you must let know your dog when you are happy with him and reward him with cuddles or any treat after he performs anything, the way you wanted. This will give your dog an impression that you are happy with him and he will try to hold up this act of his in future.
So, dog training can be equally challenging and easy, if you follow the instructions provided to you here.
Are you a new dog owner with absolutely no experience in puppy care? You are not alone. Many owners have gone through the same thing. There is so much to know yet it is not that difficult for you to learn.
You probably are aware that puppies have needs that can be compared to children’s needs. For instance, they need health care, hygienic living conditions, nutritious food and training. If you’re just starting out however, you probably are not sure exactly what that means to your puppy.
Health care
Your puppy needs regular vaccinations that will continue throughout his life to protect him from several serious diseases, some that can actually take his life. The first thing on your list is to find a good veterinarian who you trust.
Hygienic living conditions
While you might think that dogs have stronger constitutions than humans, this is not really true. They are just as susceptible to becoming ill from poor living conditions. If your puppy’s bedding is filthy, for instance, he can become infested with fleas and ticks which steal his blood and cause severe skin infections.
Nutritious food
If your puppy does not get quality puppy food from the very beginning, she can suffer some very serious growth, health and developmental problems. Puppies need certain nutrients for building bones, healthy connective tissues, healthy organs, well-developed brains and maintaining robust energy. Improper feeding can cause severe problems now and throughout your dog’s life.
Training
You might not think that training belongs under the heading of puppy care, but it is training that would help determine your puppy’s happiness and his overall feelings about himself. Proper training and plenty of praise will boost your puppy’s confidence. A confident puppy who has been given the proper care from the beginning will grow into a healthy, energetic and obedient adult.
Puppies Will Be Puppies
Just remember that puppies will be puppies. As humans, we tend to exaggerate the extent of puppies’ unwanted behavior. If your puppy chews your favorite shoes or damages your carpet, you are quite likely to see this as a major crime.
If this is your first puppy, understand that digging, chewing, barking and jumping are all natural. These activities are not wrong from your puppy’s point of view. Don’t get angry. It is your job to teach her that this is unacceptable behavior.
Puppy care doesn’t have to be difficult. It is all about how you approach being a new dog owner.
Get more help from Sylvia’s books and e-courses. For advice on buying, caring for, raising and training a puppy, join her 24-week Puppy Parenting Course today. Her dog nutrition package provides a wealth of advice on vet care and dog nutrition.
Dog training is very important if you would like to ensure that you and your new pet will be able to live in harmony. Dog training can correct or modify a number of the dog’s natural behaviors, making the dog much more suited to life being taken care of in your home. There are a number of different ways available to train your dog and by following these 7 basic dog training tips, you will find that the training goes smoothly and is fun for both you and your dog.
1. If you are unsure of how to train your dog, seek help.
Individuals that would like to train their dog often have no idea how dog training is conducted or how the personality of their dog will factor into the training process. There are a number of different books and reference materials available to help a person train their dog, and if the owner is still unsure or uncomfortable with the training methods, they can ask a professional dog trainer for assistance and additional dog training tips.
2. Negative reinforcement is the least effective training method.
One of the dog training tips that most dog training professionals wish more people knew is that using negative reinforcement or punishment to train the dog is the least effective way to get the dog to obey you, but is the most effective way of making the dog fearful or aggressive towards you and others.
3. Making dog training fun also makes the training more effective.
Another one of the most important dog training tips to remember is that dogs love to please and are eager to learn in all stages of life, so making the dog training fun for the dog not only makes the training more enjoyable but also makes the lesson easier to learn for your dog.
4. Don’t be afraid to use small treats as rewards.
Giving the dog a small treat for a job well done will not hurt the training process and will make the training more enjoyable for the dog. The treat chosen as the reward should only be given during the training process and on the successful completion of the task the dog was asked to do.
5. Research training products extensively before deciding which to purchase.
There are a large number of different training products on the market today and some of these products are intended for a specific use, not for general obedience training. Some of the products will have features that are not necessary to the training that you are trying to conduct, while some others may have features that will make your training sessions easier.
6. Dog training takes time.
Just as you didn’t learn how to read in a day, your dog will not master a command or a trick within the space of a day. It takes time for a dog to remember and execute a desired behavior after it has been introduced to them, so this important dog training tip is to give the training time to work and the dog time to understand what you are asking him to do.
7. If at first you don’t succeed, try again.
This last tip of the important dog training tips is that if your dog fails to understand a training method or a command, try a different teaching method. Just like different people learn in different ways, different dogs learn in different ways as well.
