When you are training your Labrador, it is important to know exactly what you are doing. Even though Labradors are among the easiest types of dogs to train, your dog may be more difficult to train if you make these common mistakes. If you know what can cause problems when you are trying to train your dog, you will be less likely to make them and will be more successful with your Labrador training.
Physical Punishment
It may feel right to you to spank your Labrador, give him a tap on the snout or use some other type of physical punishment when he doesn’t listen or does something wrong, but this will not help. If you use physical punishment on your Labrador, you are simply making him more afraid of you. If you are becoming frustrated, stop training and come back to it later.
Too Much Time
If you spend too much time on a training session with your Labrador, you will have a harder time experiencing success in your training. While repetition is essential to learning the commands and tricks you are trying to teach, your dog can become weary and bored if you spend too much time on one thing. Instead, break up your training sessions over a few days or a week to allow your dog to retain more information. Try to keep the training sessions under 15 minutes.
Correction Timing
When you are working on your Labrador training, you will need to correct your dog when he doesn’t get something right. In addition to using the right kind of correction, you will need to make sure you use the correction method immediately after your dog does something incorrectly. If you wait even a few minutes before employing your correction method, your Labrador will no longer remember why you are correcting his behavior. Immediate correction is essential.
Training Words
In general, you will come up with specific words that will serve as a trigger for a specific skill or trick. However, once you choose a word to represent each command, it is essential that you keep that word the same every time. If you don’t, your dog will become confused and won’t know what to do when you use one of the words.
No Positive Reinforcement
One of the most effective methods of Labrador training is through positive reinforcement. This is another big mistake that people often make when training their Labradors. If you don’t recognize the good behavior your dog exhibits, he won’t know that you approve. Labradors love to please their owners and will repeat anything they feel is pleasing to you. Make sure your dog knows when he does something you like.
Labrador training is easy as long as you employ the proper techniques to do so. This means you will need to avoid making the common mistakes that can make your dog slow to learn. This includes using positive reinforcement, avoiding physical punishments, choosing one word for each command, correcting behavior quickly and keeping training sessions short, yet frequent. When you are done, you will appreciate the time and energy you put into training.
