Training Your Labrador Retriever. September Morn
buyers may feel overwhelmed by the wide selection of Labs to pick from. Pups and adults can be obtained from breeders, shelters, rescue groups, and classified ads. With three colors, two genders, a range of ages, and show, field, and pet stock to choose from, the selection can be mind-boggling.
Which Color?
Labs come in three solid colors: black, yellow, and chocolate. No other colors are permitted by the Labrador Retriever Standard. A small spot of white on the chest is permissible but not desirable. Markings elsewhere, any other color, or a mix of colors disqualifies a Lab from the conformation ring.
Black, yellow, and chocolate pups can appear together in one litter if the parents’ gene combination is right. Regardless of color, a Lab should conform to the Standard.
For more than 400 years hunters have extolled the virtues of one color retriever over another. Way back in 1621 Gervase Markham attempted to put the matter to rest in his book Hunger’s Prevention and the Whole Art of Fowling by Land and Water, arguing that a good dog is the product of training, not color. The language is archaic, but Markham’s assertion is still sound:
First, for the Colours of the best Water Dogge; albeit some will describe more excellence to one Colour than another.… Yet in truth it is nothing so, for all Colours are alike.… Instruction is the Liquor wherewith they are seasoned and if they be well handled at the first, they will ever smell of that discretion, and if they be ill handled they will ever stink of that Folly.
Note: Coat color is not linked to body type or temperament and has nothing to do with how good a companion, hunter, or show dog a Lab will be.
Labs come in three colors: black, yellow, and chocolate.
Male or Female?
Some owners believe male dogs make better workers and females better pets; others argue the opposite, saying males are cuddlier and females more businesslike. The truth is that a Lab’s individual temperament matters far more than gender. Both female and male Labs can be excellent workers and playful, affectionate companions. Males often are larger and stronger than females, but the size difference does not normally hinder performance.
If you already have a dog, your new Lab will be entering claimed turf. This may cause ruffled fur and some dogs become very possessive when a new dog enters the home. Though most dogs work it out together over time, some can be quite aggressive toward a newcomer-dog. Often, dogs of opposite sex get along better than same-sex dogs. Neutering both dogs may change the potential for conflict, but does not always eliminate it. If your present dog is very bossy or territorial, you might preserve everyone’s nerves by choosing a new Lab that is the opposite sex.
Two handsome Labrador pups.
What Age Is Best?
Pup, adult, or senior Lab—what age is best to adopt? The answer depends on your plans for the dog and how much energy and time you can devote. In general, the younger the dog, the more time and energy are required of owners for training, care, and exercise.
Puppies are the most labor-intensive choice. To teach confidence and good manners, considerable time must be spent training and socializing a pup. At seven or eight weeks, little Buddy needs to urinate about once an hour, although it may seem more frequent to harried new owners. If someone is home to let Buddy out when he needs to go, house-training will be more quickly accomplished. The more time a pup is left alone, the longer it will take him to learn clean habits.
The younger your pup, the more influence you’ll have on his attitude and behavior, but the more time and attention you’ll need to lavish on him. If you are short on time, patience, or paper towels, do yourself a big favor and don’t adopt a young pup.
Adolescent Dogs
At six months to a year a dog is not as cuddly as a little pup but may be a better pet choice for a busy household. The adolescent dog’s body and mind are well developed, and his physical needs are less urgent than a pup’s. At this age Buddy can tolerate four to six hours a day alone (in a puppy-proof area).
An adolescent Lab may already have learned decent manners and some have had formal training. Although an adolescent dog from a loving home may miss his former family at first, he will readily adapt to a new home when given affection and attention. In a few weeks, an adolescent dog can bond to a loving new family.
Labs that have formerly been neglected, or even abused, can recover with a caring and patient new owner. An underappreciated dog has probably heard his name used often in anger. You can help your new Lab forget his unhappy past by giving him a fresh start with a brand new name. Drop the old, tainted “bad dog” name and use the new name whenever you praise, play with, pet, or feed him. In a week or less, Buddy will respond proudly to his new name.
Your Lab needs the proper toys from puppy to adult.
Adolescent dogs have abundant energy and require lots of exercise to stay out of trouble. A walk around the block is not enough for a big young Lab; he also needs to run and play. Since the Lab’s heritage is to retrieve, fetch games are natural for exercise. If Buddy is sociable with other dogs, make play dates with his friends from obedience class or visit an off-leash park a few times a week so he can romp with other dogs.
Mental activity is also vital for a young dog, as bored adolescents can become destructive and unruly. Challenge Buddy’s mind with activities that make him think.
■ Enroll in obedience lessons and practice homework every day.
■ Teach tricks and games.
■ Join an Agility class or musical freestyle group.
■ Discover what interests Buddy and include that in his training as an activity and a reward; for example, keep interest high for a dog that likes to play catch by sometimes rewarding a good stay position by tossing him a ball.
Make sure your adolescent Lab has plenty of toys to gnaw when left alone. Since young Labs feel the need to exercise their growing teeth and jaws, they need plenty of interesting, satisfying chew toys to prevent damage to other objects such as walls, floors, furniture, and so on. Toys that hold and intermittently dispense food are excellent and can keep a dog occupied chewing for hours (see page 78). If you use two or three food-dispensing toys and vary their contents, Buddy’s interest in the toys will remain high.
Adopting a mature Lab can be very rewarding.
Adult Dogs
Adopting a mature dog can be very rewarding. Some mature dogs adapt to new owners more quickly than others, but most form strong new loyalties within two or three months. Adults demand less time and energy than pups or adolescents, and may already be quite well trained; however, even if your new Lab has very good manners, you’d be wise to take him through a positive-motivation obedience course (see page 59) to ease his adjustment.
Adult Labs may be rather set in their ways, but patient training can change that. Some