If you are looking for the perfect pet for your family, a Labrador retriever just might fit the bill. There are many reasons why this breed has constantly topped lists of the most popular family dog, including their friendliness, playfulness and loyalty to their families. However, Labs that come home from the breeder as cute bundles of fur will quickly grow into dogs that can weigh more than sixty pounds.

If you don’t begin Labrador obedience training early on that big, boisterous pet may be running the show in your household before you know it! This is why it is so important to teach your Lab to respect you and the other members of your household from the first day that he sets his paw into your home. A dog that understands who is in charge will be much more likely to obey the rules of the house and follow your commands. There are a number of methods that you can use to begin Labrador obedience training from day one with your pet, and many will help to instill respect and a willingness to follow your lead.
One of the first steps in effective Labrador obedience training is consistency. Just like small children, a dog needs to know that the rules are the same all the time, and that if he doesn’t follow them, he will get a scolding from you. This means that if you want your Lab to stay off of your bed, you can’t allow him to jump up even once. Any exceptions to the rule will quickly be picked up on by this intelligent creature, and he will continue to push you to the point of exasperation if he thinks his efforts might be successful.

While you are busy enforcing those rules, keep in mind that positive Labrador obedience training that incorporates plenty of praise and rewards will generally be much more effective than sessions that utilize punishment as a form of motivation. Because these dogs are very eager to please their masters, praise will work very well to get these dogs to obey your commands.
Labrador obedience training with a very young dog should be limited to just a few minutes, and should include lots of praise and rewards. When your dog is first learning a command, keep distractions to an absolute minimum to ensure that you have your puppy’s full attention. As your dog begins to be comfortable with a particular instruction, include some distraction to the training session, like tossing treats around him or bouncing a ball as you give the command. This will help to ensure that your dog will obey you in any circumstance, no matter what distractions might be lurking about. Good beginning commands will include sit, fetch and stay, but lie and come should be close behind those. In the beginning Labrador obedience training sessions, make sure to reward your dog even if he sits for only a second or two. As you progress, you can require that he sits for longer periods or stays put even when you walk away or turn your back to him. These training sessions will pay off with a dog that is well behaved and a pleasant addition to your family.

Labrador training is not particularly difficult, but it does take plenty of time and effort on the part of the owner, beginning with learning the best techniques for training Labs. Fortunately for the new dog owner, there are many good Dog training books and articles like this available so you and your Labrador retriever can start off on the right foot.