Helpful Labrador Training Tips
By Richard Cussons

If you want to have a dependable and obedient Labrador, then Labrador training should not be taken for granted for it is only through proper Labrador training that you can truly enjoy having a Labrador Retriever as an additional member of your family. Despite their reputation as a very mellow pets, Labradors can be quite problematic if not handled and trained properly.
To help Labrador owners with their Labrador training, below are some tips useful to achieve successful Labrador training:
The alpha position in the pack.
Having descended from wolves, dogs thrive in packs. In wild settings, the strongest one often assumes the leadership role. But since they are in family setting, you must convince your Lab of the people pack, and you as the owner must assume the role of the alpha, the leader of the pack. Failure to do so would mean losing control over your four-legged friend.
Before the basic.
Labrador training should start early, about a week or two after a puppy is born. This early training however, doesn't involve training the basic commands such as sit, stay and so on. Training at this stage of a puppy's life should focus on simple associations and later on socialization when the puppy is around three weeks old. Socialization period includes social investigation, playful fighting and playful sexual behavior. These things are essential to help puppy develop social relationship as he grows.
The basic training.
At around eight weeks of age, puppies can start learning the basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, down or come. Other tricks can also be taught depending on the dog's stamina, concentration and physical coordination.
Communication is the tool.
What better tool can help owners with their dog training than good communication? It is the owner or the handler's responsibility to communicate to the dog what behaviors are correct, desired or acceptable and what behaviors are undesirable and should be avoided. If the handler/owner cannot communicate with the dog, he will not know that the dog is confused, happy, nervous and so on. The emotional state of the dog is important in Labrador training.
Appropriate training method.
There are various methods in training a dog, the most widely used is the positive training method. This method means using reward to increase good behavior that is being exhibited. Advocates of positive training method believe that this method should be applied rather than punishing a dog physically in the hopes of decreasing bad behavior. But if your dog doesn't respond to positive training quite well, then you should try other training methods.

Richard Cussons has written articles of various breeds including Labrador Retriever. Discover tips on Labrador dog training at labradorsavvy.com.
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Dog Obedience Supplies - Essential Ones to Buy
By Grant Davis

Choosing the right dog obedience supplies can help you control your excitable dog, whether you take him to a dog obedience class or try your own had at teaching your pet obedience. Contrary to popular belief, disciplinary items are not the only necessary items for obedience training. There are a wealth of preventative items and encouraging items as well.
For instance, treats are some of the important dog obedience supplies, and they are generally overlooked because people fear that treats are a detriment to obedience training. That is not at all true. In fact, the exact opposite is true. It is important to reward your dog when he goes something right. Treats are the best way to do this. In their own way, dogs are extraordinarily brilliant. It will take your dog very little time to realize that every time you tell him to sit and he does it, he gets a treat. He will quickly come to the conclusion that sitting gets him treats, that staying gets him treats, that heeling gets him treats, and so on.
Collars and leads are also essential dog obedience supplies. Harnesses are preferable over collars, because owners can be firmer when giving orders without worrying about harming or choking the dog. Moreover, harness are more conducive to asserting dominance with your dogs. Of course there are also electronic training collars, in which case a collar is necessary over a harness. There are also anti-bark training collars, which as you may guess teach dogs not to bark when they should not. They are also a means to curb excessive barking.
House breaking aids also key items when it comes to dog obedience supplies. House training a dog can be a very tedious process, but if you go about it the right way, it can be extremely easy. There are potty pads, which can be used not only to teach house training, but also provides a safe place for the dog to go in the house. The general idea behind potty pads and products like them is that you as the owner first train your dog to go on the papers, then gradually move them closer and closer to one or more doors in the house. The dog thus starts going closer to the door to do his business. Ideally, when you eventually remove the potty pads altogether, your dog will start scratching around the door or otherwise signaling that he needs to go outside and do his business.

If you need more information about dog supplies visit our Internet store where we also have a section on dog obedience products.
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