Perhaps you’ve watched The Dog Whisperer and thought I’ll never have those kinds of problems with my Labrador puppy! Unless you are very familiar with Labrador puppy care, you could easily become Cesar Millan’s next client. Labradors are high-energy dogs when they are young. With their intelligence and energy combine, you have a recipe for general canine mayhem. Keep an eye on their diet so they don’t get hyperactive.

Labrador puppies are discovering the world for the very first time. Get down on your hands and knees to get a puppy’s eye view of your home. Puppies explore the world with their mouths. They will give in to temptation. Remove anything you don’t want the puppy to destroy. Leave things that are okay to chew, like toys or Nylabones, for the inquisitive mouth. And be patient and persistent. Dogs aren’t dumb, but they need to learn in their own time. Repetition over time is a great puppy teacher.

It’s never too early to begin training. Keep training sessions short (only a few minutes long), do several every day and end a session with a lot of praise. Keep your Lab pup’s attention on you by randomly treating or praising whenever the puppy looks at your face. Never hit your puppy (and you will be tempted). Growling or speaking harshly makes the puppy know he or she has made you upset. By observing your Labrador puppy closely, you will begin to know when they are thinking of doing something you don’t want to do.

Burn up some of your puppy’s energy with daily walks and play sessions. Neutering or spaying will also keep your Labrador well behaved and looking to you for all good things. Labrador puppy care includes regular check ups with your vet. You don’t want to over work your puppy (say, going for ten mile jogs a day) when the bones are still growing. Your vet can help you work out a proper exercise regime and diet.

Raising a Labrador pup is hard work – almost as hard as raising a kid. But the more you put into your puppy’s training and care, the more you will get in return. Raising a puppy will then not become a chore, as it will become fun and automatic. It is exciting to help raise a loving, intelligent animal and being able to communicate with him or her. You are also legally responsible for your Lab’s behavior.

You can never learn too much Labrador puppy care. Never be afraid to ask questions from your Lab’s breeder, from any other dog owners, professional dog trainers or your vet. You can also get very useful information from most all-breed dog training books, which are often geared for Labrador personalities. You need to remember that dogs only vaguely understand people. They try – but can get signals crossed. Take a deep breath and try to remember all the good times with your pup.

By: Brooke Sunderland

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