Allen asked:

Hi I’ve just had a 8 week old chocolate labrador male and just wondering if anyone has any gd tips on training him example not peein in the house , heel , not biting things like the settee.

Reply:

Labs have lots of energy! Exercise a lot. A tired dog is a good dog.

Labs love to chew! Stock up on chew toys. Lots of praise and excitment when he’s playing with these. Put anything you don’t want him to chew on out of reach until he’s had house manners.

Teach him the “Leave-It” cue. Put a treat on the floor (have a separate treat in your opposite hand that he doesn’t know you have), and cup your hand over it. He, of course, will stare it down, sniff at it and paw at it. The very instant he looks away from it, it’ll probably just be a split second so be quick, say “leave-it” immediately give him the treat that you were holding in your opposite hand and tell him what a good boy he is. Don’t ever give him the treat that you wanting him to leave alone. Otherwise he’ll just learn he has to leave it alone for just a little bit and then he can have it. Always give a separate treat from the opposite hand.

Labs are smart, so he will catch on quickly. Now try it, without your hand cupping it, but keep your hand close so if he dives for it your can quickly put your hand over it. Repeat the above instructions. Next try it standing up, and use your toe to cover it. Obviously, just enough to cover the treat, put don’t smoosh the treat. Work your way up so he leaves it without you near the treat.

If he’s nipping Buy Acomplia pills at you when he plays, let out a loud yelp (quick, loud, high-pitched squeal). End the play immediately. Stand up and walk away. Come back after a minute and resume play. If he nips, repeat. He’ll learn that nipping you is too rough and playtime ends.

Socialize him with many different kinds of people, dogs, smells, sights, and sounds. He’ll be more open to new things as a pup. This is the most important thing you can do for him.

If you catch him having an accident, interrupt him with an loud “uh-uh,” or clap your hands, or stomp your feet. Pick him up immediately, and take him out to his potty spot outside. Give him lots of praise for pottying outside.

Take him out immediately after eating, drinking, playing, walking, resting, waking up, or training. Take him out every hour. Watch him like a hawk every time in between for signs of sniffing the ground or circling and then take him out ASAP. Eventually, you’ll develop a potty schedule for him and you’ll know when he generally has to go and won’t have to take him out as often. But for now, you’ll have to take him potty a lot.

Always clean up accident thoroughly with an odor neutralizer or enzyme product. If you don’t, he’ll be enticed to make a mistake again.

Good Luck!