Labrador retriever puppies are inherently intelligent, filled with high energy, lovable and loyal. You can begin training your puppy to hold an object in its mouth as soon as it becomes part of your family. Positive reinforcement is the best way to train a Labrador puppy. Be patient and consistent in your training.
Things You'll Need
- Puppy treats
- Stuffed toy
Instructions
Have a plan. Structure is essential to effective training. Train your dog as many times as you can throughout each day but for no more than 15-minute increments.
Every Labrador retriever puppy is different, and each puppy will learn at a different pace. It is important for you to have a good relationship with your puppy. Being loving and caring toward the puppy will help your training. If you are bothered by the heavy responsibility of having a puppy, especially a lab puppy, which are known to be terrors when they are young, then the puppy will sense your dislike and as a result will be harder to train.
Grab a treat bag, place treats inside it and attach it to your pocket. If your puppy does not know how to sit, work on that command first or simultaneously with teaching it to hold. Ask the puppy to sit, and once it does reward it with a treat, offer praise and caress its head gently. Then give the puppy a small stuffed animal. Once the puppy grabs the object and places it in its mouth, ask the puppy to hold. If the puppy does not place the object in its mouth, sit next to the puppy and place the object in its mouth by using your thumb to gently pry open its jaws. Once the puppy holds the object, again reward it with a treat, offer praise and gently pet it.
If the dog drops the object before you ask it to give it to you, then place the object back in its mouth. If it again tries to drop the object before your command, gently touch its jaws with the palm of your hand and have it hold the object for at least one minute.