r/labradors

2 years after her surgery for TCC. Vet gave her the all clear. No need to continue her daily dose of NSAIDs. Dog is 10 this year. :)

We have an 18wk old lab. I noticed his tail still hangs straight down. I know it's normal for puppies and he's still young but from my memory, our other labs tails weren't this relaxed. It's like a horse tail. He wags it without issues.

Sorry for the bad pic, he never stands still for long.

She can be good when she wants

My husband and I are looking for another dog. Preferably female. Not too old. Not too young. In Houston area. Might drive to Dallas to pickup.

9 years old now, but still looks like a pup!

This is our new baby Meatball!! He’s 8 weeks old, and we brought him home last night. Our 11 year old lab named Butters is in love 😍

And apparently location doesn't matter

Posts asking advice on "what collar stops your lab pulling?" Or "how do I stop my lab pulling?" "My dog is so strong, what collar/harness/tool should I use?" Keep popping up in various groups I'm in lately and always get hundreds of replies about quick fix gizmos like haltis, front clip harnesses, prongs, ecollars, slip chains and what have you

But seriously there is no quick fix/gadget or tool that is a real alternative to training.

I know, it's boring and repetitive and not fun to do but in the long run training is the only thing that actually *works*

And no I'm not saying *bribery* where you stuff treats in the dogs face for the rest of their life - training

The advice I'm always posting everywhere lol

This is how I describe my training method

••••••••••

find their "jackpot, omg I would mug my own mother for this!!!" best reward (for my Bambi that is cheese or dried fish - for Bywyd it is a tuggy toy or physical praise over food but if food is on offer he prefers liver cake)

Walk around your sitting room/house with them off leash... any time they are in the heel position or by your side? *jackpot* big reward and praises, keep them coming every few seconds

If they wander off? Stop all attention... don't call them, don't look at them, they have ceased to exist

Back next to you? *jackpot* and start dishing out the rewards (mix it up between the treats and verbal praise)

Once they can hold a full minute by your side with high frequency rewards you can drop the frequency to 10sec apart, 30 sec apart, 1min apart etc but if they get distracted then reward as *soon* as back by your side

》side note, don't just do laps of the coffee table... do squiggly routes around furniture and keep things interesting. Try to only do training in 5 min sessions so it isn't boring, then have some play, then more training.

Once their heel is solid inside the house... go into the garden... more smells, sounds and distractions here! So you need to go back to the beginning with the *jackpot* and high frequency

Work up to being able to heel for a full squiggly path of the garden... then introduce the leash.

Once okay on the leash in the garden... can go out into the world... and back to *jackpot* and high frequency rewards when in position, ready to slowly phase them out as their focus on you improves.

If they *do* start to move out of position then preempt them and change direction *before* they can pull... turn with a cheery "THIS way!" & they will soon learn that being next to you is the quickest way to get anywhere

*The golden rule* is timing. You have to turn *before* they put tension on the leash, you are paying attention and setting them up for success here! They are getting all those happy feelings good endorphins for having a loose leash

Eventually you will only need intermittent rewards/praise as they ignore a big distraction just to reinforce that good behaviour - ie "good pup" for checking in with you after a sniffy session or coming in tighter again after a small explore if allowing them a sniffy walk *before* hitting the end of the lead. Or ignoring a barking dog or dropped food etc

(Video from baby Bywyd in an enclosed community garden lol)