As a huge animal lover, Gary Pascual has two hairless cats and two dogs, a Labrador Retriever and a Shibu Inu. Gary Pascual is amazed at how much joy these animals bring to his family. Having multiple pets, Gary Pascual is often asked for training advice from his friends and family, especially when it comes to Labrador Retriever puppies. Afterall, Labs are amongst the most popular breed of dog.
Gary Pascual notes that Labrador Retrievers are intelligent animals that have a natural happy temperament. It is on the dog owner to nurture that friendly demeanor and bring it out of their pets. Their high level of intelligence is the reason many Labrador Retrievers are trained to be service dogs for those in need. For people who are just looking to raise Labrador Retrievers as friendly, loving pets, Gary Pascual says the key is to socialize them early on in their lives.
Dogs pick up on the emotional state of their owners, it is why pet owners should be excited every time they introduce their Labrador puppy to a new person. When dogs are taught early on that they should be excited to see others, it will carry on as a trait they possess later in life. Parents of children who bring home a Labrador Retriever should do their best to have the two interact often – under their supervision. Both children and their pet companions need to be taught the proper boundaries. By admonishing any hitting or nipping, oweners can help keep all members of their family safe.
A lot of Labrador Retriever owners who have issues with dogs’ behavior have those issues because they aren’t providing enough opportunities for their puppy to get out and exercise. Labrador retrievers are dogs that have a ton of energy to burn. When they don’t have an outlet to exercise, they can act out by attacking shoes or destroying furniture. In order to keep a Lab happy, be sure to take them out for walks and runs whenever possible. If they can play with other dogs, that’s even better.
When it comes to training, there are countless paid programs that a dog can be signed up for, but most people are more than capable of training their Lab themselves. Gary Pascual has found that Labs respond best to positive reinforcement. When a Lab does anything positive, reward them with a treat or a hug consistently and it won’t be long before they provide that response totally unprompted. Those who utilize treats to reinforce positive behavior should either amp up their pet’s exercise routine or adjust the amount they are feeding their dog for dinner. Weight management is a key component of keeping a Lab happy and healthy for years to come.