My Dog Training Secrets 

Labrador Retrievers are the most popular dog in the US (#1) and one of the best family dogs in the world.

There is so much that can be said about Labrador Retrievers. They are an exceptionally mild-mannered breed with an energetic and accommodating attitude. This pleasant temperament, along with an open willingness to learn, has led the Labrador Retriever to specialize in many fields- including search and rescue, detection and therapy work, and most popularly, as hunting retrievers, not to mention just being a great pet. Labs are compact, robust, strongly built dogs with a dense water resistant coat and thick undercoat.

They come in black, yellow, which is a mutation of the black and a rarer chocolate brown. They are also known for their thick tails and puppy-dog eyes. Their height limits are 22 to 24 inches tall for males and 21 to 23 inches for females.

Yellow Labs vary in color from white to light gold to a fox red. Their fur is usually fairly short and straight, and the tail quite broad and strong. Yellow Lab puppies appear on the majority of TV and magazine ads because their expressions are easier to photograph than the darker colors. The yellow Lab puppies range is from almost white to a deep gold that is referred to as fox red.

Your Lab will love to come in the house at night to be with her family, but be sure she gets enough room to run and play during the day -- and if you have a pool, all the better! They are very energetic and need a lot of exercise and play time. They are very easy to train but you have to be consistent and you have to give them plenty of exercise. Labrador Retriever training is easy when they are puppies, and should be introduced to people at an early age.

Labrador retrievers are large, powerful dogs, and they gain weight easily, so adequate exercise is essential. They are known to have hearty appetites and are often overfed causing weight to increase even above what is normal. Just like obesity is a major problem in people nowadays, so it is with our labs.

Labrador Retrievers are long on self-control and loyalty, but they do not make the most avid watchdogs. As a rule, they are not overly suspicious of strangers or highly protective of loved ones, and when natural instincts are not stimulated they can be inattentive to such a task.

Labrador Retrievers are loyal dogs, so they can be trusted to behave themselves when taken out by children on walks around the block. A good two hours per day is recommended by kennel clubs for this breed, but if you have kids, they can use up a lot of this time spent running the dog ragged chasing balls, sticks and Frisbees in the back yard.

Labrador Retrievers are harmless and great with children because of its friendliness and intelligence. They instinctively enjoy holding objects and even hands or arms in their mouths, which they can do with great gentleness. Labrador Retrievers are very popular household pets as they are people-orientated and extremely devoted to their family. They get on well with children, strangers and other dogs.

Labrador Retrievers are quick learners and acquire most of hunting skills by the age of twelve months. Labrador Retrievers are people- and action- oriented dogs, and can become bored if left to their own devices. They can be destructive when bored or frustrated. In other words, they are very active dogs: Labs require much attention and exercise. This means that you must dedicate time out of your busy schedule every day to your dog and you must have a fenced-in yard where your Lab can run and play.

Labrador Retrievers are intelligent and obedient dogs, making them easier for obedience training in becoming good working and assistance dogs. But before any advance training, they should first master the basic dog commands. Labrador retrievers are great pets for families with young children. As puppies, they are clumsy, playful, and relatively harmless.