A major reason for the enduring popularity of the Labrador Retriever is its trainability. On YouTube alone, you can see thousands of videos of Labs showing off the tricks they have learned and their playful antics, much to the delight of their “hoomans” and their audience. Because of these videos, you may be considering getting a Labrador as a companion for you and/or your family.
There may be some questions in your mind at this point. Are Labradors easy to train? More importantly, can you be able to train it on your own? Or do you still need the assistance of a professional dog trainer?
Factors That Make Labs Easy to Train
In answer to the first question, you’re in luck because Labradors are among the dogs known for their easy trainability. In fact, there are three factors that make Labs easy to train, namely genetics, intelligence, and temperament.
1) Genetics
Suffice to say, the Labradors’ roots as a working and retrieving dog is firmly encoded in its genes, thanks to the efforts of English breeders who saw great promise in the breed after seeing what they can do in 1800’s Newfoundland, Canada.
A 2014 study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science confirmed that the “work-related genetic strain” of the Labrador Retriever, coupled with experience and actual training of the breed, contributed to the Labs’ high trainability.
2) Intelligence
The intelligence of the Lab has been documented in Dr. Stanley Coren’s book The Intelligence of Dogs, placing the breed at No. 7 in the list of 10 Smartest Dog Breeds. The list was compiled with the input of over 200 dog obedience judges. Based on their criteria, the Lab made it to the Top Ten because of its ability to learn new commands in less than five attempts or exposures. Like its fellow dogs that made the list, Labs have an estimated obedience percentage of 95 percentage.
Their intelligence and trainability can be attributed to their high motivation. There are two reasons why Labs are highly motivated. First of all, they are greatly motivated by food. This motivation is actually due to a genetic alteration that makes them easy to train if tasty treats are given as rewards. However, this also makes the Lab prone to overweightedness and obesity.
The second motivation for Labs is their eagerness to please their humans. Again, this is a personality trait that is encoded into their genes.
3) Temperament
Labs are noted for their friendly, easy-going, and fun-loving temperaments. They also have very low aggression levels. Together with their eagerness to please, their friendly temperament makes it a lot easier for Labs to be trained.
Training Labradors
Dog trainers recommend that Labs begin training as early as eight weeks old. Aside from teaching them the basic commands, such as “sit”, “stay”, “fetch”, “heel”, “watch me” just to name a few, they should also undergo socialization. Socialization means exposing your dog to people and other animals it can encounter, not only in your home, but also in your neighborhood and other places where you may take it.
The basic commands strengthen your role as the alpha so that you can establish control over your Lab. For example, since Labs are enthusiastic dogs, there is a tendency for them to jump on people, including small children and frail Senior Citizens. This control can help to prevent potential injuries.
On the other hand, socialization not only helps to forge a bond between you and your dog. Because they thrive with companionship, Labs do not handle isolation very well and may even result in behavior problems.
Your Labrador also needs to undergo two additional forms of training, namely potty training and crate training.
Potty training means teaching your dog to answer the call of nature at an ideal place and, preferably, at a set time. To do this, you need to establish a routine with your Lab. For example, you can train your dog to pee or poop during your twice daily walks outside the house. You can also teach them to do their business in set locations of your home by placing newspapers or a mat of fake grass.
Crate training involves setting a place of safety for your Lab. Done together with potty training, crate training establishes a specific carrier or spot in your house where your Lab can rest or play whenever you’re not at home. This helps to curb destructive behaviors in your dog, such as chewing on furniture and running around the house whenever they get nervous or restless.
Important Reminders
Some dog owners may choose to adopt an adult Labrador from a shelter or animal rescue. While trainers always say that the best age for Labs to begin training is during puppyhood, in truth, you can train your dog at any age. In fact, adult dogs are said to be easier to train than puppies because of their greater self-control. Regardless of age, always begin with the basic commands, socialization, potty training, and crate training for your Lab.
However, in the case of the Labrador, veterinarians warn against giving them too many treats so that you can prevent obesity, which may lead to more serious diseases in your dog.
If you have a Senior Labrador, you may find it necessary to give them re-training because of their failing memory. However, be mindful of the fact that their aging bodies cannot take rigorous activities and tricks, and can cause serious injuries. Instead, concentrate on re-teaching them the basic commands and reminding them where to go potty.
Are Labradors easy to train? Yes, they are! But this would require commitment and dedication on your part. However, with patience and a lot of love, you can find yourself with a very intelligent and devoted dog for life.
