https://www.madpaws.com.au/blog/labrador/ Tue, 10 Nov 2020 23:46:21 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://www.madpaws.com.au/blog/labrador/#comment-26774 Thu, 19 Mar 2020 02:04:56 +0000 https://www.madpaws.com.au/?p=3557#comment-26774 Lol. So erudite! But if you’ve had more than one Lab, you know they quickly learn to “read” you. Not such a simple “lab based” (lol) science (my undergrad was also psychology- lmao). Though they need consistency and boundaries, they are predominantly intuitive- more than any breed I’ve encountered- likely why they’re such great therapy dogs. I’ve had 4 Labbie family members, and worked in Lab rescue for 15 years. While your statements are a nice generalization, Labs are very, very different from dog to dog, and lines VERY different, hence effective methods for training/motivating very different (just like different people). I tend to own the shorter, stockier, “bench” or “English” Labs. Totally mellow, generally not destructive & laid back from puppyhood (also seem “born” w/ lovely manners). My current 3 year old has NEVER destroyed anything of mine, even as a puppy. Never stolen anything off my plate, or been obnoxious re food (though he is a “thief”; rifles through my handbag, and emerges w/ everything from my wallet to my cosmetics bag- but NEVER destructive- walks around wagging his broad tail with his prize and grunts until someone recognizes his prize). He literally came that way (nature). But many of my fosters are hyperactive, field bred dogs that require tons of activity and a great deal more “guidance”. Nearly frantic energy that breeds destruction if not given an outlet. Most all are eager to please and loving, though. And ABSOLUTELY ALL are individuals, and should be treated as such. Dog training is NOT a science, it’s empathy and intuition and love and learning what motivates each individual.

]]> https://www.madpaws.com.au/blog/labrador/#comment-5334 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 09:34:45 +0000 https://www.madpaws.com.au/?p=3557#comment-5334 Extinction is an important concept in training your Labrador Retriever. Labs are smart and can take advantage of their owners. Who hasn’t experienced those pools of hope staring at you as you nibble on a snack? When behaviors are reinforced they occur more frequently. If the behavior is not reinforced, either positively by providing a reinforcer, or negatively, by taking away a reinforcer, extinction occurs. This is the basis behind extinction, the behavior gets no response, it doesn’t work and therefore becomes extinct.

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