It is quite possible to teach your dogs all its commands without learning to be the leader that dogs need. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at
Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete For more on being top dog, see
Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position The running she is doing may not be good for her developing joints. Overweight makes it even worse, and the fast growth from the overly rich diet puppy provides adds it problems. Cut out the running, feed her less, switch to an adult chow, and take more walks. These need to be controlled walks, she maintains proper heel position and a loose leash. If she forges ahead or pulls, drag her backward about 10 feet. She will quickly get the picture. You set the pace, you choose the route, and when to stop and let her relieve himself. This is about teaching her you are top dog. You can lighten up a little once she accepts you as leader.
Please bring her into the house with you. Dogs are social animals and need to be with their pack. Most of the problems of having a Lab in the house can be solved with a crate. Other dogs may
Not be as bad as the young Labs I am plagued with. Still your house and dog
Will be much safer with the dog in a crate when you are away. The dog may be
Happier in its den than loose in the house. It relaxes, it feels safe in its
Den. It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving
Its self. Dogs that have been crated all along do very well. Many of them
Will rest in their crates even when the door is open. I think the plastic
Ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling. They are harder for
Dogs to open too. Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with
Something the dog can't pull in and chew. Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.
Leave it some toys. Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter. Don't leave
Anything in the crate the dog might chew up. It will do fine without even any
Bedding. You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.
Accidents and damaged possessions are the fault of whoever was watching the puppy. When you are watching it, immediately correct it as soon as it goes for anything except its own toys. In a quiet, but firm voice ''Bad dog, its name drop!''. Gently remove what ever and replace it with one of her toys, or if older, hold eye contact until the puppy drops it.
A dog that has not been crated since it was little, make take some work.
Start just putting its toys and treats in the crate. Praise it for going
in. If you have been able to trust it with any bedding, put that in the crate.
Feed it in the crate.
I am no fan of Caesar. Last I looked, there wasn't much on his web site except hype for his books. I thought what I had seen there before was the same old weak stuff I see elsewhere. A good book would be a big help to you. Look over the list in the stickies at
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/i...tml#post251804
I have no experience training dogs to retrieve. Very few hunters take part in sites like this. I don't feel right about using this site to direct you to another, but for help on that, you might do better at
Labrador Retriever Dogs Chat Board - Dogs, Puppies, Photos, Training, Pictures, Rescue Forums - Powered by vBulletin There may be some links in the Lab area at
American Kennel Club - akc.org.