If you are about to get a new puppy, you are in for a treat! Labrador puppies are so fun to take care of and are easy to train! Although it is a lot of work to train your pup, you will be highly rewarded in the long run. We know that getting a puppy can be a little overwhelming, so we have gathered all the resources you need to train your lab pup into the perfect family dog!
Before you get your pup
We know how long it feels when you are waiting to finally have your pup in your arms. Here are some things you can do to prepare for your pup!
Reading up on how to train your puppy is a great thing to do while you wait. We recommend these books: The Complete Labrador Handbook by Linda Whitwam and Zak George’s Guide to A Well Behaved Dog.
Another great thing to do while waiting for your pup is to gather all the supplies you will need to take care of your puppy! Here is a list of things you will need:
-Food and Water bowl (since labs love water so much, we recommend a gravitational water bowl)
-Collar and leash (lightweight is the best option for their first collar and leash. Their first collar size will be around 10 inches, or a typical small)
-Harness (not required, but recommended. Harnesses make it easier on you pup to learn how to walk on leash politely. We have really enjoyed Joyride Harnesses. You can find them here. )
-Crate ( you can get a small crate perfect for your pup, or you can get an X-Large, the size that they will need in the long run. If you choose to get the XL crate, you will need to block off sections of it until they grow into it so that there aren’t any accidents)
-Puppy food (we will send some puppy food home with you so that you can switch them over to whatever food you want them to eat)
-Potty Bells (This is not required, but highly recommended. These are a great way to teach your dog to ask to go out in a quiet manner)
-Toys! (Labradors love to play, and it is important to have a variety of toys on hand. This will help keep them from getting into trouble. Benebone is our dog’s favorite brand of chew toys (you can find them on Amazon) along with nylabone. High quality rope bones are also a favorite at our house. Make sure to get a nice variety of textures and flavors to keep your dog interested so that they don’t start to chew on other things. Outdoor toys like tennis balls, ChuckIt toys, frisbees, etc are also helpful to have.)
While you are waiting we will also be sending you updates on your pup so that you can see them grow!
Once you have your puppy
When you finally have your sweet little puppy in your arms, you can finally get started on training! Put your knowledge that you learned in the past few months into action and give your sweet little pup all the love it deserves. One big thing to note is that most new Lab owners do not realize how much exercise benefits their pup. Labrador puppies have lots of energy, and you will find your pup to be much more enjoyable and easier to train if they get plenty of exercise.
We have raised many labs over the years and have found them to be the most loyal, sweet, and adorable pets to have. They are truly the perfect family dog after they have been properly trained. A member of our team here, Liz, is a highly skilled dog trainer and has a plethora of videos on her YouTube channel. These videos will be very helpful to you for training your pup, and we highly recommend watching them. Find them here at Pup2Pal.
All in all, we are so happy that you have chosen to embark on this wonderful journey of training your own companion. If you ever have any questions or just want to share updates of your pup, we would love to hear from you at redemptionranchky@gmail.com or through text at 270-605-4275.