Among all the breeds, white English labrador retriever are in the highest esteem worldwide. Common breeds are recognizable by their pleasant temper, intelligence, and obedience. Labs have become favorites in millions of homes. Still, like every breed, Labradors have their problems that you should know about before deciding to have one. It is also important to know the undesirable behavior patterns of the dogs to train them correctly as well as to help you maintain a good relationship between you and your pet.
This blog focuses a bit on some of the unbecoming behavior’s that Labradors are known to display and how they can be trained out of such behavior’s.
Bad habits of White English labrador retriever
Chewing Everything in Sight
Adult Labradors are known to chew up items, more so when they are puppies. Their jaws are powerful, and if not tamed, they destroy furniture, shoes, and anything else in the house. This habit usually results from teething and when the baby is bored or feeling anxious.
How to Manage:
- Provide Chew Toys: Make sure that your lab has access to hard-wearing chews. It should be rotated regularly so as to make work more interesting for employees.
- Supervision: You should also closely monitor your Labrador, especially during the initial months of his puppies.
- Training: Commands like “leave it” should be used to dismiss them should they decide to start chewing on the wrong items.
- Exercise: An angry and exhausted Labrador will not engage in destructive chewing. Make sure they spend enough hours of the day moving around.
Jumping on People
White English labrador retriever are playful dogs and hence they jump on people most of the times. Although it is not always significant in young puppies, it may pose a problem or be dangerous in a full grown Lab.
How to Manage:
- Train Early: From a young age, you need to teach the cat the ‘off’ or ‘sit’ commands.
- Ignore Attention-Seeking: Do not reinforce jumping with attention. Looks away and only speak to the dog when all four paws are touching the floor.
- Reinforce Good Behavior: Whenever the Lab greets people in a calm and polite manner make sure to praise and reward them for their good behavior.
Pulling on the Leash
English Labradors especially when not trained not to pull on the leash are known to pull their owners when out for a walk. On walks they have lots of energy to go out as they tend to pull their owners along due to curiosity.
How to Manage:
- Use Proper Equipment: One can use a no pull harness when walking with the dog in case of difficulty.
- Practice Loose-Leash Walking: Do not move forward any time they pull. Reward the dogs when the line is loose.
- Positive Reinforcement: Follow safe walking with treats and pleasant voice to strengthen calm and controlled movements.
Digging in the Yard
Scooping is innate to this receptive breed of dog specially the labrador. Sometimes they dig, probably for fun, or just because it is hot and they want to cool off, or perhaps for no reason at all.
How to Manage:
- Provide Alternatives: Try to direct them in making a digging pit inside your compound and make sure you encourage them to do it.
- Exercise and Stimulation: Prevent your Labrador from having the desire to dig by ensuring that it gets mentally as well as physically busy.
- Discourage Unwanted Digging: Take their attention to something else the moment you notice them digging at the wrong place.
Excessive Barking of White English labrador retriever
Labradors are not big barkers, but they could become so if they are bored or trying to get your attention or are warning you about something.
How to Manage:
- Identify Triggers: Identify the root cause of barking and then solve it.
- Ignore Attention-Seeking Barking: Do not give them what they want when they snap or demand for it.
- Teach “Quiet” Command: Teach them to pull specific behavior that was trained using positive reinforcements of a “quiet” command.
White English labrador retriever: Begging for Food
Labradors have their diet in their mouths always and are not easily pleased; they can be very demanding when seeking for food. This habit not only invades the mealtimes but also can cause unhealthy weight gain.
How to Manage:
- Stick to a Feeding Schedule: Unless you want to be bothered all day by your Lab begging for food, feed them at the same time daily.
- No Table Scraps: It’s also important not to feed them via your teeth by adding food into your mouth before serving it to them.
- Train “Go to Place” Command: Explain to them when you are eating, they should sit at one place.
Over-Excitability of White English labrador retriever
White English labrador retriever are great working dogs and all-round active dogs and at times they might get what I can refer to as overactive and getting them to relax especially during playtime, or when some visitors are coming in might be quite a hectic task.
How to Manage:
- Structured Exercise: Maintain your Labs physical activity levels frequently in order to prevent over activity.
- Teach “Settle” Command: Teach them to remain calm at the sound of a command.
- Reward Calm Behavior: Back up periods of calmness with food rewards and positive reinforcement.
Labradors: Stealing Food or Items
Labradors are also burglars and will quickly take food from counters or grab socks, remotes, or toys.
How to Manage:
- Keep Temptations Out of Reach: Make sure countertops and tables have no food or other objects that tempt people.
- Train “Drop It” Command: Teach them to drop objects on your command.
- Redirect Behavior: They made borrowings of such items as toys or any other activity that could make them deter from stealing.
Swimming Obsession of English Labradors Retriever
Indeed, excessive interest in water can turn into a sort of obsession in many Labradors if they are constantly engaged in swimming and if the water, they swim in is too dangerous or if the individuals allow their Labradors swim only in certain restricted areas.
How to Manage:
- Supervise Water Activities: Lab cannot swim alone for they are prone to danger when they go to uncharted or dangerous territories.
- Set Boundaries: Teach them to only get close to water with your say so on the issue.
- Offer Alternatives: If swimming is not possible, then give the children other interesting things to do in order to burn their energy.
English Labradors: Eating Non-Food Items (Pica)
Labradors usually are quite voracious, and they can eat virtually anything from rocks, socks, right through to sticks. They can act like this and put their health at risk, developing various severe health complications.
How to Manage:
- Supervise Closely: The Labrador should also be supervised when it is taking its walk or playing.
- Train “Leave It” Command: Make them learn not to eat foods that are not necessary foods.
- Provide Safe Alternatives: Make sure that they have chews and toys that cannot harm them.
- Consult a Vet: If it continues, it could be due to malnutrition or medical problems or more likely a combination of both.
Why It Is Important To Understand These Habits
Labradors are smart, affectionate and well-motivated dogs that respond well to training. However, they are capable of transforming into a locomotive of problematic behaviors, if not corrected.
Just bear in mind that close watch and incentives shall do the work here. Every Labradors are different and some may have more of these habits than the other. You must invest time, training, and understanding in these concerns. This effort can supplement, eliminate, and improve problems, allowing you to form a deep bond with your pet.