1 An early start
"The early bird catches the worm" is a popular old saying. So also when you start training early in the life of your pup. The positive effects of training get reinforced. Lessons taught early
in life are easily learned.
As a dog grows older you might have to make him un-learn many things and this is a very difficult task.
2 Gentleness & humanity
Along with a positive approach you must be gentle and humane with your pup. Motivational methods work well. Cheer adds a great deal of life to any training session.
3 Attention seeking
Attention seeking gimmicks must not be encouraged. They can be damaging. So if your dog jumps at you while you are just lounging or standing around, do not encourage him. A positive
approach to this is to provide your Lab with sufficient exercise.
Discourage begging for scraps of food from the table too. A positive way of doing so is to ensure your dog is fed before you sit down to eat.
4 Commands must be followed
When you give a command to your dog to follow he must obey it. If he does not do so and you do not reinforce your desire on him that the command must be obeyed, you are running the
risk of him getting the message that he only needs to obey when he feels like it.
5 Single command, single response
This attitude evokes quick response from an alert Lab. So when you say "Sit" he sits. Do not say "Sit, sit, sit" a number of times when you want him to sit only once.
6 Do not combine commands
This will only confuse your Lab. Do not say "Sit down" when what you want him to do is just sit. Down in your Lab’s vocabulary means going flat down on his stomach with his
nose to the ground.