Comments on: 4 Fun Games To Play With Your Dog

By: Willemburg

Willemburg — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 18:39:53 +0000

My boy loves learning new things and will enjoy these games. Can’t wait to get started!

By: Sammie@LabSiteHQ

Sammie@LabSiteHQ — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:07:58 +0000

In reply to Ralph Zettler. Thanks Ralph - I've passed your kind feedback on to Pippa

By: Ralph Zettler

Ralph Zettler — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 15:32:21 +0000

Love your training methods

By: Joan

Joan — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 21:10:32 +0000

I have found it necessary to discourage my Lab from picking up food from the floor. We had a couple of food games and while she enjoyed them I wonder if they promoted the prowl for food on the floor. Given that Labs are SO food motivated I gave up the games and began dropping bits of treat then telling her “Leave it”. It took a while but seems to be working. I give her treats only from my hand or “in your dish”. Holly is a Therapy Dog and it can be hazardous for her to scrounge round wheelchairs and walkers for muffin crumbs or whatever. We once spotted 3 pills on the floor at the same time, since she is closer to the floor she managed to get one in her mouth…I was lucky to get it out before she swallowed it!
Now I have back tracked my own theory re picking up food. Holly (is 6 yrs.0ld) has developed an aversion to going up strange stairs. I don’t believe it to be a physical reason… more about which paw to put first! After having someone carry her up the stairs, I decided to put a bit of meat at the top of the stairs at home (where there is never a problem) in the hope she comes to think about a treat at the top rather than how to get started going up! If we could only get inside the head sometimes!! Hopefully she learns a reward waits at the top and that is the only time she can take it from the floor!

By: Pippa Mattinson

Pippa Mattinson — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 17:02:57 +0000

In reply to Glenda.

Curing a dog with an established chasing habit can be a long job. You’ll need to retrain your recall, probably with a new cue, and use a long line to prevent your dog self rewarding until you have a reliable response. You’ll get lots of help in the forum https://thelabradorforum.com

By: Pippa Mattinson

Pippa Mattinson — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 17:00:17 +0000

In reply to Eddie.

Hi Eddie, drop into the forum where we can chat. Several experienced gundog trainers there too. 🙂 https://thelabradorforum.com

By: Eddie

Eddie — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 20:21:53 +0000

There are lots of sites explaining how to train your dog ….but I want help with daily exercise.

I strongly suspect the pro dog men (and women) don’t ever take their dogs out for a walk; they are either in their kennels or out being trained or worked. I want to know how best to exercise my pup so that he has sufficient exercise and burns enough calories and has the chance to empty his bowels

I am getting the balance wrong . I am giving him too much free running and allowing him to hunt freely but I don’t know how to restrict his free hunting and at the same time allow him enough exercise

Unfortunately he isn’t a great retriever buts loves to hunt hunt hunt hunt ……he is constantly self rewarding…..I recognise the problem……but don’t know how to fix it short of shutting him up every time he isn’t being trained

By: Glenda

Glenda — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 19:30:10 +0000

My black Lab, Moxie, is two years old….for the most part, she responds to my commands….sit, stay, come, wait…BUT, and that’s a very BIG BUT, we live in a rural setting, 30 acres, with deer and jack rabbit abounding.

When one of those run across in front of her she’s off and nothing will stop her or bring her back until the animal is so far ahead there’s no hope of her catching them. Fortunately, we live on a county road with very little traffic, but traffic isn’t the only concern.

Anyone have any suggestions short of keeping her on a lead?

By: Deb

Deb — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 01:14:12 +0000

My oldest son has taught our lab to box. She can’t get enough of it. He uses the same moves consistently and the dog has learned to dodge, roll and block his moves. It is hysterical to watch. She goes 20 or 30 minutes before ending the game. They do this almost every day because she pesters him till he gives in. Her mental strategic moves are impressive

By: Barbara

Barbara — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 19:05:59 +0000

In reply to Mark.

We recently moved into a house that has a second floor and basement. Our lab Penny goes up the stairs to the second floor with ease (sometimes she runs up) but we have to tell her “slow” and “easy” coming down as she tries to hurry and has slipped on a few steps (although she didn’t hurt herself). She does not venture down the basement stairs – not sure if it’s because the walls are close and not open or what. She’s made it down 3 steps but no more, not even with treats. Not sure what we’ll do when there’s a bad storm and we have to go downstairs.