Advice? I don't know how much you know about dog training, but read books and go to dog school. A labrador is usually a more permissive type of dog, but he still needs to be trained, because unlike what most people think, the main reason a dog disobeys is because his owner taught him badly. Also remember that a dog doesn't reason the way we humans do. A dog gives loyalty for different reasons that humans do. It cares for kindness, sure, but the only way to teach him respect and loyalty is by showing you're higher in rank than he is. No dog, no matter how gentle it is, and how kind you are, will listen to commands because his owner loves him very much. He'll listen to commands because he respects his owner, and because his owner taught him in a consistent and clear manner.
Um, well, while this is completely true and very insightful, as someone who's owned and trained a number of rotties, which are comparable to labs as "children" in one way, I can also say that a dog also disobeys when you can't get it's attention. I call it "Puppy ADD".
Alpha Bitch (Mom): "Spot, Sit."
Spot: [Spot? I'm Spot! Mom wants me to sit! Sitting! Good Spot!] *begins lowering haunches immediately* *stops 3/4 of the way down* [Ooooooo! Shiny flying bug...KITTY IS RUNNING!!!] *begins to unsit*
Good grief it takes a lot of patience to train that out of them! To that end, may I suggest you also work on "focus", which is basically making the dog stare at your third eye on command, and gradually increase distractions until it's not a problem. This is an awesome command for the vet's office! One of our trainers also suggested putting puppy on a 6' leash, but not at heel, and wandering with random purpose, forcing the puppy to pay attention to you to avoid the 'sudden' directional changes.
Congrats on the puppy, though! You sound like a responsible pet owner and I second the demand for puppy pictars!
I was raised around labs and helped train them for duck retrieving as well as just regular manners and obedience. However, I haven't had to train one from a puppy. I know they tend to be a bit rambunctious and are a particular breed in which it's a necessity to train for obedience. It's just the getting started that I'd like some information for if you have it. I mean, you can't start off by twisting ears and spanking for discipline like you can when they're older, as well as the praises. When they're older, you don't need to lavish lots of praise on them constantly or they get spoiled. But from a pup, I'm unsure as to how to approach it.
Oh, don't spank a dog! You'll only teach it that corporal punishment is acceptable for alphas over betas and then you'll have behavioral issues. Use the deathmetal growl of shame and a noise-maker instead. Get an empty aluminum can, put a few small rocks in it, and tape it shut. Throw it at the ground or smack your own hand when puppy is disobedient. Correct puppy with death metal growl of shame tone of voice.
Potty training and no are the first commands to teach a puppy. When the potty is in the wrong place, bring the puppy in where it can observe, and scold the potty. Bad potty! Then clean it up, take it out where you want the dog to potty, and praise the potty and the puppy. Praise the puppy when it goes in the right place, too. We call it a potty party and it goes to a conga tune: "Tink go potty out-side! Tink go potty out-side!" No is a sharp command, of course, and is followed immediately with the can rattle. I also use a warning when I see them thinking about disobeying (see Puppy ADD above). It's the sound your mother probably used with you "Ah ah ah..." in a warning tone of voice.
While working on potty training, be sure to take puppy's food away while puppy is eating, put a cookie or treat in it, and then set it back down. This teaches puppy in a positive way that Alpha can mess with his/her food at will, while eliminating the anxiety and potential negative behaviors over the issue. Also, play with puppy's feet constantly while puppy is young to desensitize it to toenail trimmies. Expose puppy at a young age to fun things and while it's having fun, stop the puppy to bring it to you and pet it and love it, then send it back to have fun. This conditioning will help you later with commands like "come" and "hold/freeze" because puppy won't associate them with the fun ending. While puppy is very young and small, wrestle with it while it is on it's back and you're over it. This is something puppy will enjoy, while sending the message that you're Alpha.
And don't forget the pictars!!!
. They love to chew on everything. 
![[KOTNO]Narrot](/data/avatars/l/1/1031.jpg?1052155060){kind=avatar}
