Five Top Steps To Train Labradors the Right Way

Learning how to train Labradors the right way can be achieved in unlimited ways. However, before you can select one among the many training methods available for Labrador training, you have to keep in mind that learning the basics is still necessary. Get to know as much information as you can that concerns Labradors. This way, you will know the best ways of handling, caring, and training Labradors.

Five Basic Steps to Train Labradors:

Step One: Train Labradors the right way by being a second parent to your Labrador. Learning how to train Labradors can be difficult for new Labrador owners. The first thing you have to do is to accept the fact that you are committed to taking good care of your Lab.

Remember that your Lab’s first training partner should have been his mother. However, when you decided to have him for your own, you have taken his mother’s responsibility in training him and teaching him what he has to know about life. To train Labradors correctly, you have to guide your Lab in his daily activities. This way, you can properly teach him the desirable behavior and qualities he has to possess.

Labradors are like babies, they have to be treated with care. Always be cautious as you train Labradors. Remember that without your guidance, your Labrador can develop negative behavior.

Step Two: Instill good habits through proper socialization. To train Labradors easily, you have to take time in providing him with sufficient exposure to other people and animals. This means that you are to take your Lab to places wherein interaction with others can be possible.

You may take your Labrador to daily walks in the park for his regular exercise. This way, you can also train Labradors in adapting to certain situations that he does not normally see at home. Keep in mind that it is not advisable to confine your Labrador in the house for long periods of time. If you do, there is a tendency that your Lab will develop anxiety or aggression.

Through constant socialization and interaction with other people and animals, it will be easier for you to train Labradors in becoming a well-mannered pet.

Step Three: When you start to train Labradors, you must first teach him the daily basics. This involves the routines that he is expected to engage with in a daily basis. Provide your Labrador with his own private space at home and make sure to teach him where to find it during his first day in your home. You should also teach him where and when to eat, where and when to sleep and of course, where and when to eliminate. This and many other details must be covered in your Lab’s first weeks of training. It will be easier for you to handle your Labrador in the next training steps if you are able to do this successfully.

Step Four: Train Labradors faster by calling them with a name. One of the first things you have to think about is your Labrador’s name. Before you take him home, think of possible names that you wanted to call your pet. When you are able to come up with a good name for your Lab, it will be easier for you to command him. However, this task may be difficult at first. It will definitely take time for your Lab to adjust and associate himself with the name you give him. To help your Labrador with this, constantly call him with his name.You can effectively train Labrador with his name along with various verbal commands that he must be familiar with in order to sustain more difficult levels of training. You can start with the simplest verbal commands like COME, STAY and SIT. You can say “Come Kukai” or “Stay, Kukai” as you introduce the verbal commands. Through this, your Labrador will associate himself better with his name. This also serves as an indication that a task is intendedfor him to do; Therefore, it will be easier for you to grab your Labrador’s attention.

Step Five: In order to train Labradors effectively, you and your family must do your tasks properly. For instance, if there are children in the family, you should also educate them regarding your Lab’s training. Inform them that they cannot tease your Labrador even during playtime. Also tell them that they cannot bother your Lab while he is asleep. Otherwise, there will be chances of bad habit formation in your Labrador.

To train Labradors is a challenging task that requires patience. By following the steps above, you can train your Labrador properly from day one.

Pilates and Breast Cancer

Pilates and Breast Cancer Breast cancer leaves many women feeling disconnected from their bodies and wary of exercise. Pilates offers a gentle method to venture back toward physicality and emotional health.

HOW DOES PILATES ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS FACE? Recently, breast cancer survivors have also been benefiting from Pilates. Survivors face many physical challenges after undergoing breast cancer surgery and treatment, which are often compounded by the emotional stress that results from living with a life-threatening condition. Pilates provides an exercise technique that can help both mind and body recover and rehabilitate slowly. Fatigue Fatigue, both during and after cancer treatment, is the biggest issue many breast cancer survivors face. Many women feel unable to function and perform daily activities while undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments, and this fatigue can be overwhelming as treatments are combined and surgery is added to the mix. Pilates offers a gentle, low-impact reintroduction or first-time introduction to regular exercise that can help one regain strength and endurance. To perform Pilates exercises correctly, you must concentrate. The benefits will be obvious if you keep at it and gradually build up by performing the exercises at least two days a week. Pain/Range of Motion Pain and loss of range of motion in the shoulder and the chest are other common issues for survivors who are considering exercise after treatment. Because many Pilates exercises are performed in the supine position, the neck and the back are supported, making it easier to feel which muscles are working in the back and to ensure that you’re using the right ones (trapezius and rhomboids). In addition, the exercises help return strength to the shoulder girdle in a safe, comfortable manner, which helps in regaining correct muscular balance. Posture Posture is another area of concern for many survivors after surgery. Often a woman’s back will become rounded following surgery, and her shoulders and head will be flexed forward. Pilates teaches you to resume an erect posture with a neutral spine and then works on restoring strength. Because the exercises demand that you concentrate on how your body feels when it is correctly aligned, each exercise is performed efficiently and with control. There are also specific Pilates exercises—such as body extension and “swimming”—that can help stretch the tight chest muscles while strengthening the back. These exercises help in regaining proper muscle balance and strength in the back. Many Pilates practitioners use mental imagery to help you connect your mind and body to the exercise. For instance, an instructor might suggest that it is helpful to bring your shoulders down and press those “wing bones into your back pocket” while performing an exercise. This unique approach is used to help students perform the exercises correctly. Lymphedema Lymphedema is another concern. Many women who have had lymph nodes removed as part of their breast cancer treatment are warned about not exercising the arm vigorously and told to protect the arm from trauma and repetitive use. They may also be told not to lift heavy weights. Consequently, the arm becomes weaker, and survivors are often unable to perform daily activities or engage in previously enjoyed leisure pursuits. It is important to strengthen the arm gradually. Because many Pilates exercises are abdominal, they are a natural fit for women concerned about lymphedema. In addition, muscular contractions performed in a specific sequence help propel lymphatic fluid into an area where it can more easily drain. You use inhalation to prepare for the exercise and exhalation as you perform it. This emphasis on breathing works the deep transverse rectus abdominal muscles, ensures that the body is stable, and promotes relaxation.

CHOOSE TO RECONNECT WITH YOUR BODY Joseph Pilates said, “Concentrate on the correct movements each time you exercise, lest you do them improperly and thus lose all the vital benefits of their value.” Pilates, and this philosophy, will be a shift for many women returning to exercise. It’s not about quantity (how many sit-ups) but about the quality of the exercises you perform. When practiced correctly, Pilates allows one to reconnect with a body that has been traumatized and which might seem foreign. Pilates can be a useful tool in rehabilitation for breast cancer survivors. With the help of a trained instructor, it can help a woman reclaim her physical confidence and reestablish a connection with her body.

RESEARCHED BY : KÁTIA C. ROWLANDS – Pilates Instructor & Personal Trainer – 082 513 4256