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Start with name response, sit, down, come, leave it and drop it. Short daily sessions beat long weekend marathons. Once those are reliable, add heel and longer stays, then practice recalls on a long line in safe, fenced or quiet areas. Answer page →
Labs are food-motivated and eager to cooperate, which makes them ideal for reward-based training. That’s also the method the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends. Gear needed: pea-sized treats, a treat pouch, and optionally a clicker.
The six commands
Command
Teach it like this
Common mistake
Sit
Lure a treat over the nose toward the tail; mark “yes” when the bottom lands; treat
Repeating “sit, sit, sit”
Down
From sit, lure the treat straight down between the paws, then slowly out
Pushing the dog down
Stay
Ask for sit, say “stay”, step back one step, return, treat. Build the 3 Ds: duration, distance, distraction, one at a time
Raising all three at once
Come
Run away excitedly saying the cue; jackpot treats when the dog arrives. Never call to punish
Using “come” for baths or leaving the park
Leave it
Closed hand with treat; wait until the dog backs off; mark and reward from the other hand
Letting the dog win the treat it was told to leave
Drop it
Trade the toy for a treat; give the toy back often so dropping pays
Chasing the dog to grab items
4-week practice plan
Week
Focus
Daily
1
Sit, down, name response
3 × 5 min
2
Stay (duration), come indoors
3 × 5–10 min
3
Leave it, drop it; come in the yard
3 × 10 min
4
Add distractions; practice on walks
Weave into daily life
Lab-specific tips
Use meals. Training with part of the daily kibble prevents weight gain (why it matters).
Channel the retrieve. Fetch is a reward in itself. Use it after a good recall.
Adolescence happens. Around 6–18 months, cues may “disappear”. Go back a step and keep sessions short.
“Leave it” and “drop it” matter most with a mouthy Lab. Practice them with fetch toys from our best toys for Labs list, and trade up for a safe long-lasting chew.
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