The Labrador retriever is an intelligent animal that generally does not give his owner any reason to complain, though as with all dog breeds, this breed too will have the odd problem - both behavioral as well as health related. However, provided you give proper Labrador training, you should not face too many problems in controlling your Labrador and most Labrador problems can easily be resolved through this means. In fact, many of the behavioral problems can be attributed to instinctive acts on the part of the Labrador and these require that you show patience and be determined in teaching your pet the correct behavior.
However, as with any other breed there are certain Labrador problems that every owner will have to look out for including those related to their health as well as their behavior. Nevertheless, the Labrador is generally a healthy animal though it can suffer from hip as well as elbow dysplasia and cataract as well as epilepsy. What’s more, if you fail to give proper Labrador training, or if you let your pet become bored, it could lead to some behavioral problems that can only be prevented by expending some extra effort, and providing better care and proper training.
Although a Labrador is gentle by nature, a puppy that has not been given proper Labrador training can become a bit of a problematic creature and can easily become rather agitated though this may often be due to nothing more than separation anxiety which can cause him to cry and become fretful especially when left on his own. Another common Labrador problem is his being very dominant and though some people go to the extent of neutering their Labrador in order to overcome this problem, it is still not the proper corrective step since it will fail to solve the problem.
There are no doubts that proper Labrador training is essential if you want to teach your Labrador what the accepted behavior is and also to teach him the house rules by which he must live. In any case, among the common Labrador problems that you will have to put up with there are things such as chasing cats, being destructive due to feeling anxious, fearing loud noises, chewing up things, being generally difficult, and daydreaming as well as suffering from car sickness. Some of these behavioral problems can be handled through imparting proper Labrador training while others might require sending your Labrador to a professional trainer.
Typical of Labrador problems is that of chasing cats and since this is more of an instinctive driven behavioral problem it can best be changed through giving your pet proper Labrador training which may require spending a lot of time and being patient so that he is taught how to stop this instinctive reaction on his part. Another common behavioral problem that your Labrador can show is that of becoming destructive and this in turn is generally due to his becoming anxious about something.
Such problems generally are noticed in Labradors that are highly energetic and playful and it also occurs when your Labrador gets frustrated when his territory is invaded. Also, chewing becomes a habit in Labradors when they are left alone as it causes them to become anxious and they need some way to vent their fears.
Thus, a Labrador that chases cats and people will need Labrador training given by a professional since such an act is instinctive by nature and is something that an ordinary pet owner may not always be able to handle through normal Labrador training methods.
In case your Labrador consistently misbehaves you would do well to keep a journal in which you should record when the misbehavior took place and what the misbehavior was. This will not only provide you with better understanding of the Labrador problem, but will also help professionals in tackling the problem in a more efficient manner as well.