by Amy Dahl
Question: At first, I thought my Lab – a two-year-old, intact female – was ill, but after several checkups (including blood work) at the vet resulting in a clean bill of health, I’m now starting to think she’s just, well, lazy! She doesn’t seem to have much desire for anything other than her food. Not big on toys, games of fetch or chase in the yard last only a couple minutes before she loses interest, and she’s not overly keen on walks. She’ll go on them, but she just seems like I’m inconveniencing her naptime. Some people say, “Wow, you’re so lucky you have such a calm Lab,” but, honestly, I’d like to see some more pep! What can I do to go about putting some spring in her step?
If you’ve truly ruled out health problems, you may just have a Lab with a naturally lower level of energy and drive. Labs vary widely in this trait. Dogs who compete in field trials or who must repeatedly go into cold water after ducks while hunting are bred for an abundance of drive, but this intensity can make a Labrador difficult to manage as a pet – excessively gung-ho and potentially destructive. A lot of owners would like to have the Lab’s adaptability, gentleness, and willingness to please, but without the constant need for action. Some breeders strive to produce what they see as the ultimate pet, gentle and adaptable but more laid-back, and it sounds as though you may have one of these.
I have had a lot of success building enthusiasm in dogs that initially lacked it, including working with quite a few Labs whose drive is at the low end of the spectrum. In almost every case, I was able to nurture their enthusiasm and develop them into creditable working retrievers. I believe the key to building enthusiasm is to prioritize that above everything else; both overall progress and individual sessions need to be planned around this goal. Furthermore, we must be on the alert to notice if our well-intentioned training is having the wrong effect and discouraging the dog. If this happens, immediately stop or change strategies.
Your Lab’s desire for food can serve as your secret weapon. Using food as a motivator may or may not be your first choice, but it is probably the best and most accessible strategy for your Lab with her specific mix of traits. There are lots of books and classes available to help you develop the skill of training with food. You will most likely be amazed how motivated your Lab becomes when she realizes that she can earn food treats. I recommend a class over a book with the best instructor you can find. Getting the details right as a beginner can make a huge difference in how fast your dog progresses and how much fun it is for you.
There are different protocols for training dogs using food rewards. A popular approach that I have used successfully is clicker training, or operant conditioning. You might prefer a different method. I am not going to get into the details of different methods here – I’m going to focus on building enthusiasm in a Lab that seems to have a low level of innate drive. Be assured, though, that you can teach your Lab all of her obedience plus how to retrieve and deliver to hand, all using food as a motivator.
To read the rest of Amy’s suggestions, find the article in the March/April 2025 issue now!
