Are Chocolate Labradors Harder To Train?

Brown labradors are rumored to be more difficult to train than their yellow and black counterparts. So if you’re considering getting one of them, you might be worried that these whispers hold some truth.

Chocolate Labradors aren’t harder to train. A genotype, and not coat color, determine this behavior. If you’re having trouble training your dog, consider using positive reinforcement and being consistent in your lessons.

In the rest of this article, I’ll explain a few topics related to this question in great detail, including why the gene responsible for a dog’s coat color doesn’t affect its trainability and what factors determine a canine’s receptiveness to lessons. Keep reading.

Does Coat Color Affect Trainability?

Coat color doesn’t affect dog trainability. Studies and experiments have found no known relation between the color of a dog’s fur and its temperament, which is determined by the animal’s genotype.

For example, 2019 study found that their conclusions didn’t support the hypothesis that chocolate labradors are more difficult to train than their golden or black counterparts. They deduced that a dog’s aggressiveness and temperament aren’t correlated to its fur color.

The combination of alleles in a dog’s genes determines the color of its coat.

A puppy inherits two alleles for each gene. If the alleles are different, one will dominate over the other and lead to an observable trait (coat color). On the other hand, if the alleles are the same, either one can be dominant because the result will be the same.

When a labrador has a brown allele (b) and a black allele (B), the latter will dominate, and the dog will have a black coat. On the other hand, a labrador with two brown alleles (bb) will have brown fur.

That same study found that trainability can decrease due to the presence of the b allele. However, having this allele doesn’t always lead to a brown coat, because a labrador with the Bb genotype will be black. For this reason, it can’t be said that chocolate labradors are harder to train.

Chocolate Labradors Aren’t Always Harder To Train

The Bb alleles are influenced by extension alleles (Ee). Together, they create a range of potential genotypes and phenotypes.

Genotype (combination of alleles)	Phenotype (observable trait)
BBEE	black
BbEE	black
BBEe	black
BbEe	black
bbEE	chocolate
bbEe	chocolate
BBee	yellow
Bbee	yellow
bbee	Yellow (light eyes and brown nose)

As you can see, both chocolate and yellow labradors can have the bb genotype. Even black labradors can have the Bb genotype, which has the b allele.

Since the study says having the b allele results in a labrador being difficult to train, you can’t make judgments based on coat color. A labrador of any color could have it and hence not be super receptive to commands.

The Best Way To Train a Chocolate Labrador

Regardless of the color of your labrador, there’s a good chance it won’t be very receptive to training. Therefore, unfortunately, you’ll have to make an extra effort to teach it how to properly behave.

However, there are a couple of techniques you can use to make the process easier.

Use a Reward-Based Method

When it comes to training labradors, always reward good behavior instead of punishing bad ones. Positive reinforcement has been proven to be more effective at modifying canine conduct.

Whenever your chocolate labrador listens to your instructions, reward it. This could be a snack it loves, vocal praise, or a scratch on its head. As the dog’s owner, you know what your pet likes best.

The most important thing to remember here is that the reward needs to be attractive enough for the labrador to make it want to adapt its behavior according to your instructions.

Don’t make assumptions about what your canine friend likes. Instead, observe its reactions to different rewards and use the one it loves the most.

Why Clicker Training Is a Great Way To Learn

A clicker is a mechanical device that produces a clicking sound, known as an event marker.

You use the clicker at the exact moment your labrador displays a reward-worthy behavior. Then reward them.

This way, they’ll know exactly what behavior you like and are more likely to repeat it. Consequently, you’ll speed up the training process.

Note: You can’t use the clicking sound outside of your training for any other purpose, or you’ll confuse your pet and hurt your progress.

Avoid Being Violent or Aggressive With Your Labrador

Animals that are abused can develop PTSD and get severe anxiety.

Symptoms of this illness include being aggressive and hypervigilant. Labradors who’ve been exposed to trauma may also start avoiding certain people and places that are triggering for them.

All this means that if you hurt your chocolate pup, they’re more likely to reject your training. They’ll also try to stay away from you as much as possible.

So you should be kind and patient with your pet, even if it’s stubborn and refuses to listen to you.

Taking away rewards will be far more effective. When your dog does something they’re not supposed to, take away a toy or treat them like.

Have Consistent Lessons

When you’re trying to teach your labrador a command, you need to be consistent with it.

For instance, if you’re giving them a treat every time they listen to a ‘sit’ command, you can’t give them the treat in any other situation. They need to know that the only way to get it is by listening to you.

Also, once you establish a rule, you can’t go back on it. For instance, if you’ve stopped your dog from sitting on your clothes, you need to be strict about it whenever you see them doing it. You can’t be stern one moment and lenient the next.

Exercise Your Dog for an Hour Every Day

If your dog is bored for long periods, it’ll develop behavioral issues and start acting out. This could look like they becoming destructive and unresponsive to your directions.

Keeping a labrador busy is a demanding task because they’re high-energy dogs.

The easiest way to burn off your pet’s energy is by exercising with them for at least an hour every day. Go on your backyard and play fetch with it. Alternatively, take it for a walk at a dog park. It can socialize and play with other canines.

It doesn’t matter what you decide to do as long as there is some activity in your pet’s life.

Get Your Labrador Chew Toys

Another way to keep your dog busy and out of trouble is by getting them toys. It’ll keep them occupied while you attend to your day-to-day commitments.

One great option is the Kong Classic Dog Toy (available on Amazon.com). It’s incredibly durable, so your pup can play with it for a long time. It’s affordable, so you don’t need to spend a lot. And it reinforces good chewing behavior.

You can use the toy to set boundaries with your pet regarding what they can and cannot chew on.

The Kong toy needs to be cleaned regularly because it can get quite slimy. So you might want to consider buying a couple of them if you don’t want to be cleaning dog saliva all the time.

Conclusion

The color of a labrador’s coat doesn’t determine how hard it is to train. Trainability is affected by how much of a specific ‘b’ allele is present in their genetic makeup, and there’s no way for you to estimate this by their physical traits.

If you’re finding it difficult to train your chocolate labrador, consider introducing a reward-based system into their training. Clicker training is particularly effective. Avoid being aggressive but be consistent with your lessons.

Also, keep your dog busy by giving them toys and opportunities to exercise.

Improve your training skills for your chocolate Labrador by considering a dog training course. These courses provide expert instruction and a structured approach to training. With a variety of techniques, from obedience training to behavior modification, you can achieve your training objectives with ease. With the right course, you’ll have access to the tools and resources necessary to effectively train your chocolate Labrador, leading to a happy, well-behaved pet.

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