5 Reasons Labrador Owners Swear By This Guide (+ 1 Bonus Tip)

Labradors weren't bred to sit on the sofa. They were bred to work all day alongside fishermen and gamekeepers, swimming out for nets and carrying birds back without a scratch. That history is still in every Lab today, and it explains almost everything they do.

The jumping? A people-focused working dog greeting its team. The carrying of shoes, socks and tea towels? A retriever doing exactly what it was bred to do. The endless appetite? A dog that was always paid in food for a hard day's work.

Most training advice skips all of this and treats every dog the same. That's why it so often fails with Labradors: it fights the instincts instead of using them.

Every chapter of The Complete Labrador Collection starts with why your Lab does something, then shows you how to work with it. Once you see the retriever behind the behaviour, the fixes suddenly make sense, and they stick.

Ask any Lab owner about food and you'll hear the same stories: a loaf of bread gone from the counter, the bin tipped over, a sandwich vanishing from a toddler's hand. Most owners see that appetite as the problem.

These guides treat it as the answer. A Labrador will work harder for a piece of kibble than almost any other breed will for a squeaky toy, so the guides show you how to set aside part of their daily food and use it for training. That way you're not adding extra treats or extra calories.

For the bin raids and counter surfing, you'll learn why telling off rarely works (the reward of the stolen food is bigger than the telling off) and what does: taking away the chance to succeed, and teaching a simple, rewarding "go to bed" when food is being prepared.

It's calm, kind and very Labrador-friendly. Their nose stays busy, their tail keeps wagging, and your kitchen stays yours.

Labradors are well known for piling on the pounds. Many have a big appetite and never seem to feel full, and that thick coat makes it hard to see when they're getting heavier.

A few extra pounds matter more than most owners realise. Carrying extra weight puts more strain on joints, makes walks harder work and can take the spring out of a Lab's step as they get older.

The Lab Food Scavenging and Weight Plan gives you a quick, hands-on rib check you can do in seconds, a simple way to portion meals properly, and how to fit training rewards into their daily allowance so treats don't quietly add up.

It's not a diet plan, and it's not a replacement for your vet. It's an everyday routine that makes it easier to keep your Lab fit and comfortable. (If you're ever worried about your dog's weight or health, your vet is always the first call.)

A Labrador greets with its whole body: tail, paws, tongue and all. It's lovely when you're in old clothes, less so when your elderly neighbour comes round or you've just got dressed for work.

The usual advice is to push them down or shout "off!". The trouble is, to a Labrador, any attention is a reward, even a cross word or a hand on the chest. So the jumping becomes a game, and the game gets stronger.

The Calm Greetings Reset teaches the opposite: four paws on the floor earns the fuss, jumping earns nothing. It's broken into short sessions you can practise with family and visitors, so your Lab learns that sitting is the fastest way to say hello.

The Labrador Pulling Fix uses the same idea on walks. A loose lead keeps you moving and a tight one stops you, so your Lab learns that pulling never gets them there faster. Walks get easier on your shoulder, and far more enjoyable for you both.

Whether you've just brought home an eight-week-old puppy or you're living with a boisterous five-year-old, the collection covers your Lab's whole life.

The Complete Labrador Puppy Guide walks you through settling in, toilet training, socialising and those first few months of chewing. The Complete Labrador Adult Guide covers exercise, enrichment, grooming and living happily together for years to come.

Then there are five bonus guides for the problems Labradors are known for: food scavenging and weight, calm greetings, pulling, barking and toilet habits. That's 7 guides in total, all written for Labradors.

Every guide is broken into short daily steps that fit around your day. Read them on your phone, tablet or computer, or print the checklists and stick them on the fridge so the whole family stays on the same page.