Activities For Labrabulls
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Introduction
Labrabulls are quite the sight for sore eyes; as they result from pairing a Labrador Retriever with an American Pit Bull, these pups have quite a cool look to them. Labrabulls tend to have sleek and shiny jet black coats, strong builds, and an adorable pair of floppy ears that only add to this hybrid breed's natural charm. In a lot of ways, these dogs really have the whole package - they're smart, reliable breeds who can become great family pets once they've been given the right amount of training. Labrabulls can get in on a number of activities; we've only listed a few below to help you get an idea of what these pups are capable of.
Scent Training
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Cheap
Easy
30 min
Items needed
Scented Items
Dog Treats
Activity description
Quick, what's one of the major things dogs are notorious for besides being mind mindbogglingly loyal? If you said, "their great sense of smell," then congratulations - you've just figured what the first of activity in this guide will be about ... and you're also apparently psychic because you've just read our mind like a children's book. Scent training games are tons of fun to play with your dog and they have the added benefit of helping your Labrabull improve their already naturally impressive sense of smell. The idea here is to get a bunch of scented items (or conversely coat a number of items in a strong scent,) prompt your dog to find them, and then reward your pup with a snack.
Step
1
Take a whiff
There isn't a whole lot of preparation needing to get into this activity; really, you'll just need to figure out which items you'd like your dog to try and find and what scents you want to coat them with. In our experience, we've found that you can never go wrong with Lavender or Peppermint scents, but feel free to experiment so you can figure out which smells your pet personally loves. Additionally, it is always recommended to double check with your veterinarian in regards to their view on scents safe for your pet.
Step
2
Hide and seek
In this step, you'll hide the items that you've just scented and your dog will seek them out using their nose. Now your dog will try to use every tool at their disposal to try and find the scented items - meaning that if they see one of the items sticking out like a sore thumb, then they'll just run over and get it. Normally that would be great but this is a scent test, not a sight test. So, get creative when you hide the items and try to put them places that your dog can reach, without making it too obvious.
Step
3
The nose knows
With all of the prep work done, it's time for your Labrabull to get to work! As much as you might be tempted to, try to refrain from holding your dog's hand throughout this activity; let them try to find the hidden items on their own for a while and only jump in if your dog starts heading way off course. When they manage to find an item, hook them up with a snack and lots of praise. And If they don't manage to find anything, encourage them to keep their head up regardless.
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Agility Training
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Moderate
Normal
45 - 60 min
Items needed
Wood
PVC Poles
Tunnel
Teeter-totter
Food and Water
Activity description
We know it's called agility training but you can really think of this activity as an obstacle course exercise. Labrabulls are very energetic little guys who love hopping around the place and running and up down the walls as is. Agility training aims to help your pup reign all of that frantic energy in so that you can get some peace of mind and so your dog can become much agiler and balanced. You can take your dog to a full-time agility trainer, or you can set aside some time and space in order to do it yourself. Either or is perfectly viable, so it largely comes down to preference.
Step
1
Setting up the DIY method
So, you've decided you are going to train your dog yourself? Awesome! Personally training your dog is always a great way for the two of you to bond, as doing so helps your dog see you as their leader and less as simply being the weird looking creature that gives them food from time to time. The backyard is a great place to train your dog, as there is lots of open space that'll be available to the both of you. Build hurdles out of wood and use PVC pipes as weaves poles. The limit as to what you can do is endless. Demonstrate the obstacles as you build them; be patient and use treats as a reward when obstacles are mastered.
Step
2
Getting professional help
Hiring a professional agility trainer or even enrolling your dog in an agility training course will work just as fine, if not better, than going about the DIY depending on your dog's temperament; if your dog is the kind of pup that has a difficult time taking directions from anyone who's not you, then the DIY method would be better. But if your particular Labrabull is willing to follow the instructions of another, then professional agility trainer can be a faster and more refined alternative to the DIY method. These pros can show your pooch the ropes, such as training your pup to traverse a teeter-totter or work their way through a tunnel.
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Weight Pulling
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Expensive
Hard
1 hr
Items needed
Dog Weight Sled
Dog Harness
Weight Plates
Activity description
We saved the best (read toughest) activity for last this guide, as weight pulling isn't exactly an activity for the faint of heart. Your Labrabull will be pulling pounds upon pounds of weights, which will be racked onto a weight sled that's pretty heavy in its own right, across a track. Sounds intense right? Well, you shouldn't worry too much; Labrabulls have very strong frames that will help them pull quite a bit of weight without too much hassle. Labrabulls can eventually reach the point where they can pull heavier amounts of weight as well - provided that they've got a loving owner who's willing to train them.
Step
1
Get to know the weight sled
For most dog owners out there, this will probably be the first time you've even heard of a dog weight sled, let alone handled one. Weight sleds aren't the most complex pieces of equipment in the world (that illustrious title still goes to hoverboards in our book,) but it wouldn't hurt to spend some time getting to know your weight sled before your dog comes anywhere near it.
Step
2
Safety first
Your Labrabull is going to be too busy pushing themselves to their physical limits to really be all that concerned with safety, so it'll be up to you to keep an eye on things and to make sure that your dog doesn't over do it. Don't be afraid to call a weight pulling session to a stop if it looks like your pup is all puckered out and keep plenty of water on hand to keep your dog hydrated.
Step
3
Upsizing
In our experience, we've found that the best way to help a dog succeed at this activity is to start them out working with low weights. Early on, your dog should probably not try to pull anything heavier than 10 pounds until they've really gotten the hang of this activity. Once they start figuring things out and getting used to pulling certain amounts of weight, then you can gradually add on more weight each session - aim to add weight at 5-pound increments as your dog starts to plateau.
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More Fun Ideas...
Musical Statue
Think of this activity as a dog-friendly version of the classic "musical chairs" game. The idea behind this musical statues activity is to get your dog to stay as still as, well, a statue while you walk around them in a circle. Let your dog know that they're doing a good job by saying something like "good" or "great job" every time they stay still and they'll eventually get the hang of this unconventional game.
Toy Retrieval
All dogs love spending hours upon hours playing with their favorite toys, but putting those toys away after an intense session is an entirely different story. Doesn't it make you wish there was a way to get your dog to think of cleaning up after themselves as another game? Well, this activity may be the answer to your prayers; the next time your dog is done playing with their toys, encourage them to put their toys away by showing them where to put their toys and then giving them a treat for each toy they successfully stash away.
Conclusion
After reading about the various activities we've put together for this guide, we certainly hope that we've convinced you that Labrabulls are fantastic dogs that can potentially liven up your life. These dogs are incredibly energetic, so it can take some time to adjust to their incredibly active lifestyle, but they're also very loyal and will always encourage you during particularly trying workouts. After reading this guide, we also hope that we were able to get across just how smart and mentally flexible Labrabulls can be, helping further cement their status as a "Jack of all trades" kind of dog, in our opinion.