This is a little late, but I wanted to comment on crate training. We have had several rescue lab mixes and find crate training very helpful.

It’s really easy to housebreak a dog by using a crate and a dog door. Whenever we can’t be right there to supervise the dog, we push the crate up to the dog door. The dog has two choices, be outside, or shelter in the crate (which is warm and cozy in the house). Dogs will not soil their crate, so they will go outside to do their “business”. They very quickly get the idea that outside is the proper place.

Currently, we have a “demented” lab mix, Jazmine. She’s a little crazy, but also very sweet. She was a stray and we don’t know exactly what must have happened to her. She is great with the family, but fearful of strangers, and a bite risk when we have guests. Fortunately, Jazmine feels safe in her crate, so when we have company she goes in there. Usually she just snoozes until our guests leave.

Jazmine is very playful and loves to play “bowl hockey” with her supper dish. She will push it across the kitchen floor, run, and jump onto the bowl with her front paws, so she is “bowl surfing” across the floor. It’s really funny to watch. We love the playfulness of labs!