The
Labrador Retriever Academy

Train smarter. Bond deeper.

Online Training and Activities for Labs —Created for Labrador Lovers!

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Ziva Rudolf, Labrador trainer, walking in the forest with adult Labradors and puppies

Where well-behaved Labs — and joyful bonds — are made.

So glad you’re here. Your Lab’s new favorite place starts now.

Labrador Retriever Academy icon of a Labrador wearing a graduation cap

At The Labrador Retriever Academy, we believe in training that builds connection — not just obedience.

Because the most well-behaved Labs are the ones who feel understood, fulfilled, and heard.

🐾 Why Labradors Need a Different Kind of Training

Understanding your Lab isn’t just helpful — it’s essential.

Labradors aren’t just any dog. They’re purpose-bred, driven by curiosity, and overflowing with enthusiasm for life. That’s what makes them so lovable — and so challenging at times.

Most “one-size-fits-all” training doesn’t fit Labs at all. What works for a Border Collie might completely miss the mark for your sweet, bouncy companion.

At The Labrador Retriever Academy, we don’t try to suppress who your Lab is.Instead, we help you embrace their nature — from their love of sniffing to their people-loving personalities — and channel it into focus, responsiveness, and a joyful willingness to learn.

Because when your Lab feels understood, they learn faster, listen better, and stay in tune with you — even in exciting, distracting environments.

Why Labs Are So Amazing… and Also So Challenging

Your Lab’s Greatest Gifts Can Also Be Your Biggest Training Struggles

  • Their friendliness? It can turn into jumping on guests.
  • Their love of movement? It can become pulling on the leash.
  • Their intelligence? It can lead to mischief when bored.
  • Their work ethic? It needs to be channeled through games, tasks, and connection.

You’re not alone if you sometimes feel like your Lab ignores you — especially once you step outside. The good news? With the right kind of guidance, your Labrador can become focused, engaged, and a joy to live with.

Illustrated guide of Labrador Retriever behaviors for training: walking calmly, pulling, chewing, jumping, and bonding, used in Labrador Retriever Academy courses.
Živa Rudolf and her Labrador during Search & Rescue training with SAR team in Slovenia
Ziva Rudolf, Labrador trainer, walking in the forest with adult Labradors and puppies
Ziva Rudolf, Labrador trainer, walking in the forest with adult Labradors and puppies

Hi, I’m Živa — And I Get It

I’m Not Just a Trainer. I’m a Labrador breeder, Search & Rescue dog handler, and a devoted Lab lover. I also run a dog training school in Slovenia, where I work hands-on with dogs and their owners.

I live and work with Labradors every day—from raising puppies to helping high-energy teenagers find their balance, and supporting owners with dogs that feel “too much to handle.” My work as a Search & Rescue dog handler has shown me firsthand that even the most intense Labradors can learn calm focus and cooperation—and those same principles make everyday life easier for families, too.

I created The Labrador Retriever Academy to share the exact tools I use in real life to raise calm, confident, and connected dogs.

I’ve seen too many owners blame themselves — or their dogs — when training doesn’t work.
But the truth is: it’s not your fault. You just need a method that’s actually designed for your breed.

I’m here to show you that your Lab is capable of amazing things — and that training can be joyful, not stressful.

What You’ll Find Inside the Academy

Playful, Proven Training for Real Life With Your Labrador

🎓 Step-by-step courses designed for Labs of all ages

🐾 Games that build focus, impulse control, and connection

💬 Supportive advice based on science and heart — not harsh methods

🍖 Guidance on nutrition, enrichment, and breed-specific jobs

🎯 Solutions for real-life struggles — from leash pulling to recall to managing arousal

Boy bonding with a Labrador puppy – Labrador Retriever Academy

REAL RESULTS FROM LABRADOR OWNERS

★★★★★

”I am so grateful to have access to Ziva’s training strategies for my 2 year old rescue lab through her online course and FB group support. It’s obvious Ziva has a tremendous passion for building relationships between ppl and their Labrador Retrievers/Lab mixes based on the content of her course…”

Close-up portrait of a black Labrador Retriever mix with amber eyes, sitting outdoors on a nature trail

Jill F. (Atlanta, GA)

Rescue Lab owner • Dave, 2 years

★★★★★

“This course was a game changer for me and my highly bitey Lab puppy. I’d tried a bunch of different online advice and was getting nowhere, possibly because it wasn’t suited to Labradors. The specific advice I was given by Živa has allowed me to get better focus from girl and it’s getting better everyday.”

Close-up portrait of a black Labrador Retriever mix with amber eyes, sitting outdoors on a nature trail

Hayley (Australia)

Lab puppy owner • Rolo

★★★★★

“When you’re looking for something more – for both you and your beloved dogs – you seek out Živa’s care and expertise!”​

Close-up portrait of a black Labrador Retriever mix with amber eyes, sitting outdoors on a nature trail

Simona (Slovenia)

Lab owner • Sia & Maloo

★★★★★

“My biggest take away from the course was connection. I didn’t realize that my lab would benefit from connection through play and games. But, it has helped me connect and build a bond with my puppy. I highly recommend this course to better understand your lab!”

Close-up portrait of a black Labrador Retriever mix with amber eyes, sitting outdoors on a nature trail

Kristen (Florida, USA)

Lab puppy owner • Millie

WELCOME TO THE LABRADOR RETRIEVER ACADEMY — BREED-SPECIFIC TRAINING DESIGNED FOR REAL LIFE.

Choose the course that fits your Labrador today, and build focus, impulse control, and clear communication through short, playful sessions that work with retriever instincts—not against them.

CHOOSE YOUR COURSE

Training That Feels Like Bonding — Not Battling

  • If you’re ready to stop shouting, pulling, bribing, or feeling guilty…
  • If you want your Lab to actually listen and enjoy learning…
  • If you want your relationship to feel like a partnership, not a struggle…

Then you’re in the right place.

A minimalist vector illustration of a Labrador sitting beside a stack of books and looking at a chalkboard that reads “Aa.” This soft yet professional icon represents the idea that dog training can be rooted in connection and communication, not shouting or struggle. Perfect for the section: “Training That Feels Like Bonding — Not Battling.

Inside the Academy, we cover every aspect of your Labrador’s behavior and well-being: from teaching calm focus and recall in distracting places, to choosing the right food, understanding their arousal levels, and giving them meaningful jobs that satisfy their working instincts.

Whether your Lab is a wild puppy or an adult with selective hearing, we have a path forward — rooted in trust, not control.

Start building real connection and trust with your Labrador — In Just 21 Days

Start the Focus Challenge
30-day money-back guarantee badge with gold seal

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed — Or Your Money Back!

We believe in this course. We believe in your Labrador. And most of all — we believe in your success.

That’s why we offer a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

If you go through the course and feel like it’s not the right fit for you and your Lab, just send us an email — and we’ll refund your full purchase. No hassle. No hard feelings.

This is more than just a course — it’s a partnership. And we want you to feel confident, supported, and excited to begin.

Your journey matters. And we stand behind it, every step of the way.

You’re Not Alone. And You’re Not Doing It Wrong.

Your Labrador doesn’t need to be “fixed.”

They need to be understood and heard.

And you — you’re exactly the kind of person they need.

Logo of the Labrador Retriever Academy featuring a Labrador silhouette reaching for a star above an open book
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