I'm getting ready to leave, but I just couldn't resist. I'm going to make myself late!
First off never keep a puppy in the backyard by itself, even if it is just during the day. Crate him inside and give him a chew bone when you are gone. You can toss treats in and say 'kennel up' or whatever. He will learn the command and learn that the crate is a safe place to be.
Puppies left outside will learn all sort of unfortunate behaviors, like barking, digging, chewing on the siding of the house or anything else available. Crating in the house has a real civilizing effect and makes the dog feel he is part of the pack and not an isolated outcast.
You can get him to sit for his dinner. Teach him a sit in the kindest way, and then every time he gets fed he must sit before you put the bowl down for him to eat. Look up how to train a sit on the internet, a book, or someone here will tell you.
He must sit at the door before you let him out. If you are going out the door also make sure you go out before him, as this is a dominance issue. Of course this can start later when he is older and is not a puppy desparate to get out the door and pee.
I would recommend crating him in your bedroom at night, if there are no other dominance problems. He may not sleep in anyone's bed for the first year, he should be crated at night. It may give you a few sleepless nights, but patience is a real virtue when training a puppy. The puppy gets to spend 6 more hours with you and absorb your scent. I know that sounds strange but I think it counts.
He may not mouth you, he may not demand anything by barking except to go outside.
When he is 6-8 months old make him down at your feet while you are sitting in the evening watching TV. Presumably you have trained him to down by this point. Make sure you do this on leash and make sure you pay attention to what the puppy is doing.
If he gets up you say down and put him back down. The first few sessions he will probably get up at least 50 times and you down him again in a very neutral way. Don't ask him but tell him very neutrally to down.
Patience and persistence are needed to train a lab puppy, as they can be (not always) pretty hard headed.
Start him on short walks and leash training right away. With my first dog I had to spend a lot of time coaxing her forward by getting ahead of her and calling her to me. But once she got it she loved walks. As he gets older the walks can get longer.
Teach him not to run out the front door, not to jump out of the car,
not to jump up on you and please teach him a ROCK SOLID recall, with a long line if you have to.
Play recall from person to person with 'come' or 'here' when he is little and treat him for it, or play with him when he comes. Whatever he likes you should do when he comes to you.
I gotta go, best of luck with your lab pup. I'm sure he will be wonderful.
And always remember to praise him when he sits and comes and for other good behavior.
