hi all, we just brought a 8 wk old female standard home. we already have a male mini,10 yr. old. we started out letting her go in the back. she runs around but goes there and we bring her in.lots of praise . just started to try a leash, she chews on it of course. i get her to walk out,praise and she has even gone to the bathroom with it on. BUT, when try to get her to walk with it she bucks and balks, and eventually it gets into a showdown, she barks at me, i try to get her to walk, she tries to nip the leash or me, i tell her NO, she barks back, nips my hand, i finally make her sit and can praise and bring her in But it is a struggle between us. i don't want this to continue and develop into more aggressive behavior later, also, i end up letting her off the leash near the end so she will run around and go to the bathroom before going inside. Any help will be greatly appreciated. thanks, jonathan

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

Answers

The Trainer in our Puppy Kindegarten class suggested holding a treat out in front of her while getting her to walk along the left side of you. Another option (since you have to lean down so far while walking) is to put peanut butter at the end of a long wooden spoon and hold that out in front of her while walking. Eventually, she will learn that walking along side of you gets her treats and praise and will eventually just do it on her own.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

Hi Jonathon! I hope that by now you are doing better with your puppy. Raising a Standard pup is just like raising a child...love and discipline. A baby like yours is better treated with encouragement rather than anger. Treats are a good start, acompanied by lots of praise and love. Eventually, you can wean her off of treats - she will work for praise. It sounds like your pup has never been on a lead. We start all babies at five weeks old and teach them come, sit, off, and down using treats and lots of praise. Keep the puppy's interest focused on you with encouraging "happy" words. Use clear commands in simple words, using the pup's name as you call it. The biting behavior has to be stopped, and hopefully yu can achievethis easily with praise. Good luck!

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002