My puppy is well-behaved. Can he safely go off-leash in public?

I can understand that you want him to be under voice control and walk beside you without a leash but this is usually very difficult because dogs are such curious creatures. It is also unsafe. I always recommend having a dog on a leash when not in a fenced in area because of cars and other animals passing by could seriously injure your dog. All it takes is a small break in concentration (from a passerby, another pet, or a squirrel or bird) for your dog to not listen to your commands and run off. I’m sorry, I know this was probably not the response you hoping to hear but your pet’s safety is the primary concern. Best of luck. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Damon is still a puppy so I do not recommend not leaving him off of a leash. You can always get Damon a gentle leader to help with the pulling of the leash. Here is a gentle leader you can get from PetSmart https://www.petsmart.com/dog/collars-harnesses-and-leashes/collars/petsafe-gentle-leader-training-dog-collar-5010512.html?utm_id=500%7Cpg115630%7C4580359283606212&utm_term=5010512&utm_campaign=PLA-BPA%20-%20High%20-%20Online%20Pricing%20Initiative%20-%20Hardgoods%20-%20PLA&lsft=utm_source%3Agoogle%2Cutm_term%3A5010512%2Cutm_medium%3Acpc%2Cutm_content%3AGSC%20-%20High%20-%20Online%20Pricing%20Initiative%20-%20Hardgoods%20-%20PLA%20%7C%20Petsafe%2Cutm_campaign%3AGSC%20-%20High%20-%20Online%20Pricing%20Initiative%20-%20Hardgoods%20-%20PLA&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_content=GSC%20-%20High%20-%20Online%20Pricing%20Initiative%20-%20Hardgoods%20-%20PLA%20%7C%20Petsafe I never recommend having a dog off leash unless in a fenced in area. The reason for this is because if they see an animal or someone they can run off and either scare someone, get hurt or always can get hit by a car. I would talk to a trainer to get help with training Damon to not pull on a leash if the gentle leader does not help. Thank you for using PetCoach.

Beagles most certainly DO have a great sense of smell. Because of this, when off lead they can catch a scent that interests them and follow that rather than staying near you or listening to your commands. I would be nervous about letting most beagles of lead because of this. Before considering this, I would do a lot of training with Maverick in a fenced area practicing basic recall and recall with distractions.

Hi and thanks for your question. Maggie is quite young to be trusted off leash just yet. I would definitely recommend keeping her on the leash to go potty until she is fully trained and into her adult years. Most pets aren't fully trained until they are closer to 12 months of age. You also will ensure that she is mature enough to handle being off leash. It is best to be safe than sorry.

I would give it some time and training. Ziggy is a young dog and his exuberance on walks around other dogs is to be expected. It would help for you to start some "learn to earn" training. This means before Ziggy gets anything desirable (like a treat, attention for play, going outside, getting a meal) he has to sit and focus on you for a second. To facilitate this you start in the home where there are minimal distractions. Use a treat to get Ziggy to sit and look at you while saying "focus" or whatever command you want. Continue to do this before Ziggy gets anything fun or desirable. Eventually you can practice this behavior on walks so Ziggy is less triggered by other distractions. As always with training time and consistency are key. Everyone in the household should practice this with Ziggy. It may take a few months for him to get it down pat. You can always contact a credible trainer to help you out if needed. I hope this helps and good luck to you and Ziggy! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I think you meant leash? Yes, gentle pulling on a leash while out for a walk is safe. It can take puppies several weeks to understand the purpose of a leash. If you puppies is coughing or snorting when pulling on the leash he may need to wear a harness instead of a collar. Obedience training will help you puppy understand to walk next to you instead of pulling on a leash. A leash should never be left on a puppy without you being on the other end - they can get easily tangled up and choke!

I would highly recommend keeping him on a leas for a while until he is better trained. I would recommend starting with basic commands like come, sit and play. I would take him some place not crowded and keep him attached to a leash and start with the above commands. once he starts responding you can add length to his leash. Once he starts coming to you on a really long leash you can start to remove the leash. It will take a while but you can teach him to listen to you in a crowded area.