Is it safe for my pulling puppy to go off-leash outside alone?

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.

I would not recommend taking a dog off leash when in a public area, ever, to be honest. You never know when a strange dog will run up, Noble could get distracted and run into a street, find and eat something that he shouldn't, etc. He will be much safer and healthier in the long-run staying on a leash. Teaching him a strong "heel" and requiring him to walk next to you are also good behavior things to work on.

It's perfectly fine to use a muzzle (I'm assuming that's the same thing as a mouth guard) to make sure Damon stays safe and doesn't eat things he shouldn't. He won't think anything of it. Another option is to work on teaching him a "leave it" command. To do this, have a boring dog treat in one closed fist and hold it out to him, he'll try to get the treat for a while and then give up, as soon as he gives up say "Yes!" and give him a really special treat with the other hand. Repeat and repeat and repeat. Once he's really good at this (and not falling for the trick at all), say "leave it" before putting out the boring treat hand. Keep practicing using better and better treats, but always making sure to reward him with something special. I also love head halters to help with control on walks. Halti and Gentle Leader are two brands to look in to. Good luck to you and Damon!

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!

Some dogs cannot go off leash outside. I would keep her on a leash until you can have the fence installed in the summer. Once the fence is installed you can work with her a lot easier to try to get her to listen to come back to you when called. My concern would be that she would run and get hit by a car, attacked by another animal or run after someone (even if she would never hurt them it can still scare someone). I would try to get a trainer to work with you now since she is so young. If you have a trainer and are consistent you may be able to have her off the leash one day. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly 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.

Yes, this does sound very scary. I would look for a collar that he cannot get out of like a pinch collar or a harness that is properly fitted. This could be a liability to you if your dog is running into another person's yard and being aggressive. I would also consider talking to a behavioral specialist to help train him so he doesn't do this. You could also talk to your vet about starting him on a anti-anxiety or calming medicine like trazadone that you can give before your walks. Finally, you can be safer by either not walking him if you have a backyard or try to walk him when no one else is around. I hope this helps!