We have a beautiful 5 month female chocolate lab puppy. Training is going ok, however when I take my children out plus the baby in the pushchair, the puppy stries to run ahead with the boys instead of walking alongside the buggy with me. For safety reasons I do not allow her off the lead until on the fields.
Is this a protective instinct?
How can we enjoy out walks and convince her that for the children to run off ahead is quite safe. She barks and pulls to such an extent that I have to make the children stay next to us which is hard and upsets them, but for them to run off ahead upsets the puppy.
I wish I could let her off the lead so she can run alongside them but I feel this but would be very dangerous for all of them.

regards

She probably just wants to be with them - where the real excitment is, rather than back with you - the trick is to make being with you better than being ahead with the children, I'd use treats when she's not pulling, so she learns which side her bread is buttered (and being a Lab it shouldnt' take her that long ;-)) Please don't ever consider letting her off lead until you're at the park..........