Thought I'd post this as a warning to new, inexperienced puppy owners :)

Just this morning, I was standing in my bedroom, looking out of the window where I had a good view of the field next to my house. A father was walking what a very young Airedale puppy with his two little girls. He let it off the lead when they were quite a long way from the road and it was playing nicely . Next time I glanced out of the window, he was still some way from the road, but the puppy was starting to run in bigger circles around them. The father started to chase the puppy and gradually the circles got nearer and nearer the road. As the man continued to chase the pup it started to run for the gate and went straight out and onto the road. Luckily, nothing was coming and eventually the man managed to catch the pup some way down the road.

What had started out quite innocently, had become a potentially fatal situation because the man chased the pup. If he had been prepared with a toy, treats or even run the other way, he would have prevented this.

Hope that this might prevent a similar situation. Any more experienced people please add their own tips if you like :)

Daisy

I always take a toy and treats out with very young puppies. I call them at intervals, praise them and release them to play again. I throw a toy to get them playing around me. I want the area around me to be the most interesting place to be. I start right from the first time I take a puppy out so that the only thing he knows is me, that way he is not going to be too bold and is more likely to want to stay close. Build it up from day one and you reduce the odds of ever having problems 100 fold.

Regards, John