My 10 week old labrador was just given the all clear to walk outside the garden a few days ago, and we have lead trained her in the garden, but as soon as she gets outsie the back gate, she tries to run for it! It is horrid because she chokes herself! :( I am really worried that i will never be abie to let her off her lead in the future :(

OK - she is 10 weeks old, and although you have lead trained her in the garden when you get outside there are new smells, new sights.......all these are really exciting to a pup and scary !  Do you remember your first day at school ?  Well just try to imagine it again and then you can understand where your pup is coming from :)  I wouldn't fuss too much, she is only 10 weeks old, we all have different methods of walking to heel but simply keep using the same process you used with her in the garden, don't get anxious or cross with her and keep the training short and sweet. (she should only be going out for little walks at the moment :) ) lots of praise when she gets things right and a tasty treat that she can associate only with training.

Maybe for the first few times instead of taking her for a walk you could just get her to stand, sit or lay down for 10 minutes and watch the world go by - keep talking to her telling her she is a good girl giving her lots of reassurance, then after a few times you can go a few steps down the road / path gradually increasing it day by day.  It is all new to her, give her time and always remember that you are not alone, we have all been there or going through it ourselves.

Also, have you enrolled on a puppy class ?  These can be invaluable for doggy socialisation and for getting to talk to other owners, new and experienced, where you can get ideas from.

Good luck.  HTH, Tara x

Yes she goes to puppy socialisation classes every week! She loves it and is great with other dogs, and she learns alot too. She sat on command the first day we got her and she is learning to stay and come!.... I try to get her to sit outside and she ignores me.

It is hard to get a puppies attention, things around them are much more exciting :)  So you have to make yourself as exciting to her as the outside world - call her name in a really happy voice, when she responds reward her with a big fuss and a treat.  You can do this at anytime of the day and anywhere in the house / garden / outside.  Be really exciting to her :D

Also do you do the 'look at me' indoors / in the garden to get and keep her attention ?  Find a treat that she loves and hold it in the line between her eyes and yours, saying 'look at me' or 'watch me' whilst doing so, when she looks at you even for just a second, reward her with a treat, good girl then repeat.  Keep doing this at different times of the day in different places of the house and garden soon she will be looking at you until 'you' break the line and give her the treat - I would do the 'look at me' training along with a play, make her looking at you as a good thing, if she looks at you and gives you her attention she will be rewarded with something good like a quick play with ragger. (you must always win the game though :) )

Puppies can be headstrong (our youngest pup a boxer aged 19 weeks old is currently going through his I'm gonna see how far I can push you stage !) but with consistent training, lots of praise and good exciting play sessions they can become easier :D