Originally Posted by
Shelley
I don't care for harnesses, they are designed for dogs that are supposed to pull, like sled dogs. A properly fitted and used prong collar as a short term training tool is much more effective.
I also teach young dogs the "Exchange Program", where the dog or puppy has something, I call them, offer a treat, they give me what they have, (if it is a safe thing for them to have like a stick, I give it back to them). My dogs bring me stuff all the time for a cookie, sometimes I indulge them, sometimes I don't, but still do regularly. This way you aren't chasing them around the yard and they gulp what they have in their mouth, because we always take it from them. If my puppies (9 months old) have something they shouldn't, I just say their name, and show them I gave a cookie, they run to give me what they have, Miley just brought me a fence nail yesterday, definitely something I didn't want to her have. She gave it right to me happily.
You don't say how old your puppy is, but you posted in the puppy forum, how old is your puppy that you are walking her 2.5 miles a day? I don't take my 9 month olds more that 1/2 mile, although they can play and swim as much as they want. Their joints are still growing, and I don't want to stress the joints until the growth plates have closed.