Expert: Delores Beck - 3/29/2011

Question
can you please tell me when doing the umbilical training with my 11 week old pup how long each time  it should last and how many times per day, thank you

Answer
You can do it as long as she's awake :).  Having her on leash gives you total control and it tells her she's so not "in charge".

And please note I strongly recommend a harness and not a collar.

Also - in the house you can snap her leash on her and run her through - let's go - sit - let's go, etc. for a few minutes several times a day.  And add other commands as you teach them.
The next command should be "drop it" and that means whatever is in her mouth gets released.

Every day in every way she needs to know YOU are the leader.  She doesn't get the food bowl put down until she sits as an example.  Make her work for it.  There's no free lunch :).

And Dianna, I know it's difficult when you just want to have fun with your cuddly puppy to have to be "on high alert" every minute but if you get this done now, it'll be over.


And she's not being a bad girl - she's doing what dogs with a dominant personality do.  It's your job to teach her exactly where she fits in the pack.  Once they "get it" - it's a done deal.