Sorry forgot to answer the last 2 points.
The leash pulling problem can be relatively easily fixed by teaching your dog the 3 stages of the Heel command as outlined in SitStayFetch. I have copied in the text from Stage 1 of the process below, even this stage should give you good results regardless of whether you have a puppy or fully grown dog!
Stage 1
The first stage of teaching your puppy to heel is to prevent him from pulling on the leash at all.
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You will need to have the collar and leash on your puppy.
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Stand next to and to the right of your puppy so that you are both facing in the same direction and the puppy is sitting on your left.
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Start walking forward slowly in a straight line, leading with your left leg. As soon as your puppy takes off and starts pulling on the leash, stand still and pull the leash back towards you. Do not drag the puppy back towards you. All you need to do is halt its progress.
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Wait until the puppy stops, praise it and then continue walking. No command needs to be given at this stage as you are just trying to teach your puppy good manners so that it can more easily understand the Heel command when the time comes to teach it fully.
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If you apply this method for ten minutes at a time and for three or four times per day then within four or five days you should be ready to move on to the next phase.
It is quite likely that you will get good results within a few minutes, at least enough that your puppy will stop pulling you all over the place. It may take longer for some older dogs who have been given a free rein, so to speak, throughout their lives to change their leash-pulling behavior.
When the SitStay Technique isn't Enough
You have to modify the way that you are training your dog slightly. When your dog starts to pull, you need to:
*Stop and give your dogs lead a few tugs, and growl the guttural growl, ("AAHH!" rather then "NO") then bring the dog back beside you.
*Start walking away again and hold a treat by your side (so that your dog knows it is there).
*Your dog should be following along side you, if it tries to jump for the treat ignore it (do not let your dog bite at your hand though).
*When your dog tires of that, and simply walks along beside you say "NAME!.....HEEL!" then reward your dog for walking beside you.
Repeat this over and over, then you should start to see the results. If you praise your dog as it comes towards you then your dog is being rewarded only for backing up (the very last action it performed). You need to reward your dog for walking freely beside you as you move off from the stand still.
And for the come command.
I think the best thing for you to do will be to Clicker train your dog. Review the section of the book on Clicker Training for a full description of Clicker Training. In your case, I think it is a good idea that you use a food reward training method sometimes, to help keep your dog motivated.
You can start with a food reward and gradually wean them off them by introducing a secondary reinforcement, such as a Clicker. You may think that your dog will only come to you for the food reward, however, in the process, they quickly learn what the Come command is, and what the click from the Clicker means too!
Clicker Training
If you start to train you dog with the Clicker, you will find this very helpful when your dog decides to take off. For example, The second your dog turns to look at you, you should (after teaching her what the Clicker means) click the Clicker as if to reward your dog for looking over at you. This may help entice her to make a decision to turn back again.
An example on training your dog to respond to the Clicker:
• Ask your dog to sit; for example, say "Holly....SIT!" (always use its name in front of a command as this trains them to respond to their name),
• Then when your dog obeys, click the Clicker (you can find these at most pet stores), and follow the click quickly with praise/reward.
• Be consistent with your training and be rigorous when you are training your dog.
Then for the Come command do the same thing.
*Say "NAME....COME!" and when your dog even moves a little towards you, click the Clicker and then hold out a treat (just to get your dog anticipating the Clicker as a good thing!). Pretty soon you will not need to use treats all the time, the vocal praise with the Clicker will be enough (however it is a good idea to sometimes reinforce the obedience from time to time with treats).
*It is also a good idea that you use hand signals when you are training your dog so that when your dog is in the distance, but can still see you, it will know what you are commanding and you will not have to yell.
*Practice asking your dog to come inside your home too.
*Never call your dog to you for something she will not like (e.g. a bath, or to be told off) as this will hinder your dog's trust in you.
It is very important with the Come command that you keep practicing it. In fact, I recommend this is something you practice through-out the life of your dog.
Todd
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