Dog afarid of leash/Will not come.

Question
Hello, Our family has a Cockapoo named Bella, she's very sweet and loving. Were still potty training her although she has made it to the door to be let out a few times. That's good for us, but whenever we bring out her collar and leash and put it on her, she just sits down, shakes and does nothing, we've praised her and tried to coax her with treats but she doesn't do anything expect sit there. As soon as we take the collar and leash off however, she's fine after a minute. We really need her to get used to wearing a leash; she ran into our neighborhood one time and some man said he'd call the police unless we have her on a leash.

Bella also seems to be having trouble with the command "come." She knows her name, but whenever we tell her to come, she just licks us and runs off. Again, we've tried praise and treats, but she never comes. We can't afford to take her to a dog school and we're trying our best to teach her ourselves for a learning experience. please, we're running out of ideas! Any advice?

Thank you!

Answer
Start with just the collar.  Let her sniff it carefully before putting it on her.  give her a day or 2 to get used to it.  Try a drag line in the house.  You can buy ready made ones, but a cheap leash cut off short will work.  Just clip it on her and let her drag it around the house.  Do so only when you can keep a close eye on her if it catches on something.  Again give her a few days.  Then try a regular leash.  If getting out in front and coaxing doesn't get a puppy moving, try dropping behind it and running by in baby steps calling ''Go, go, go!'' In a happy, excited voice.

With somebody the right age in the family, 4-H dog training is a great idea. It is dirt cheap.  In my area, clubs form soon after the first of the year. Even many urban areas have 4-H. For info look in your phone book under government listings for extension or cooperative extension offices. Ask specifically about a dog or canine club. The dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands a treat.

Otherwise, work out of a book, perhaps the Monks of New Skete or Patricia McConnell.