Any Tips To Stop a Dog From Biting Its Leash?

RockyBalboa · 07-31-2007, 03:18 PM

Sometimes when we walk he will bite his leash and keep it in his mouth as we walk. He does it everytime i try running with him. Any tips on how to stop this??

HannahjsD · 07-31-2007, 03:42 PM

You could check PetsMart for a BitterApple spray and spray it on the leash where he tends to chew before you go for your run. He'll associate the bad taste with chewing on the leash (maybe). What breed of dog is it?

RockyBalboa · 07-31-2007, 03:43 PM

You know whats funny is I have the exact spray your talking about. It never occured to me to use that, Thanks alot. I have an austrailian sheperd.

BoxMeIn21 · 07-31-2007, 05:31 PM

Some dogs like bitter apple.

How old is your Aussie?

RockyBalboa · 07-31-2007, 05:41 PM

he is three years old

BoxMeIn21 · 07-31-2007, 05:49 PM

And he just likes hold it in his mouth? No tugging?

digits mama · 07-31-2007, 05:51 PM

Puddles holds hers in her mouth but I think she just figured that she is walking me instead of me walking her.

RockyBalboa · 08-01-2007, 09:52 AM

no tugging no pulling no nothing. he will walk normally whereever i go he just has to have it in his mouth

BoxMeIn21 · 08-01-2007, 10:05 AM

And why is that a problem?

RockyBalboa · 08-01-2007, 04:48 PM

I dont know it just concerns me i guess

BoxMeIn21 · 08-01-2007, 05:03 PM

Well if it's that big of a concern, then you could try the bitter apple or does he know "leave-it" or "drop-it"? If not you could teach him very easily.

4Onyx · 07-19-2008, 12:00 AM

My 3 month old lab mix does this. We live in a circle and when we go for a walk she carries the leash in her mouth just about till we get out of the circle and then lets go of it and does great until we come back then right when we get in the circle she grabs it again. She also does this sometimes just when we go out to let her go to the bathroom but usually then she will grab it and shake it and everything. However, when we go for the walk I just ignore her and eventually she drops it. My husband made the comment that maybe she thinks she is leading us out of the circle and then home again when she knows where she is.

terryjeanne · 07-19-2008, 01:40 PM

I used to have a dog that like to have the leash in his mouth when we ran. He didn't tug or pull on it and it never crossed my mind to make him stop. He didn't chew on it so it didn't bother me.

Lonewolfblue · 07-19-2008, 02:01 PM

I'm just also wondering if some dogs use it to maintain position? Tight leashes on a collar tend to make dogs pull. So I'm just wondering if it could be helping the dog maintain the proper pace, a tight leash at the mouth showing the dog to speed up or slow down. Is this a possible concept?

4Onyx · 08-08-2008, 10:28 AM

So Onyx started doing this more then just in and out of our circle so I started giving her a stick to carry and that seemed to work really well. I think a lot of it for her is just having something in her mouth- since she is just a pup. However, this morning the stick did not work at all and she wanted the leash most of our walk- she does the pulling and shaking it a lot though. Sometimes she just walks with it and sometimes pull and tug. I'm not sure how to break it- I am going to give her something else to carry tomorrow and see if that works- the stick worked for about a week.

Mondo · 09-30-2008, 01:53 PM

Mondo is a 5 month old Golden/Lab mix that puts his leash in his mouth as soon as it connects to his collar. He pulls on it and jumps around like he just got stuck in the butt with something. It gets worse when we get back from a walk and its time to go back in the house.

DogsforMe · 10-05-2008, 08:06 AM

Teach him the leave it & give commands. Hold a piece of food in each hand, one behind your back. Hold the other hand in front of the dog's nose. Say leave it in a normal tone. The dog may bite, lick or paw at your hand. It's important to not move your hand away or about. Keep it still. The split second the dog takes his nose away from your hand, put that hand behind your back & produce the food from the other hand & say take it. Practice a few times a day & your dog should get quicker at taking his nose away. When he gets the hang of it you can delay giving the treat. Then it's time to start with other things.
When they already have something in their mouth its time to practice the give command. Wave a treat in front of the dogs nose when it has something in its mouth & say give as he releases the object & give the treat.