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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Puppy biting lead whilst on walk, help!

22 replies

BaconAndAvocado · 20/01/2022 16:15

My 6 month Lab has just started doing this and it’s ruining our walks.
He turns his head then grabs the lead.
When I pull it off him, he pulls it back as if he thinks it’s a game! We then end up both wrestling with the lead as we walk along the pavement.
He looks like an absolute maniac!

I’ve recently swapped from a harness to a collar as I though it would help with the pulling. It does a tiny bit.

Now I’m wondering if I should return to using a harness as I think he would find it harder to get to the lead behind his head IYSWIM.

Any suggestions?

OP posts:
fairylightsandwaxmelts · 20/01/2022 16:19

Use a metal lead to put him off.

Saucery · 20/01/2022 16:20

Our Lab does this (she’s 1). It started as frustration at not being able to stop and say Hello! to every single dog she saw. We replace it with a Sit, then Treat. She is doing it much, much less now. I refuse to play Tuggy in the middle of a pavement walk Hmm so worked on swapping it for a more desirable behaviour. Plus, walking and sniffing stops and she learned that quite quickly. Amusingly, she only does it now at the end of a walk if she’s a bit tired and past her sell by date, like an overtired toddler Grin

GoodnightGrandma · 20/01/2022 16:20

Get a chain lead.

Wombat98 · 20/01/2022 16:25

I bought a Tug-e-Nuff lead and went with it. He soon lost interest but a smaller dog than a Lab. It's a very comfy lead and we still use it now.

Wombat98 · 20/01/2022 16:28

Oh and a harness is a lot kinder to the dog and your shoulders than him being on a collar. It's not great for his neck and he can be injured by the collar.

I was watching a terrier being half-strangled yesterday, not good at all.

My pully terrier will do circles and go back to pulling...

MissMarplesGoddaughter · 20/01/2022 16:30

I was watching an episode of Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly and there was a dog doing just this. In the end, the dog just wore a muzzle when it went out and the lead biting stopped.

iusedtohavechickens · 20/01/2022 16:31

Our border collie is the same, he can only have a chain lead x

Original poster
BaconAndAvocado · 20/01/2022 16:36

But wouldn't he want to grab the chain lead too?

OP posts:
PollyRoulllson · 20/01/2022 16:44

I actively encourage my dogs to pull on a tuggy lead Smile

But I do it with conditions and do have a good release command.

I would go back to a harness.A dog can pull on a harness or a lead but the harness will cause less harm.As your training progresses the pulling will decrease.

I would do tuggy play with your dog using a tuggy fleece or material toy. Use food to get a good release from the toy. I always say thank you hold the toy still and offer a treat (as a lab this will take him a couple of goes to understand!)

Then take tuggy toy out on walk and play with it when you want to . Play for a bit ask for a release of the toy walk on a bitthen reintroduce the toy for a bit.

The end result will be a dog that is totally focussed on you and has an amazing drop command Smile

If you really dont want the interaction with the lead at all and do not want to use a tuggy toy, then you need to reward the heel position more frequently with treats to keep your dog focuses on position and the behaviour you want.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 20/01/2022 16:45

@BaconAndAvocado

But wouldn't he want to grab the chain lead too?
No, they shouldn't do as it doesn't feel pleasant on their teeth.

Mine bit through two fabric leads in a day once - we got a chain lead out of desperation/for safety and he never did it again!

certainshepherdpups · 20/01/2022 16:57

My puppy did this for a while. I think it was due to excitement at being out and about, as well as frustration with being on a lead. Now that he is more used to the lead the biting is no longer a problem. He hasn't done it in ages (though I'm always wary of saying that, as it usually means the issue instantly arises again!). He's 7 months now.

Does your pup know "drop it"? Mine is hugely motivated by food, so teaching this cue with the help of a few treats was quite easy.

Poggli · 20/01/2022 16:59

We had this issue. We found the best thing was tell her off with a really sharp “no, leave” as soon as she looked at the lead. It needed to be in the second before she bit it. Not after she already started.

Another thing you can try is standing on the lead and waiting til he gets bored. It’s not much fun for them when you are no longer holding the lead.

Poggli · 20/01/2022 17:03

You need to be careful with metal leads. If they continue to bite them they can damage teeth.

Original poster
BaconAndAvocado · 20/01/2022 17:04

fairylightsandwaxmelts ah, that makes sense. Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
BaconAndAvocado · 20/01/2022 17:06

Thanks everyone.
I'm definitely going to get another harness. He's grown out of the other one.

Might try the metal lead too.

OP posts:
PinotPony · 25/01/2022 15:52

Use a slip lead positioned high up on his neck just behind his ears. The lead should come straight up from the dome of his head. Take up the slack of the lead so you've holding it literally a few inches from his head. You won't choke him but you'll have good control of his head which means you'll have good control over all of him!

If he jumps about like a loon, push your leg into him and turn him away from you in a circle. Walk on briskly, no nonsense.

PinotPony · 25/01/2022 15:56

Like this...

Puppy biting lead whilst on walk, help!
HereComesTheMum · 25/01/2022 15:58

Mine does this when she thinks she should be allowed off her lead (there's a field we let her off on to practice recall on, but if there's another dog on the lead I keep her on and she is LIVID) we say loudly 'ERR!!' and stand still. She doesn't get to walk until she lets go of her lead.

sillysmiles · 25/01/2022 16:01

When I pull it off him, he pulls it back as if he thinks it’s a game! We then end up both wrestling with the lead as we walk along the pavement.

It is a game to him. Are you allowing him to sniff etc when out for a walk? He's a lab so he needs to engage in his natural behaviour. Can you redirect with a toy? Something with a squeak? Are you walking slowly? In my opinion - it's key to remember that the walk is to meet his needs, so make it fun, walk faster, let him enjoy himself.

Bravoecholima · 25/01/2022 16:03

Mine did this and lots of other silliness like rolling around when he was getting tired on a walk. I was amazed how little they can tolerate before getting overstimulated when young. We shortened the walks, finished the walk as soon as he got bitey and he grew out of it eventually

freckles20 · 25/01/2022 16:06

OP if you have chosen a force free life for your dog then please be wary of advice along the lines of @PinotPony's.

Original poster
BaconAndAvocado · 25/01/2022 16:57

Thanks all.
I got him a new harness, very comfy I think, and I've started using a bungee lead which is so much easier on my shoulder when he pulls.

He hasn't gone back to lead biting now he can't reach it!

OP posts:
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