[Daisybones]

I live in an apartment. I have never ever been grumbly about having to walk him all the way downstairs so he can relieve himself. Lately he will bite the leash as close to my fingers as he can, pulls as hard as he can and shakes his head violently. I'm not sure if he is playing or not. He also growls and snarls. He has bruised and burned my wrists and bitten me accidentally. This is THE only complaint I have about him. How do I stop him from doing this? When he sees other dogs he starts doing this too. He gets so excited.

Any thoughts? Advice? It would be appreciated.

Thank you-Jillian

 

[Goldenmomma]

How old is he? Is he just going through the teenage stage or is he at the old man stage?

 

[fostermom]

It sounds like play. The best suggestion I have seen is to buy a leash that is a chain so that they don't bite on it.

Like this:
http://www.westcoastpetsupply.com/2/Coastal-Titan-Chain-Lead/

Apparently they don't like the feel of it in their mouths. That should save your hands and make taking him out safer.

 

[Lucky's mom]

I bet that is a dog that needs to run like the wind and lose some energy. Lucky did that type of thing as a teen....and it was overflo of energy needed to be spent. Lucky got LOTS of walks during that time-frame.

Can he go to day care a couple of times a week to run and play with doggie friend?

 

[Daisybones]

Hudson

How old is he? Is he just going through the teenage stage or is he at the old man stage?

He is a 19 months old. I had just walked him and let him run at the park for an hour and a half when he did it to me today. I guess he is still a teenager?

 

[AquaClaraCanines]

Play, play, play! That's what it is. MOM I want to get there faster! Invest in a tug toy and train that as a command, reward obedience with a game!

 

[maggie1951]

A Collie that i look after does it to me all the time but if i say NO firm enough he does stop but he is just so playfull and he is 5 -6 years old.

 

[ggdenny]

Connor does that, but only when we're on our way back into the house. He'll jump and try to grab the loop of the leash closest to my hand and won't stop until he gets it. There have been a few times when he's grabbed for the loop and gotten my hand. It not only hurts, but it's irritating. I just don't know how to get him to stop.

 

[Ray]

Just show the dog that you are not happy with that, say NO and that would do it! They act like that when the want to play or if they want more attention but if you don't feel comfortable with that behavior spend more time on training the dog! Remember you should always be calm when you are around your pet, he feels if you are nervous and that won't help you ... Not even a bit! I'm sure you'll be fine, tell us when you have progress

 

[The_Artful_Dodger]

It sounds like play. The best suggestion I have seen is to buy a leash that is a chain so that they don't bite on it.

Like this:
http://www.westcoastpetsupply.com/2/Coastal-Titan-Chain-Lead/

Apparently they don't like the feel of it in their mouths. That should save your hands and make taking him out safer.

I agree. It will make the leash less like a tug toy. Dodger has a habit of doing this only at obedience school - mostly in between activities or if I'm trying to listen to the trainer. Last week his trainer gave me a chain leash to try and he stopped immediatley.

You could also spend some time specifically training him to walk nicely on his regular leash. Start in your appartment or somewhere thats not super exciting, or even after he's burned off his energy, and give him praise and treats when he walks nicely without biting the leash or pulling.

 

[esSJay]

Molson does the same thing at the very start and the very end of his walks, too. I just continue walking straight ahead ignoring him, and usually after 1 or 2 (LONG) minutes, he gives up and goes back to normal. As soon as he stops doing it, and is walking well, he gets a treat for a reward.

 

[Selli-Belle]

I agree with Jenna, buy him a tug toy. My darling Dexy and I used to play leash tug ALL the time. The only down side was that I would wind up with a yucky leash (I always had a leather one). Because Dex knew that we would play tug at an appropriate time (in the middle of a walk), he was never a pest about it. He also knew the rules which included never biting the leash close to my hand. Ahh, good memories!

 

[MyMaggieGirl]

Maggie used to do that, had nothing to do with her age, I think she liked to embarrass me in front of my neighbors ("ha ha look who is walking Mary today - the dog!!"). I would just let go of the leash and then grasp it closer to her body and continue the walk.

 

[Eleanor's Mom]

We had the same problem and I eventually put bitter apple on Eleanor's leash and she stopped going after the leash very quickly.

Cecelia