It may seem like just a bad behavior, but leash biting is often a symptom of a dog being frustrated or not fully understanding leash walking. It's especially common amongst young, playful, and excitable dogs, but with training, it can be prevented or eliminated.
٠ Distract their attention with a treat, but don't give it to them! ٠ “Reset” their behaviour by making them sit, focus, then do a trick. ٠ Give them the treat to reward the trick, then start walking again. Repeat this process as much as needed until your dog stops chewing and instead focuses on pleasing you.
Don't talk to it. This will teach the dog that it isn't much fun when it starts to bite the leash, but that you will keep walking with it if it stops. If your dog already knows a signal to stop, then say it as soon as it starts fiddling with the leash. When it stops, give it brief praise and walk on.
If your dog starts mouthing or tugging at the leash, freeze in place and ignore him; this stops both the walk and the reward of your interaction. Once your dog lets go of the leash, recue and reward for the heel.
Leash aggression is solved by a strategy called desensitization and counter-conditioning, which is trainer-speak for reducing your dog's reaction to the offending trigger (other dog, bike or cat), gaining your dog's attention and training a new behavior instead.
Don't use physical punishment
If you do not want your dog to bite, punishing them for biting is not the way to make it stop. Punishment can only provoke fear, anxiety, and aggression.
As a dog owner, you should always encourage your dog to not to bite their leash. You can do this in several different ways. Remember to be proactive in the training process. First, you should never tug back or pull on the leash while they are biting.
Letting your pup sniff, pick up, and even play with his leash will show him that it's not so scary after all. Show it to him casually and see what he does. Then attach the leash to his collar and let him trot around with it dragging on the ground, to help him get used to the feeling.
They see another animal or human approaching as a threat. When dogs feel threatened, they either “flight, freeze or fight”. In this case, the “fight” triggers the lunge. These dogs are generally unhappy, and they displace this through aggression or reactive behavior.
Dogs who may normally be friendly with other dogs can sometimes become reactive and aggressive when attached to a leash. This behavioral trait, known as leash aggression or leash reactivity, is most frequently triggered by fear or frustration, although a high prey drive can lead to aggression when leashed as well.
A simple method to leash training a puppy without pulling on the leash is to stop moving forward when he pulls, and to reward him with treats when he walks by your side. A treat bag for your waist can be very helpful in the training process.
It is important to work on your dog's leash reactivity. Dogs do not grow out of reactivity and this behavior pattern will only get worse and worse unless it is addressed in training. The first step towards working with a leash-reactive dog is to keep the dog from crossing his threshold.
It's best to train your dog early on to prevent these problems, but it's never too late. The key to success is reward-based dog training, which is the most effective and humane way to teach your dog.
You should NOT punish a dog for biting. This method may also teach the dog not to give a warning prior to the bite. It certainly doesn't do anything to minimize the dog's stressors.
Yelling at or physically punishing your puppy, as strange as it sounds, is also a type of reward. It teaches them that biting gets some kind of response from you, which is known as positive punishment. This can also make them fearful of being handled. Instead, teach them that biting will get them nothing.
To properly discipline your dog, you will need to let them know you're in control of their favorite activities. Whenever they do something they are not supposed to, like bite or run away, punish them by withholding the rewards they're used to.
By working on obedience training, you can use basic commands to keep your dog focused on you in situations in which it is uncomfortable. If you are able to control your dog's behavior, it is less likely to bite. In addition, training provides structure for your dog and boosts its confidence.
There are many steps to take to help curb puppy biting and others you should avoid, including: Don't yell at your puppy, tap your puppy on the nose or hold their mouth shut when they bite. This will only confuse your puppy and teach them not to trust you when you want to play.
According to Rhonda, there are two primary motivations that cause leash aggression or leash reactivity: frustration and fear. Frustration occurs when the dog is restrained in some way, whether it is a leash or a barrier such as a fence.
Reactive behaviors usually crop up in adolescence around 6 to 18 months of age and tend to get worse as the dog reaches social maturity around 2 or 3 years of age. Your pup will not “grow out of” this behavior. Seek help as soon as you notice an issue.
CONS OF LETTING YOUR DOG OFF-LEASH
You lose control of potentially dangerous situations with other dogs, animals, wildlife, etc. and you really never know how other dogs/animals will react to your dog. This can potentially lead to fights and other unfortunate situations.
The key to teaching your dog to walk nicely on the lead is to teach them that not pulling is the fastest way to get to where they want to go. Training your dog not to pull takes time, patience and consistency, but the benefits can be huge.