Dog Community

Walking on leash

Posted : 8/17/2006 2:47:33 PM

Hi! My GSD pup (13 weeks in a couple of days) is doing wonderfully. One problem we have is he tries to control the leash with his mouth.

I've gotten him to drop it by bribing him with treats (but, I must do it repeatedly - sometimes a dozen times in a row!!) But, my husband battles him (tugs back when the pup takes the leash in his mouth) and I'm afraid the puppy now thinks it's a game that he enjoys.

The obvious is, of course, to suggest to hubbers not to buy into the puppy's game and to bribe him to drop the leash. But, it's easier getting the puppy to obey than it is getting the hubbers to take advice! Angry

Does anyone have any other suggestions (Bitter Apple doesn't work) for getting pup to relinquish the leash?

Thanks in advance for all the great advice (and commiseration) I know I'm going to receive! [

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micksmom

Posted : 8/17/2006 3:14:28 PM

How about spraying someFooey on the leash? It stopped my rabbit from chewing the window sills on the porch. I'll see if I can find a link to it.

micksmom

Posted : 8/17/2006 3:20:20 PM

This says it's for birds, but it the same stuff I have- lableled for any animal.

[linkhttp://www1.shopping.com/xPC-Synergy_Labs_Synergy_Labs_Fooey_4_oz_Bottle_for_Birds]http://www1.shopping.com/xPC-Synergy_Labs_Synergy_Labs_Fooey_4_oz_Bottle_for_Birds[/link]

Sue and Buddy

Posted : 8/17/2006 9:37:17 PM

Oh boy, I am a commiserator. Buddy chews, pulls on the leash all the time. It is so annoying. I have done so many different things. I have tried letting him do it, not moving and ignoring him (turning my back to him) and telling him in a low stern voice to drop it and yanking it out of his mouth, like your husband. My latest attempt was to give him treats and praise every time he dropped it on command. Well, guess what? My dog is no dummy. He would pick up the leash and look at me the whole time, waiting for the treat. As soon as I moved my hand with the treats he would drop it without waiting for the command. Great, right? Well, I don't want the whole walk to be him focusing on the treats. My method right now is to stop walking, tell him to drop it, praise him if he does and on we go. Sometimes it takes a couple of minutes to just get out of the house because he is going nuts with the leash. I have found that when we are walking and I pull on the leash is when he starts to pick up the leash. So, I am trying to not pull him and use other things to entice him along.

Good luck! Re-post if you find something that works!

Sue

Kiera Carlson

Posted : 8/18/2006 9:07:12 AM

We've had a terrible time getting 11-week old Rudy to walk on a leash! He just sits down or lies down in the road, or struggles with the harness/leash, biting and growling. We tried having one of the girls stand a few feet in front of him with treats, but as soon as he got the treat, he sat down and ate it, and wouldn't move again.

The other night, DH put DD in the wagon for a walk around our block. My other DD and I thought we'd try Rudy with his leash, and otherwise carry him. Well.........he went CRAZY trying to run after the wagon! He RAN all the way around the block (and it's not a regular block - it's a mile all the way around!), paying no attention to leash or harness!

It was quite hysterical. When we got home, he played in the yard with the girls until 10:00 and then slept in his crate without waking until 8:15 a.m.!!!

Now the question is.......how do we get him to walk WITHOUT following a wagon!?! LOL!