So, basically, while we're out on walks, my 4-month-old puppy won't stop biting his lead, and when I tell him off, he jumps up at me and starts biting my clothes. I've had a look online to find out why he's doing it and what to do, and most people were saying there's no point scolding him, you just have to ignore him and then praise him when he lets go of the lead. However, when I try to ignore him, he couldn't care less; he just carries on biting the lead and then does exactly what he does when I tell him off (jumping up and biting my clothes). I'm really at my wit's end; walks have become a bit of a nightmare for me. I'm really hoping to find a solution to this, so thanks in advance! 😌
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@Candicexsiriusxorion you should start your own thread to get more replies. Biting the lead and you can be a sign of excitement or poorly managed frustration. You should work on these points at other times, when the puppy is more receptive. At the end of a walk, for example, after a play session with his mates. Once the puppy has burned off some energy, he'll be more focused. Then you can do a few exercises to teach him better self-control. Do a Google search for "puppy impulse control exercises" and you'll find plenty of examples and videos; you can just pick whichever ones you like. It’s not a magic fix, it takes time, but I think it could really help you and help your puppy learn to settle.
OK, I'll have a look at the videos and show my mum. I have another problem though; where we are at the moment, there are only adult dogs and no puppies his age, so he gets scared of the other dogs every time. It makes socialisation quite difficult.
The lead should be held vertically, not at an angle. That’s the golden rule for using a lead properly. You’ve got to stand like a statue as soon as he starts acting up, until he realises that if he wants to carry on with the walk, he has to be in the right position.
This is common puppy behaviour and there’s no magic fix. It takes time; you need to show him that this behaviour won't be tolerated and give him other ways to let off steam. How old are you? Your dog is going to be quite a big lad, so you need to teach him lead training. You've got to show him that pulling or chewing the lead gets him nowhere. In this case, when he starts doing it, just stop and look away until he stops. When he’s calm again, give him a "good boy" and set off again. It might mean it takes you an hour just to walk 500 yards. But that doesn't matter; the goal is to gradually be able to do more and more while staying calm.
I'm 14. The last time I took him out on my own, I tried ignoring him again but he was nipping me all over, as well as my leg. My mum is trying to teach him how to walk on the lead, but I'm not giving up, so I'll do everything I can to make sure he turns into a good dog ^^
@Candicexsiriusxorion you should probably start your own thread to get more replies.
Biting the lead and nipping you can be a sign of over-excitement or frustration that isn't being managed well.
You should work on these things at other times, when the puppy is in a receptive mood. For example, at the end of a walk after a good play session with their mates. Once the pup has burned off some steam, they'll be much more focused. Then you can try a few exercises to teach them better self-control. Have a look on Google for "puppy impulse control exercises" and you'll find loads of examples and videos; you can just pick the ones you like the look of.
It’s not a magic fix and it does take time, but I really think it’ll help both you and your pup with their self-control.
This is common puppy behaviour and there’s no magic fix.
It takes time; you need to show him that this behaviour won't be tolerated and give him another way to burn off some energy.
How old are you?
Your dog’s going to be a fair size when he’s fully grown, so you really need to teach him to walk on the lead.
For a start, show him that pulling or chewing the lead gets him nowhere. If he starts doing that, just stop still and look away into the distance until he stops. Once he’s calmed down, give him a "good boy" and start off again.
This might mean it takes you an hour just to go 500 yards. But that doesn’t matter; the goal is to gradually be able to do more and more while keeping him calm.
My 4-month-old puppy is doing the exact same thing; he’s a Cane Corso. My mum is trying everything she can to get him to stop, but I can’t even take him for a walk on my own anymore. Can anyone help? I’ve tried ignoring him but it’s no use, he just carries on. (The reason I’m mentioning my mum is because I’m still a kid and he’s actually my mum's dog T_T). So, can someone please help? I can really feel his teeth through my jacket now. I know this thread hasn't had any replies for three years, but I’m really hoping someone will get back to me ^^' (Sorry for any spelling mistakes ^^).
Hi!
I know that problem all too well—I’ve still got the marks to prove it lol... I’ve got an Aussie (Australian Shepherd) and they’re quite similar dogs :-D
Mine used to do exactly the same thing, but he’s stopped now.
At the training club, they also suggested a "tough love" approach: not only was it unpleasant, it just didn't work!
Here’s what I did:
- Stay calm: I was getting annoyed, which made him get worked up—it was a vicious circle. Honestly, it’s not the end of the world; he’s just a bit hyper, not dangerous!
- Find a distraction: Redirect his attention or energy onto something else. I focused on training, especially heel work, or a toy he loves (for mine, it was a plastic bottle or a bone to carry around).
- Watch for him getting over-excited: If you see him starting to wind himself up, don’t wait for him to jump all over you before you redirect him. Personally, I reckon it’s just his way of asking to play, but then again, I’m definitely not a behaviourist or an expert!
- Don’t give in: Stay chill, but don’t cave. Personally, when things were really going south, I’d just take him by the collar and lead him along for a few yards. It calmed him down and then we could carry on with the walk.
Regarding the lead, I agree with you—you have to be careful as they can easily knock over a child or an elderly person, or just get in the way. I bought two long lines: a 10m (33ft) retractable one, which is very handy, and a 30m (around 100ft) one, which is less practical but longer, and I just let it trail on the ground.
In my experience, I didn't find the lead was the cause of the problem; with a 10 or 30m long line, they’ve got plenty of space to run, especially if you run with them.
Good luck,
Yo
