Leash Chewing

[gaddylovesdogs]

As you might know, I will be walking a 1-year-old Westie named Lucy and possibly and Dachshund ("Neighbors, Behavior Issues" and "Finally: Westhighland Owners!, The Global Paw"). The Westie owner told me the dog doesn't like the leash and chews on it. I'll be teaching her the leash is a GOOD thing. Any tips?

[poodlesmom]

If it is something she has been doing for awhile and in the habit of, possibly spraying it with Bitter Apple might be enough of a deterrant to break her of the habit.

[IceyBlueSibes]

Maybe try taking her somewhere where she can't get away, and allow her to run around with the leash behind her first, and try working with her on some commands to get her mind off of it. From that, she obviously wasn't leash trained and the owners were too lazy and just "gave up".

I agree with the bitter apple...

[gaddylovesdogs]

My first walk with her will be this Saturday, for half an hour. I'm assuming she's always done this. I've got some training treats, and I'll see if I can pick up some bitter apple soon. Thanks, guys!

[gaddylovesdogs]

Bitter Apple

I'll have to see if I can get some of that, LOL. Maybe it will help with other things, too...

[gaddylovesdogs]

I have one question about the Bitter Apple though...does it give anything a certain "scent"?

[flyndog]

I think you should forget about the bitter apple. First, it hardly ever works. Second, the dog will associate you and the leash with the bad thing. I'd spend my money instead on a 6 ft. leash that hasn't been chewed on. Prevent the chewing on the leash with distraction and an incompatible behavior (pay attention would be a good one). In addition to the treats, carry a squeaky to distract and get attention. You'll have to be on your toes with the Westie.
Kit

[ChiChi]

My pup has the same problem! i was thinking on the bitter apple but since u said it hardly ever works! *bites nails* my pup is a Sheltie, Kit is ther anything else? i have tried the "distraction" technique but brody chews and then rolls around until he is on the ground! it rele scares me because when i reach down to correct him he snaps at me! he never snaps! then when he gets up he does the hole "roll" thingy again! any advice for that????

[gaddylovesdogs]

I was thinking the dog might hate the leash even more after that...and if she did, I'd have wasted time and money, because I don't need it for my girls...thanks for the suggestions, though, Icey and poodlesmom!!

I have a 6-foot lead that is Colby's...I think I will by a new one for this little girl though . Thanks for the advice, everyone. I walk her tomorrow, I'll let you all know how it goes!!

[Carrie]

I agree with Kit on the bitter apple. You don't need that anyway. This pup will soon lose interest in the leash if her mind is on something more fun. It won't take long. It's not a big deal.

[Scott & Brutus & Vin]

Not a huge problem..Brutus still has that problem (cause he is a pup). If he snaps his head around to get the leash in his mouth and pull on it i Always give the leash a slight, firm jerk out of his mouth. I let him know who is in control. With a potentially massive dog on the near horizon, I must assume the Alpha role, the more i let him tug ME around, the more i lose. Usually i give a slight pop on lease and say, " Who is that big boy, who is that". And he loses interest in leash and is scanning neighborhood for entertainment. I think if he was a human his job would be snow-ball picker-upper. That is all he likes to do is eat snow....

[Carrie]

Lyric still messes with his leash from time to time. It's when he's having a really great time and we've been training and I am making such a fuss over him that he's getting really silly. He gets it, leaps around a little, shakes his head back and forth with it in his teeth, which totally makes me laugh. I don't see it one little bit as a dominant thing where he's trying to get me or boss me around. LOL. No.....he's just flat out having fun. All I do is after a couple of seconds, say, "enough of that....let's go." And he let's go of the leash and we go onto something else.

I hate to see people reading sooooo much into this alpha thing, seeing dominance where it does not exist. Very few dogs are truly dominant. I think it spoils the fun of having a dog if everything they do is viewed as a challenge to be ON TOP, if your every move must be "alphatized." LOL. They simply are not all out to get you. LOL. True, they need to learn manners and not get their own way about everything, respect you and your rules. But cotton pick it....enjoy your puppies. Have fun with some of these antics while you teach them. You can still get them settled down. They're just kids.

[gaddylovesdogs]

I didn't get a leash for it, I've got a long leash so I guess I'll use that instead of buying a new one for a dog that isn't even mine, LOL! There's a nearby park I plan on bringing it to, where we'll be able to run around and go crazy.

[gaddylovesdogs]

Okie Dokie, in a few hours I'll be taking a stroll with the little cutie. Wish me luck! I want to see exactly how the dog acts first. I'll probably start training on our second or third walk, so she's used to me.

[flyndog]

Start training with the first walk!!