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I got a puppy on Saturday who has the habit of leash chewing. I want to stop this as quickly as possible, but I am not entirely sure as to what the best method is to do this. If I am out with someone else, with or without my other dog, the person holding his leash has been standing still, and whoever has the other dog walks away with her. When he realizes that he has been left behind, he usually drops the leash so that he can keep walking and catch up to her. He usually does fairly well if the other dog in front of him, or he has a person to follow. If he has nothing to follow, he will get his leash. In these cases we just stop walking until he lets it go. Should I try something else,or do I just keep doing this until he gets it? Is there a method I am just not thinking of?

>>I got a puppy on Saturday who has the habit of leash chewing. I want to stop this as quickly as possible, but I am not entirely sure as to what the best method is to do this. If I am out with someone else, with or without my other dog, the person holding his leash has been standing still, and whoever has the other dog walks away with her. When he realizes that he has been left behind, he usually drops the leash so that he can keep walking and catch up to her. He usually does fairly well if the other dog in front of him, or he has a person to follow. If he has nothing to follow, he will get his leash. In these cases we just stop walking until he lets it go. Should I try something else,or do I just keep doing this until he gets it? Is there a method I am just not thinking of?

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One effective method is to spray the leash with Bitter Apple prior to each use.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

He didn't seem to mind the bitter apple on the leash the other day when we tried it, but I can try it again. I also walked him in places he's never been before, which kept him from chewing the leash. I suppose he was just busy investigating the area. However, that won't be possible forever, nor is it possible at all times. I also prefer to stay in the field by my house at 11 at night, so that the light on my house allows me to see. They just aren't reliable about keeping the street lights functioning in the neighborhood, but this area seems to be the worst in terms of him chewing the leash. I just took him out, and a few times he laid down in the field chewing the leash. After I took him across the street he stopped though.

what do you do? do you praise him? Puppies are smart and will learn to do what gets them what they want. By stopping, he will learn that the fun stops and won't start again until the leash is dropped. You can speed this up by doing two things -- 1) as he is dropping the leash, say "drop it", and soon he will learn to do it on command, and 2) happy praise when it is dropped (whether asked to or done on his own), so that he knows that is a behaviour that bring good things to him. That should extinguish the behaviour (at leash in theory). It's really important though that no one plays tug with him when he does have the leash, otherwise it becomes a game or a challenge that he may not want to give up....

Duh... I know full well that you praise when you get the behavior you want, but I haven't done it in this case (I definetly do it when he jumps up on me, as soon as hit feet hit the floor then i'll pet him. This is very annoying when the whole family is working on this and the neighbor comes over to see the puppy, and continues petting the jumping puppy as you tell them not to pet the dog when he does this). I know that praising the behavior you want will work, but we have just been continuing the walk as soon as the leash leaves his mouth.
I don't think i'll change from allowing the other dog to continue her walk while he stops for chewing his leash (as there is no reason to punish her for his behavior), but I will add a reward to his dropping the leash.

You come on here asking for advice and then say "duh!"

My advice is "get an education and read some books!"

I say that because I know full well that if you want a behavior to reoccur, you reinforce it. I have an education, and i've read plenty of books. Thanks for reminding me of why I don't post on Kingsnake anymore, and why I won't post here anymore either.

How about showing the dog what it is you want??? Remove the leash from his mouth while telling him "No Chew" or "Drop It" or whatever command you like. As soon as you remove it, praise. Puppies are like sponges esp. at such a young age. Take advantage of it! Teach!
Nancy

You don't say what breed/mix or age your puppy is, that would help but no matter... a very quick and effective way to stop any dog from mouthing/chewing the leash is...

The moment he puts his mouth on the leash, jerk (pop) the leash right out of his mouth. The same jerk you would use for pulling on the leash. NO words are necessary. You must be consistant that every time he puts his mouth on the leash you correct him with a quick pop of the leash and it come right out of his mouth. NO matter who has the leash, how many dogs are there, who's in front, back, none of that matter.

I have worked with 100's of pups and adult dogs over 25 years that mouth leashes. You can stop the behavior in one walking session and NEVER hurt your pup. I have never injured a pup or adult dog ever with this technique. It is quick, simple to do, and very effective.

When he walks properly with out his mouth on the leash you can certainly praise him for this. Consistancy and praise is the key to any training. Correct every time and before you know the problem will go away forever. It is as simple as that. Now go for a walk and solve the problem.