Our 22 week BM has always had a habit of walking infront of you and wrapping herself round your legs then biting when you try to walk on. This waned as she grew but it has come back with a vengeance recently and she has even started to do it to other people and we've been close to her causing them to fall. So far we've tried standing still and looking away and if my OH is there she can call her and distract her. She has also started to do it with joggers and even bikes! I believe the breed were originally bred to catch poachers so maybe this is something in their genes? The one littermate we are in touch with hasnt had this issue. We are taking her back to her breeder this Saturday so see if she can help but any advice welcome.

Have you thought about enrolling in training classes? I have a 14 wk old gsd and she's quite good on the lead but still needs some guidance so I am starting training classes with her soon .

managing the dog to prevent the behavior, while REWARDING an incompatible alternative, are both needed.
what sort of leash is she on? if it's a Flexi, or any sort of extendable, i'd trash it; they're hard to hold onto, spring-loaded
so they TEACH pulling and REWARD pulling, they break and people or dogs get hurt, they get dropped or pulled
out of one's hands, then clatter along behind a dog like a plastic version of the old tin-can tied to a tail... and they're just a disaster.

a 6-ft leather leash, preferably an inch wide and vegetable tanned, is nice -
a front-clip H-harness is excellent for control, as it removes over half the dog's leverage - keep Ur hands
low and wrists straight for the best body-mechanics; both hands on the leash, with gentle steady traction
as U turn ===> away from the dog [dog is on Ur left? turn RIGHT; dog is on Ur right? turn LEFT], will produce an
easy, low-force U-turn without struggling. no jerking, no yelling, no yanking - and no injuries to anyone.

a headcollar provides even greater control with even-less force - a huge dog can be gently controlled, one-handed,
and if the dog should lunge, the relatively-short leash does not allow huge acceleration - preventing neck-injuries.
[a half-inch wide leather leash is plenty with a headcollar - an inch is overkill, and far too-heavy on the noseband.]
headcollars NEVER are combined with jerking, sudden yanks, or Flexis or any entendable leash - that's dangerous.
but a headcollar takes an average of a week to habituate the dog, before the leash clips on the headcollar
for the first time.
that front-clip H-harness makes a dandy transition device for well-managed control, during habituation.

having Ur dog **sit** when other people pass by, is a simple way to avoid her wrapping around their legs,
tripping, or snapping at them. a Bullmastiff who bites is bad-news; i'd find a pro,
somebody local who is credentialed, uses positive-reinforcement, and has experience with aggression.
my list of possibles would include ABMA, IAABC, COAPE, APBC, CAAB, APDT-uk so long as their
experience includes aggro, or a vet-behaviorist; not 'whisperers' who mimic a certain TV-host,
'listeners' or 'busters' or any other franchise-buyers. as the dog is over 5-MO and probably 90#,
this would have been more-easily addressed when she was younger and smaller; now it's a habit,
but now is infinitely better than at 2-YO or 5-YO! plese let us know how she gets on?


this puzzles me:
how i she catching bikes While On A Leash? or joggers?!
all dogs will chase; herding-breeds and mixes are much, much worse for habitual chasing -
but there is no 'gene' for chasing joggers or bicyclists. if U see a jogger, get her off the path; ditto for bikes.
give her distance, and THEM right of way - keep her moving, as sitting or standing will intensify her desire
to pull away and chase - trot her around in a circle, do puppy-push-ups [sit,down, sit, down...], or whatever.
cheers,
- terry

__________________
terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
*wolves R wolves, dogs R dogs, + primates R us.*
tmp, sept-2007

Terry
Many thanks for the comprehensive reply. We have used a retractable lead and where we walk she is off the lead quite a so this probably hasnt helped. Today I'm going out to get a lead like you suggest and will try what you say. On the bike/jogger issue, she is off the lead when that happens... Let let you know how we get on.
Thanks again.
Alan.