I'd like to ask for advice and if anyone else has had similar experience to mine - my 6 month GWP puppy has recently started growling and biting at me when I try to take either her lead or whatever rubbish she's picked up out of her mouth - especially when she's on the lead she can work herself into a proper tantrum and won't calm down or respond to anything I'm doing. She's also done the same thing to my partner.

We both use 'leave it' and 'drop' commands which usually work to prevent having to get anything out of her chops, but this seems to be happening more often.

Has anyone else come across this? Is it likely to be the beginning of her adolescence? Is she testing us??

Also - what's a better way to get unwanted things out of her mouth? All suggestions welcomed, thank you.

I should also say that she is a lovely, friendly and affectionate dog the vast majority of the time! She gets plenty of exercise and socialises with other dogs and puppies regularly. We also do nightly play and training sessions with her at home. She was spayed last month and has fully recovered and is back to her regular routine now.

PS - she's next to me on the sofa as I write this and a big puppy paw just deleted my message first time round!

Thanks.

Do you do trade with her? Give her something better (tasty treat) in exchange for what you don't want her to have? Our 8mths old puppy still has some issues with guarding her treasures, but most of the time it works. We were advised at our training program to do this. I actually think sometimes she grabs stuff just to get a treat, I have a whole drawer in my kitchen devoted to her little treat bags. And as you said with your pup otherwise she is happy-go-lucky, loves people and other dogs.

That's all I've got, but I'm sure you'll hear from more experienced members.

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I agree. Sometimes you have to go backwards in order to go forwards, so you need to swap. If you want her to give something up, produce her favourite treat and when she lets go of the thing she is not supposed to have, say leave or drop it, whatever word you usually use.

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That's a very good idea that I haven't tried yet - thank you!

This has proved so effective for us that Kilo will pick up things and drop them on purpose in order to get a treat. I am much, much more confident when walking him now as he is a canine dustbin and tries to swallow anything; now he will 'leave it' or 'drop' about 95% of the time..fingers crossed

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I agree - I use 'leave' to stop McKenzie going near something I don't want her to have, but if she already has it in her mouth I use 'swap you' and give her a treat which makes her drop whatever is in her mouth.

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