My 13 week collie was very good with walking on a lead but these last couple of days she has started to jump up and bite her lead. At first it was 1/2 way through a walk and would last only a couple of minutes but then it happened as soon as we left the house. At first I would wait untill she finished! but she would end up biting me as well. Then I tried holding her off but was frightened of strangling her! Today she did it minutes after leaving the house so I turned round and came straight home. After a few minutes we tried again but the same thing happened so I turned round and came home. Will she realise that if she bites her lead she will not get her walk?? We let her off on fields/beach so I think thats why she bites to be free. Whats the best way to handle it.

My 14 week cocker is a bugger for this at the moment. I have been jerking the lead and telling him "no" sternly until he settles but have no idea if that is right so i will be interested to see what advice you get.

He has been worse since i have been walking him off the lead too.

Don't jerk the lead as you don't know how hard they are biting and you could end up damaging their mouth or theeth.

Dillon does this but if I stop and say "No" he stops as I remove the reward of walking.

Don;t wait for the dog to stop chewing it as you reward his behaviour with the walk again. You only move forward on your terms and your rules are "No biting the lead".

Dogs will do this out of either frustration or excitement.

Be firm with your dog, tell her off in a voice that she knows is not making you happy. If she bites the lead shout NO!! and stop exactly where you are and make her sit beside you and do not let her move until you are ready.
Use an empty small water bottle half filled with gravel and when she bites the lead shake at her she will soon get the message and it is harmless also.
Praise and reward when she is not biting the lead and show your pleased in the tone of your voice.
Do not let her off the lead at all until she realises that you are in control not her, she is as you staetd biting th elead so as to be allowed to run free.
Does your dog come back to you on your first recall command? if not then use a long line until she does then and only then let her off the lead.

Stick with it and be firm you will sonn see that your dog does understand what you want. she is only young and you must get the habit out of her system now.

Good luck

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NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Who has told you it is harmless? Would you fire off a starter pistol at a child if it was tugging and pulling on your arm? WOULD YOU HELL!!!!!!!

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!

Oscar is solid on his recall ( well as solid as i would expect) better at 14 weeks than any other dog i have owned.

If i just stand still it becomes one sided tug of war on his part will he eventually get fed up, he doesn't seem to.

I am off to training classes on Saturday so am hoping that will iron it out.

Cassie's recall of the lead is good also (up to now!!!). Am I doing the right thing by bringing her straight home or should I stand still until she finishes (very embarrassing at times) and then praise her when she stops?

You have just said the answer yourself. Stay where you are, say "No", if it doesn't stop then gently removed the lead from her mouth, make her sit, prais ean dwalk on. If it happens again then repeat the exercise.

It may look stupid to other people but who cares. As far as your dog is concerned ther is only you and her in the world so don't bother about how it looks think of the pleasure of walking her with no issues later in life.

Doing things like this drains your pup of energy too as it has to engage it's brain to satisfy you and learn new things.

Just remember to stay calm regardless of how many times you have to stop. It may take you half an hour to travel 10yrds but that is 10yrds and half an hour of teaching, stimulation and interaction anyway but you get an end result. If you add it up too it becomes 10yrds of perfect walking

Will try this with my naughty Oscar. Not quite sure what time Matthew will arrive at school next week though.


Trouble with Oscar is he gets so worked up am not sure he will respond to even simple commands when he is like this.

Cassie has now become worse on her lead. This morning took her around the street and it was a nightmare-no pleasure at all. She bit the lead and me every few steps and really appeared quite vicious. Unusual for her as she is a collie and very affectionate normally. Took her to the beach later and she was fab off the lead. Then my daughter has just took her out around the street and again she was a nightmare. My daughter came back with a bloody finger. Nothing seems to work. Am thinking it might be best not to allow her off the lead for a few days to see if this helps.