When a dog bites the leash it doesn’t necessarily do so out of rebellion against the owner. Generally, it is a behavior that is the result of boredom and an educational lack.
When you go out for a walk with your dog, it can happen that it resorts to behaviors that are not at all pleasant, such as pulling the leash or growling at other animals or people. Sometimes the dog bites the leash without even caring about the stimuli that surround it.
If your dog behaves this way every day, even if for a short time, it is likely that you will still be forced to buy new leads all the time. But what can be done when the dog bites the leash?
There are remedies, and putting an end to this conduct is not that difficult . Let’s find out in this article what to do if the dog bites the leash.
Why does the dog bite the leash?
The fact that a dog bites the leash can mean overexcitement. The moment of walking , in addition to being the perfect situation to get to know and interact with the world through their sense of smell, is used by many dogs to distract themselves and fight boredom.
Before going out for a walk, the dog must be calm. To do this it will not be enough to give orders such as “sit” or “good”: the dog needs to learn self-control to understand that his state of arousal is not correct for the moment of the walk.
On the other hand, some dogs bite the leash when they want to break free and escape. If they feel fear or see a situation in the distance they don’t like (such as approaching multiple dogs), they may try to bite the leash in an attempt to escape the situation.
When the dog bites the leash because he is excited
Most dogs bite the leash because they are bored by the many hours spent at home and eager to release the accumulated stress. To properly manage the accumulation of stress in the dog, you can resort to the two ways listed below.
Olfactory work and mental work
Obviously, physical work tires the body, but mental activity can wear it down even more. Dogs exercise their mind through smell. If you want your dog to leave the house slightly tired and therefore not overexcited, you will need to work around the house first.
Playing several scent games before going out for a walk will make the moment outdoors more peaceful for both, dog and owner. Additionally, the dog will spend more time peeing and sniffing the surroundings rather than biting the leash. This behavior will no longer be of interest to the environment the dog is about to discover.
If your dog bites the leash, work on the exit
After playing games that involve smell, the dog must learn how to get out of the house. The idea that the dog must be the last to cross the threshold of the house to not make him believe he is the leader has, over time, been widely denied by canine psychology specialists .
A dog must leave the house whenever he wants, whether it is before or after his owner. If you really want to go out first, have him wait inside the house until he hears your call. In this case, however, be careful to control the energy and excitement with which the dog will rush out the door.
You should only put on the leash when the animal is calm. If he is too excited , wait for him to calm down. Previous smelling games, along with simple orders like “NO” and “sit”, can help calm him down.
While walking, avoid talking to your dog all the time
If you keep giving orders when you are walking with your dog, he will end up ignoring you. You have to learn to hold the leash in the right way. Small, gentle strokes will help your dog pay attention to you when you have to say something.
Conversely, if you yell or pull the leash sharply, the dog will not understand what you want from him. In fact, he will get stressed out , biting the leash and engaging in unpleasant behavior.
The goal of the walk is to make the dog show interest in the olfactory stimuli that surround him when he leaves the house. To facilitate this, let him smell freely what he wants and indulge him.
If your dog does not sniff during the walk and prefers to walk beside you, without paying attention to his surroundings, he may not be in top shape.
Be careful, that doesn’t mean you have to go around sniffing all the time. He himself will decide when to go and when not. What you must not forget is that the walk is a moment dedicated to him, not to you.
If you want the dog to stop biting the leash, you will have to work a little by improving his self-control, his self-esteem and letting him relax. In addition to this, if the conduct is sporadic, a sharp “NO” every now and then can help to make him lose the habit.
