Quite often during my puppy training classes owners will ask me how to get their puppy to stop biting on the lead when out on a walk. The pup doesn't have any interest at all when the lead is on the floor or hung up on the wall but as soon as it's connected to his collar, they start to bite, chew and tug at it. Naturally, not a lot of pleasant walking happens as owner fights pup for the lead and control of the walk!
Thankfully, the answer is really simple and incredible efficient:
1: Teach your puppy a "take it" or "leave it" cue so that your dog understands when to leave something alone. This cue alone is worth its weight in gold. Start training with a toy first rather than the lead. A few short 10 minute training sessions will be all that's required for the puppy to learn what is expected of them. Download my free 'Teach your dog to leave' top tip here for a very easy 'how to' teach your dog to leave something.
2: When you've taught your pup to "leave it", when you connect the lead and set off on your walk, as soon as the puppy takes the lead in his mouth, simply instruct him to leave it, praise, reward and continue the walk.
Some dogs like things in their mouths (a lot of the working breeds like Labradors and Golden Retrievers do and do Bulldogs, too) so give them a toy to walk with - perhaps a toy reserved just for walkies. While I'm on the topic of taking toys on walks, stop and have a think about what the walk means to your dog: he may well run free, play with other dogs, sniff lots, run and walk happily with you but all of these things are good things that happen without coming directly from you; you're not a part of any of these. The dog sees his off-leash time running in the park as a time for freedom and away from you who restricts him to the lead and simply escorts him to the park where ll the fun happens. Now compare this image with one where, while walking, you frequently give your puppy cues like "sit", "heel", "down", "touch" etc as you walk. Then, when you let puppy off-leash, you've brought a toy with you and play tug, fetch, chase and "find it!". All of these things happen because of your presence - they come directly from you.
Take a toy and treats (and poo bags!) on the walk so you can have some fun play time to get that puppy energy out, bond with your pup, drastically increase the chances of puppy returning to you when called (as you've demonstrated how much fun you are) and enjoy the walk more.
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