What To Do About Your Dog Biting the Leash
Leash biting is one of the many annoying little things that can turn a walk into a bit of a slog. It slows you down, damages expensive equipment, and can just be kind of frustrating in general.
But why does leashing biting occur? What can you do to try and stop your dog from continuing this annoying habit?
Why Do Dogs Bite the Leash?
The leash biting phase is a normal phase for puppies to go through when they’re going through leash training for the first time, or for older dogs that haven’t had much experience with walking on a leash before. However, it's best to put a stop to it before it becomes a habit.
A dog may resort to leash biting if they are feeling bored. For example, in their eyes, the leash is a fun game of tug that they can play with you whenever they’re going out. Your holding on and grumbling at them is very exciting and adds some spice to the walk.
If a dog bites the leash at random moments of the walk, it may be because they’re feeling a bit frustrated. They may not like the sensation of the collar and leash if they are not used to it, or they may be a bit upset that you are not letting them do what they want - such as going to meet other dogs or eating something they found in a bush.
Sometimes, leash biting can also be because the dog is overstimulated and trying to self-soothe. This can be negative, such as the dog being anxious about being outside, or positive, such as the dog being excited to be outside and spending time with you.
Why Should You Be Concerned About Leash-biting?
Your dog biting the leash may not be a big deal to some people, but not only is it a costly habit in the long run, but damaged leashes can also put your dog at risk. The leash could break at a bad moment, or important parts - such as a reflective coating to warn cars - may become damaged and ineffective.
It can also cause frustration between you and your dog, as well as deprive them of important leash training. This leash training will help them to develop critical behavioral skills as well as maybe saving their lives one day, as well as yours.
What NOT To Do
As a dog owner, your behavior is going to have a big impact on your dog training. Being inconsistent in how you handle their bad behavior is only going to confuse them. E.g. You cannot punish a bite on one walk and then ignore it on the next.
Escalating the situation by getting mad, yelling at them, or making a big deal out of it is only going to excite the dog more, which makes it more likely that the dog bites the leash again and again, either out of nerves or out of excitement from the reaction.
It is normal for a puppy to go for the leash, but don’t ignore this behavior in the hopes that they will grow out of it. Helping to correct the problem early means that you’re more likely to be successful in the long run.
So how do you perform proper leash training?
Training Not to Bite
There’s no real set way for dog training, a lot of it will have to do with why your dog is biting the leash. You will have to gauge their behavior and see what methods work best for you and them.
Ignore Them
If your dogs bite the leash because they think it's fun…then ignoring them takes a lot of the fun away from the situation.
Just stop walking and wait there until your dog stops chewing. Resist the urge to scold them or tug the leash, just sit back and wait. If your dog is small or still young, you can even drop the leash on the ground and stand on it until they give up.
Since there's no reward for the behavior, the fun of biting the leash is gone. When they stop, you can start walking again to show them that the fun only happens when they aren’t chewing.
Practical Steps
A good way to get your dog to stop biting is to make the biting difficult or unpleasant for the dog.
For example, you could try switching from a collar to a harness, moving the leash further away from the dog’s mouth and making it more difficult to reach. Otherwise, you could switch to a chain leash - as most dogs don’t like chewing on metals.
You could also try a non-toxic deterrent, such as rubbing the leash in soap, a rub made of black pepper and water, or spraying on lemon juice or apple cider vinegar.[1] These will taste bad and can make chewing on the leash very unpleasant.
Unfortunately, some of these may also stain or damage the leash if used often - so leave it as a last resort in most cases.
Distraction
One way to bring an end to leash biting is by distracting your dog. Once their attention is broken, they will be distracted from their anxiety or boredom long enough that they might not feel the need to chew anymore.
If your dog has some training already, you may be able to snap them out of it by issuing some commands. Even simple commands such as ‘sit’ or ‘stay’ may take enough brain power to distract them from the need to chew.
If they’re still learning their commands, you might be able to spice the walk-up by bringing along a favorite toy or some treats. This can distract them from any anxiety, and will generally seem like a more fun thing to do than worry about the leash.
Prepping Before and During a Walk
Many dog owners may decide to take their dogs for a walk as soon as they get home. However, your dog is probably very excited to see you and spend time with you again. Meaning that they’re already terribly excited by the time you take them out.
Taking the time to give them some affection and hang out with them a little may reduce their excitement levels, thus reducing the need for your dog to bite the leash out of overstimulation and excitement.
Other activities, such as feeding them before a walk, or giving them a coat to wear, may also help calm them down a little so that they’re not so on the edge about going out that day. Playing with them after the walk and at other times also lets them know that this isn’t the only time they are going to get with you.
Alternatively, you can also avoid walking at times or at locations where you know your dog is going to get worked up. For example, don’t take a route where you know there are going to be a whole lot of barking dogs or people out for a walk.
Positive Reinforcement and Proper Leash Training
Punishing bad behavior on a walk is going to be somewhat counterproductive. Scolding and making a fuss is likely to make your dog more excited and antsy…and waiting until you get home is just going to confuse them.
Rewarding the behavior you want is going to be a much easier deal. For example, stop walking when you see leash biting behavior, take out a treat that they can see, and when they stop chewing and start walking normally then you can give it to them.
Certified dog trainer Brandon Mcmillan recommends proper behavioral training rather than ‘quick fixes’. He suggests taking the time to train your dog to walk calmly beside you -
-You can do this by keeping the leash relatively tight, not allowing too much slack, and keeping a treat visible in your free hand. When your dog is walking calmly alongside you, then you reward them with affection and the treat, but when they are jumping about and chewing, you keep the treat out of the way until they calm down and stop.[2]
He says that affection can be substituted for a treat - as you don’t want them to be too dependent on food - but that the session always ends with a treat reward for the correct behavior, so it leaves a lasting impression for the next time.
Getting The Right Leash Combo
Correcting your dog’s behavior is more important than the equipment, but it could still have some benefits.
While the other reasons in this article are the more likely cause of leash biting, an uncomfortable or tight collar could be a trigger for some dogs. A collar that sits right at home may suddenly be grating or chafing now that a leash is attached, especially for dogs that pull.
This is why going for a harness may be better in some cases.[3]. Especially for short-necked or brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds. Their inability to breathe easily may be causing them distress and irritation, making biting the leash seem like a good option.
A very loose leash can also cause problems by banging against the dog as it walks or by dangling near its face. Most of us like to grab a loose cable or rope that dangles in front of us, and a dog may likewise like to go for a loose leash. And as mentioned earlier, a metal leash is often less ‘tasty’ for your dog.
Go for a bright, good-quality leash, and a well-fitting harness or padded collar that isn't going to unduly upset or discomfort your dog. It's a small difference, but it can sometimes be the last straw for some dogs.
A good quality leash may also give you the motivation to save it from slobbering jaws.
Conclusion
Dogs may bite the leash for a variety of reasons. It is especially common in puppies and older dogs who may not have been leash-trained.
There can be a few reasons for this behavior, namely the fact that the dog is bored and trying to play a game and get your attention, they are stressed or overstimulated and trying to soothe themselves, or they are uncomfortable and tired.
You can try and manually stop the dog by coating the leash in something foul-tasting, such as soap or pepper, by switching to a chain leash, or by keeping the leash away from them. This can be done by switching to a more comfortable harness option or not having such a long leash.
The best way to stop the biting is through behavioral training. You can discourage your dog by staying calm, stopping the walk, and ignoring them. This will show them that it's no fun to try and tug on the leash.
Try and make the walks as pleasant for them as possible by choosing routes and times that aren’t stressful, and making sure they're getting adequate attention during other times of the day so they don’t feel so dependent.
Whatever you do, remember to keep on being patient and consistent in your training. A little hard work can have long-lasting benefits in the relationship between you and your dog.
If you would like to try out some harness combos or need to buy a non-chewed leash, check out Sparkpaws’ Comfort Control No-Pull Dog Harness Collection, for a variety of colorful and stylish options. There is also an Activewear Walk Collection for smaller dogs.
Happy Walking!
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