Help! Puppy, meet leaves. Leaves, meet puppy.

[Leslie du Mont]

My almost 7 month old puppy Atticus is turning into a leaf monster!! During our walk he can't go 20 ft without wanting to chase/eat/chew the leaves that are just now starting to fall from the trees. I've got him on a gentle leader so he's not quite pulling my arm out of socket on our walk, but this has GOT to get better!

Any advice for a puppy when his chase drive is in full force with leaves? Will he EVER get used to leaves or do we have to give up walking every fall? (Not an option obviously)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

For us the key was in training Guinness to heel. On our walks he is in "training mode" which means he must heel at my left side. On these walks he does wear his training (choke) collar. Since he's learned this command he will not chase leaves or even stop to smell them. Honestly he's too focused on walking with me. I change up my pace often to keep him thinking and interested. We also go out in the yard to play a couple times a day and he is on a 30 ft lead. At these times he will run after the leaves which is great fun for him. I think if you really want to have a good Fall walk the answer is in training the heel command. Atticus is just about the same age as Guinness. Good luck.

[Adina P]

I agree with Jane. Nothing fixes problems as well as training obedience commands like "Sit" "Stay" "Heel" etc.
So regardless of whether Atticus chases leaves, bunnies, squirrels or pulls after dogs he sees ahead...making walks a training opportunity and working hard on a solid HEEL will prevent all of the above because HEEL is not compatible with chasing leaves or people or squirrels. To get HEEL to a level where your dog will focus on heeling rather than other things takes TIME and consistency, but in the long run is immeasurably more useful than all the tips/tricks at getting a dog to 'stop' doing something.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Are you using a 6 ft leash? The GL EZ walk won't do much good if you use a longer lead or a retractable. With a 6 ft (or shorter) lead, you can prevent Atticus from getting far enough from you to chase anything.

[Kendra K. Rhoton]

Feel your pain... Remington did this too... We trained him to heel and now he knows he better stay close.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Peri does the same thing...hoping the second round of obedience and more training at home helps. She loves crunching away at leaves. It is actually pretty cute.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I suppose I'm bad at my training. Sometimes you just have to let a puppy be a puppy. Their excitement over blowing leaves makes me laugh. It's funny. I wish I could get that excited over simple things. I don't mind the silly leaf chasing.

I am not there with you though so I suppose if it went on for several miles I would be at wits end. Spud seems to calm down after a few blocks.

It is embarrassing when I see neighbors watching us like we can't behave out there... but I don't care. He just cracks me up sometimes.

[GBK]

I'm guilty too Joanne :) I loved to watch Buddy chase those leaves twisting on the ground, we just went for a much shorter and slower walk on those days... He grew out of it within a season and Kona was never interested in them at all.

[Adina P]

I don't think that's failed training...that's a choice. That's the beauty of a well trained 'heel'--when you want to walk without pausing for things you give the command and go. If you feel like letting doggy play...you release your dog from the command and let him play.

[Laura & Chewie]

Chewie 4-1/2 months had his first real experience with blowing leaves the other day. We had our first fall-like weather...much cooler, very windy and light rain. Between chasing leaves and/or just sitting there cocking his head listening to the wind, he couldn't be bothered doing anything else if you know what I mean. LOL.

[Karen & Lucy]

Atticus is still a puppy and will chase anything esp. something like leaves that is blowing freely around. When you are walking him and want him to stay with you, yes I agree, he should be on a short lead and he needs heel training and trained to "leave it" when you walk by someone/something that you do not want him to go for. That all comes in with basic training. Has he had that yet? If so, just keep working on the heel and "leave it" commands and the chasing leaves will "leave".