Addie and the leash

[Judith and Addie]

My little doodle, Addie, is six months old and trying to take her for walks has been a trial almost since the time I got her. She no longer stops, lay down, and refuses to move 5 feet outside our front door. She has graduated from that to jumping to grab the leash, as close to my hand as possible. Once she grabs it, she wants to play tug-of-war. To keep her a bit calmer, I give her a small squeaky toy that she carries around with her, and we can actually walk a few feet - or more, depending. Sometimes, she will walk around the block fairly well, especially if there is someone or something interesting ahead of her. Other times, it is drop the toy and attack the leash every few steps. Then I make her sit, and often ask for a  "down" until she is calmer; then I give her the squeaky and we move on. BTW, the jumping starts before we even get out the door, unless she has her squeaky.

If she is walking well, and we come across a neighbor, she pulls to greet the neighbor.  If I keep her walking, she eventually goes back to walking well. If I stop to talk with a poochless neighbor, she settles and lies down while we talkafter she has had her attention from the neighbor. But once we start walking again, she is more excited, dropping her squeaky, jumping, grabbing the leash, and driving me crazy. She loves going for car rides, and loves the dog park. She also walks much better and usually very well if I take her someplace new.

I have a trainer/certified animal behaviorist who has not seen the behavior but has had me describe it. She is the one who initially recommended using the squeaky toy to keep Addie's mouth occupied so that she would not go for the leash. This was after bitter apple had no effect, and neither did Vicks Vaporub smeared on the leash. The trainer has said she feels like Addie's behavior of jumping, grabbing the leash, and sometime shaking it while growling is displaced aggression and something is scaring her. To me, Addie seems to want to play and may be a bit bored. I am hoping as Addie matures, all this is going to settle down.

Other things about my puppy: she is very certain of her likes and dislikes and lets me know if there is something she does not like. As an example, once I accidentally stepped on her paw, and she backed up, barked and growled at me.  If I get angry and shout "Cut it out!" like when she attacked my ankle and drew a little blood, she barks and growls at me. She seems to demand calm, quiet behavior and I think she is training me.

Anyone have thought on this?

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Hi Judith, I would wait until Addie is calm before leaving the house. It may take a while, try your patience... to calm her with leash on, hold her gently and silently, no eye contact, under the collar by her tags, palm up. Once she is calm, you exit the door first. Walk head up and shoulders back, like proud pack leader. When she tugs, try the step, stop, ignore. Hopefully you can get farther and farther this way...
I am trying the same things and it is totally frustrating so I feel your pain. I get goosebumps when it happens as it does feel so " wild" if not aggressive... Lmk if you learn anything new as I am trying to elim this, too! Best,

[Judith and Addie]

Thank you. I'll try this and let you know how it goes. One thing about Addie; she is teaching me to have more patience.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Yes, lmk how goes! Other things I thought of: drain her of some energy before attempting the loose leash, structured walk. Fetch in yard, whatnot... And you can use that collar calming thing whenever. It works for Rippley. If she attempts to nip you during that though, you will need to isolate her. Not sure how to do that on walk, lol! Good luck -- to both of us!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I don't have a suggestion for the walking but what about getting one of those leashes that are 'chain' with leather or nylon at the handle?  Perhaps that type of leash wouldn't be fun to bite?

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

How did it go today?

[Judith and Addie]

I was going to write. Holding her by the tags works! She calmed and I was able to get her out the door. She walked well for a short - less than 10 minute - walk around the neighborhood. I used praise and periodic treats during the walk.  I am hoping to create a habit.

Thank you.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Yay! Glad to hear it. :-)

[Judith and Addie]

Almost perfect walk around the whole neighborhood this morning! I put her leash on about 3 feet from the door, opened it and said "Let's go!" and she followed me. She only had one short leash jumping/grabbing incident that resolved easily by stepping on the leash and ignoring her for several seconds, and then back on our way. 

Her evening walks are usually not as good. I think as she tires throughout the day she becomes more hyper.

How are things going with you and Rippley?

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Wow that is so great to hear! The more good walking experiences they have, hopefully the more good habits forming... Thx for asking: Rippley has been a bit better walking, too. It is practically perfect if he is already a bit tired and the timing is not his witching hour, lol. Also walking diagonally or S pattern (so he follows without knowing where we will go next) helps a lot, especially when walking downhill back to our house. But the other day on his long lead (staked) he charged toward me barking, jumping, with that wild energy. I promptly short leashed him and did a calming back n forth walk which helped, but geesh. When that happens I know he is playing but it gives me goosebumps!. So, it is a work in progress! Keep in touch. :)