leash biting

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Hi everybody,
I just got my golden doodle on Sat her name is Jersey and she is 8 weeks old. Everything is going awesome except she hates her leash. She pulls and bites it whenever it is on and she will not go potty unless we take it off first. I know she just needs to get used to it and I have tried to leave it on her around the house but she just bites and chews it. Does anybody have any suggestions on how to get her used to it? Her collar is just a regular collar that has a snap buckle do you think I should change it to a trainer collar?

[diane silver]

At 8 weeks old, I would never put a "training collar" on her. This is just typical puppy behavior. You can try to spray the leash with Bitter Apple. Emma still bites the leash sometimes and she's 8 months old. I'm sure that eventually, as she gets used to having a collar and a leash on, she'll calm down. Hang in, it does get better!

[Adina P]

Congratulations on your new puppy :-)
most puppies her age aren't real fond of leashes and collars. Saturday was probably the first day she experienced the leash, is that correct? With time she should be okay with it. In the meantime, continue to let her drag a leash around the house--- buy an extra cheap leash and cut off the handle so it doesn't get stuck on anything as she runs around...BUT...try soaking the leash and bitter apple first. If you don't already have some bitter apple, it's a good thing to have when you have a puppy. It's a foul tasting spray just for keeping doggie mouths off of things they should not be on. So spray that drag leash and soak it in bitter apple first.

Also, while she has the leash on, do some training with her using treats or play a game or show her a toy or anything to get her mind on something besides chewing her leash.

[Adina P]

I agree. I have used all sorts of training collars on my dogs-- but at eight weeks she is so young that it's not very helpful and will only confuse her if it's a correction collar.

[Rachel Jones]

Our Goldendoodle also did this when we first got her, we just ignored it and she stopped. We also let our puppy go potty outside without a leash so she could sniff around, and at this age they don't want to go far from you.
Don't use the bitter apple too much, save it for those really precious items you don't want chewed!!

[2hl9mp3c2fuam]

OH both of my doodles were like this. I just kept saying NO and eventually they stopped. Like anything else..it is training...they will overcome it.

Good luck!!

[Margot]

Ah, the days of leash biting! Jennings is 10 months old now, and will occasionally bit the leash (if I am dragging him away from the park), but I do remember when he was just a little guy and it was all the time. There is a great spray called "Grannick's Apple Bitter" at pet shops and Petco for about $7.00. It's all natural, spray it on anything Jersey is biting (or you think she might want to chew), and she won't like the taste. When Jennings was in his "nipping" phase of me, I sprayed it on my arm and he took one lick and that was it! Good luck with Jersey!

[Louise and Toby]

Try to make the time she has the leash on a fun time.
We had trouble at times when we would take our dog out to go potty - he would jump up and try to grab the leash by our hands - oh, that was irritating! One day the lightbub went off and I got a chain type leash and that solved that! Good luck - this too shall pass.

[Linda and Murphy]

Good advice from everyone.
Murphy doesn't bite or chew his leash. He carries it in his mouth. I usually use a 2 or 4 foot leash (he's a really tall guy) and hook it on him at the door. He prances around the house and then out the door when I open it, leash in mouth. Anyone that sees him is quite amused. "He walks himself?"

Does anyone else have a doodle that does this?

[Kelli, Fenway, & Dustin Pedroia]

My Mom and Dad's doodle Duke does this. He even carries Fenway's leash in his mouth sometimes and walks her too. Too funny!

[Doris]

When I was a child we had a springer spaniel who loved to keep the leash in her mouth as she walked. We all thought it was really cute, but it became a habit and she would not walk any other way. This is a problem if you need to pull hard to keep away from danger - we were pulling on her mouth - OUCH.

I agree with everyone else - keep saying no and train your dog not to bite the leash.

I'm jealous of your cutie pie. We got Bodi at age 2 so I didn't get the puppy experience.

[Janie]

Daisy did this as a puppy...I would take it out of her mouth and tell her to leave it.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Bitter apple doesn't always act as a deterrent. Both Ned and Gordie think it tastes fine - just like chicken!