Leash does not equal tug toy

SangmortSangmort
edited July 2010 in Behavior & Training
aha! Time for Osy to start asking questions ;)

Wraith's been doing pretty well about walking on lead. He was a huge puller at first but we've managed to correct it for the most part. [ he learns pulling gets him no where, & when he walks beside us or comes back to us treat &/or praise him like crazy ]

I say "let's go!" & he follows me, or I say "Let's go home!" & he runs to our door! [ too smart! I died of shock lol Wasn't trying to "teach" him this, but he definitely picked it up ]

But he's started doing something new the past 2 days. He thinks the leash is a tug toy D: We will be walking then all of a sudden he'll stop, grab the leash & start thrashing / growling [ play growling, like the leash was a tug, he gets REALLY into it! ]

We've been avoiding playing tug with him til I can teach him "drop it," but with the new leash thing, guess it's time to start!

Whenever he starts playing tug with the leash, I turn around & ignore him. Usually he stops within a few moments, & when he lets go of the leash I praise him. Should I keep doing that? [ or is there a better way? ]

Also, I've heard mention several times of a book that discusses how to properly play tug with your pup...if anyone can tell me what it is [ or provide a link ] I'd greatly appreciate it!

I've tried to search online for info on this, but every site says it's "dominance" behavior with no advice, so I've dismissed them.

---

Also note...Wraith [ like the rest of his liter ] was started on sleeve biting at 5 or 6 weeks [ don't remember ] so I'm sort of fighting up stream here. lol [ he does this with everything, not just the lead, but the lead is hardest to avoid ]

Any advice would be greatly appreciated guys :) ~

Comments

  • aykayk
    edited November -1
    Chain leash? Most dogs don't like munching on metal.

    There's also the idea of spraying the nylon leash with bitter apple.
  • SangmortSangmort
    edited November -1
    I wish it was as simple as a chain leash! He LOVES to chew metal. [ obviously, we stop him as we don't want his teeth getting ruined ] Honestly, he loves to chew anything tho. But metal, rocks, steel, wood, etc. he doesn't care lol

    The bitter Apple sounds like a good idea...will pick some up & see if that helps. Thanks! ~
  • KevinKevin
    edited November -1
    Just be patient and correct it every time. My dogs both did that as pups--I think it's pretty normal. Don't sweat it too bad.
  • aykayk
    edited November -1
    I tried to do some quick research on this for working dogs. Some other ideals:

    1. In a safe area, drop the leash so it's no longer a tug toy and interesting. Once the pup loses interest, redirect to a real toy. (This advice was also coupled with the bitter apple/rooster sauce soak.) Some people will leave the leash on inside the house and let the pup drag it.

    2. Stake/cable the pup a couple of hours a day. Pup learns there's no satisfaction in tugging on the chain. (Extinction method I guess?)

    3. Switch to a harness and teach a positive interrupter (ie. whistle + treat). Once the positive interrupter is imprinted and works reliably, switch to back to the collar lead.

    4. Hold the leash high and walk faster. Letting it hang low catches the pup's interest.
  • KevinKevin
    edited November -1
    Hold the leash high and walk faster. Letting it hang low catches the pup's interest. 1 to 5 of 5
    I like that. Good call.
  • TheWalrusTheWalrus
    edited November -1
    Osy, you can send Wraith over here, and I'll send you a Kai. :)

    I have nothing to add other than what's been said, but I'm looking forward to seeing more pics and seeing how he grows up.
  • NekopanNekopan
    edited November -1
    I don't have any advice for you. Jack does this but only when he's excited and we're almost home. I'm horrible and think it's kind of cute, so I haven't put any effort into correcting it. :/

    I do remember that "proper" tug thing. I'll take a look for it.
  • NekopanNekopan
    edited November -1
    http://www.sfspca.org/sites/default/files/tug-of-war.pdf
  • HeidiHeidi
    edited November -1
    When my dogs do that, I hold the leash on either side of their mouth and pull it down really fast. That yanks it out of their mouth in a way that's not fun (as opposed to just trying to pull it out, which would just be part of the game). Every time they try to play tug, I just do that and it stops being fun real quick, because they're not even able to keep it in their mouth for just chewing or tugging against an inanimate object.
  • SangmortSangmort
    edited November -1
    Ayk - Thanks!!! Everything I found online said shake him by the scruff of his neck, or pick him up by the leash+collar O_O [ Was NOT going to do that! ] The dropping the leash thing makes so much sense *duh* lol


    Kevin - I wish I could rely on him growing out of it, but unfortunately he'll probably be in the 70-80lb range as an adult....I'm 5' tall! So we have to be extra diligent about making sure this type of thing doesn't stick with him...I can handle a little pup doing this, but not a full grown adult dog, you know? lol [ also why I've been slowly teaching him how to heel, as if an 80lb dog bolts on lead, he WILL drag me!!! lol ]


    Shigeru - I don't know if you'd like him, he wouldn't make a good hunter lol :p He has 0 prey drive. I hear these breeders / owners / trainers saying these dogs have "high prey drive" but I don't think it's in the same way we talk about "prey drive." He has not so much as even glanced at the 11 birds we have, ignores squirrels, cats, frogs, lizards...even if they're 2 feet away or right next to his nose! Sooooo weeeeird!!! LOL [ Maybe a good tracker tho. He's constantly sniffing / smelling around ]

    I did take some new pics but my computer has been hogged all day. Will post some soon!


    Kyla - Thanks for the link! If he was going to stay this small, I probably wouldn't care either lol


    Heidi - Thanks! I'll give this a try too. Tho, with him...he might feel "egged on" & come back for it!!! lol ~
  • WrylyBrindleWrylyBrindle
    edited November -1
    You can also carry a Yes. something he can carry in his mouth while he walks. Some dogs like to carry stuff around (Reilly does) you just want it to be something other than the leash. If you know that he gets grabby around a certain time of the walk (heading home), ask him for a behavior he knows before then and ask him to carry a jute tug (isn't that what bite sleeves aremade of? they make toys of it, too and if he already knows, that that's what you bite...)

    In this way you can give him something he wants anyway (biting) without changing the walk. You dont have to play tug with it, teach him to carry,if he drops it, give it a wiggle and ask him to TAKE it.then you can practice TAKE and OTUT in preparation for future Proper Tug.
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