Why Do Dogs Leash Bite?

There are a variety of reasons why dogs leash bite. Sometimes they may just be bored of leash training; more often, they are redirecting their excitement or frustration onto the leash.

Train Your Dog to Stop Biting on the Leash.

My dog was ultimately leash biting because he was picking up on my weak, stressful, and fearful energy. This made him want to take over and dominate me. For shy dogs, unbalanced human energy may lead to fear aggression.

Which technique you use to prevent biting during the leash training process will depend on why you think your dog is doing it in the first place.

How to stop leash biting?

For the Bored and Playful Leash Biter.

Leash Biting - Take your dog to interesting environments for leash training.

1. Let your dog carry a stick or toy during leash training

A problem with this technique is that your dog may just want to lie down and play with the toy/stick.

2. Play the Find-it game

A good game to play during leash training is the Find-it game. First get your dog’s attention (e.g. by calling his name and then treating him), then say Find-it and throw him a dog treat a short distance away. When he finds it, praise him, treat him, then repeat.

Once your dog is good at finding it, you can throw in a recall before issuing the Find-it command, i.e. call your dog to you before throwing the treat. Keep sessions short and use good treats so that your dog is always motivated to play this game.

3. Make leash training more interesting

To make leash training more interesting, try and change direction, change speed, and do some commands; especially foot-work commands (e.g. Jump, Up, Weave, Spin).

4. Walk your dog on a loose leash

Walk your dog on a loose leash, stop often, and let him smell the roses. Only shorten your leash and move him into a heel position when there are dog aggression triggers around (e.g. squirrels, cats, other dogs, people).

5. Take your dog to interesting environments for leash training

Visit nearby parks and empty school fields. These places have interesting smells and interesting objects that will keep your pooch happy while he exercises his olfactory muscles.

Hiking parks have interesting smells and interesting objects that will keep your pooch happy while he exercises his olfactory muscles.

For the Mildly Frustrated or Excited Leash Biter.

Leash Biting - Redirect your dog onto a dog toy.

Leash Biting - Issue an alternative command.

1. Redirect your dog onto a dog toy

This worked initially, but after a time, the toy was no longer sufficient to contain my dog’s frustration. He would just ignore the toy and continue with leash biting.

If you want to try this, make sure you catch the leash biting behavior early so that your dog is not too frenzied to notice the toy. The toy technique also started being less effective when my dog picked up on my fearful energy. To calm your dog down, it is crucial that you stay calm as well.

2. Issue an alternative command

Once you notice your dog starting to lose control, quickly get him to refocus on you, and get him engaged in doing obedience commands. Only use simple commands that your dog knows so well that it is almost a reflex, e.g. Sit. Obedience training will only work if you catch your dog before he gets too excited or frustrated.

Once your dog loses control, he is no longer listening to you, so anything that you say will be ignored. A very high priority treat can sometimes snap him out of his frenzy, but I found that to be unreliable. When a dog is too excited or frustrated, he will be totally disinterested in food.

3. Touch your dog’s body with your foot

You can touch your dog to try and refocus him back onto you. Do not kick your dog or apply excessive force to your touch. This technique worked for me initially. However, after a few touches, my dog got habituated and just ignored the touch.

This technique may also be risky if you accidentally apply too much force, if your dog is easily spooked, or if your dog is really sensitive to handling. Any of these reasons may cause your dog to lose trust in you, run away, or become aggressive and fight back.

Obedience training will only work if you catch your dog before he gets too excited or frustrated.

For the Out of Control Leash Biter.

Leash Biting - Get your dog into a brisk walk home.

Having a nice pit-stop with Shiba Inu Sephy.

In this situation, it is very important that you stay calm and assertive, and not be fearful of your dog.

1. Step on the leash and ignore your dog.

This technique is similar to a time-out but not as effective. You take away your attention and your dog’s freedom to explore, but there are still interesting things happening around him and interesting smells.

When I use this technique, my dog will settle down after a bit; but once I release the leash, he will start with his leash biting again. I have tried lengthening the duration for up to 15 minutes, and that still did not work.

2. Get your dog into a brisk walk home

Forcing my dog to focus on an alternative physical activity (e.g. brisk dog walk) is the only thing that works for me. I combine ignoring him, while walking him briskly home. I hold the leash really close to his collar so I have good control of him and just go. I do not look at him, talk to him, or touch him for the entire trip.

There are several advantages with this leash biting technique:

• Getting him to do a physical activity allows him an outlet for his frustrated and excited energy;
• The brisk walk quickly removes him from the stimulus that caused him to lose control;
• The brisk walk does not allow him to do anything else and essentially ends his nice walk;
• You get home quickly, and can put him in a time-out if he resumes acting out.

Shiba Inu Sephy has decided that he gets better results being a lover rather than a fighter.

3. Time-out

If your dog leash bites in the house, then directly put him in a time-out area. This allows him to calm down, and shows him that extreme behavior will get his freedoms revoked.

Dogs are smart and will quickly stop behavior that gets them nowhere.

4. Spray water on your dog’s muzzle

This is an aversive method albeit a mild one. Nevertheless it still comes with some of the dangers of applying an aversive stimulus.

When I tried this, my dog just attacked the spray bottle. This also will not work if your dog is not bothered by water.

Some trainers suggest adding some vinegar or using mouthwash. But then, you must be careful with your aim so it does not hit your dog’s eyes.

5. Leash correction

Leash corrections did not work well on my dog. It only caused him to fight back and escalate his leash biting behavior.

Things got a lot better after I stopped using aversive techniques.