Hi! This is my first post on this board, as I am a new member. I am hoping you can help me. I have a 3 mo old GSD, and he is very sweet, but has a very high (VERY high) prey drive and food drive both. I have already purchased the Basic Obedience DVD and Puppy 8 wks to 8 mos DVD's. They have been very helpful in many areas. But I cannot get my puppy, Kodee, to stop biting/carrying the leash in his mouth when I walk him. When I first got him, it wasn't too big a deal, I would tell him "no", then pop the leash just enough to make it uncomfortable on his mouth, and he'd drop it. Now that he's older (and probably more comfortable with me), all that does it make him want to play tug, and he gets VERY worked up (loud growling, hard pulling on the leash). The more I pop the leash (or the harder I pop the leash), the more worked up he gets. If we are walking at the park, it's not so bad, I guess because he's paying more attention to his surroundings. But in our yard (potty breaks), or on trips to the pet store, etc, he tugs, gets very loud (he probalby sounds very aggressive to other people, although I really don't think it's aggressive behavior. IMO, it's just his prey drive coming out?) I have also tried spraying the leash w/bitter apple, and some other bitter products (that make me gag just spraying them), to no avail. Someone suggested that I get a lightweight chain leash, but I don't want to do that. #1-It doesn't solve the root problem, and #2- I hate chain leashes. #3-Knowing Kodee, he'd chew on it anyway!

Any advice on what to do about this? The problem is getting worse instead of better, and besides being a bad habit, it irritates the heck out of me. Also, just FYI, we don't ever play tug w/Kodee. I work very hard to establish myself as the pack leader (right now he has to sit before I throw his ball, give him his food, etc). He does have toys to chew on (Nylabones, etc), as well as other toys. He's never possessive of them, never shows any guarding behavior w/toys or food at all. He's very mouthy in general, wants to put his teeth on my hand instead of toy, grabs my pant legs, etc. he's only 3 mos, so I don't think I should get a prong collar yet, but I don't know. I just need advice on someone w/more experience than myself. I know this is kind of a long post, but I wanted to give you as much info as possible to base your suggestions on. Thanks for your help in advance!

My pups are 7 months old and still do it. It'll stop eventually on its own. At 3 months old I personally wouldn't worry about it, but I get the impression you are raising a pet so not sure if there's some magical way to make it stop besides waiting it out.

I wouldn't use a chain leash, you can break the pups teeth with those.

I haven't really had this problem but 2 possible solutions come to mind.

1. How about giving him a toy to carry, one he wouldn't normally have like a small stuffed animal. Then his mouth will be busy. A toy that squeaks or he can shake to "kill", like a tug, will be good too.

2. I see you tried Bitter Apple, did you condition the dog to Bitter Apple like Ed describes in his basic dog obedience video? Once the dog hates it, soak the leash in it. And he's probably bored and wants to play, so I'd go with solution 1.

You are making the leash and interesting and fun toy by jerking it. (Reminds me of the ball on a string exercise for increasing drive in puppies). Rather, try dropping the leash (if you have to have 2 leashes/collars, so be it) and turning and ignoring the dog.

I have a dog who chews through his drag line (he doesn't touch the leash when I have the other end, only when he's dragging it). I thought of these solutions for myself, but they don't work on my dog because he bites the leash at the opposite time that your dog does.

I feel you pain, literally. My pup does that with his leash. He actually does it when he wants to go for a walk, as we are getting ready to go for one.

I grab the leash near his collar and tell him to RELEASE/DROP IT. If I don't grab on next to his collar when he is in this mood, then he will release it only to grab it again, like a game.

After he has released it I put him into a sit or a down and make him behave calmly before we proceed. IMHO, the problem is exaberated when they have too much energy, and are just plain excited that they finally get to move.

Also, I have a mouthy pup ... and have found he is usually mouthy when he needs to go POOP. Once he has done his business he usually calms down. If he still cannot calm down, then I put him back in his crate with a bone or something else to chew. Basically it is a Time Out for Both of Us! Since he'd rather be with me then in his crate, he needs to have appropriate behaviour in order to do so.

He's now 11 months old, and I've seen progress. I do not use the muzzle nearly as much as I used to, but I do use the crate when necessary. It is a safe place for him in so many ways and limits the objects of his chewing desire. :-)

Good Luck!