so Ace LOVES to go on walks and has ALWAYS been such a good boy. never pulls, is very focused on me even in Lowes or home depot...till last night. Ace decided he wanted to walk himself. he grabbed onto the leash, didn't chew it, just held it and walked in a natural heel posstion all while looking up at me like he had been trained for the schtz heel already (which we haven't even gone there yet). he held it for the whole half of the walk. then on the way home he litterally pulled me. never thought a 30lb pup could pull that hard. but leash in mouth he walked completely at the end of the leash and kept constant pressure on it as if he was telling me "come on mom...lets get home..i need some water". now mind you he didn't tug or try to make a game out of it, or naw at it, he just held it firmly. I know i will have to get some bitter apple to fix the problem, and I was tempted to jerk it out of his mouth and say no (previous training method that i regret to admit). My question is, before i take this newly developed personality/training quark away..could i use it for anything. can i turn this into somthing possitive or maybe a trick of some kind that will be usefull in the future? i think it's adorable lol..but then again he is a puppy and everything they do is adorable..however they do grow up and become less adorable when they are doing somthing naughty.
any thoughts? it sure would be neat if he taught himself a trick or a useful tool.

If he's willing to carry something in his mouth that long, you should start shaping a hold for the retrieve.

And yes, put some bitter apple on the leash, or buy a chain leash, and keep a tug or a rag in your pocket for him to carry if he wants something to carry about.