If your dog keeps biting the leash while you are walking, it’s important to look closely at what may be causing his aggressive behavior. The most common reasons for leash-biting are anxiety, the leash is too short, a tight grip, or simply too hard to walk on.
If the dog leash is too short, you may accidentally pull him when you didn’t mean to. This can cause discomfort to his neck. Also, your dog may not have enough space to walk and may start to feel anxious and frustrated. To provide your dog with more space to walk and time to sniff at objects around him, consider using a retractable dog leash. Using a retractable dog leash allows you and your pup to spread out when taking a walk. He won’t feel confined and constricted, but will still be under your control.
Alternatively, it is also a good idea to get a durable dog leash such as a rope dog leash. A rope dog leash should be able to withstand your puppy biting leash habit or dogs biting habit.
Here are some ways to keep your dog from biting the leash in these situations.
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How To Stop a Dog From Biting The Leash
- Exercise. Make sure your dog is not only comfortable but that she is also getting enough exercise. Dogs who are active at home and out on walks have the energy to resist the pulling pressure on the leash. If you have a backyard for your dogs to run freely in so they can get their exercise, but worry they will escape, it is a good idea to install a wireless dog fence to ensure their safety.
- Interactive dog toys. At home, provide your dog with adequate toys to chew on or roughhouse with. You can also spend quality time with them by playing fetch with indestructible dog toys. This way, she does not turn to the leash to satisfy her biting. It is essential to buy a few good chew toys, tug toys, or long plush dog toys. Make sure to reward her for chewing on chew toys or long plush dog toys instead of the leash. Long toys are great because you can play with your dog without having to bend over. There is also less chance of you getting accidentally bitten when playing with your dog.
- Mental stimulation. It is a good idea to drain your dog’s energy before heading out on walks. Find activities that will provide both physical workout and mental stimulation. You can go for a game of fetch. Or try food puzzle games that will put your dog’s nose to work. This game can also be quite tiring for her.
- Divert biting behavior with treats. To train your dog that biting the leash is not good behavior, divert her attention whenever she’s biting on the leash. The moment you notice that she is about to bite the leash, toss some treats on the ground near her. Tell her to find them. We recommend using hard treats. When she’s walking without biting on the leash, reward her as well. Make sure all walking-without-biting gets rewarded with treats. This will correct her leash biting behavior.
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Avoid Short Leashes
First, try to avoid a short leash. It makes walking very difficult and makes walking on the leash a lot more difficult. A short leash also makes it easier for your dog to slip up and run when he feels a little nervous, which will only lead to more biting. Instead, use a longer leash. It is better and many dog trainers recommend a six-foot-length leash for walking your dog.
Use A Loose Leash
Make sure that the leash is loose enough so that your dog is not pulling excessively. If the leash is too tight, the dog could over-extend himself and hurt himself. Try to have a loose leash on walks. Never tie the leash too tightly. Doing so will not only create a tugging effect, but it could also lead to injury. Many people will also tie the leash so tight that they can’t even see their hands. This should be avoided.
Instead, we recommend using a retractable dog leash that is six feet or longer in length so your dog does not pull excessively.
Even when you are not walking with your dog, you may still want to keep the leash loose. There are two main reasons. First, he may need to adjust the leash to keep his head or neck from being caught in objects. Second, he may get irritated if the leash gets caught in anything. Keeping the leash loose will also allow him to walk without feeling trapped when you walk next to him.
If the leash is too long, you should take it off the dog at the point where the leash is too tight. You don’t want to drag the dog around all over the place. You also do not want to take any unnecessary risks by dragging him across the street. He should be able to move around easily on the leash without dragging the leash or hurting himself. If the dog does drag the leash, be gentle with him. Gradually loosen the leash a bit so he can move easier on the leash.
Switching between a collar vs. harness may also make a difference. For example, when your dog is wearing a back clip dog harness, you’re able to clip or attach the dog leash to the back of the dog and guide him without straining his neck. When the pressure is off his neck, he may stop biting the leash while walking.
Ways To Keep Chewing Dogs Safe
There are also ways you can help keep your dog safe if he chews through the leash while you are walking with him. If your dog is a chewer, it is essential that he wears his identification and rabies tags. This allows other people to find your furry family member, especially when he runs off and gets lost.
You can also use a training collar, which is designed to train your dog to keep its leash from becoming tangled with things. This will also make it much easier for you to control your dog. Remember to keep a leash on your dog whenever you are both outside because it is more difficult to grab the dog if he’s pulling on it.
As you can see, there are many steps you can take to keep your dog from biting the leash while you are walking. The tips above can help make walking much safer for both you and your furry friend. Keep in mind that not every method will work the same way for every dog. Make sure to also check with your veterinarian if you’re concerned about your dog biting the leash while you’re walking, as it can be an issue that requires further evaluation.
The AMZpets Puppy Teething Toys comes with seven different kinds of cotton chewing ropes. There’s two (2) indestructible tug of war ropes, two (2) dental cotton chewer knots, and three (3) cotton rope balls.
These durable toys are designed for puppies that are teething or aggressive chewers. Made of high-quality cotton fibers, the toys are natural, safe, and washable. Instead of biting or chewing on dog leashes, sofas, shoes, or pillows, your pup can chew on the toys instead.
Chewing can also help to reduce their anxiety and stress. Please always supervise your furry family members when they’re playing with these toys.
AMZpets Puppy Teething Toys Key Features:
- A convenient carry bag with shoulder straps is included
- Great for puppies that are teething and aggressive chewers
- Comes in a variety: 2 tug of war ropes, 2 dental cotton chewer knots, 3 cotton rope balls
- Not recommended for overly aggressive chewers or small dogs
What customers are saying:
Pros
- Dog owners love the variety of toy sizes and shapes in this pack.
- Owners are happy with how durable the toys are. They’ve had them for weeks and are happily surprised the yarn didn’t bleed colors onto the carpet.
- Owners also noticed that this variety pack is good for their average or slightly aggressive chewers.
Cons
- A few customers were disappointed that this variety pack toy is not for dogs that are overly aggressive and super chewers.
The ZippyPaws Toys includes three fun characters: the fox, raccoon, and squirrel. Each large toy has three high-quality round squeakers to keep your furry friend entertained. The toys do not include any stuffing so there is mess-free fun.
The plush toy set is 18 inches long and uniquely designed. Please always supervise your furry family members when they’re playing with these toys.
ZippyPaws Toys Key Highlights:
- Fun characters for your dog: fox, raccoon, and squirrel
- Durable and safe
- High-quality round squeakers to keep your dogs entertained
- 100% stuffing-free toys ensure a mess-free fun
- Strong seams on the toys
What customers are saying:
Pros
- Dog owners love that this set of plush toys is lightweight and has squeakers in the head, middle and tail of each toy.
- Unlike many toys that get destroyed within hours, these durable plush dog toy lasted for weeks.
- Dogs love to play and sleep with the toys.
- Many owners said the dog plush toy is long, making it a great toy for a game of tug of war.
Cons
- A few customers said this toy set is not for big or large dogs as they may swallow this toy. The plush dog toys were a bit smaller than they had expected.
- Make sure to keep your eyes on your dogs while they’re chewing and playing with these toys to avoid any potential choking or swallowing.
We recommend the Nina Ottosson Outward Hound Puzzle due to its unique puzzle that comes in four levels of difficulty: Level 1 (Easy), Level 2 (Intermediate), Level 3 (Advanced), and Level 4 (Expert).
The dog puzzle feeder helps exercise your dog’s mind and rewards them with dog treats. The puzzle dog toy is durable and easy to clean with no removable parts for safety.
All you have to do is place the dog treats into the toy’s block or compartment, swivel the flippers to cover the food, and lock the spinning top. It is best to place the puzzle on the floor and then allow your pooch to seek the treats.
Nina Ottosson Outward Hound Puzzle Key Features:
- Four different levels: Easy, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert
- Mentally stimulating for your dog while rewarded with treats
- Puzzle toy looks like real wood
- Dog puzzle feeder is durable and has no removable parts
What customers are saying:
Pros
- Many owners noted that this puzzle dog toy is light and easy to set up.
- The dog puzzle feeder is stimulating and it usually takes their canine friends a couple of minutes to complete it.
- Some owners said their pups will continue to play with it even when the dog puzzle feeder is empty.
- A few dog owners pointed out that this puzzle game is great for dogs with physical conditions that limit their playtime.
Cons
- Since the dog puzzle feeder is pretty light, it will move all over the floor.
- It is best to always supervise your dogs while they’re playing with the puzzle dog toys.
With over five years of specialized experience as an animal writer, my expertise lies in dog nutrition, health, behavior, grooming, and training. I am dedicated to delivering helpful and informative content that caters to the well-being of our furry friends. My primary goal is to empower pet owners with knowledge and ensure our canine companions thrive in health and happiness. In my free time, I love volunteering at local dog rescue centers.
