This is a really annoying thing that Kasper does, and we don't know how to work with it. It only happens occasionally (once every week or two) which is why I guess we haven't mentioned it sooner, but it's very frustrating when it does happen.
When on his lead, Kasper sometimes will turn around and grab it in his mouth, growling and pulling and essentially playing tuggy with it. He goes mental at these times and won't respond to commands, a toy or a treat. It's impossible to wrestle the lead from him, and if you try hold it behind his head where he can't get it he lays on the ground and tries to snap it in his mouth. He jumps up at these points, leash in mouth and pulling at it like crazy, trying to catch more of it.
This usually happens as a reaction to something else. If he's on a lead and a dog goes past, if we're taking him in a direction he doesn't want to go, if he's just going out to the toilet and not for a walk. He doesn't do it every time one of those things happens, just sometimes.
We've tried spraying the lead with some bitter stuff, to no effect. We've tried giving him commands (such as sit, wait) and rewarding him, this works sometimes (rarely) but most times he's too fired up to listen, or when we carry on walking he starts again. We can't just let him off the lead because that way it's rewarding his bad behaviour and he needs to know not all his walks (eg. toilet walk or if we're going somewhere) can be off-lead.
How can we avoid this, and what should we do when it happens? It's so hard to try remain calm whilst he is yanking on his lead, chewing it and flinging himself up at you! My arm's covered in scratches because he did it on his toilet break today and I wasn't wearing any sleeves. The amount of time it lasts varies; sometimes only a few minutes, others for as long as it takes to get back to the house.
Thanks for any advice
Red
When on his lead, Kasper sometimes will turn around and grab it in his mouth, growling and pulling and essentially playing tuggy with it. He goes mental at these times and won't respond to commands, a toy or a treat. It's impossible to wrestle the lead from him, and if you try hold it behind his head where he can't get it he lays on the ground and tries to snap it in his mouth. He jumps up at these points, leash in mouth and pulling at it like crazy, trying to catch more of it.
This usually happens as a reaction to something else. If he's on a lead and a dog goes past, if we're taking him in a direction he doesn't want to go, if he's just going out to the toilet and not for a walk. He doesn't do it every time one of those things happens, just sometimes.
We've tried spraying the lead with some bitter stuff, to no effect. We've tried giving him commands (such as sit, wait) and rewarding him, this works sometimes (rarely) but most times he's too fired up to listen, or when we carry on walking he starts again. We can't just let him off the lead because that way it's rewarding his bad behaviour and he needs to know not all his walks (eg. toilet walk or if we're going somewhere) can be off-lead.
How can we avoid this, and what should we do when it happens? It's so hard to try remain calm whilst he is yanking on his lead, chewing it and flinging himself up at you! My arm's covered in scratches because he did it on his toilet break today and I wasn't wearing any sleeves. The amount of time it lasts varies; sometimes only a few minutes, others for as long as it takes to get back to the house.
Thanks for any advice
Red