playing with leash

Question
When I put GG on her leash, she will try to take it in her mouth and play with it.  I correct her, constantly with a sharp command and a quick snap on the lead.  4 months later we're still trying to play.

When I put her on the run, she plays with it, shaking it like she killing a snake.  Oh, she's quite happy about it.  It's difficult to snap it on or off because she's trying to get at it close to my hands.  She's not biting me, nor is she trying, but it's annoying and she has gotten me by mistake.  I tried verbal command, I tried snapping the lead, I've tried ignoring or dropping the lead all together.  I can't trust her to stay with me off the leash or run.

We rescued her at about 7 months old.  She is crate trained.  Will sit on command.  Also she will stay and wait until I release the command.  She shakes and is learning how to drop the ball after fetching it.

She is a good dog and is alert and smart.  These teenage years!

Answer
Hi Pam,

It sounds like you have accomplished a lot with GG, Obviously, you have control over her to some extent or she would not sit, stay, shake, fetch, and release the ball. So, you are doing a good job. Plus, she's housebroken.

I am also happy to hear you will not leave her off the leash or run. I have heard many sad experiences because of that.

Playing with the leash by trying to take it in her mouth is a big game with her. Perhaps when it first started it was cute and encouraged. But now, it's frustrating, especially when she tries to count your fingers with her teeth.

So we want to correct this little bad habit before her first birthday. Unfortunatly, I do not know why she was placed in a rescue houme, so we have to be very careful not to make a wrong correction and bring back to her mind some unpleasant issues. So, let's be careful.

First, don't snap on the lead anymore. To you, you feel you are trying to stop her from taking the lead. To her, it could easily be that she thinks you are playing with her.

What I would like you to try is each time she grabs at the leash to take it in her mouth, let her have it. Now, while the leash is in her mouth, place your hand around her entire mouth closing it shut. Do not overdue the pressure it takes to do this. You only want to use enough pressure to keep the mouth closed. While your doing this, tell her no. No need to shout it, just tell her in a firm medium voice, no! All the time holding her mouth shut.

What we want to do is to get her mind off the leash and onto this new life experience. I promise you very shortly she will not like you doing this and begin to pull away from you. When she begins to pull away, hold on for a short period longer--about ten seconds, then quickly release your hand. She will automatically open her mouth and, at, that point, be ready to pull the leash--quickly but gently from her mouth, NOT with your hand, but with a tug just strong enought to remove the lead from her mouth. Then, praise her. If she wants to take the leash back into her mouth, by all means, let her. Repeat what you did the first time all the way through to the release. After she does this about fifteen to twenty times (unless your really lucky) and you continue with the correction, she should stop. It is important to praise her each time she releases the lead, and under no circumstances do not pull the lead too sharply from her mouth. We do not want to injure the teeth.

Try it, I promise it will work. Please let me know how you make out. Good luck. I have confidence in you that you can do it from the words you wrote in your letter.

Harry