"Does anyone have any good suggestions for leash biting in a puppy?"

Yes, I would suggest two possible approaches, perhaps depending upon the age of the pup. One is to build a small repertoire of alternate desirable behaviors, click/treat the pup for those. Then gradually add those to the daily pattern when taking a walk on leash.

We've all used the hand coming up to the face as a way to redirect a dog's attention upward. I'd use that, but not if you're speaking of a very tiny, low-to-the ground pup.

I also enjoy teaching pups to walk politely on lead by using some lead-training practices one uses for the conformation ring. It's simply a tiny little trot on lead next to Mom in a straight line for about 10 feet. Gradually increase that distance to 15 feet and then to 20 feet. Then make a small turn to the left and trot some more in a straight line on the lawn for about 10 to 15 feet. Then pause at the corner, before turning again to the left for the final leg of this triangle, to return to the spot from when the trotting began. One may use bait *and* a cute small furry toy as an attention device.

For pupsters a bit older, I use clicker teaching. I generally choose one criterion for that day's lesson. At this point, we may be ready for some walking on the public sidewalk. We begin with a small number of steps walking along in heel position, then halt, have pup do a nice tucked up sit at heel position. Click that; treat that. For the beginning of the week, I may feel the pup is ready to walk politely in heel position for,(say, three to five steps. That's enough, if that's where the dog is in its development. A few days later, the dog will be able to walk politely in heel position for five to seven steps before the halt.The aim, of course, is to help the dog to succeed. Perhaps the second
or third day, switch the locale so the walking on leash will be in a field rather than on the sidewalk.

I think these steps help the dog to begin to focus its attention on the task at hand, provided that I've been using a high rate of
reinforcement.

So again,we need to remember three important factors for any lesson. They are: i (1.) Criteria setting, (2.) Timing of the click, and (3.) High rate of reinforcement.

Additional aid: using a toy, even a small squeaky toy, as an attention device. And, of course, use lots of verbal praise and some hugs as rewards, too.

© May 9, 2008 All rights reserved. No reproduction permitted without express written permission from the author, Barbara D. Brill, North Chili, NY.  Email address: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it