4 month old - GSD grabbing at my clothes and legs whilst out walking

[dunc_n_toby]

My recenlty aquired pooch has an annoying habit of grabbing either the lead, my t shirt/coat or even my leg when we first leave the house for his walks.
I've been given conflicting ideas as to how to deal with this and wondered what you guys think?
Ignore him and he does eventually stop - holes in clothes in the mean time!
stop what I'm doing and ask for sit, I then reward him for sitting.
Someone suggested smack his nose - NO WAY WILL I EVEN CONSIDER THIS!
I've also given him a toy to carry which does stop him until he gets bored of carrying it.
Any other ideas - we're starting puppy classes next week

 

[Bess]

One of my labradors does this with her lead, she will take it in her mouth and try to pull me along. I believe she thinks she is taking me for a walk, so I just stop, get her to drop the lead and walk on when she does. Its an annoying habit and even worse when yours grabs your clothes.

I think it's a control thing and I won't go forward until she's dropped the lead and is walking nicely by my side. I also have another lab who has never done this so I know its not something I've encouraged, it just seems to be an ingrained trait with one of them.

 

[CSYMolly]

My GSD used to do the exact same thing, she eventually grew out of it when she was about five!! Sorry don't have a lot of advice, I guess they just get besides themselves with excitement.

 

[JAK]

Small tin with rattly pebbles in or something, which you need to throw down behind dog, not at dog, to startle & distract it! No voice required & try not to look at dog when you do it, i.e. it is a distraction not a threat!

One of two reactions will occur:

a) Dog will be sufficiently startled/distracted & stop behaviour, at least long enough for you to get in there with something to get its attention onto something else, e.g. a carried toy, or even a titbit - you can then practise a few 'sits' or 'watch me' commands.

b) Dog (usually the bolder ones!) will glance round briefly, then instantly re-assume behaviour - in this instance, you my need something a bit more 'potent'!
Try a Jif lemon maybe - quick squirt in mouth (mind eyes!) with or without a sharp 'Off!'

In either case, sometimes just stopping & standing still (not speaking & ignoring dog totally!) will have the desired effect within a very short space of time, as few dogs will play or rag on something for long that is totally 'passive' & they quickly learn that if they start 'grabbing' at clothing etc., everything grinds to a halt, which is rater boring!

Teach puppy to 'watch' you for a titbit, or a toy - a useful 'game', as you can use it later on to get the dog's attention away from a cat, or another dog for example when out walking!
Also, to 'Off!', so he learns that grabbing at clothing, leads, body parts is not acceptable! Again, best way to do this is by stopping the current 'game', so he learns that when he does it, you immediately stop interacting with him & lose all interest in him!
Getting cross or pushing him off by force etc. just makes it more of a 'rough & tumble' & even more entertaining, so keep it all very low-key!
Good luck!

 

[lordflynn]

my setter starting 'mugging' me when he was about that age-I found that telling him 'off' and then turning my back on him (arms folded) did the trick quite quickly.
Another one is to walk quicker than the dog can comfortably cope with and keep changing direction so he has to think about what he's doing-more difficult in the bigger breeds though!

 

[Oneofthepack]

You're so right not to smack his nose, very bad advice. My collie nips me when we're walking and I'm not going quick enough for him! It's just an excitement thing I'm sure. All the advice you've been given will work but stick to one thing. Probably the standing still and folding your arms, avoiding eye contact etc is the easiest. He will soon learn that grabbing you gets him literally nowhere.

 

[lilym]

you can get a can of plain old compressed air which makes a loud hissing sound, just spray it when he misbehaves and it will divert his attention immediatley, then just carry on as if nothing has happened and praise him for good behaviour, use the spray for bad, they soon learn and totally humane.