My 6-month-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (Charlie) has been going out for walks on his lead with no problems other than occasional pulling and criss-crossing. Suddenly yesterday, we were out, and he got the lead in his mouth and started pulling backwards, refusing to carry on. I dragged him a few steps with him doing that, and told him 'NO', but to no avail! I had to carry him home, and the same thing happened today twice. I'm at the end of my tether and just don't know what to do! walks have turned into a tug-of-war. Also, he has been attempting to seduce and mount my leg, getting very randy. Are the two problems connected?? would neutering help?

Hi Kate,
Charlie's getting confident now, isn't he? (He is the one who wouldn't eat a while ago, or have I got the wrong dog?) He's really starting to "come out of himself" and act like a stroppy pup! If he were mine, and stopped on walks like that, I would either stop and wait until his lordship decided to follow me, or (if it was raining!) keep walking! But then I'm a meany.

The mounting is normal too. Tell him "No!" and put him in his basket/crate till he calms down.

Hope this helps :)

Hi Jean! yes! this is the same dog! Charlie who still will only eat ham,turkey and rice - and then only if my cat Muffin has a few mouthfuls first....but that's a different problem! I'm worried that If I keep walking while he's tugging backwards with the lead in his mouth, he'll damage his teeth or jaw. My dad's a disciplinarian and and says to give him a 'tap' with the lead, but I don't agree, and DEFINITELY won't start hitting him, poor baby :o(

First you need to know what the reason behine it all is. If it is nerves then I would retrain the walking by carrying him on the outward bound part of the walk and then put him down to walk back home. If he is just being a pain then I would use stronger tactics. I would carry him to the roughest piece of concrete I could find, put him down on it and start walking!! No messing, "YOUR COMING WITH ME ONE WAY OR THE OTHER!" He'd soon start walking !!!

Don't hit him, that would only give him something to resent. This way it is him himself causing the discomfort.

Humans lead, dogs follow!

Regards, John

As dogs (usually) hate anything metal in their mouths, you could get a chain lead - one of those with the ordinary collar-clip at one end and a leather handle, but chain between. He probably won't like to chew that! :)

I hate chain leads Jean, I've seen a puppy catch a tooth in a link and end up with a broken tooth.

Sorry, John :)

Never thought of that :( Not a good idea then. Back to the drawing board.

You could try attaching two leads to his collar spaced apart - when he grabs a lead in his mouth and starts to pull backwards simply let it go completely slack (without dropping it!) so he has no resistance from it to pull on. Carry on leading him with the other lead. If he turns round and grabs that one instead then let that one go slack and keep alternating if need be - but try and keep walking!
You could also try seeing if he will carry a toy on his walks and keep his mouth otherwise occupied :)
Lara x

Forgot to add that I don't make any connection between humping your leg and pulling on his lead :) He's just being a playful wilful puppy and finding his hormones.

That's a pity :( I was really hopeful about the chain lead! I think I'd get in an awful muddle if I attach two leads. I guess for now i'll have to try the walking on regardless of how much fuss he's making. Would he be better off if I got him a harness? then the lead would be further away from his mouth!! :)