Hi everybody, I am having real problems getting Leon to stay still while I put his lead on. He goes mad and tries to bite my hand, rolls around on the floor and generally anything else he can do to distract me. He is fine once it is on. I have tried distracting him with a treat whilst putting it on and also treat afterwards once it is on which seemed to be working but today he really went for me (I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt me cos he's got good teeth on him, it wouldnt be difficult!) Any suggestions? Is there a certain way that is best to approach etc?

<<I have tried distracting him with a treat>>

Be vey careful you don't reward the very thing you are trying to overcome. A better alternative if you can do it it to ignore the bad conduct and just do it! If he finds his attitude is not going to help him he is far more likely to just give in.

Best wishes, John

Do lots of touching and holding his collar with one hand and giving a treat or feed him his dinner with the other.   Then get a lead clip and put that on and take it off as many times as you can whilst holding his collar and still treating.  Teach him to wait for a piece of food on the floor in front of him.  Hold his collar, say wait, put food on floor, say nothing until he's relaxed, then "good boy" then if he's still relaxed "OK" means he can move (and take food).  Increase the time he will wait with and without you holding his collar.  Whilst he does sit waits practice attaching the lead clip with one hand behind your back.  

I personally would dispence with treats altogether and if you are able, make him sit and put your left hand inside his collar when he is sitting by your left side and then with your right hand clip the lead on, all the time telling him to sit. You can then use a bit of pressure with your left hand inside his collar to keep him still and his head from coming round to grab you. If he tries this you can then grumble at him and say 'no' in a firm voice. As soon as you have the lead on you can praise with a light hearted voice and then do something like heelwork or sit and do backward recalls so that he knows you are in control, and mean it. I am sorry to say this but a bite is a bite is a bite, no matter how much you love him.  Good Luck.

In addition to what Sally has suggested I would put lots of leads (if you have them) on him. Put three or four on.  Be constantly putting leads on and taking them off with nothing happening apart from this.  If you do it often enough it will become boring

most dogs get all excited when they know they going for walkies, what I do with mine is just stand and wait for calm, i don't speak or make eye contact. once he's calm you can put on the collar and lead. he will probably always jump about a bit when the lead comes out but if you keep still and calm and wait it will get less and less each time.

I agree with Harriet - being put on the lead IS the reward - no need for treats in this case ;)

Because with our first 'us' dog I had a bad back at the time I made Nick teach Chelsea to sit right off the bat, and she always sits to get her lead on no matter how excited she is even 6 years later.  With Savvy she doesn't sit, but she knows it doesn't go on till all 4 paws are on the floor.  So if I bend down to put it on and the paws leave the floor I stand up and turn away.  After a few times of this they get the picture and we've never had a problem since.

The more he wants to go for a walk the more he'll try to figure out what he's doing that's keepign you from putting on his lead.  He will 'get it'.

Wendy

Fantastic thank you all for the suggestions! Can't wait to try them. John - I did wonder if I might be exacerbating the situation by giving him a treat and it seems that is the overall opinion so will have to be careful with that. He is fine with having his collar held so that part is simple enough, I used to do it while teaching him to wait for his food until released but havent needed to for a while as he won't move til he's told so perhaps that would be a good time to try it? If he's waiting for his dinner he might catch on pretty quickly! Will have to make a few notes of all your advice and start now.