Leash Biting

The dog grabs the leash with his teeth, often shaking the leash and growling. The dog may change the point at which he is holding the leash with his teeth, moving his grip on it upwards towards the hand holding the leash.
(Sternberg, 2007)

This young Belgian Shepherd x Maremmano Abruzzese cross has grabbed her leash with her teeth and is shaking it, whilst looking up at her owner's hands.

VIDEO

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Video footage filmed during a behavioural evaluation. The male Pit Bull Terrier makes to grab the leash with his teeth, then jumps and bites the leash, lets go of the leash and again jumps, then grabs the leash, staring at the hand holding it, then jumps and grabs the leash below the hand twice, all the while staring at the hand. In the second clip, the male Pit Bull Terrier bites the leash, punching at it with his paws. When the trainer lowers his hand to avoid the dog hurting himself, the pit bull releases his hold on the leash, stares at the handler's right hand, exhibits elements of a frontal attack with bite-threatening, then again bites the leash, grabbing it near the trainer's hand. The Pit Bull Terrier lets go of his hold on the leash to watch the actions of a third person present at the evaluation, and, when his movements are blocked by the leash, turns around and threatens to bite the hand, re-directing his hold on the leash. As he bites the leash, he is looking the handler directly in the face; then, when a second person passes in front of them, the dog bites and shakes the leash.

biting_over_the_muzzle < > blank_attack