How to Train Your Dog to Bring You His Leash

Hello Nadia, Was Cody ever disciplined or told no for chewing on his leash as a puppy? If he was, then he might be avoiding the leash because he expects to get into trouble if he touches it. If this is the case, then you will need to teach him that it is OK to interact with his leash. To do this, show him his leash, and if he touches it with his nose or mouth, praise him and offer him a treat. If he does not, then touch the leash to him, and praise him and offer him a treat also. Do this until he will touch the leash on his own to get a treat. When he has reached that point, then hold a treat onto the leash, or dab a little bit of peanut butter or cheese onto the leash, and then reward him for licking it off when you encourage him to. Begin to tell him "Leash" whenever he touches the leash. Gradually increase how much he has to interact with the leash with his mouth, by placing treats on the leash or dabbing a little bit of food onto different parts of the leash. Do this until he will willingly put his mouth on it. Once he will put his mouth on it, praise him while his mouth is on it, and then give him a treat right after his mouth leaves the leash. Do this until he will eagerly put his mouth on the leash to get a treat. When he will do it eagerly, then simply tell him "Leash" without putting any food on the leash, and wait at least seven seconds, to see if he will do it on his own. If he does, then praise him, and offer him a treat right after. If he does not, then after several seconds, give him a hint by placing food on the leash. Repeat telling him "Leash" and waiting, until he will put his mouth on the leash before you add food. After Cody will put his mouth on the leash, then gradually lower the leash to the floor, and practice with it on the floor, then when he has mastered that, practice with it a few inches away from him. Continue to move it further and further away as he improves, so that he has to go to it to pick it up in his mouth. Do this until you can toss it away from him and he will go to it and grab it. When he will go to it to grab it, further away, then connect a long leash, such as ten or twenty foot leash, to him, or use an enticement method to get him to come back to you. If you are using a long leash, then when he gets to the leash on the ground and grabs it, quickly tell him "Fetch" in a happy tone of voice, and reel him in with the long leash that is attached to him. Give him a treat when he reaches you. If you are enticing him, then when he grabs the leash in his mouth, tell him "Fetch" in an excited tone of voice, and run away from him, to encourage him to chase you. When he catches you, trade him a treat for the leash in his mouth. For more detailed instructions on how to teach the fetch part of this trick check out this article also: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-fetch Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden