Expert Dog Trainer Cindy Rhodes

New Q&As

January 3, 2025
Can you help me identify which breed of dog is right for me? I will be a first time dog owner with no training experience.

I learned of Leerburg from a breeder’s website . I spent considerable time reading your material and viewing your content. I’m impressed with your knowledge, expertise, and emphasis on building relationships/engagement with your dog. I'm a 50-year-old interested in becoming a first-time dog owner with no dog training history. Your training courses are appealing. I’m seeking a big dog that has high loyal tendencies. I want to be good for the dog and the dog good for me. With work and ad...

100% (1 out of 1)
respondents found this answer helpful
January 2, 2025
My dog is obsessed with picking up rocks, placing them in different areas of the lawn and digging. Any ideas?

Hi Cindy, so my working line GSD he is 5 now. He’s is trained, I would say intermediate level/ But he has this issue when we are at home only. He will grab a rock in his mouth from the backyard then goes and place it in positions all around the back lawn and digs. Some of the trenches are 500mm deep. The only way I stop him from doing this is by locking him in the laundry when I'm not home. Although he is less likely to do it if I am not home. But if I get home let him out the back yar...

100% (3 out of 3)
respondents found this answer helpful
January 2, 2025
We adopted 2 female rescue puppies a couple years ago. They have a history of fighting and lately it's become more violent. If we establish more rules will they still fight?

Hello, I have a question about 2 female rescues we adopted a couple years ago. They are supposedly littermates, and at the least have been together since they were puppies. They've had a history fighting, but lately they have become much more violent. A fight yesterday required a trip to the vet for wounds. I've read on the site that adopting two dogs from the same litter can be problematic. But given we are already in the situation, is it worth trying to go through the "Groundwork to becomin...

100% (1 out of 1)
respondents found this answer helpful

Popular Q&As

November 20, 2012
My mom’s GSD has a lot of behavioral issues and is teetering on the edge of needing a new home. I’m frustrated with her, can you suggest some specific DVDs?

Hello Ed & Cindy, I'm writing today regarding my mother's year old spayed female GSD. She was purchased by my 18 year old brother who didn't do groundwork before leaving for college. She is loving & intelligent, but extremely stubborn and dominant. I've never had a dog this frustrating to train. She is teetering on the edge of needing to find a new home because of her behavioral issues. I'm hoping that you can suggest specific DVDs and articles that are most fitting for her issues. We'...

100% (229 out of 229)
respondents found this answer helpful
October 25, 2016
When we drop (our dog) off at daycare, he is showing separation anxiety. He tries doing these little nips at the staff when they put him in the runs in the beginning of the day. Should we nix daycare?

We have an almost 7mth Malinois who when we drop off at daycare, is showing separation anxiety. He tries doing these little nips at the staff when they put him in the runs in the beginning of the day. They said the rest of the day, he is perfect; it's just right after drop off happens. He starts crying when we pull up to the clinic not wanting to go but then they say he does excellent all day long! We don't get it. Just want to address the nipping issues because some techs are starting to get a ...

100% (74 out of 74)
respondents found this answer helpful
November 18, 2014
What's the shipping stress on a new puppy? I'm getting an 8 week old German Shepherd by air.

What is the shipping stress on puppies? I will be getting an 8 week old German Shepherd by air. The flight should only be one to one and a half hours.

100% (52 out of 52)
respondents found this answer helpful

Recommended Q&As

January 1, 2025
Our 10 year old Golden Retriever is aggressive around any kind of food and has bitten multiple people over the years. What can we do?

Good evening We have a 10yr old Golden retriever that we've had since 3months old, and our problem is with resource guarding. We can feed her food by hand and she'll wait between portions. But if she finds food first–either in home or outside–she will lunge and bite at us if we attempt to remove it or her. She has bit multiple people over the years, and mostly associated with food. She's a Jekyll and Hyde character: Completely sweet Golden when food isn't present, and defiant and aggress...

100% (1 out of 1)
respondents found this answer helpful
December 31, 2024
My new 8 month old GSD barks incessantly during training, I don't know how to correct him without confusing him.

Hi Cindy, I recently acquired a German Shepherd pup at 7 months of age. He was started in obedience work and drive development from the kennel I purchased him from. He was originally being developed for police work or high level sport. I just want him for family companion / protection work. Unfortunately I didn’t have the opportunity to develop this pup from 8 weeks old into my training and drive development or capping where necessary. When I received him he didn’t have bite inhibition or a...

100% (1 out of 1)
respondents found this answer helpful
December 16, 2024
I have 2 puppies and they don't get along, I don't know what to do. Please help!

I recently got a male Doberman and he's 3 months old now. Yesterday I got a golden retriever (2 months) but my Doberman keeps standing over him and biting him. My golden retriever and Doberman seem to be fighting over food as well (even though I give them both separately) I don’t know what to do and he (my dobie) doesn’t listen when I tell him to stop. Please help.

100% (3 out of 3)
respondents found this answer helpful
Scroll to Top