Most Popular Q&As

April 12, 2011

My 13 month old dog challenged me by not giving up his bone. I picked him up by the pinch collar & held him off the ground til he dropped it. Was this the best way to handle it?

Cindy, I think I done been challenged by my GSD pup. Dog--13 month old German working line GSD, intact male. Generally good natured and obedient when not distracted. Situation--I gave Otis a meat bone, which I do often. This time, he marched off with it and took it out of the room with purpose. He covered it with his paws when I went to check on him and growled seriously when I tried to take it away, then picked it up in his mouth and growled again when I told him "au...
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October 20, 2011

Recommended My 11 month old dog gets what we call the zoomies. He tucks his butt and runs around like he's nuts. Why does he do this and what should I do about it?

Hello, I have used 3 of your videos, and they have been of tremendous help to me with my puppy (he is now 11 months old). But there is something I haven't seen addressed, or perhaps I'm not using the right terminology. We got Finley at 6 months of age from a shelter, and he has bouts of what I found on the internet to be called the zoomies. He will all of a sudden just change his demeanor... it used to start with a stare at me with a different look in his eye and you'd know it's coming, an...
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April 26, 2011

My dog is aggressive to only some dogs. I am trying to get him to stop being aggressive, but he shifts mood so fast I have a hard time correcting in time. What do you suggest?

My name is Justin and I've been a longtime customer of Leerburg.com. I'm hoping that my dedication to the site and your products will tempt you to give me a little personalized assistance with my Rottweiler. I have a pure breed German 5yr old neutered male Rottweiler with dog aggression issues. I have purchased and studied Basic Dog Obedience, Dealing with Dom/Aggr Dogs and E Collar Training as well as most of the training equipment you recommend and have put them to great use. I...
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August 1, 2014

Recommended Our 9 week old Malinois puppy lies down or bites the leash when we try to get him to walk with us. The more we pull the more aggravated the situation gets. Your advice would be appreciated.

I have a 9 week old male Belgian Malinois and have had him for 10 days. We have purchased the Leerburg DVD Your Puppy 8 Weeks to 8 Months. That DVD recommends that young puppies are on lead with a harness (not a no pull) instead of a control collar. We are having a problem with this. The puppy, Eli, has learned to lie down in order to avoid following the lead and given the chance, he will grab the leash in his mouth without ever getting up. As a result, we are having a difficult time co...
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May 19, 2011

What should a non-K9 officer do if bitten by a police service dog?

Sir, I was wondering what an officer should do when he is bitten by a police dog and he is not the dog handler. I am at the Indiana police academy and this question was asked to the recruits. Thank you for your time.
98% (56 out of 57)
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April 19, 2011

My 12 week GSD puppy growled and tried to bite me when I gave her a correction. She has never shown aggression before. What should I do?

Mr Frawley, I have a solid black female GSD 12 weeks old and I have ordered the videos you told me to for right now. I can't wait to get them. I had a problem just now and I need advice. I have been making her sit before she gets her food and she has been on leash all times in the house and outside. I am thinking that I am the alpha male so far until I get your videos that might teach me different including your podcasts. She has came to me every time I have called her name at least 30 ti...
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March 11, 2014

Recommended My husband and I will be training a lab puppy to do therapy work. How and when do we introduce our dog to non-handler human interaction in a way that does not undermine your engagement and socialization training?

Hi, My husband and I will be training a yellow lab puppy (later this year) to ultimately do therapy dog work. We've been educating ourselves about proper training techniques through your videos, articles and Q&As, as well as with service dog trainers and materials. My question is this: You stress the importance of engagement work while socializing a puppy and young dog. The dog should view other people as "furniture," as you've said. This makes perfect sense to us. However, if we ult...
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July 11, 2013

Should the prong collar or the ecollar be highest on the dog's neck when they are worn together?

Hi Cindy, I had a question on fitting a prong and ecollar together on the dog at the same time since both are supposed to go up right under the jawline. We're using the prong for leash pulling and the ecollar for dog aggression (when I can't redirect him). Since we are in a city, being near other dogs is unavoidable on our walks. My question is whether the prong collar or the ecollar should be highest up on the dog's neck. I've seen pictures both ways, and just want to be sure I'm gett...
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October 27, 2014

Recommended My dog is fearful of people he doesn't know and today a stranger reached out towards my dog and he snapped at the guy. Should I have walked away sooner?

Hello, I have a year old while German shepherd dog. I got him as a 9 week old pup. We also have an adult Beagle, and 2 cats. Sax GSD gets along with everyone in the home. He is extremely loving and playful and has lots of energy. He has not been neutered yet but we do plan to do that this month. He has always been fearful of strangers out side the home. If someone comes into the home he is better after he gets to know them. However, when we are walking it is hard to go a block before ...
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October 22, 2013

I'm not actually having a problem, I just wanted to know if my German Shepherd is just being a German Shepherd or has he taken being protective to a whole new level.

Hi, I'm not actually having a problem. Just wanted to know if my 2 1/2 year old German Shepherd is just being a German Shepherd or has he taken being protective to a whole new level. I take him to the dog park frequently where we have miles and miles of off leash paths through the woods to walk through. We meet lots of dogs and for some reason, if there is a problem anywhere, my dog has to get involved and sort it out peacefully. If a little dog looks like he's being picked on, Dax is the...
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October 23, 2012

Recommended Our latest trainer instructed us to muzzle and alpha roll our dog twice a day as a dominance exercise. Should we stop doing this?

We have a dominant/agressive 16 month female doberman. We have purchased and implimented all of your training videos and hired several local trainers. The latest trainer, has instructed us to do an alpha roll with a muzzle 2 times a day as an excercise not as a correction. Our doberman growls and freaks out when we do this but eventually calms down. We are rolling her on her side only not on her back. Should we stop doing this? I know your other articles are adamant about not using alpha roll...
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May 2, 2011

Recommended I trained my dog to be a personal protection dog. He has bit 6 of my friends. What should I do? I don't want to put him down.

Dear Mr. Ed Frawley, Hi, my name is Justin. I live in Vermont and I have a 1 1/2 year old johnson american bulldog/american pit bull mix. His name is Conrad and I have had him since he was 4 weeks old. Conrad is about 85 lbs and extremely aggressive to anyone he does not know. He is very protective of my house, car, kennel and mostly me. He has already bitten 6 people and just bit my girlfriend the other night but did not break skin. I know I was a little hard on him when he was pup and I ...
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March 22, 2013

Recommended My new Malinois puppy will not stop barking/whining and crying in the crate, she chews on the bars and throws a tantrum. I've had her for 2 days and 2 nights, do you have any suggestions?

Hi Cindy, I just brought home an 8 week old F Belgian Malinois. I have 2 other dogs. A 3.5 year old F Rottweiler and a 5.5 year old M Boston Terrier, and so I'm pretty familiar with how to raise a pup. But it seems that the Malinois pup is a bit more challenging when it comes to the crate. I've had her for 2 days and 2 nights. She goes in voluntarily and comfortably in and out of the crate, when the door is left open, but once it closes, she goes on a high pitch barking/whining/crying t...
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May 19, 2011

Where and how do you suggest getting enough well rounded socialization if you should avoid situations and places that might be unpredictable?

I was reading through your dog bite Q&A in the email newsletter and it brought up a new question for me. We have English Mastiffs and are contemplating the purchase of a Black Russian Terrier. Regarding the dog bite Q&A that took place in the pet superstore, your response was that you don't take your dogs to places where misinformed people might touch your dog without permission. I know that a BRT will need a lot of continual socialization throughout its life to as many different s...
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August 15, 2011

Recommended I adopted a 2 year old dog a few weeks ago and I'm working through the pack structure program. She's really good except for when she sees other dogs through the window and on walks. She goes NUTS! Does this mean she doesn't see me as the pack leader?

Hi Ed, First I want to thank you for all the information you've made available here on this website. I've been through so many of your articles, videos, and even the discussion forum and have learned a lot. I recently adopted a 2 year old GSD a few weeks ago. I've been putting her though your pack structure program, and thing seem to be going pretty well. She knows that she has to wait to go up/down the stairs, in/out the door/crate until I tell her she can go, she's very responsive ...
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August 15, 2012

Recommended Our female has been fed a raw diet since she was 6 months old with no problems. She is in the early stages of a planned pregnancy and the only vet I have access to advises I should stop raw feeding and switch her to Science Diet puppy food. I don't want to do that, can you help?

Cindy, We have a Standard Poodle who is in the early stages of her first pregnancy. She has been on a raw food diet since she was 6 months old with no problems. We started her on the raw diet because she was having skin issues and goopy, runny eyes and the diet just makes sense. Her skin and eye issues have disappeared and she seems to be very healthy and happy. We live in a very small town so my Vet options are limited. I was told a Vet in town was familiar with the raw diet, but what...
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August 22, 2014

Recommended My 8 month old dog loves other dogs and is very playful. When at the dog park he grabs other dogs by the face and ears & won't let go. The other owners at the park think my dog is aggressive and judge me as an owner. Should I use a muzzle?

Hi there, I own an American bulldog male 8 months old and desexed. I have been having problems with him around some other dogs. He is very playful and loves other dogs, but doesn't know his limits. He will play with a dog and then grab their face or ears and won't let go! Some dogs scream, which makes him more excited and longer to let them go. He never has harmed them though, but it's such a problem people think he is aggressive and judge me as an owner. I'm highly contemplating a muzzle ...
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February 9, 2016

I have a question in regards to teaching tricks (sit pretty, roll over, ect) to puppies that are in protection sport training.

Hello, I have a question in regards to teaching tricks (sit pretty, roll over, ect) to puppies that are in protection sport training. I have a 3yr old DS that I never did protection work with as she is too soft nerved. But I have taught her many tricks and I enjoy teaching them. We now have a 4 month old pup that we are doing protection work with in hopes to be a FR dog. I was told that teaching pups tricks when training for these type sports can take away from their fierceness and isn'...
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July 1, 2013

My roommate's friend brought her aggressive dog over and this dog and my dog got in a fight. Since then, she's been growling at other dogs, not biting, but still. How do I correct this bad behavior?

I have noticed similar questions on your website, but still a bit different and not exactly direct answers with what to do, so I figured I would ask you myself...The other day my roommate was having a pool party and she told her friend to come who brought her aggressive pit bull over because my roommate (unknown to me) told her that my pit bull (Cami) is great with other dogs (which is true) and that she has socialized some other shy/aggressive dogs before (true, but not at MY house). Long st...
97% (36 out of 37)
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April 19, 2011

Our young dog has a submissive urination problem when I come home from work. What can I do?

Our young dog has a submission urination problem when I come home from work. What can I do?
97% (35 out of 36)
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