Most Popular Q&As
July 9, 2023
My young Rottweiler attacked the vet and the animal hospital staff when I took him in to be neutered, is he going to turn on me one day?
My 80 year old aunt adopted a baby Rottweiler. When he got to be about five months she couldn’t handle him anymore (Da). I thought I was doing her a favor and I took him in but he had already developed bad habits and I think he is dominant. I’ve taken him to two trainers and finished basic obedience. Things are going pretty well. The other day I took him to the vet to get neutered and he attacked the vet and all the staff. I’m sure he was just scared and they were trying to tell them w...
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July 1, 2011
My 4.5 year old dog goes nuts over the vacuum cleaner. Is there any way to train her that the vacuum isn’t for lunch?
Hi Cindy,
I have a 4 1/2 year old GSD that I got as a 2 1/2 year old. She absolutely goes nuts over the vacuum cleaner. thought she was afraid of it until I read on the site that her behavior is likely due to prey drive. That makes sense because she has a very strong prey drive as evidenced in play and her interest in chasing squirrels (which she doesn't get to do because she isn't off leash anyplace we might encounter them). Do you have any suggestions on how to train her to know the vacu...
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January 22, 2019
Any time my dog gets approached by an off leash dog during our walks, he wants to run away. How can I teach him to hold his ground?
Hi Cindy,
Any time my dog gets approached by an off leash dog during our walks, he wants to run away. Whether it's a small poodle or a large dog, my 1.5 year old male German Shepherd with no training always wants to run away from off leash dogs. How can I teach him to hold his ground? It's so embarrassing, and I don't want to hit other dogs.
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May 24, 2011
Our dog starting shedding a lot last spring after 2-3 months on a raw diet. Our vet said it was from feeding her raw food and wanted us to switch her to a kibble. Could her shedding be because she’s allergic to chicken?
Hi Cindy,
About a year ago we adopted a 1 year old Plott/Sheppard mix. We decided at the time to raw feed and bought an assortment of books. Since we raise our own poultry, chicken was the natural choice for protein. We would grind the chicken along with the bones, and add some carrot or other vegetable, a touch of molasses and a little vinegar. After 2 or 3 months (it was March) on the diet we noticed Zoe shedding a lot. Since she was new to us we weren't sure if the shedding was natural ...
89% (16 out of 18)
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May 2, 2025
Your advice on neutering is WRONG!
I just listened to Ed's video about your advice to the lady whose veterinarian recommended to neuter her GSD at 10 months as it stopped growing. I only agreed with Ed on one thing -- that this Vet was a moron. He said that vets should stick to what they know -- i.e., medical related areas -- this is no true -- many don't even know their medical stuff.
I strongly disagree that you and him recommend to neuter a dog after it matured. The research on this matter is clear - there is no hea...
89% (8 out of 9)
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June 28, 2013
My 3.5 month old pup and I have been playing tug but he wants to lay down as we play, is this a problem and if so what should I do?
Hi Cindy,
I have many of your videos including "playing tug." My 3 1/2 month pup and I are playing tug. This has went along pretty good at first, but now he wants to lay down as we play. To counter this I move the tug toward him and up as to not push the tug back into his mouth. The forward pressure gets him back on his feet, but when I start pulling away from him he will lay back down and try to hold onto the tug. Is this a problem at this stage and if so what should I do.
Thank you
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November 14, 2012
Can I use the pager/vibrate feature on your ecollars as a clicker?
Hello,
Can I use the pager/vibrate feature on your ecollars as a clicker?
Thank you in advance.
89% (8 out of 9)
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April 21, 2011
Our 4 year old dog bit a friend’s child last week at our home. What can I do?
I have a 4 year old dog (Buster) who has always showed aggression over food, mainly anyone besides myself and my husband who enters the kitchen when I am in there. I have no problem taking away his food or holding his bowl when he is eating.
Last week my friend came over to visit and her girls stayed overnight. I was in the kitchen when one of the girls who is eleven came in, I immediately knew by the look on his face he was going to growl so I said NO!!!! He then jumped at her and...
89% (8 out of 9)
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August 25, 2022
I’m taking my German Shepherd for a 3-week board and train next week, he is strong and goes nuts when he sees another dog. I haven’t tried using a harness in the past, can you recommend one for him?
I’m sending my 3 yr old GSD to training at a training facility next week for three weeks. I am told that they use e collars and prong collars which I have no problem w/. Just wondering since I have not tried a harness and I see you have quite an array. Maybe this question is premature but do you have a suggestion from your line of products? He’s super athletic and very strong and goes nuts when he sees another dog on walks. I feel much safer walking w/ him than by myself but to what end? ;)
89% (8 out of 9)
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May 3, 2021
I’m afraid I have ruined my relationship with my dog, can I start over?
Hi Cindy,
I would like to purchase some of your training videos for my young GSD. He is quite a handful.
I am concerned because I am fearful I may have set him back in training because my trainer here has had me be pretty stern with corrections, even in the beggining phases when he was a puppy. Neither do we train with treats.
I notice now that he is older, he no longer wants to "come" and is starting to run from me. Have I RUINED OUR RELATIONSHIP with my training?
If I purchase s...
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July 22, 2019
I have an 11 month old GSD that hasn’t been socialized much. He is too old for the puppy video you have and was wondering is it too late to train him for good socialization skills?
I have an 11 month old GSD that hasn?t been socialized much. He is a rescue; I got him at about 4 months old and have had him out in public, but he needs obedience training. He is non-reactive to other dogs, cats, children etc. I want to try and train him to be a service dog (I suffer from PTSD) as he appears to have a very good temperament. I purchased the Michael Ellis self study Training with Food. He is too old for the puppy video you have and was wondering is it too late to train him for...
89% (8 out of 9)
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February 7, 2019
Which DVDs/courses should I watch to develop a good protection dog?
I have a one year old Belgian Malinois that I want to work with for protection training and bite work. I am fairly new to dog training and would like to know which courses and/or DVDs I should watch, and in what order should I take them to develop a good protection dog. Thank you!
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December 30, 2013
We have tried to introduce our rescue dog to other dogs. She is very aggressive, growls, shows her teeth, and even went after another dog once. Is there anything you can recommend?
We rescued a Black lab about 2 or 3 years old, when we rescued her she was brought in with another female dog. We have introduced her to other dogs and she is very aggressive, always growling, showing her teeth, and this one time went after the dog. She is very dominate and other dogs are scared to death around her. We are not sure of her past or know what has happened, but we need to find out a way to snap this behavior fast. Is there anything you can recommend? we need her to be able to be ...
89% (8 out of 9)
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December 16, 2013
I learned the 'European methods' of working dog training in my early years, and now reading the articles and seeing the videos of your methods of dog training, I need help in how to fix the bond damage caused by them. How can I correct/mend/repair my relationship with the dogs?
I learned the "European methods" of working dog training in my early years, and now reading the articles and seeing the videos of your methods of dog training, I need help in how to fix the bond damage caused by them. I had learned from trainers I observed to use the leash end as a whip. If the dog doesn't respond to a command, you issue a "correction" lash to their behind and then repeat the command. I respected these trainers and they had great dogs, and even though I didn't like this metho...
89% (8 out of 9)
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May 10, 2012
I'm experiencing some equipment bias with my dog. The tug video mentions this, but could you further explain what I should do to fix this?
This is mentioned in the tug DVD with Michael Ellis. There is a trainer, Rhonda, I believe, that has a 7 month old female that will not play with her with the tug but engages when she slips on the puppy sleeve... Ed mentions that Rhonda was able to correct this with some hard work.... but it's never revealed what that actually was... I have the same problem that I created out of ignorance (this is my first dog) and I'd like to work on correcting it. Thx
89% (8 out of 9)
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April 16, 2012
I have an eleven month old German Shepherd female that chews everything imaginable in our yard and now has an obstruction. What kind of muzzle can I get to stop her from chewing?
I have an eleven month old German Shepherd female that chews everything imaginable in our yard and now has an obstruction. What kind of muzzle can I get to stop her from chewing?
89% (8 out of 9)
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March 28, 2012
How do you balance treats with food to keep your dogs at a desired weight?
Hi Cindy,
I am interested to hear how you are balancing treats with food keeping Stella's desired weight in mind. I find I am having a very difficult time keeping my Cavalier's weight down. I train with her so I have to balance her meals with training treats. She is down to bare minimum with her kibble (grain free) supplemented with training treats throughout the day and I still have issues with her weight.
She is quite the active dog and gets her share of exercise in each day. For tra...
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June 29, 2011
We have a dog who enjoys chasing cars. Any ideas how to handle this?
We have a part german shepred part wolf dog. She has started chasing cars or runs right toward them like she is going to hit them and then stops inches from them. She acts like she enjoys doing this. We have tried getting after her, that does not work. Any ideas how to handle this? We have had dogs all our life and never had this happen. Thank You for your time and help.
Janell
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May 24, 2011
I have heard that you should NEVER feed your dog chicken bones! One of the foundations of your feeding program is chicken! Aren’t you afraid your dogs will choke or the bones will splinter?
I have heard that you should NEVER feed your dog chicken bones! One of the foundations of your feeding program is chicken! Aren?t you afraid your dogs will choke or the bones will splinter?
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May 23, 2011
Will you explain line-breeding?
Can you explain a 3-3 line-breeding on Grief?
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