Most Popular Q&As
February 29, 2012
My dog bites at my hand & feet and jumps a lot. How can I get rid of these behaviors?
Hello,
I got a beautiful english lab at 7 weeks old. Now she is 7 months old. She is very smart, but dominant. Since she was a pup she keeps biting my hands, feet and jumps a lot.
The biting has gotten worse. If my husband and I are watching television, she will growl and try to nip at us. We correct her but she then jumps back and growls and tries again to bite. Different levels of growling and running around our condo like crazy dog until she wears herself out.
We have put a lea...
87% (71 out of 82)
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June 1, 2011
Would a bark collar help with my dog's whining?
Hi,
I have bought a number of products from you recently and was very happy with my e collar, etc. Now I need an advice on another issue- whining. My 8 months Doberman female has long whining sessions, that sometimes are difficult to ignore. We try to ignore her everytime when she is whining, but sometimes it is really hard especially when you are trying to work or talk on the phone, etc. She finds it hard to be left alone behind closed doors, I heard it is one of Dobermans' features, but ...
87% (62 out of 71)
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January 31, 2013
Our 2 year old dog takes items and won't give them back. He brings the item near us and then we can't move because if we do he will become aggressive. Is there anything you can suggest that may help us?
We have a Shorthaired German Pointer, he is 2 years old and we are having a problem when the dog takes something that doesn't belong to him. He generally comes near us or close to us with the object he would have taken and we won't be able to move from there because he tends to get aggressive. We think it could be because he thinks we are going to take the object back from him. Even with other things that he takes, he refuses to give them back. Is there anything you can suggest to help us dea...
87% (41 out of 47)
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July 31, 2012
My 6 year old dog has a growing issue with barking, can you give me some direction?
Hi Cindy,
I have a high energy 6 year old female GS. She?s gone through basic obedience but seems to have a growing issue with barking. My house backs up to a park and she often hears other dogs etc, which spurs the barking. I have heard the best way to control barking is to teach the dog ?when to bark? thus I would assume this works in reverse? If this is the case, can you give me some direction on how to control her barking when told?
87% (27 out of 31)
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April 28, 2011
I had to put my dog to sleep today. He had bitten several people. It was a very difficult decision to make.
I purchased a cocker spaniel for my three children this past Christmas. I read many articles about socializing, selecting the right dog, and training. I typed in family pet on the Internet and found cocker spaniel. I had many conversations with the breeder and asked all the recommended questions. He was black and tan with white markings. Everyone who saw him wanted to pet him and told us how beautiful he was. My children have been asking for a dog for a long time (10 year-old and twin 9 year-...
87% (20 out of 23)
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October 1, 2014
My rescue dog won't go in her crate, what should I do?
Hi,
We just rescued a dog and are trying to crate train her and are in your "foundation phase" of training (in a crate or on lead at all times). The first few times she went into the crate no problems. Now, even treats can't get her inside. She doesn't seem to have a strong den instinct. I started giving her all her food and treats in the crate, but she won't go in when she realizes that I am going to crate her. My question is, how do I get her in the crate? I don't want to physically push...
87% (13 out of 15)
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July 25, 2011
My fiance and I just adopted a 3 month old pup. We live in a small condo and he's barking non stop and peeing in the apartment, soiling his crate. Can we leave him outside all day? My fiance wants to return him, what should we do?
Hi,
I feel terrible even writing this email, but I would like your advice on this. 2 weeks ago my fiance and I purchased a rescued 3 month old GSD mix. We were 3 weeks out from our wedding and about to close on a new fixer upper home w/ only floorboards in place. We thought this would be the ideal situation while puppy training. Well, the close on the house got delayed, so we are now 2 adults, 2 cats and an untrained puppy in my 600 sq/ft carpeted condo.
The puppy naturally is having ac...
87% (13 out of 15)
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July 14, 2011
My dog yelps when I correct him with the prong. Should he be doing this?
I have a papillon that continues to yelp every time I correct him with a prong collar, he still takes treats from me afterwards... Frankly it is embarrassing to have him yelp, but he doesn't seem that upset by it.
Rebecca
87% (13 out of 15)
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May 20, 2011
What proof do you have that you no longer need to vaccinate your pets for diseases? Do you have a vet that can back that up?
Hi Cindy,
I just switched my dogs to Honest Kitchen. I was searching around the internet to find more information about the diet, what to add, etc and came across the video on your website. It was a good video I just have one question what proof do you have that you no longer need to vaccinate your pets for diseases? Do you have a vet that can back that up? It up sets me b/c being in the veterinary profession, telling people they don't have to vaccinate b/c of diet is miss leading!...
87% (13 out of 15)
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April 26, 2011
My dog ended up biting me while at a dog park. What do you suggest I do?
Dear Mr. Frawley,
It is with much sadness that I write to you today, in search of professional guidance, to better understand what has occurred to me this past Sunday. I'd like to begin with a bit of history for your better understanding.
We have a 2 year and 7 month old German Shepherd, named Tango, that we have had since he was seven weeks old.
At that time, we purchased some of your videos, which we have found truly fascinating and appropriate, as listed below:
...
87% (13 out of 15)
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October 2, 2014
I want to use a prong collar on my dog but I'm worried I'll never be able to switch him back to a flat buckle collar after I use it. Is it possible to easily make this transition?
Hi there,
I want to use a prong collar on my dog but I am worried I will never be able to switch him off of it. I see it all the time, owners slap on a prong collar (even fitting it correctly) but the dog spends its whole life time using the prong collar because it won't walk appropriately on a flat buckle.
I, personally, would be more satisfied with my dog's training if he did not require the use of one his whole life. So is it possible to easily transition? How would you switch to a f...
86% (51 out of 59)
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September 21, 2011
My boyfriend has a GSD that has bitten 2 people. This dog growls and shows his teeth at me everyday. My boyfriend says the dog does this because I don’t give him love and attention. The dog won’t listen to either of us and does what he wants. Help!
The info on your site is very helpful. I have been with my boyfriend and we have been together for 2 years. He has a 4 year old German shepherd that is 100 pounds. In the past year, the dog has bitten 2 different people. Ever since he bit those people, he has become more aggressive towards me. He hasn't bit me (yet) but he growls and shows his teeth at me everyday. My boyfriend does not discipline him at all and he constantly yells at him all night long to lay down because he paces around the...
86% (30 out of 35)
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March 7, 2013
I have a stubborn puppy who refuses to walk on the lead. Is it just his age? Is he genuinely too young and scared of the outside world? Or is he playing on my love and gullibility?
I have a question regarding training your pup to walk on a leash.
I have an 11 week old Boston Terrier who as he gets comfortable and settles in (almost 2 weeks now), his stubbornness is starting to shine more and more.
There are many mixed ideas on puppies who refuse to walk on the lead. (Not pulling on the lead but digging in as best he can and pulling back, refusing to walk forward). From treat coaxing (doesn't work with my guy) to running with him (also does not work) to just pullin...
86% (25 out of 29)
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April 28, 2011
Is there hope for my shy dog?
Ed,
I have purchased several of your videos and 4 heating pads, all of which I appreciate. I am a breeder of Field line Labrador retrievers. Your site and products are listed on our recommendations we give to new pup owners.
I have spent quite a bit of time on your site but still have a question about a how to rehab an extremely shy dog. We have a female, Trixi, that was attacked as a pup by another female which was in season. After this attack, I found your site from wh...
86% (25 out of 29)
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May 18, 2011
My son has a 4-month-old GSD that snaps or bites often. Should this be acceptable considering his age or should it be corrected?
My son's 4 month old German Shepherd snaps or bites quite often. What should I do?
86% (18 out of 21)
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December 8, 2011
My dog is afraid of dogs larger than her or if they look a certain way. Could her fear be attributed to a possible negative experience in her past? Is there anything we can do to help this?
Hi Cindy,
We adopted our 20lb cocker spaniel mix this past February. She is now about 1.5 years old.
We noticed early on that she is selective about the dogs she'll interact with. She loves dogs that are about her size or smaller, but she is afraid of dogs that are bigger than her. Strangely, she also hates all dogs that look a certain way -- she barks and lunges at wrinkly flat-faced dog breeds (all bulldog-type breeds), regardless of size. If provoked by these types of dogs, she doe...
86% (12 out of 14)
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May 18, 2011
I read your instructions on socialization of dogs. My question is how do you do proper socialization if you never allow your dog to come in contact with strangers or other dogs?
Ed,
You wrote, "I also NEVER allow a dog to come in contact with another dog unless my dog is 100% solid in obedience under extreme distraction (i.e. another dog is extreme distraction). Also I NEVER allow people to pet my dog." My question is how do you socialize the dog if the dog has never been pet by a stranger. If you don't take your dog around other dogs until he is 100% trained, isn't that a little late in life to begin socialization with other animals?
Thanks,
Vanessa
86% (12 out of 14)
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May 17, 2011
I am a military dog handler on active duty. My service dog becomes very aggressive towards MY gun when I fire it. What can I do?
Blackie, a 5 yr old German Shp/Belg Mal mix military working dog (MWD) has sever aggression towards firearms.
Blackie will stay in the heel or down position while the agitator or handler fires the firearm (.38 or 5.76) with little reaction (minor whining) but intense focus on the shooter.
When the handler finishes and lowers the firearm he breaks his position and attacks the firearm. He has not shown aggression toward the handler only the firearm (with near misses of the han...
86% (12 out of 14)
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May 13, 2011
My East German bloodline male continues to jump on me. He has knocked me down several times. What should I do?
Hi, you helped me once before when I had a puppy with severe hip dysplasia. He was put down at six months of age. I am hoping you can help one more time. Two issues. First - 9 month old East German male, great dog, high drive for prey and reproduction. I have no idea if he has any defense or not, he is so bomb proof with nerves, he may show it later in training. Right now he is extremely good in area and article searches both on and off line. He is a great little tracker, still learning c...
86% (12 out of 14)
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April 22, 2011
I read your advice on hitting a Shit-Zu that had bit a child in the lip. I assume that you do not really mean that someone should hit their dog?
Hello,
While researching the effects that neutering may have on my 6 month old ACD, I came upon your page. In your response to a question regarding a Shit-zu that bit a 1.5 year old girl on the lip, you said, "...if the dog even growls at the baby it needs to have its but corrected so hard that it thinks it is going to die."
I fully understand that a dog must know it is absolutely the lowest member of the pack. But your response seems to suggest hitting the dog. Why would yo...
86% (12 out of 14)
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