Most Popular Q&As

Hi Cindy, I just love your newsletter and have found it enormously helpful. My beloved 12 year old Collie also panics during thunderstorms. I don't know what I would do without Rescue Remedy. I use it always when a storm is coming for fear that she could have a seizure or worse if I didn't use this. If for any reason, I have to go out and leave her by herself when a storm is imminent, I give her some Rescue Remedy and put her into her crate prior to going out though I do my best to...

After finding your website today I have discovered I have been doing a lot of things right when training our new stray and I have even more to learn. I plan to order the basic training DVD as well as one of the books. I loved when you said "Don't take a completely untrained dog to obedience class!" I had planned to wait about a month, or until he masters sit, stay, come, lay down and leash walking with me in the house, neighborhood and yard, and many of your comments confirmed what I ...

How do you train the 90 degree corner in sport tracking?

Hi there, We have a 9 month old police German Shepherd bitch that is due to commence a 13 week course to get licensed, and have hit what appears to be a major hurdle. The bitch is from top stock and has amazing drive, nothing has fazed her until recently she has developed an aversion to walking on certain surfaces. Her reaction has varied from tentative movements on the surface and reluctance to walk on it to out and out refusal to go on it. The surfaces involved range from glossy ...

Mr. Frawley, My name is Justin, and I am a K9 security Officer at a hospital in Scottsdale AZ. I have a question about outs, recalls, and a rear guard and bark. My partner is a 3 year old Malinois that was trained in IPO. His bites are very solid, but he does not want to out. When he does out, he will go into a rear guard and bark (for the escort, like he was trained before in Europe.) We had an incident last training night where Robbie got "Dirty" when he was in the guard and bark...

Dear Mr Frawley, My german shepard likes to come up to me as soon as I sit down in a chair to put my shoes on and will not leave me alone while I put my shoes on. When I push him away and tell him no, he barks at me. Not in a mean way, but barking to be noticed I guess. How could I fix this problem? I bought your Basic Dog Obedience DVD already but only have got to the intro to markers. Thanks for your time and help. Mike

Hi, Is the dominant dog collar designed to replace the fur saver collar? I was interested in purchasing a prong collar for some pulling issues I am having with my seven month old GSD. I wanted to use the dominant dog collar as a backup for the prong. My dog is not aggressive to people or animals although he does pull to get to other dogs to investigate/play. I already have your Pack Structure DVD which I like but I need a little extra help. Also my club recommended a fur saver rather then ...

Hello Cindy: Thank you very much for your answers to my e-mails in the past. It always helps. My GSD pupp Emma is 6 months old today; doing great!! I have a question about sizing the dominant dog collar if you are going to use it as a safety with the prong collar. I follow your advise on how to properly use and size these collars; however, should the dominant dog collar be a bit bigger if you use it as a safety with prong? I am a bit confused. I want my prong t...

I have a question on the use of compulsion with my dog. He is now 7 months old, and I am working with him on his come. I wanted to start him in herding just for fun until he turns of age to compete in his SchH trials. The herding person wants his come to be solid as I would like also. He understands the command and will obey in the house and outside too. He can get distracted when playing with other dogs, as he is still a puppy, but when it is me and him on our walks he listens. I wanted ...

Hi Mr Frawley, I have read your website extensively and purchased several of your videos (puppy bite work, obedience, drive & focus, starting defensive work and the finished protection dog. I have a question that I need your help with that I have not been able to find the answer on my own research. Background... I have a 16 month old intact male Shepherd from Czech lines. Very high prey drive and started nicely in defense. Well developed bite. Does excellent in civil ...

Hi Ed, I have a question on feeding chicken & turkey necks, wings etc. I have always been told you never give your dog chicken bones or pork bones because they will splinter, get caught in the throat, or puncture the stomach! Now I hear people feeding raw meat to dogs, chicken necks, turkey necks wings etc. How good is this for your pet and is this a safe idea? Thank you!!! Tim

Mr. Frawley, I have a question that I've been confused about. I have a 3 month old GSD, I took him to the Vet, and while we were there I asked her about these white flakes on his coat. She said it was dry skin and gave me a prescription shampoo for him. Should I use it? All I've heard from most people is NOT to bathe GSD and I want to believe them because they are people who have had GSD. Who is right? Thanks, Connie

My dog suffers from Demodectic mange. Is there a homeopathic remedy I can use?

Thank you so much for the information you put out there on training dogs. I have some of your dvds and I think they are very good. I have a question and hope you can answer this. I use a Tritronic e-collar for my dogs (all pitbulls or pit mixes). I visited with another trainer who owns a successful training business, is involved with schutzhund with her Malinois and she told me that she gives a stim when the dog does as she wishes, as well as when it does something that she doesn't...

What is your position on using pseudo narcotics in training drug dogs?

Dear Ed: I am a drug dog handler in South Carolina. I am having a problem with my dog cueing off of me to let him know where the drugs are. I know I can solve this by getting someone to hide the drugs for me but most of the time I can't get anyone to help me. Is it better for me to hold off on training until I can have someone hide the drugs for me or continue to hide the drugs myself and work the dog everyday. Any advise on this would be greatly appreciated, Thanks. Todd K...

Hi, I am contacting you as a last resort before we have our German Shepard, Thor, put to sleep. We purchased Thor at a pet store for $300.00. Thor is 17 months old and a male. Thor's birth date is 9/9/02. We bought Thor at 3 weeks old 11/5/02. We moved from California to Florida December 2003. In California we lived on a fenced acre and Thor was able to run freely at all times and had numerous sheltered areas such as the carport and front and back porch. Thor often laid on t...

Does the remote collar hurt my dog?

We have had a serious incident where one of our dogs has gotten into a fight and killed the older dog. We had a 14 year old female mixed breed (Bichon) that at one time was the dominant dog. We also have had a Lab for 7 years. We just (4 months ago) brought a new rescued puppy into our house(Lab/Chow mix). The two older dogs have gotten in small fights before and the Lab has been more dominant over her lately. Yesterday, we had an incident when all three dogs were looking out of ou...

Hi Mr. Frawley... I've been exploring the internet because a problem has developed in our household. I found your site, and it's one of the most intelligent and helpful on the web. I saw that you have addressed the problem we're having about family pets fighting, and have read your response: "You've created a pack, either separate the dogs or find some of them new homes", so I won't repeat the question about what to do...but I'm so distraught over it that I want to better un...