Most Popular Q&As

May 19, 2011

I would like to train my own service dog, but cannot find a dog that I get along well with due to a few things. What do you suggest?

Hi, my name is Michelle. I have a kind of complicated question to ask but I don't have anywhere else to turn to. I've been searching and went through a lot of different dogs trying to find the right dog to be a service dog for me because I have anxiety, depression, social phobia and I black out. For some odd reason most dogs I go around seem to perceive what I have as threatening. So my boyfriend saw this add online for a litter of rescued bottle feed 3 week old puppies and thought maybe me r...
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April 6, 2011

Recommended Do you consider the Bouvier Des Flanders a breed for personal protection?

Hi Cindy, Reading your website I see the importance of the dog having defense genetics, I have just received my third Bouvier (4 y.o.male) and am considering personal protection training for him, to protect our home. Do you consider the Bouvier Des Flanders a good breed for this?
75% (9 out of 12)
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September 9, 2011

I recently boarded my dog and his voice seems to have changed. He greets me differently and isn't as chatty. What do you think happened? Will his normal voice come back? What can I do to get it back?

Hi Cindy, I recently boarded my dog at a kennel, and when I picked him up three weeks later, his voice had changed. He would normally greet me with happy, excited barks and roo roo roos. But instead, he greeted me with happy, excited squeaks. The kennel owner told me that he had squeaked that way for her and her husband since the first day. He continues to have a deep bark for strangers, but his happy bark is now a squeak. He also used to be very chatty, especially when he wanted attention...
75% (9 out of 12)
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May 23, 2011

My male is having trouble breeding my female. She is flagging him but nothing is happening. Do you have any suggestions?

I really admire what you do with your dogs. Your a great inspiration to anyone who loves this breed. I have several German shepherds and have decided to breed a litter (all my dogs have passed their health screening; meet the breed standard; have the correct dispossession and drive; and have exceptional bloodlines). My problem is that the two dogs I'm trying to breed are both, in lue of a better term, virgins. My female has been flagging our male for 2 days (days 7 and 8 of her cycle) b...
75% (9 out of 12)
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December 28, 2012

Recommended When I’m walking my puppy and it’s time to turn for home he plants himself and refuses to budge. Using marker training methods do I correct him, drag him, lure him, formally call him, or what? I don’t want to have a fear motivated dog, what should I do?

My wife and I have an 18 week old Bull Mastiff (our last dog was also a BM). We have had him for 8 weeks. We purchased your video on puppies from 8 weeks to 8 months as well as Michael's video on training with food. We also have your Basic Obedience video. All of which are excellent. I have watched and re-watched. Today I ordered Michael's Recall, Tugging and Motivation videos. I read your eBook on marker training and totally agree with the concept and have been trying to apply the principle...
75% (6 out of 8)
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July 1, 2011

Recommended My 7 year old dog has never shown aggression to anyone before and up until now has been great with my 16 month old son. Yesterday he approached her while she was eating and she bit him in the face. I feel I can’t trust her anymore and should find her a new home. Am I overreacting?

I've had my 7 year old pitt mix since she was 4 weeks old. I took her through obedience classes and she follows commands nicely unless she is excited about visitors. She's never been aggressive towards anyone. The only aggression I've seen is towards other dogs who approach us while walking and towards a friends toy poodle who constantly harassed her. Up until now she's been great with my son who is 16 months. He loves petting and hugging her and I truly thought she liked it as she's a...
75% (6 out of 8)
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September 21, 2011

On walks, if my puppy is not pulling, is allowing her to walk in front going to be a problem in establishing pack structure?

Hello, I have a five month old GSD that I got at eight weeks. On walks, if she is not pulling, is allowing her to walk in front going to be a problem in establishing pack structure? I find that once our walk gets headed back she likes to be in front and can be quite polite about it. The walk stops if she pulls. Thank you.
75% (6 out of 8)
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May 24, 2011

Why won’t my dog let me put his harness on him and why does he always have soft stools? He’s on a quality dog food.

Hello, I was told that if I ask you a question you would answer them to the best of your ability. If I was told incorrect information please accept my apologize. My question is do you have any idea why when I try and put my dogs halter on him to go for walks he freaks out. He is a cocker spaniel and when we try he will run all over the house until we get him cornered and when we do get the harness on him he will try to rub it off. I have checked under his leg for soars and there is none af...
75% (6 out of 8)
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May 20, 2011

My dog has a serious whining problem when it comes to being fed and any time he gets a glimpse of me through our sliding glass door. Is this separation anxiety?

My 4 month old rottie might have picked up on his feeding schedule. He tends to make a big fuss 1/2 hour before feedings. Is there something I can do to have him wait patiently until feeding? He'll start whining non stop until I come out with his food bowl. Actually, another problem we're having is that anytime he catches the slightest glimpse of me he starts to whine. Last weekend I stepped outside to get something from our outdoor fridge at about 12:30 am. He started whining nons...
75% (6 out of 8)
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May 20, 2011

When we leave our 11-month-old in the kennel and comeback, his legs and belly are soaked. We believe he has separation anxiety. Any suggestions for us?

Ed, I have an 11 month, almost one year, old German shepherd. Great dog, me and my wife love him to death. I have been working with him a lot on obedience lately and he is very eager to learn. He does a good job, I think he should have been a stand in for the energizer bunny though. The problem I have been having with him is I think he may have a bit of a separation anxiety issue. We have been trying so much to help him with this problem but it seems as thought nothing is working. Gun...
75% (6 out of 8)
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May 18, 2011

I recently purchased a 4 month old Dobe. I want him trained to protect me and my business at night. Do you do this kind of training?

Hello, I live in Floral City, Florida. I own a car lot in Inverness, Florida that has been broken into several times. I recently purchased a 4 month old dobie. I am looking to send for training for two reasons 1 protection for me and family and 2 for protection at night at the lot against robbers who jump the fence. Do you provide this kind of training?
75% (6 out of 8)
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May 17, 2011

Can I over-socialize my dog for protection training?

I have a 10 1/2 month old female German Shepherd. Is it possible to over socialize a dog? If so, I think I did this. My dog LOVES everyone. I take her to meet a lot of people, and there're are a lot of family and friends coming to our house on a daily basis. She does not bark when our doorbell rings, and when it does ring she runs to the door tail wagging and ears pinned back. My problem is that I do want her to start protecting the house w/o being a killer dog. (I have 3 children). She t...
75% (6 out of 8)
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May 13, 2011

I train for 10 to 20 minutes every day and I am having problems teaching my dog to walk next to my knee in a heel position. What can I do?

Hi Ed, I have a problem with my 2 year old male GSD which I bought approximately 3 months ago. We started obedience training approximately 1 month ago but I am still having problems getting him to heel in direct alignment with myself he always wants to be approximately 1-2 foot in front of me. I started using right about turns which made him take notice of me then It was almost like he had eyes on the back of his head he could tell when I was turning so he turned. So I said fine le...
75% (6 out of 8)
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May 10, 2011

I can't tell if my dog is fighting or just playing rough. So far, no one has gotten hurt. How should I scold him for fighting?

Hi Mr Frawley, I went through your website about some tips on my dog's behavior. My dog is 18 months old mix of Portuguese Mastiff, Estrela Mountain Dog and Portuguese Cattle Dog, according to the vet, as he was given to me as a Lab. He is not neutered. He has always been social friendly with other dogs untill about 2-3 months ago, which he has become aggressive. In my opinion, the reason is the age. He used to be play, pushed by others and never answered back but was friendly play. Was...
75% (6 out of 8)
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April 28, 2011

My 27-month-old male Doberman is a little sloppy with minding when he doesn't have the collar on. He is not as quick to respond. Any ideas?

Cindy, I have a 27 month old intact male Doberman. My problem is probably not breed specific, but I mention it knowing you have a history with them. He is a very dominant boy. I bought your e-collar DVD and an e-collar when he was 8-months. I can not tell enough people who have stubborn dogs how great a tool this can be. Using Ed's #1 through #10 correction rule, I can tell you that a #10 correction doesn't phase him. But there is something about the tingle of a nick that gets his ...
75% (6 out of 8)
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April 21, 2011

Our 9 week old GSD constantly bites and chews on our hands and feet... whatever is available. How do I correct him for doing this?

I am a first time dog owner, and I was directed to your site by the breeder I purchased my now 9 week old german shepherd puppy from. I just ordered your 8 week to 8 month video for my puppy, in the meantime I have questions I need answers to. I want to know how soon does a dog start showing dominant behavior? My puppy (Rex) constantly bites and chews our feet, toes, legs and whatever he can get his teeth into, I know this is normal for a puppy by reading diff rent articles on your web site.,...
75% (6 out of 8)
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April 15, 2011

We have a Doberman who whines A LOT. I've seen the success described on the website regarding bark collars. Is there anything similar for whining?

Cindy, I'm sure you've heard this many times before....we have a Doberman who whine. A LOT. Barking isn't a huge problem (he does bark, but not to the point that it's an issue). I've seen the success decribed on the website regarding bark collars. Is there anything similar for whining? Something that would issue a correction for whining, but not for as bark? I see no reason to correct his barks, given that the problem is the whining. The dog does seem to have general SA issu...
75% (6 out of 8)
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December 2, 2024

Recommended I am fed up with owners letting their untrained dogs off leash. My dog and I were charged by 3 off leash dogs yesterday! I'm stressed out! How do you handle exercising your dogs off your property?

Hi Cindy, I've reached out in the past about my GSD puppy developing dog reactivity around 6 months. She is now 1 year, 4 months, and is doing great- she is no longer dog-reactive (unless charged by an off leash dog) and is fully e-collar trained and her obedience is extremely reliable. My question is about other off-leash dog encounters - almost every time I go out on trails we are approached by an off leash dog. I shout "NO" and use a walking stick/air spray, which has caused arguments with...
75% (3 out of 4)
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October 20, 2023

Recommended How long does a treadmill need to be for my dog? She's a 14 month old Dutch/Belgian Shepherd.

Hi Cindy! I need to buy a treadmill for my dog and would like some advice on the size. I cannot afford a canine treadmill. The treadmill I am considering has a 'running space' of 104x39cm. It is for a Dutch/Belgian shepherd who is now 14 months. She is approximately 58cm from the top of her of tail to her shoulders. The treadmill is for walking only and only for a small percentage of total exercise. Would this treadmill be an adequate size for this dog? Also, would such a treadmill size be of...
75% (3 out of 4)
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June 27, 2014

Recommended I bought the Michael Ellis retrieve video to work on my dog's habit of chewing and pouncing on the dumbbell. I've been working on this for 2 weeks and I'm not seeing any changes. How should I address these issues?

I recently bought Michael's DVD on teaching the retrieve. She's all about retrieving, but she chews on the dumbbell. I switched to the PVC pipe like Michael suggested in the DVD. I've been working with her for two weeks using the PVC pipe and I'm not seeing any change in the chewing. I've tried reinforcing the hold by giving the command again and using my hand under her chin to hold her head up. She still continues to move it around in her mouth. Also, she's a maniac when she runs out to retr...
75% (3 out of 4)
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