Most Popular Q&As

A woman with a therapy dog gave me your web site address. I have an Australian Shepherd puppy that is wonderful with people. Because I am a teacher, I have been taking him to work and training him to sit with kids who have special needs. This women mentioned "home schooling" through your video program. What do you suggest? I need to have some kind of certification process so he can enter nursing homes and children's centers. She takes her dog everywhere and has cards of certification to ...

I have a four year old German Shepherd that wears a prong collar. I have consulted with a vet and behaviorist to be sure that it is fitted properly. She began wearing a prong at about age one and after realizing the restriction, hurt herself once or twice and now just jumps straight up and down in the air when she is out of control for her fear of other dogs. (Trust me...something I have worked on) but the point is she never hurts herself with the prong collar. My concern is th...

I'm suffering terrible from guilt. One week ago I put our 9 year old Fox Hound to sleep. He was a wonderful dog to the family. We got Gage when he was 5 months old from a local animal shelter. He was very fearful of people. When we brought him home he stayed in his kennel for 3 days, except when we physically removed him to go potty. Once he warmed up to us he was great! Very loving. However, he was always very shy around people. When he was 1 we took him to the vet, because we not...

Cindy, We have a very small female puppy (~12 lbs @10 weeks) and are working with her to encourage prey drive as a start for protection. She seems to have good prey drive for moving objects (compared to my last dog and my friend's GSDs) and is crazy for the leather bite rag. I want to take it slow with her development since my last dog was damaged by a well respected trainer starting defense work too early (this is just my opinion and suggestions from other working breeders of this type of...

Hey there, Let me just start with a big thanks for the wonderful website and DVDs you've created. They've been a huge source of information for me and they really help me a lot! If it wasn't for you, I would've been raising my Beagle the "old school" way and would probably have had a sadder dog to live with. I'm sure he is also very grateful for you teaching me better! :) I've read most of the stuff you wrote about the all natural, raw diet, and I have just one thing i had a problem ...

I just wanted to send a quick note thanking you for the dog park article. I was beginning to think that I was crazy or over nervous about it, but I absolutely hate the idea of dog parks. I get super anxious every time I drive past one and there's several dogs running around. I'm an RVT in CA, I worked an ER for almost 10 years. Probably that lead to my paranoia, but never in a million years would I ever take my dogs to a dog park. Another thing that is equally as stressful? When clients...

I have a 3.8 pound Morkie. She will be 7 months on the 23rd. She is a good dog. Lot's of personality but...the housebreaking has been a nightmare. I started crate training her and she was peeing in the kennel at night even though I walked her during the night. Then she stopped doing this and recently started again. She was kept in the crate during the day and walked once sometimes twice a day until I got home at 3:30. But she has always had accidents in the house no matter how many times I wa...

How often should I give a search command during nosework?

Hello! You have quite a website. My question is about Schutzhund. I so rarely see breeds other than GSD's and Dobermans in this activity that it caused me to wonder; would it be possible for a breed not necessarily known for having a strong protective instinct to succeed in such a sport? For example, a Standard Poodle has an excellent nose, is highly intelligent and also very trainable. The breed isn't quite as heavy as some but is of fairly good size and is undeniabl...

Hi Ed, I really appreciate your online content. I've read a few days worth and still see there is much much more to go. I have a question about your 'no two dogs' article. The first line talks about an example like "no, do not get a second puppy to keep your older dog company," but the article mainly talks about how people shouldn't raise two puppies at the same time. I want to make sure if and what the distinction is. I am currently in the approximate position you me...

Hello Ed, I just wanted to run this by you, since you may have seen this condition in the many Shepherds you meet. My 5 Yr. Old Male German Shepherd, was chewing a rawhide bone Sunday night (April 1st) He barely chewed a small end, and then became suddenly extremely sick. Lethargic, Vomiting, collapsed on the floor, couldn't get up without yelping, etc. I rushed him right in to the Emergency Clinic here, and luckily they caught in time a nasty case of Gastric Dilation-Torsio...

What is your position on this puppy narcotics training program being promoted in Texas by the Texas Police Canine Association?

Hello, I read your web site and found the information very helpful. I did, however, want to place my situation before you. If you would be kind enough to respond it would be appreciated. My background with animals is fairly strong. I have worked for the Humane Society as well as with veterinarian, I have taken dog behavior courses through college and strongly believe in dog obedience classes, socialization from an early age and firm correction (very sharp words and correctio...

I have a nine month old Boxer-Lab mix, Zachary. He is fun loving - loves dogs and people, but I am wondering if I am making mistakes with him. I have been taking him to a local dog park since he was 4 months old. He loves it. This dog is fun loving and loves to play and romp with all dogs. But he is full of energy and he is very strong and some dogs don't want to be bothered. He will usually learn which dogs want to play and run and wrestle with him, but occasionally he will be too much f...

We have four indoor dogs- two male and two female. They're all mature. The female german shepard mix is constantly guarding the food bowls and growling at the others when they walk by. This, we believe, is the cause of the fights. The little male terrier never gets involved but the beagle mix and the retriever mix will fight her. Before we pay any more to the vet, what should we do to stop the food guarding? We've placed three bowls of dry food in three separate places in the house...

Hi Ed, Thanks for all of your great advise. Our golden retriever stays in our yard with an invisible fence. She barks at dogs and people who walk by. I haven't purchased the limiter as I think it would be too confusing. Any thoughts? Thank you, Karen

Below I have put my thoughts in email after reading your section on dominant dogs. I would appreciate your thoughts and ideas. I broke my comments into sections. My dominant dog: 1. Bedroom: My dog slept in the bedroom for first 6 months She is now 18 months and has been sleeping kenneled for the last 12 months downstairs away from master bedroom. She is not allowed to be in our bedroom. 2. Toys: She will 'drop' a toy if I command her to. She used to fight for it. This seems...

Dear Mr. Frawley, After reading most of your articles and email answers, I did not find anything on point that would help with my dog's behavior. I have a 15 month old spayed Black Lab named Lexi. My husband specifically picked her out of the litter because she was a very confident dog. We knew she was going to be a dominant dog and immediately crate trained her and joined the local dog obedience club. She was the star pupil in every puppy class and is the most well behaved dog whe...

I have a German Shepherd (not from you), he is 14 weeks old. After 9 weeks both of his ears stood up, not straight up, they actually leaned towards the middle quite a bit. However, a few days ago his left ear just went down and has not gone back up. Does this mean that he has a broke or lame ear now? This has me really worried since both ears were up, but now one won't stand. Is this normal, or did he hurt it some way? Will it ever go back up or not? Thanks for your help, and answers. Otto

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...