Most Popular Q&As

February 13, 2013

Recommended Is the Educator ET300 appropriate for a Dutch Shepherd and a Malinois?

I have a Dutch Shepherd and a Malinois that I train for usar and ring sport. Is the Educator ET300 appropriate for them? The picture of the bichon and the '5 lb and up' makes me a bit nervous that this model may not be the right choice. Can it be effectively used on large dogs? Thank you.
70% (229 out of 325)
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September 21, 2011

Our new dog keeps biting at us. Is this fear biting? And how do I correct him when he does this?

I adopted a Boston Terrier from FOHA a week ago. He is a sweet little guy to everyone he meets, and loves to give kisses. He loves car rides, walks, toys, sleeps in a crate and is not food aggressive. He plays well with my 4 y.o. F Boston, but snarls at my 15 y.o. M Westie. He is estimated 5 y.o. and neutered. But, HE BITES!! The 1st night home, he jumped up on my daughter to be petted and he was licking her face. Evidently she touched him somewhere on his back or belly and he swung around...
70% (7 out of 10)
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August 10, 2011

My dog has suddenly become fearful, he is so fearful now that just taking him out to go potty is a hassle. He tries to back out of his collar and run away. Do you have any suggestions?

Dear Cindy, I have been reading your Q&As about fearful dogs but still need help! My dog suddenly became extremely fearful. I don't know if its a "fearful stage" but he is definitely going through something. (6 mo. old) He has become SO fearful that even walks to go potty are a hassle. He tries to back out of his collar or run away when he sees cars driving by, hears voices, hears a radio, sees a person far away, loud noises. I am trying to just ignore it and trying to reinforce confidence...
70% (7 out of 10)
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June 21, 2011

When using the dominant dog collar as a prong collar back up, should it be larger than normal so it is not correcting?

I currently use a prong collar with my german shepherd and it was in the back of my mind that these could come apart. I saw your video. I also saw the video on fitting the dominant dog collar. My question is, in using the two together, in case the prong should separate, would you get a dominant collar that was a little larger, since it is being used as a backup and not for correction? Or is there another type of collar that could be used? Thank you, Kathy
70% (7 out of 10)
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June 2, 2011

Our dog is frightened of everything - us when we carry things or change how we look, things out of place, etc. Do you have any advice for us?

We have a two year old dachshund spayed female named Frankie. We rescued her from a dog breeder when she was 5 weeks old. Her mom died suddenly when the puppies were just 2 weeks old and the owners did not care for them properly. The littermates all died but Frankie and her brother. She weighed under a pound when we got her. The owners got tired of feeding the puppies canned food and they were going to put the remaining two puppies to sleep. I heard about this situation and took both of the d...
70% (7 out of 10)
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May 19, 2011

I want to train my black Lab in Schutzhund and police work. What are your thoughts?

I have a 6 month black lab that I want to train for Schutzhund and police work. Would you recommend against a second handler for the Schutzhund only? The second handler would be my wife. Would this cause a problem? re-enforce her role in the "pack" order (above the dog)? Is two handlers in Schutzhund a bad idea?
70% (7 out of 10)
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May 18, 2011

How do I get my dog to respond to me and come back when I call her, especially outdoors?

One of the dogs that I have, a German Shepherd/Husky breed named Tera (approx 2 yrs old), is always looking for an opportunity to get loose and take off. I have taken her to obedience school. She does respond, inside and when on a leash, to the command "come." However, when she is off of the leash she takes off. Eventually she does come home. I thought, at first, that it was because she knew there where cats that lived at a neighbor's house, which is true. When she does take off that is u...
70% (7 out of 10)
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April 28, 2011

I just put my 9 year old dog to sleep, and I would like to know if I made the right decision.

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...
70% (7 out of 10)
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April 21, 2011

Would neutering my 3-year-old intact male dog stop him from marking in the house?

Dear Ed, I have a Pit, Shar Pei mix that I rescued who is about three years old who is still intact. My wife wants me to get him neutered because she is afraid that he will urinate (mark) in the house and on the furniture. Would getting him neutered prevent him from marking in the house since he is already in the habit of marking? Kind regards, Frank
70% (7 out of 10)
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April 12, 2011

We have two Portuguese Water Dog males. We have had aggression problems with the young male. What can we do to cement his submission to my wife and be more certain of his behavior?

First let me thank you for opening our eyes to a whole new way of looking at our dogs, training and leadership. After a lot of work we still have a problem I would like your advice on. We have two Portuguese Water Dog males (10 and 3yo) We have had aggression problems with the young male (Pete)since he was about 1 1/2yo. These include fights with the older dog, aborted attacks while on leash on walks and biting us (mainly my wife). Things are MUCH better after buying and applying y...
70% (7 out of 10)
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June 19, 2015

My 14 month old German Shepherd is usually very playful. About 6 weeks ago we moved and his behavior has changed. He has become cranky and has even snapped at my son. I corrected him strongly and now he just goes in his crate and sleeps. I don’t think he’s sick. Did I break our bond?

Hello, Cindy. I have a 14 months old GSD. He is usually very playful. Loves training and engages fairly well at home. About 6 weeks ago we moved out from our house due to remodeling. His normal routine used to be spending all day next to me while I worked at my desk, play in the evening. Since we moved it changed. At first he was fine with our moving. In couple of weeks he started to get cranky and edgy, even snaped at my son. I corrected him very strongly. By slapping him on his muzzle and p...
69% (176 out of 256)
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October 24, 2011

Recommended My dog is completely disengaged with me. Where should I start to retrain him?

Dear Cindy, I feel hopeless. I have a 5 year old Dobe that is completely disengaged in me when we show/match and most of the time when I train if he can help it. I'm willing to do the time to retrain but there is so much information out there, I just don't know where to start. Where would you suggest. I'll try anything. I'm tired of him avoiding me. I know it's due to my stress in the ring partially but no more excuses. If I want to be a great trainer, I need solutions. Thank you so much f...
69% (35 out of 51)
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May 23, 2011

My dog is afraid to go out after dark ever since he heard gunshots and fireworks over the holidays. Please help.

Hi Cindy, I have a 13 month old, 45 pound australian shepherd/border collie/lab mix that is great on walks during the day, but at night, he gets so scared and nervous! For some reason when night rolls around, he just shuts down and starts to cower, which I find odd. It all started on memorial day, when my family and I took him to the parade, he heard the guns and bands, and then he shut down. Whenever he heard a bang after that he freaked out! But I was able to get him out of that, wheneve...
69% (9 out of 13)
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March 13, 2015

Recommended I have a 9 month old cockapoo that is almost house trained but recently he’s been jumping up on my couch or bed and urinating. Is this dominance or insecurity?

Hello! I have a 9 month old male cockapoo who was recently neutered. He is almost fully house trained, but recently has been jumping up onto my couch and bed and urinating. He is fully eliminating, and has done it about 5 times. I am wondering whether this is a dominance issue, or an issue of insecurity. I have tried to keep him off the furniture but he will run into the other room and do it before I can get to him. I live alone but have a serious boyfriend who is usually around. I am unsu...
68% (68 out of 100)
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September 24, 2013

Recommended My 10 month old GSD is biting my ankles and jumping up and grabbing the leash on walks. How do I correct this?

Question if you would be so kind, I have a ten month pure bred West German show line German Shepherd from German lines. She is starting to rebel and a little difficult to control. On her walks she likes to bite her leash, jump and go after my ankles. I recently have started to tell her no bite, give a little more lead, and ignore her and she stops. But now on the walks she does this two or three times. Not sure if this is just a rebellious stage, play, or if she is challenging my leadersh...
68% (46 out of 68)
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March 29, 2013

Recommended Our previously social 7 year old dog was attacked by 2 Jack Russells and now she's lunging at other dogs. Would putting a muzzle on her help?

Hi, I have an apricot colored GSD, she will soon be 7 years old. She is adorable with people. In fact, so much so, that I have to pen her when we have visitors after a while, as she wants a fuss all the time. My problem is I can't trust her with other dogs when we go out to the local woods for a walk. She lives with a greyhound, and I lost my male GSD a year ago. She is wonderful with them, and is very good with a stray cat that has adopted us. Although I keep an eye on her with the cat...
68% (40 out of 59)
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April 28, 2011

My 185 lb dog is perfect on the leash except for when he sees another dog, and then he rips it out of my hand causing considerable pain and injury. How can I stop this?

My dog, Max walks perfectly on a leash. I can walk him for miles with one finger holding the leash, so he really is not a "puller." BUT... when he see's another dog, he goes crazy and rips the leash out of my hand, causing considerable pain and injury. The other dog and it's owner see this giant thing running towards them and they panic. I really need help with this problem. The last time I walked him was the day after Christmas. I didn't see the dog and Max took off after him and...
68% (36 out of 53)
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May 11, 2011

My dog refuses to wear his collar. What do you suggest?

Hi Cindy, I recently sent you an email about my 4 month old Dachshund absolutely refusing to wear his collar. I really do hate to write to you again regarding the same problem, but I really am pretty desperate right now. When the collar goes on him, he refuses to do anything. He won't eat, drink, pee, poop, play, or do ANYTHING at all. All he does when it's on is go in his kennel and lay there the entire time. You suggested that I handle this problem with "marker training." ...
68% (25 out of 37)
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April 19, 2011

What’s the best way to keep a dog from jumping up on you?

Hello Cindy, Will make this short and sweet as requested. I rescued a 1 1/2 year old female blue pitbull from being put to sleep. Sweetest dog I have ever had. She responds well to training as she loves to please. I used to train and show dogs but have forgotten how to stop her from jumping on people. The old methods are no longer used and I think they used to suggest putting your knee in the dogs chest when they jump up to greet somebody. Any suggestions?? Thank you, Jeannie
68% (15 out of 22)
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December 3, 2019

How do I get my dog to stop barking every time someone passes my apartment door?

My apartment is right in front of the elevators so people constantly come and go in front of our door. My pitbull always barks and growls at the door when he hears things outside but he is very human friendly and loves people. How do I get him to stop barking every time someone passes by our door?
67% (18 out of 27)
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