Most Popular Q&As

Hi Cindy, I saw an article recently on the subject of marker training, specifically the use of a no reward marker or negative marker. The article argues that the use of NRM’s while it may not seem like it, is actually “aversive” to the dog and that it does not help to tell the dog that they did not succeed or that they did something wrong. They said that dogs learn faster if just encouraged through what they do correctly. This is the first I had ever heard of this idea and I know you...

I’m sending my 3 yr old GSD to training at a training facility next week for three weeks. I am told that they use e collars and prong collars which I have no problem w/. Just wondering since I have not tried a harness and I see you have quite an array. Maybe this question is premature but do you have a suggestion from your line of products? He’s super athletic and very strong and goes nuts when he sees another dog on walks. I feel much safer walking w/ him than by myself but to what end? ;)

The pup in your Conditioning Your Puppy for Nail Trimming video looks older than my 11 week male rott pup. I just started charging the mark and yes for 2 to 3 days. My pup does not sit still as yours does in the video. I don’t want to force holding the dog down. Can you recommend next steps for training mine to sit long enough to accomplish what you are doing in the video? Should I start with sit and place and then add the sound of the dremel and work from there?

Hello! My GSD is 14 months and we decided to try Schutzhund. Prior to giving this a try, he has basic on and off leash obedience, getting ready to certify in AKC tracking and is taking Rally classes. Suddenly I am a little worried, is Schutzhund going to make him more aggressive to strangers? I know this may be a stupid fear, but he is a nice, friendly dog most of the time and I am worried about doing something to ruin that. On the other hand, he really enjoyed the tug and puppy sleeve ...

Cindy, I'm having a hard time switching over from food to toy rewards. My dog will play tug with enthusiasm at the house, but when we are out she will show no interest if something else remotely interesting is around. I am trying to get away from carrying around food rewards and just keep a tug on me. It just seems like that will not be motivational enough for her. She likes the flirt pole but that's hard to take around. Do you have any suggestions on how I can increase her interest in toy...

I just got 10 week old Australian Cattle Dog. He has been home 5 days now. I read about not letting others not pet you dog and I have a question. I live alone in a rural setting in a neighborhood with about 4 houses pretty close by, so I interact with the neighbors a lot. One of the neighbors will be emergency contact for the puppy. I carry a tag on my key chain that says my pet is home alone please call .... and the neighbor will make take care of the dog. Should I let the dog interact more ...

Hi! I was wondering what characteristics you would advise looking for in a PTSD service dog prospect in a litter of pups? I?ve selected an outstanding breeder, whose previous litters had pups that went on to successfully complete service dog training, so there?s a history showing promise in genetics. So as far as temperament, what specifically would you look for if you were choosing an ideal candidate? Thanks so much!

Thank you for the recent correspondence and the great deal on many of the videos. We chose Ed and your basic and intermediate videos because quite frankly, my fiance and I are beginners. Our puppy however is brilliant!! We have our first GSD puppy, a female rescue from CA. We live in Oregon and my question pertains to our schedules. I am a graveyard electrician and I do most of the training and exercising with our puppy. The pup wakes at 2-3am when I get home and is instantly in full "dri...

I have a Brittany rescue that I've had for about 4 1/2 years. She's well trained in the house and yard but gets very distracted outside. I had thought about trying an electronic collar but when I first got her I stupidly hired a trainer recommended by the rescue people. He was trying to get her to come and was working quickly and somewhat roughly with her. He took her to a conservation area down the street after a quick session in the yard with an e-collar. She didn't come when he called her ...

My golden retriever is 13 months and hasn't gone into heat. I plan to breed her, as she is an AKC show dog. Thank you for your help. I don't know why she hasn't yet.

Cindy, I have a 4-year-old male Boston Terrier who is very dominant and is the pack leader (of me). I'm trying to right this wrong because of two major behavioral issues we're having with him. 1. He terrorizes house guests with too much crazy affection 2. He's extremely leash reactive and can only be walked in really deserted areas (this is our biggest problem and I'm hoping that by beginning to establish pack leader we can work up to correcting this). I read the article on pack structu...

Hi Cindy, I need help with the send out. I bought the Ellis video. My dog used to have a great send out, and will do it in training, but refused to go out in my last 3 trials. I thought I had it fixed before this last weekend. He did practice send out fine, then would not go in the trial. Any ideas? Mike

I have a female that is 5 years old. She has had one litter of two puppies - done with an AI. We try and breed her every season but she never seems to get to then point of flagging the male and getting bred. Any ideas?

I am looking for a good bitch to breed to my male GS. Do you ever use outside studs, after proper qualification, etc.? I am in Houston at the I-10 and Bunker Hill area. I have a one year old GS that is close to 120 lbs. and well trained, wonderful disposition, and very SMART. I just lost a 13 year old dog, from old age, and would like to find a good bitch of comparable standards to breed with him. Thanks for your time and consideration. Dianne

Hi Cindy, Both DVDs are GREAT information! Michael makes training dogs seem so simple and easy. I can honestly say that I was one of those trainers that was ahead of myself in where I should have been with my dogs. They could do a lot but to be honest the TRUE engagement wasn't all there. I have been working on nothing but engagement and will be for a month. With that said. Since Prong Collars can kill engagement. Should I still allow them to wear the collars and never use t...

Hi Ed; I am from southern Alberta Canada. Weather is a major factor in winter for walking and training dogs here...And I am an outdoor person! I wanted your opinion on this particular dog I rescued last year. Zing, is shep/dobi and very intelligent. He learns fast,and hopefully this year he will be trained for tracking, as he seems to have the qualifications for it. I am a firm believer in Ceaser's (Dog Whisperer) and your type of training, and have been for many years. My issue...

I have a three year old black German Shepherd. He came from Belgium Germany to a trainer in the states. I am a new handler and have been assigned this K-9 for about a year. He has a excellent temperament and does great in bite training. He shows no sign of any fear during training and has a good bite. The problem I have been experiencing is during real life scenarios on the street. During one instance I was backing up a fellow officer in the middle of the roadway taking a person in...

Good morning, Cindy. I wanted to thank you for offering me help with my dog in the past. I have a quick question for you if you have a minute. I have been taking my dog to training classes, and although there's been some progress, they are very against corrections of any kind. They are 100% reward based trainers. I told my trainer that I purchased a prong collar from your site, and he was mortified. The reason I purchased it is because my dog is a little dog, and she has a b...

I have watched some of your videos and am a regular visitor to your web site. I want to train my Rott into a personal protection dog. I am wondering if his temperament is good enough or am I just wasting my time. I realize it is impossible for you to be accurate without seeing him but I was wondering if you could give me some sense of his potential based on the following information.Thor is 10 months old. He has (what seems to me) a good prey drive. He is enthusiastic about playing with o...

Hi Mr. Frawley, I have ordered and watched some of your video training DVDs and enjoyed them very much. The information is very straight forward and easy to understand. I'll be buying more as time goes on and my 9 week old puppy starts to mature. I have looked on your web site and read many articles you have written. I understand from one article that one can't each his own dog to be a protection dog. You can't be the good guy and bad guy for the dog. While my dog is far from the time when...