Most Popular Q&As

May 19, 2011

My daughter's pup recently became very fearful of everyone and everything sense something happened at my daughter's work. How do you suggest we make him feel better and get past this?

My daughter has a 6 month old Black Lab X puppy, (probably part Border Collie), which is the runt of his litter. He is sweet, eager to please and very quick to learn his commands. She got the pup at 2 months and all went well until just recently. My daughter works as a massage therapist and as teacher/leader of a steelpan band. As both activities are done in the same space and her husband's business is just across the parking lot, the puppy has routinely accompanied her to work. He...
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May 18, 2011

My friend has a Doberman as a guard dog for his business. The business was recently robbed. Did he over-socialize his dog?

Dear ED, I have a question about socializing guard dogs. Can you over socialize? My friend has a 3-year-old Doberman Pincher. He bought him from a family that was afraid of him (because he is an aggressive and dominate dog) and left him in his kennel a lot. The dog was 11 months when he got him and vary aggressive. He had to chain him up when people came around in fear that he would bite someone. In the past two years the dog has had a lot of socializing. He works in a shop wer...
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May 18, 2011

I'm getting a puppy from a breeder and there are only 2 males so I will not get to choose my pup. I am afraid I will get the alpha male. Can an alpha dog be a good family dog?

Dear Mr. Frawley, I hope it's not too bold to bother you but I don't know anybody else to ask. A lot of people claim be dog experts but don?t know much. I have been a follower of your podcasts and website and hope you can give me some advise. I was waiting for a puppy from a breeder whom I chose carefully. Today the puppies were born - unfortunately just three, 1 female, 2 males. I had decided to take a male and I'm in second place to choose on the breeder's list, wit...
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May 18, 2011

My 9 month old American bloodline GSD just bit the mailman. What should I do?

I have a big problem with my 9 month old shepherd. I have two pups, one 4 months old from your bloodlines and the 9 month old from mainly American lines. The problem is with the older one, he is not neutered yet and he appears to be developing some territorial aggression. Last week he bit the mail lady, he has never been this way before! Today, he chased a young boy across the school yard that we live next to his hackles were raised and he would circle the boy and bark!! I had one hell of...
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May 18, 2011

My dog gets blisters from the Jafco muzzles. What can I do to pad the muzzle so he doesn't get them?

I purchased 2 of your Jafco muzzles & have been very happy with them, however my dog is getting blisters on the top of his nose and bottom of his chin from rubbing from the muzzle. Do you have any suggestions of what I can do to pad the muzzle more so he doesn't get them? They break open and bleed and I just feel awful for him! I believe my step-mom emailed (and possibly sent you pictures of my bite wounds)you in December or January about the dog fight that we didn't know how to break up ...
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May 17, 2011

When I start formally teaching the puppy, where should I teach her to heel? Also is it safe at any point to use a connector leash so that one leash controls 2 dogs?

Greetings, I have a 7 year old Rescue Dutch Shepherd and a 15 week old Australian Cattle dog. I've never had two dogs at the same time before. Following your advice; they are getting along famously. The Dutchie is good on walks (not a perfect "heeler" but stays by my left side and doesn't get ahead or behind). I haven't done any formal leash work with the pup but have taken her out on leash for socialization purposes. At some point I will want to walk both dogs togeth...
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May 17, 2011

My mal has started acting differently sense being deployed in Irag, how can I fix his behavior?

Mr. Frawley, How are you doing sir? I am currently deployed to Baghdad, Iraq (VBC). I have a two and a half year old dutch shephard named Barry. We picked him up straight out of Lackland AFB in San Antonio this past August. He is a very high drive dog. He is a fear biter and he is pan aggressive. I have tried to socialize him with people here but for some reason he gets all excited (happy), then just snaps. When we were in Texas (at my home base) this was not an issue but since we have...
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May 17, 2011

I observed that your dog Rush wears a prong collar at some point. Could you tell me please at what stage of training do you decide to start using the prong collar?

Hi Cindy: First of all let me thank you for the education and the information Leerburg provides. Very professional and helpful, thanks again!! I have a question about the prong collar use. I have 5 months old GSD female pup. I would like her to become our family protection dog and companion. I follow your methods of puppy training and family pack structure. I started her on marker training according your Marker Training video. I observed that your dog Rush wears a pro...
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May 17, 2011

Is it normal during teething for a pup’s drive for sack or tug to diminish to a level where it is almost nonexistent?

Is it normal during teething for a pup's drive for sack or puppy tug to diminish to a level where they are almost nonexistent? My 5 month old GSD who normally acts like a little alligator, now because he is teething, is only content to retrieve a tennis ball and track. He has mo interest at all at training with the helper or at home with me in sack work. Doesn't even get worked up watching the other dogs work in Protection like he did before he started teething. He used to bark like a mad...
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May 17, 2011

My 12-month dog won’t bark in protection work. What should I do?

I purchased a GSD that has excellent working bloodlines. He has super prey drive. I did not discover your videos until he was almost a year old, but I still wanted to train him in personal protection. So I started with the 1st steps of bite training. He does really well in the bite work. I just cannot get him to bark at the helper, even when he pops in and out of the blind. When I took him out in the field and tried the stranger in the bushes, he just looked cautiously, but never barked. ...
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May 17, 2011

My husband thinks you train a dog to be a perimeter guard dog by spraying him in the face with vinegar. Is that true?

My husband and I are opening a shop. My husband wants to get a dog that will offer some protection when we are not there. He is talking about "perimeter training" the dog. I think by this he means that the dog will guard the property in the night. He says to train a dog to do this, the trainer uses vinegar and sprays the dog with it. He says this is only done at night, so that when customers come into the shop during the day the dog will not attack. Is this the proper method to use? And c...
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May 17, 2011

I want to become a helper. Can you give me some advice?

I am interested in becoming a trainer. I used to go with a family member every week while he worked his GSD, so I am not new to the sport but I am a new to training. I own an American Bulldog from good lines now and I am working him, and I have a female puppy coming as of June this year and she is from excellent lines and I am going to work her. I am interested in becoming a trainer/agitator for other people. What advice would you have for me? I live in Weymouth, Ma. Scott
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May 13, 2011

My dog's snout makes contact with the inside of the muzzle. Is this the proper fit?

Cindy, I ordered your German Shepherd Wire Muzzle size medium. I received this today. It certainly exceeds my quality expectations and think it is a wonderful product. Previous to purchase I had emailed Stephanie with my dogs measurements as to the directions on Leerburg.com. They are as followed: Muzzle length: 4 1/4"Muzzle circumference: 11-1/2"-12" My concern is that my dogs snout makes contact with the inside of the muzzle. Is this the proper fit? If you need me to snap s...
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May 13, 2011

Our old dog is afraid of our new dog. What can we do to fix the situation?

We are owners of a Cavalier King Charles 2 year old female. We have been discussing the prospect of adding a 'buddy'? for her to our home and finally decided that it was time. We also decided it would be a rescue from the Cavalier Rescue of Chicago. About 10 days ago we drove with our dog (Sophie) to the foster home to meet Merlin (male 2 years old). The foster home had 3 other cavaliers in the home so everyone was at ease when we introduced Sophie. The immediate attention to one a...
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May 11, 2011

Our neutered white GSD slipped on our stairs and is now afraid of them. What can we do to help?

Your Q&As are extremely interesting and helpful. We have a three year-old male neutered white GSD named Trigger.? He can be a bit fear-based dominant and aggressive (I have your DVD). We are working on this aspect of his personality and making good progress. We would appreciate your advice on one small issue. Our bedroom is a duplex. There is an open staircase from the first floor where we have our home office and the second floor where the bed is located. By open ...
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May 11, 2011

I have a 5 year old Lab. She has learned a lot of obedience but refuses to return the ball or whatever we use for fetch. She wants to play keep away.

I have a 5 year old Yellow Lab I got from an abused home. She has been with me for four years and has settled in nicely. She has learned a lot of obedience but refuses to return the ball or whatever we use for fetch. She wants to play keep away. I won't chase her around which is what she wants. I was told not to chase her by the dog trainer and eventually she will learn to bring it to me if she wants to play. Well that was three years ago and if I walk away and refuse to chase her she ju...
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May 11, 2011

I’m trying to teach my puppy the place command and he’s avoiding the “place” What can I do?

Hi Ed and Cindy, I will keep this brief as I know you are inundated daily. I have three of your DVDs (have watched 1.5 so far, as my pup keeps me very occupied and TV time is zero nowadays). I am trying to teach my 4 month old mal the place command. Well, I am trying to start that training. We have used "yes" as his marker and he knows "yes" is a good thing. I put his kennel blanket on the living room floor to start the training, but he avoids it at all costs. I've trie...
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May 11, 2011

I need some clarification on the release in marker training. Do you have any thoughts or recommendations?

Hi Cindy, I've watched a few of the videos I've ordered from Leerburg recently. I'd like to say nice effort on your and Ed's part. I'm wondering if you can explain something as marker training is new to me. In the past I've always used "ok" as my release command. Using "yes" as a marker seems to be a little more motivational in terms of it's auditory presentation and I'm considering that. In your Basic Dog Obedience dvd Ed uses "ok" as a release. In the Michael Ellis DVDs, i...
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May 10, 2011

I rescued an 8-yr-old dog about 1 month ago. He destroys the house when I'm gone. Should I crate him or is he too old?

Hello, I rescued and 8 yr old Akita from the animal shelter about a month ago. The first week was perfect and he was a great dog. After that, he has started to tear down my vertical blinds in my front picture window. I believe it is due to the mailman walking in front of it to get to the next house. In the process he has also knocked over an antique lamp which was my grandmother's and broke it. That was my fault though for not moving it. I am trying different things to prevent this...
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May 10, 2011

When do you know that it is cruel to keep your dog alive because you can't let go?

Hi I have a 17 year old collie/ husky mix. I have owned my dog since he was 6 months old. Snoopy is very much a family member. He didn't much like when we added our daughter to the family but got over it as soon as he could follow her around and steel cookies from her hands and birthday cake from her at the dinner table. He is having a lot of issues now he was fully trained to go outside and now is leaving messes all over the house. We walk him now almost hourly since my hus...
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