Most Popular Q&As
March 23, 2023
Should I neuter my Malinois to prevent potential aggression in the future?
Hi Cindy! I have a 1 y/o Belgian Malinois. He has had a history of aggressive behavior, specifically biting, and has bitten me, my wife, and my trainer.
I had him evaluated by Tarheel Canine Center, in Sanford NC. They are well familiar with working with Belgian Malinois and other shepherd breeds. To address the biting they recommended: 1 Plenty of exercise. He gets exercised 2 hours a day and 2. Obedience Training. He attended in-board basic obedience training for 5 weeks and advanced ob...
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January 16, 2023
Help? My Intact Male Doberman is Reactive to His Own Reflection
Hi Cindy,
I just got an 11-month-old intact male Doberman from Europe who has strong working drives but is also not very socialized. He arrived a few days ago here in the USA and I was warned that he was very dog aggressive, especially with other males.
My big challenge is we have a fairly large house with at least 30 windows and 5 glass sliding doors on one side and when he sees his reflection in the mirror, he goes after it with fury. It could be day or night, even while driving in t...
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September 8, 2022
I was told bully sticks are not a good option for puppies, what are your thoughts?
Hi Cindy, What chews are good for a 3-month german shepherd? She loves bully sticks, but was told not a good option, what are your thoughts?
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May 26, 2022
My 4 ½ month-old Malinois puppy is confident and obedient but he’s afraid of car rides, do you have any tips or advice?
Hello Cindy!
We have a very confident and obedient 4 1/2 month-old Mal puppy that impresses us every day with his progress. Except his fear of car rides. He is willing to follow me anywhere until I open the car door. He slams on the brakes and tries to back up immediately. He has his own crate in the back of my car that he rides in but he will never approach it willingly. Lately, he has been riding up front in the passenger seat which he doesn't resist as much. When he is in the car he is si...
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May 16, 2022
My dog and I walk with a group of people & dogs, all leashed. One of the dogs is extremely reactive and lunges at my dog. How should I handle that?
Hi, my male gsd & I walk with a group of 6-8 people & dogs, all leashed. We agree the dogs will not interact but will walk calmly in new environments. 1 of the dogs is extremely reactive and frequently lunges at my dog & vocalizes threateningly. I try to keep as much space as possible. How should I handle that? Thanks!
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October 18, 2021
Can I use a remote collar on my 16 week old German Shepherd?
I have pick of the litter male German Shepherd. Using your training techniques with streaming. Still having bad habits and getting worse. Daily training by me, leashed but free time, no responses to No, Come, and runs, bites, etc. Basically incorrigible and I’m pretty firm and had breed in the past. Is he too young for E-Collar? I’ve been watching your free videos on the collars. Advice?
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September 7, 2021
Can you ever trust a cat-chasing dog around cats if you are not present to correct them?
If a dog is known to chase cats, and the behavior is worked out with corrections (I'm thinking e-collar), can they ever be trusted with them when you're not there to correct them? The question kind of relates to the theme in the Dealing With Dominant and Aggressive Dogs video about how a dominant dog will respect family members while the pack leader is around but not necessarily when the pack leader isn't around. I've owned two other dogs that had strong prey drive with rabbits and squirrels ...
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September 2, 2021
Where do you set the limit for puppies when it comes to letting them look at things in the environment? I know you don’t want to allow them to get too focused or excited by what they see but shouldn’t you allow them to look at things so they understand the world?
Hi Leerburg. I have watched Leerburg videos on Youtube and also bought the DVD Raising your puppy with Michael Ellis. I get my German Shepherd puppy home in about 4 weeks.
I have a question about when Michael talks about not letting the puppy be too focused on something that happens in the surroundings, Like other dogs, or a cat, or people. But the puppy must be allowed to be curious and at the same time be allowed to look. Where should you set the limit? I understand that I should not le...
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August 12, 2021
My 5 month old German Shepherd likes my 8 pound Yorkipoo but he’s too rough with her. How do I introduce them?
Hi Cindy, I have a 5 mo. old German Shepard puppy I've had since he was 8 weeks old. I have an 8 lb Yorkipoo & a labradoodle. I haven't been able to introduce him to my Yorkipoo because all he wants to do is paw her and mouth her to play and she's too little so we keep them apart. My question is how do I introduce them? He really wants to get to know her but he's too rough. Thank you
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June 4, 2021
When I let my 7 month old Lab off leash to run around he eats things he finds on the ground. Any ideas for how to stop this?
We live by a golf course and I let my 7 month old lab off leash a bit so he can run around. Problem I find is he will catch a ball but then stop and find grass or something else to start eating. Yelling, Yuck or No does nothing to get him to stop.
As I approach he'll quickly swallow the stuff. I then say Yuck or No and put him back on lease. Any ideas for me to get him to stop this action??
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January 4, 2021
I recently acquired a 10 month old dog that will go out for a romp or walk and then pees/poops in her kennel. She has plenty of chances to go outside but seems to think the crate or kennel is the place to go. How do I undo this?
I am rehabbing a 10 month old Mal. She is doing great but after we go for a serious romp in the forest and she returns to her kennel, she pees and poos in it. We are out many times per day so she has plenty of opportunity to potty in the right spot but she seems to think the kennel is THE spot. How do I undo this?
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November 25, 2020
My 8 week old Malinois puppy won’t retrieve a ball and is showing signs of possession. Should I be concerned about a potential resource guarding issue?
I have an 8 week old Malinois who I plan on doing IGP with. I introduced a ball today to see his retrieving behavior in a small space with a small throw. He loved the ball but he immediately grabbed it, lay down facing away from me and started chewing it. It looks to me he is very possessive over it (you could see it in the eyes and him facing away). No amount of encouraging would make him move or come near me (I've never taken things away from him only redirected to not encourage guarding).
...
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September 28, 2020
Do you have any advice on teaching a dog to sit straight in front on a recall?
After many months of trying, my 14 lbs terrier mix is not consistently straight on a recall or being called front from heel. Do you have any advice? Thanks!!
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August 24, 2020
How do I get my dog to use the doggie door? She’s afraid of it.
I recently installed a doggie door and my german shepherd is afraid of it. I have been using luring to get her to go trough the door only when I'm holding the door up. Any thoughts on how I can get her to start using the door on her own.Thanks
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July 27, 2020
I have a couple of questions in reference to using a clicker and having a set schedule and outline for training my pup.
Id like to ask a couple training questions:
Can you use the clicker and 'yes' together to mark? ie. Dog's butt hits the ground, you "click", then say "yes" pause and feed? Is this ok?
Are there there certain commands where the clicker is better than 'yes'?
Can I mix up training during day - start sit, then move on to down, move on to - stand. Mix in 'nose' or 'place'...then go back - all while being different timings of trainings and not confuse the dog? If no, then how long do you stay at...
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June 8, 2020
Can I train my adult German Shepherd rescue to stay in an ex-pen?
Can an ex-pen be used successfully with an adult dog that has never been in one? Our GSD rescue 1 1/2 yr-old neutered male loves his Vari-kennel, sleeps in it at night, and goes in to rest. I rarely leave him unattended in the house and never with our other dogs, but would like to be able to use an ex-pen instead of or in addition to the VK if we travel or have guests.
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May 11, 2020
My 10 month old dog won’t bring the tug back when we play, he flops down and holds it between his paws. Do you have any advice?
Hi!
I have a 10 month old gsd and we have been working on our tug game to eventually incorporate it as an obedience reward. I have purchased the Michael Ellis dvd on the Power of Playing tug with your dog and I am continuing to study it. I am very pleased with the course. The issue I am having with my dog is he won’t bring it back and I have studied the video where Michael demonstrates to tug a few times, let him have it, and encourage him to take even 1 step toward you, mark and play ag...
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May 1, 2020
How can I stop a German Shepherd from resource guarding?
Hello, I have recently rescued a German Shepherd. He is male and approximately 15 months old. I have had the dog for two months and we are bonding fine and he is responding well to marker training, however, he becomes aggressive when approached during feeding, and this morning he growled at me after being put in his crate. He had not finished his food, (unusual) and crated himself (he usually does this once he finishes his meal). When I went to pet him (while he was in his crate) and invite h...
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November 26, 2019
At what age should a Schutzhund puppy be introduced to burlap?
Greetings,
Most of the puppy toys are not made out of burlap, I assume not to associate possible tooth pain with the texture of jute. At what age should a Schutzhund puppy be introduced to burlap?
Thank you much for all the great work you do!!!
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May 13, 2019
What do you recommend when your dog "hand mugs"?
Hello, my dog has a very high food drive, which has aided us in the obedience training we have been doing as he is very motivated by it, but often, particularly if I am using a high value reward, he tends to ?hand mug? or bite at the hand to get to the food. I have been teaching him by offering the food, saying ?no? and pulling it away repeatedly if he snaps and ultimately feeding him when he is gentle. It?s not been highly effective, though. What do you recommend?
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