Most Popular Q&As

November 15, 2022

I’d like to teach scent detection to my dog for fun, which scent kit is best for us?

Good afternoon. I am about to purchase the Foundation of Sport Detection DVD/online course and am wondering what supporting target scent "kit" you recommend. I see there are CKC kits, AKC kits, UKC kits, NACSW kits et al available. Can you explain the key differences and why I might choose one over the other? I have a Belgian malinois/shepherd cross whom I would like to train for scent detection - at this point just for "fun" and mental stimulation ... for both of us. :)Thanks for any assista...
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November 8, 2022

At what age is it appropriate to start leash pressure training? 

At what age/stage is it appropriate to start leash pressure training?
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October 10, 2022

My dog is doing well with all of our obedience at home but when I take him to the park to do everything he has learned it’s like pulling teeth with him. What can I do? 

I have a young  Terrier just over a year old. All the training I’ve done to this point he’s doing well with. When he’s training at home anyway. The training includes basic obedience, including long sit and down. And dumbbell retrieve. I get him out to the park to do everything he’s learned and it’s like pulling teeth with him. He’s just not into it. What can I do? Thank you in advance for your response.
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September 22, 2022

Can restrained recalls cause separation anxiety? 

Hello, I have a 7-month-old GSD that I'm going to start training the recall with, I'm wondering if certain methods like restrained recalls can cause issues with separation anxiety? My dog is very well behaved in her crate and doesn't have an fearfulness being restrained by others but, inside the house she will continuously whine if I leave, even if other people are with her. If we're at the park, front yard or other public areas and I calmly walk away she will act out as though we're preformi...
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August 4, 2022

How should I clean my 8-week-old puppy after she eats raw food? She gets it all over her body! 

Our 8wk old German shepherd puppy girl just came home from the breeder this afternoon. Question: What to use and how should I clean my 8-wk old puppy after eating raw? She ate well and then sat on it but had raw food all over her body. I'm worried about her being covered in salmonella, e-coli, etc as I have 2 seniors (my parents) who have a low immune system at home.
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June 9, 2022

Should I have two different commands for heeling? One command for head up focused heel and another command for casual sustained heeling/ informal loose leash walking? 

Cindy, IS it a good idea to have two different commands for dogs ....... Au Pied ! for heeling in a head up focused eyes position, and Heel for a more relaxed longer lasting heeling of the dog? Thanks.
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April 7, 2022

My 5 1/2 month old German Shepherd puppy lunges and bites at people and also jumps at my face, grabs my arms or bites my back if I turn away. Any direction is appreciated.

I have a 5.5-month-old male GSD puppy who lunges & bites at people holding a leash (or standing nearby). We manage his life with NILIF (Nothing in Life is Free). He's either in a crate or on a leash in the house, he's asked to sit and wait at doors and before coming out of crate. We completed 14 wks of puppy preschool and basic obed., we have your basic and inter. obed., and puppy pack structure videos, which we have found very helpful. He is not our first GSD and not our first pup, but he's ...
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March 31, 2022

What age do you introduce puppies to leash pressure? 

Is there an age at which you would not recommend introducing the puppy to leash pressure (i.e. is there a floor in age for training). What is the youngest age you have started leash pressure training?
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February 24, 2022

How much physical exercise should my 18-month-old dog have each day? 

I have an 18-month-old malinois/pyrenees mix. How much physical exercise is a good goal each day? We also do training a couple of times a day and mental stimulation. Thank you.
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February 17, 2022

While hiking is it ok to allow my dog go out on a long line and sniff while wearing a prong collar? 

I have a 2.25 Herm Sprenger on my 17-month-old Golden Retriever. We just started using it for walks and it is helping greatly. He seemed to automatically adjust. I have put a lot of work in training wise since day one - he has a couple of tricks titles, we are taking agility classes (he loves!), we've trained for basic obedience regularly on our own and in classes, and we are working on heeling for novice rally. He does well, but pulls toward other dogs (over aroused/friendly) on walks. I don...
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January 6, 2022

When should I start recall training with my 11 week old puppy? 

Hey Cindy, hope you are doing well. I have a (almost) 11 week old GSD pup and wanted to know when to implement the recall training in Michael Ellis's "Raising Your Puppy" videos. We have house and crate training taken care of and I am playing tug with her, that she enjoys. I just wanted to get an idea of when we should start the recall training. Thanks Cindy!
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December 2, 2021

How do you use the crate for a ’time out’ for a dog that has done something wrong?

Hi Cindy. In one of the videos, Ed suggests giving your dog a "time out" by putting your dog in his crate when he has done something wrong. He said that it doesn't have to be a long time-out period. It can be only a few minutes to be effective. Even so, won't the dog start generalizing being put in their crate with having done something wrong? Won't it cause confusion when you send your dog to his crate to "go to your bed" at night?
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November 18, 2021

My new puppy really isn’t into his food and will only eat it if it’s soaked with water. Do you know why this is happening?

Hi, my 10-week old puppy, since we got him, has never really been into food. We got the food the trainer suggested... didn't like it. Got a new brand, liked it for a day, then didn't like it the next. The only way he'll eat ALL of his food is if I soak it in water and let it sit for 30 minutes... Any suggestions as to why this is happening? Is it just a puppy thing...? Thanks!
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November 4, 2021

My 8 month old GSD is heeling well on and off leash and I have been using the remote collar for more than a month. When she noses the ground while heeling I give a low level E-collar stimulation and then when we walk back over that area she will side step and avoid the spot where she was corrected. Should I be correcting her with the E-collar?

Hello Cindy, My question is concerning an 8 mons old working line GSD. She heels very well both on and off-leash. I have been using an E-collar with her for more than a month now. So far all E-collar training has been relatively Distraction free. One quirk that puzzles me is a few times now when she noses the ground during a heel command I will give her a low-level stim to correct her. When we walk back over this same area again which is usually grassy she will side step the spot she rece...
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August 2, 2021

How do I teach my dog not to jump on me or other people?

What's the best way to teach my adult dog not to jump on me or other people - looking for something that can be relatively fast learning for the dog?
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June 17, 2021

My puppy is nervous about car rides after getting car sick when I picked him up at 8 weeks old. How can I fix this?

Good Evening, I have a 10-week-old GSD that is a bit nervy with car rides. He has exhibited very solid nerves with most other things, so I am thinking it is because he experienced a traumatic experience when he got severely car sick on the two hour ride home (crated) from when I picked him up at 8-weeks. He will get in the car but it is with slight hesitation and he only starts to relax when he is laying on my someone's lap. I have not tried using a crate again as I felt it would makes ...
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April 19, 2021

What are the best training treats for a puppy?

when training my puppy what are some of the best training treats?
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March 15, 2021

Can you recommend a leash for obedience training?

My local trainer is requesting I get a 6-foot leather leash. What width of a leash do you recommend for a male Shiba Inu? Thank you!
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January 18, 2021

Which size ball on a string should I order for my 8 month old Malinois? He isn’t good at gripping the hard rubber ball I have.

Hi, I would like to order a ball on string. Just had a few questions. I saw Michael Ellis's video on ball play and he said the ball should be right in size and squishier for inexperienced dogs so they can get a good grip. I have an 8 month belgian malinois. Which one of your balls on string would you recommend (he isn't good at gripping my hard rubber ball) and which size? Thanks in advance
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December 28, 2020

Is there a link with information explaining the best order to watch Michael Ellis videos?

Isn't there a video where Michael Ellis explains the best order for progressing a puppy/dog through his system? I can't seen to find it. Can you send me the link?
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