Most Popular Q&As

Hi Cindy, I have been looking into purchasing a working bloodline pup for some time with the goal of going as far as possible with obedience training. The breeder I chose is overseas and currently has an ideal puppy but says they need to wait another month before shipping her to the US, at which time she will be 4 months. In your opinion, how much of a difference does delaying training impact the overall results?

Hello! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your website and all of it's contents. We have a 9-week old Golden Retriever puppy and the information you've provided has given us such a firm foundation. Thank you! My question has to do with running. I know pups this age shouldn't be running/jogging until they're older, but what age is that? Also, is playing fetch considered running as well? I've searched your database but couldn't find this answer. I'm sure it's in there but I couldn't l...

We will be moving overseas to Japan (military) with our dog. Any tips in general and any favorite pet shippers? Dog (Dutch Shepherd) is only 65lbs, but because he has such a long neck/long legs and big pointy ears putting him at 35" tall while sitting which equals giant #700 kennel and cargo only status.

Dear Cindy, I may need a bit of encouragement here on a 6mos GSD we have. FYI, He is our fifth German Shepherd so not new to the breed. Anyways, he is very leash reactive, more so than any of our other GSDs in the past. I have Tyler Muto's Leash Reactivity DVD. I take him to parks, pet stores, walks in the neighborhood, etc. he seems most fixated in our neighborhood environment. He’s not mean at all he would just sniff the dog if given the chance and prob play -also people he would lic...

I have a 6 year old male German Shepherd who has not been socialized very well and when I try to board him he becomes aggressive to whoever is trying to take him into the boarding area. Once in the area it takes him forever to calm down before the staff can do anything with him. My Vet has him on Prozac to keep him calm. I am not comfortable with doing that because he is fine with me and doesn't act out. I am currently working with a personal trainer who has me using a muzzle on him whenever ...

I didn't read your article to not get 2 puppies at one time. Now that it is to late we have a female Golden Retriever and a male Cavalier both about 4 months. we have had them for 1 month and potty training is pretty good we do have the occasional accident. Our big problem is the Golden is beating up on the Cavalier. We have tried putting her in her crate when she starts, we have tried loud noises and spraying water but to no avail. We can't let either one go as they both have physical proble...

I just found out that my dog that I bred a week ago has fleas and the other animals in our house. What can I use on her to get rid of the fleas and not hurt the puppies she might be carrying?

I understand a stretch strap comes with one of the Educator units. Will the stretch strap work with all units? If so, can I purchase it separately?

Cindy, We have a very small female puppy (~12 lbs @10 weeks) and are working with her to encourage prey drive as a start for protection. She seems to have good prey drive for moving objects ( compared to my last dog and my friends` GSDs) and is crazy for the leather bite rag. I want to take it slow with her development since my last dog was damaged by a well respected trainer starting defense work too early (this is just my opinion and suggestions from other working breeders of this typ...

Hi Cindy, I was wondering if Giardia Parasitic D'Tox is a treatment or preventive for Giardia and if it also works for Coccidia?? Do you have any recommendations for Coccidia? I seem to have it when I am weaning puppies. Any and all help will be great! Thanks.

We have a 16-month-old male neutered Boxer and have had him since 8 weeks of age. I have trained him on your methods and have had great results except, when he was very young about 3 or 4 months, he would turn and snap at me when I gave him a correction if he was nosing around or chewing on something. I would correct by LEAVE IT command and move him away from whatever it was. I thought that had been rectified until recently. He wears a drag leash all the time and the other morning, while ...

I have an 8 month gsp. I trained him fully on papers. He holds it in all night. I am frustrated and I walk him, he refuses to make outside... any tips? Should I not put down the papers... Your Q&A page was not working properly. I need some help so the gsp can be fully housebroken to go outside. I am one step into sending him to a foster home for adoption. My gsp has the makes on a good family dog. Need help. Thanks, Anna

Hello, I purchased an electric collar on my vet's advice. I have a three year old American Bulldog (112 lbs)and a 10 month mastiff mix (90 lbs). Both are rescue dogs, and both have serious behavioral issues. I have made a lot of progress with most of their issues, but one definitely remains. I was having difficulty walking/jogging with these dogs (each is walked individually, never together due to their size) and their over stimulation regarding other dogs/stimuli. Choke and prong collars ...

Cindy, We appreciate the great products and advice you and your company have provided us. We have purchased a prong collar and e-collar recently and after a week noticed that the dog's neck was really raw where the e-collar prongs have been and I was hoping you may have some insight on this. I removed the collar every few days and gave him a break but his skin is really swollen and started to develop pus around his neck. I'm worried that he may be allergic to the metal against his skin. A...

Hi Cindy, After purchasing and watching your DVD on remote collars I have just now begun training and I am loving the results. They have been life changing not just for me, but my dog as well. I bring her to work with me everyday and her recall on the job site was awful. I took her to an obedience trainer and her recall never improved once the leash came off. I just want to thank you because it was your website that persuaded me to use a remote collar. My question is with fitting the co...

Several years ago I bought a stainless steel micro prong collar to train my mini schnauzer to quit barking and pulling. It worked so well when I got my doberman I ordered extra links a month ago to use with him. Well today while in the car, the collar broke. I was told by my trainer to use the prong on him in the car to correct his whining and howling (excited, not nervous). So this is what we did and the chain part, not the link part just broke. I tried to look and see if there were other pe...

When getting a crate, being that my puppy will be about 6 pounds when I get him, what size crate should I get? He will grow rapidly (Rottweiler) and I may be spending a fortune on crates to accommodate his growth. Can I get a medium sized crate and put something in it to take up extra space while he's young and remove it when he gets to be big enough?

I have some of your old tapes and your new Marker DVD. Great stuff. After teaching my dog stay I use a release word okay then my marker yes with a treat am I doing this wrong. What about when a dog is in stay and your about fifteen feet away from him and want him to call him, Fido Come does he not get confuse without using a release word before the word come?

I have a 10 year old male GSD who has degenerative arthritis in his hock and knee in the same leg. He is really starting to have difficulty moving around. He currently is on Glucosmine/Chrondtin/MSM; Fish Oil tablets; Duralactin; Tramadol for pain as well as Gabipentin (I?m sure I botched the spelling of that). A friend of mine was telling me about Yucca and how it helps her older dogs. Jesse does have an issue with his kidneys so he cannot take anything stronger, such as Metacam to help him...

Dear Ed and Cindy, We live have a german shepherd dog who is five years old. We have had him three weeks. He is a super dog, intelligent sweet natured and obedient. A friend of mine asked me to rescue him as his family were divorced and had dumped him with mother/ mother in law who was disabled. He spent his days in a tiny garden as she was unable to walk him. The only problem I have is that he does chase the horses and then he gets so excited that he doesn't hear what you say. I feel t...