Most Popular Q&As

Hi, I want to order the prong collar leash and the dominant dog collar. If the shorter tab on the leash is connected to the lower collar (the prong) and thus corrections go to this collar since the tab is shorter, how do you engage the dominant dog collar? Also, what is the reason one would want a two-handle leash? Vicky

Hi Cindy, I have a small 14 lb dog that I want to keep in the kitchen during the day while at work. I want to give her some area to exercise while I?m gone.?I was wondering how well this pen would work. Does it have stabilizers that would keep the dog from knocking over the pen??I?m sure she would be jumping up on the sides while I?m gone. Do you have any other recommendations short of using a crate? I do live in a small apartment. Thanks, Angie

I found your site very informative. If a dog is friendly with other dogs, cats and people but attacks one specific dog more than once, would this dog be considered aggressive? Recently, she attacked this much smaller dog beyond repair and sadly the dog didn't survive. Is this dog to be trusted around small children? I know with any dog, there should always be close supervision. But knowing she has this ability in her, is it too risky to keep her in the home with children?

I got a 6-month-old male German Rottweiler I got from a good breeder when he was 10 weeks old. We set up a crate that with a doggie door that goes outside. So basically, he is in and out all the time. I try to put a collar on him (since we got him) but he fussed too much. He runs away, uses his mouth to warn us... does a hand bite but doesn't bite down (I yell loud no). Since he goes in his crate, it is not a good idea to have his collar on him all the time (strangulation) so we take it o...

Hi, I have read through your website and I love it. You know your stuff and give great advice. I have a shih tzu x chihuahua who had a litter of 3 just over four weeks ago. The first two pups were born naturally but after a long struggle with the the third she needed to have a c section and that poor baby was dead. The 2 surviving pups are doing really well and Bella is a great mum. After the pups were born Bella had discharge for a few days but that cleared up when it should have...

I have a 1 1/2 year old Malinois. He thinks that everywhere we go we are going to do bite work. How do I train him to relax? He has good obedience but sometimes he wants to bite everyone. He won't do it if I give him his negative maker "No." But I don't trust him or my own reflexes so I muzzle him everywhere. I would like him to be safe around strangers. He doesn't need to be their friend, just ignore them. I am guessing you are going to tell me to work on engagement so he will focus on me in...

Hi Cindy, I have been a fan of the Leerburg website for several years and have always been happy with all of the items I have purchased from it. I have also spent many hours reading discussion board entries and the questions posed to both you and Ed in the Leerburg newsletters and am very impressed with the sensitivity and quality of the responses that you both provide to individuals seeking your advice in dealing with problems related to their dogs. I am currently dealing with a proble...

I am wondering if artificially inseminating too many times can cause pregnancy and birth issues? We A.I.'ed our English Bulldog 3 times, 2 days apart starting on day 12 of her cycle. The A.I. was successful, and I was very diligent on her diet, sodium consumption, folic acid and I gave her daily cranberry pills for water retention to help avoid water puppies that are common in the breed. She has no health issues and nothing was abnormal throughout the pregnancy. She started leaking a black...

Hi Cindy, I'm looking for a professional, unbiased opinion, and I thought of YOU! You have given me such excellent advice in the past and since you don't know me personally, you'll just give me an honest answer instead of trying to guess what I might want to hear... which is what usually happens! LOL! Ok, so I know a well-trained dog IS a well-trained dog; neutering a badly trained dog won't miraculously make him well-trained. That said, is it easier to work with/train a neutered male v...

Cindy, I would like to take advantage of the seasonal availability of whole turkey. My 2 dogs are 60# and are good eaters who chew well. Are there any precautions on feeding turkey and are there any parts that I should avoid? Thanks. Dave

Hello Ed and Cindy: I've just discovered your site & I love all the info you provide. It's both educational & reaffirming. Q: I've bred my two Pembroke Corgis. I've noticed in the past that they tend to get food allergies which cause a red belly & pimples under their muzzle. So, I feed them all natural dog food from the feed store. This has solved the problem. Since being bred, my female has been on the same brand of food but we are offering puppy food & vitamins for added nutrition. The ...

My dog is now 10 months old and her one ear is still flopping, I keep re-taping her ear but I'm about ready to give up. Is it to late for her?

Hi Cindy, We have a 5month old female doberman that we are training using your training methods. Specifically I was looking at getting your e-collar for pets video and an e-collar to help work on her stop jumping up and mouthing my wife and two young boys. Is it too soon to use an e-collar to correct this behavior. Also I know you and Ed like the Dogtra collars; which is a good economical model for us. Thanks for all your help in raising our dog. It is greatly appreciated. Brian

Hello, We recently purchased a Rhodesian Ridgeback adult female dog through the RR Rescue in our area. She is 4 yrs old, and had one owner before us, and was not socialized well and crated a lot. That's what we know. She was extremely skittish at first but is no longer afraid of us, and is more comfortable every day. She is not at all aggressive toward us or people, or our young children. She is either shy ? or very sweet and curious. She is very smart and is training well. However, my pro...

Hi, Cindy! Hope all is well. It's been a while since I have had to email. In a nutshell, our 10 yr old Golden has been displaying a slight stiffness that I attribute to the onset of arthritis. She is fed raw salmon oil...and otherwise seems to be in good health. Today her stiffness was very apparent so I can no longer dismiss it as my paranoia. What supplements do you recommend I order for her? I'm particularly interested in the Syn-Flex and Grand Flex. I'm not sure what to order and w...

I happened across your website today while doing a search on aggressive dog behavior. I have a Blue Heeler, and have raised him since he was 6 weeks old. He is now approaching 9 years. When he was a puppy, I was able to teach him to sit, shake, etc, and he listens fairly well when we are outside playing if it's just him and I. There has always been one other dog in our home, but within the last three years, my son moved his dog in (due to apartment living), and my daughter moved home with...

Hello, long time no hear (which is good but things have changed so I am back). 6 year old dog aggressive and separation/claustrophobic rescued Akita. Charm to humans. We purchased the aluminium crate about 5 years ago for when we boarded her she would bust of of their crates. It works great as you know. We have an indoor/outdoor kennel at home which until recently she respected. Bad lighting storm surged our house blew out electronics. She has not been happy in her kennel ever since but i...

Hi Ed and Cindy, This is the first time I have emailed you, though I have referenced your site more times than I can count over the years. I have owned working Shepherds for 10 years now (all of my adult life) and have fed raw this entire time. I feel that I know a lot about raw, much more than the average person. But right now I am questioning myself and it's driving me mad, so here is the deal: Last Monday I went to a trial and picked up kennel cough. It's the first time I have eve...

My mother has a female Yellow lab that she rescued when it was a couple years old. She drove by and saw it outside in a kennel and she was severely neglected. My mother has nursed her back to health and given her a very loving home for the past several years. She has socialized her the best she could. I believe that due to the lack of early socialization and training, she gets very aggressive (only barking and backing up) at some men (not all) and is very aggressive with other dogs at times. ...

I have a male and female ridgeback and 3 of their pups (2 males and 1 female). Females spayed, males intact. Pups are 17 months old. The one male challenges the other males only when we are not at home. I come home to bloody paving too often and he (the challenger)is always the one that loses the fight. Is it too late to neuter him? I don't want to give him away as he is the most loving most playful and respectful dog when we are around. He always loses but keeps growling at the other males. ...