Most Popular Q&As

Thank you so much for taking the time to help, there is so much information I feel like I'm drinking from a fire hydrant. What is the best way to travel with the dog? We have van so a crate would fit just fine in the back of it. I've also seen straps that buckle to the seat belt and clip to the dog's collar but I was kinda of leary about that, maybe when the dog is much older? Also, do you suggest a harness or a collar to start with? I'm leaning towards the slip collar you sell to start.

Cindy, I am watching your video on nose work and am getting ready to start training my dog in it. My dog is a house pet and usually is allowed in all of the rooms in the house. When she is home alone, she is either outside in the kennel or inside a closed room in the basement (when the weather is bad). The issue is that the only room I have where I can set up a training space is that room where we keep her. Will that be a problem if she is in the training area with the drawers all set up bu...

I want to be sure I understand Michael Ellis and Ed correctly and that is puppy bite training is used as an engagement tool or activity and that it is a precursor to obedience training. Once you have the dog/puppy really engaged then teaching the dog obedience is easier. I have an 18wk old Golden Doodle and I'm new to dog training. Right now he is very food driven and I have been using a combination of verbal and clicker training with food rewards. My goal is to have a happy well behaved w...

Hi, I am having trouble finding a good tug toy for my 8 month old whippet terrier mix. I purchased the Nylon Tug with Handles which is too fat and hard for him and the Suede Leather Flat Tug which is better but he still doesn't bite well on it so we just use a kong toy... I'm wondering which toy you would recommend for him? I think it needs to be very thin. Thanks!

Hello Cindy, I am very grateful for Leerburg Dog Training and its Online University! We currently have two pups (6 month old Bichon Frise). They are allowed backyard playtime together from time to time, but for the most part spend time separately in their own ex-pens, crates, and training sessions. During those outdoor times they are together, I will often mix in engagement with each of them. Sometimes both will be engaged with me or just one until I release them/him. I am wondering what b...

Hello, I’m working my way through Michael Ellis’ focused heeling video and I’ve gotten to the part where I work on leash pressure with my mal. He’s awesome with the forward leash pressure and immediately gives. When I pull straight back to attempt to get him to give backwards he constantly drops into a sit. If I keep applying pressure backwards he drops into a down. What can I do to help him learn what I’m asking? Should I just keep applying steady pressure backwards? I’m using a ...

Is there any videos, streaming or articles about how to phase out treats while Training? Long story short-- my dog has recently decided that she refuses to perform anything I ask if her unless I've got a treat for her... Even tasks she USED to perform perfectly with NO treats--- now I've got to lure her into correct position with a treat... If I refuse to give a treat she LITERALLY sat there making eye contact for nearly 10 minutes refusing to do a task unless I had a treat!!!!! I'm desperat...

I am interested in ordering the Michael Ellis puppy workshop course. I own a copy of Michael Ellis Raising Your Puppy course and am concerned the workshop may contain a bulk of information I already have. Is there a way for me to audit the course before purchasing it? Due to the price of the course, I want to make sure I am not paying a huge premium for content I already have.

Hi Cindy, Training question for the GSD puppy: I never ask her to do anything she cannot do, however, our trainer felt it would be good for her to do basic obedience in the class with 3 other puppies. We failed miserably. She was focused on the other puppies. I had a really hard time getting her attention with treats and tug. Am I wrong to think that we should stay away from group classes now or should we participate even if it means a whole lot of corrections with the prong? Also, at what...

My dog will play tug with me and bring the tug back but when I go to grab it to reengage he drops it. How would I go about countering this tendency?

My four and half-month-old lab puppy has started barking while training. I don't think that I have accidentally cued this, and it may be frustration or excitement. But I want to make sure it doesn't become a habit, as it will not be acceptable in an obedience ring. I start each session with engagement. Any suggestions?

I had my first Rally class today, and they recommended a thin leash. They said I had too much leash in my hand and requested I get something really thin. What is the thinnest leather leash you carry? I like your leather leashes and would love to use one in my Rally training.

Hi Cindy, We purchased an Educator ET300 Mini Ecollar from you a few months ago, and the collar that goes around the dog's neck is made like a belt. We were wondering if you have a collar that would fit through the Educator ET300 Collar that snaps (like many cat collars are made) in place instead of buckles. This dog is a hard dog, and despite the commands that he knows, insists on fighting the buckling part of the Ecollar when we put it on him. In fact, he jumps and bites in play anytime ...

I recently purchased a box of The Honest Kitchen Preference dog food from Leerburg. How much raw vs. cooked meat measured by weight should I add to 1 cup of Preference (is there enough difference to matter)? Also, would the calcium/phosphorus ratios be balanced if I don't add any raw bone, such as ground turkey or chicken necks and backs, to my dog's diet? Thanks!

Hi Ed, Our eight month old Doberman was suffering with pano. We were pretty sure it was pano due to reading up on it, but were willing for vets to do x-rays to make sure there was nothing broke or fractured. The x-ray confirmed our suspicions and we were given pain relief for her. It was sad to watch our beautiful loving puppy suffer so much. So on searching for more info on pano, came across your page. We followed your advice about stopping the puppy food and the MSM, etc. and we have no...

On the ecollar comparison chart, 5 tabs down it says "Different Levels for Each Dog" What is that?

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...