Most Popular Q&As

Hello! I just happened to stumble across your website and I have to say it's pretty great. I just need an opinion regarding my three year old Sharplaninac (Yugoslavian shepherd). They are rare in the States. As a breed they are large, intelligent, stubborn and protective. We got him as a puppy and he immediately was very lively and loud, and stubborn stubborn stubborn. I wasn't there when he was growing up since I was away at college, and lets just say my parents don't have tim...

Ed, I am the owner of a 7yr old neutered English Bulldog. I have had him since he was 8 weeks old. Tank used to be a very friendly, social dog. He loved attention from people. Over the past year his behavior has progressively gotten worse. I have talked to many trainers in the past, all of which told me that since dominance training does not work (in fact disciplining makes him more aggressive), that it is a medical issue. I am a veterinary technician, and he has always gotten the ...

Hi, I hope that you can give me some advise how to handle this situation. I have 16 months old Bullmastiff Baron, and 18-month-old Bullmastiff Cesar. Sweet dogs, I raised them from puppies. I keep them separate in outdoor kennels most of the day, and take them inside over the night. I also take them for a walk twice a day and they both behave well, sit, down and heel. I was feeding them in the kennel twice a day, and everything was o.k., until now, when Baron the younger one, when ...

hello Is there any advice on what to do when riding through countryside or anywhere and having dogs start to chase the bike other than to stop but some dogs are really scary and huge and some very aggressive

Hi Cindy, I have an 8 week old puppy and when I take him out to potty he is focused on eating grass and also likes to chew on his leash. Any tips?

Hi Cindy, I will be getting an 8 week old golden retriever puppy and he will be a family pet. I plan on using a harness at the beginning to take him outside, explore etc., but wondering at what age range you recommend beginning formal loose leash walking on a collar. Do I even need a flat collar at this point? Thank you!

My sister has 2 Boston Terrier's. The older female is smart and has an excellent temperament. They purchased a male when he was 4 months old, he is now 2. When they first got him he would run up to people and was very playful, then around 1 he still comes up to people all excited but the second he gets close he snaps, growls and barks. They've tried everything including medication. Yesterday my daughter 12, was over and she was laying on the couch watching TV and he managed to escape his cage...

We have an 11 week old mastiff puppy and we are struggling with him biting the leash (he wants to hold it in his mouth or tug with it) and he wants to play with us by biting. We have tried redirection with toys and food. He is not food motivated at all so we have struggled to even be successful with engagement. He is under weight and even with deprivation he is not interested in training with treats. Redirecting with toys almost seems like it is a reward to him so he goes back to biting and...

Hi Cindy, I have a 13 month female GSD. She has been in Shutzhund training for 9 month and she is doing exceptionally well. Her barking during protection is very aggressive and I am happy with that. However, away from the training field she barks at new people, not a I’m going to bite you bark but more like a hey I’m not sure about you bark. New dogs however she has a violent bark until quite some time has gone by and they get comfortable with each other. My question is how can I fix the...

I have a 3-month-old, 30 pound Doberman with whom we have used a harness and 6 foot drag line except when he is in his crate sleeping for the night (he also has a pen for daytime use when we are not directly training or playing with him). Over the past 10 days, have noticed that he will pull hard against the 6-foot line when I'm with him outdoors (as well as jump on my legs and try to bite) but not when I'm using the 20 foot drag line. Wonder if the amount of pressure exerted by the line ma...

15 months, Aussie, intact male. Hard Natured, stoic but sensitive. training since 9 weeks. In our training my dog no longer is as interested or driven to work with anyone, he still has a desire and seeks things to do but has no interest in the training and his body language is flat. I get some motivation but he will disengage and seems to act begrudgingly. I included more game-based but still seems bored. Trained with +reinforcement and limited corrections, herding weekly, trick and ...

So I have a new 8 week old Siberian on the way, it it’s been almost 30 years since I’ve had one this young - even though I’ve had four previous huskys. I’m looking for advice on the first few nights, and with all the videos and trainers I feel like everyone’s training advice is all different. I have a crate, but it’s not in my bedroom (although my house isn’t huge - about 1600 sqft). I think I have enough of the right gear, and am always up for other suggestions. But I will ...

Hi Cindy, Me again......I really appreciate being able to ask questions and getting good answers! Thank you! I have a 2y old upland hunting dog (by now you probably know I have Springers) who I have trained to retrieve using Michael Ellis's methods. She is awesome.....until a bird is shot. Seems a warm, just shot bird is different than the dead ones I thaw and use for different training activities. She marks and finds the just shot bird, goes out to get it, starts heading back with it ...

My dog knows to come when called but sometimes blows me off .I have now purchased remote collar training but no collar yet. My question is when we walk I enjoy seeing him chasing and hunting the rabbits will this have to stop?

My 3 1/2 year old labradoodle is not neutered. He catches the scent of an in heat dog and it’s off to the races. We walk on the beach daily and folks bring their in heat dogs on vacation. He will follow a weeks-old scent. He’s been off leash since he’s been 8 weeks old. Will a remote collar work?

My GSD (19 mos, female, intact) likes to play with an old garden hose in our backyard for approximately 10 minutes at a time. She bites it like a tug and shakes it around hard. She bites/cuts off ~2' sections over time. She plays with it dragging the hose bundle up and down the backyard. It's good exercise, but my only real concern is whether this will impact her teeth enamel, gums, etc. She plays tug and fetch with me (fully engaged) using a ball on a string no problem. I can throw the...

Cindy, again, thank you so much for your availability. This is a terrific help, and I love Leerburg. A question please... I'm interested in getting a new dog for AKC Obedience and Rally. Several professionals have recommended choosing a young adult such that the dog's potential is more readily assessed, stating that there are too many unknowns with puppies even when well bred. Others have said that getting a puppy is best to form an early relationship and to begin early luring and attent...

Hi. My 5 month old boston terrier bit my mother monday because she wouldn't let her keep jumping on the couch. last night i was petting the dog on the floor and she was sniffing in my pockets for treats. i didn't have any and she got frustrated and nipped me. i am shocked and horrified! Do you think this is a result of poor training (I have been training her since she was 8 weeks old) or a personality issue? If it's training, would I be able to rectifiy it? I am really the only person that tr...

I’ve been working on the forced retrieve with my terrier for the past 2 months. I started from the very basic. From take, to hold and now bring. I also used a starter kit similar to the one sold at Leerburg. Which includes a pvc section as well as a dowel. He’ll pick up and bring the pvc and dowel. He just will not pick up the dumbbell. What did I do wrong? Also, what can I do to resolve issue? Thank you in advance for your response.

We are getting 2 BC litter mates. I've read Ed's cautions on doing so. We are both experienced dog trainers/handlers and will be training the pups separately, one for each of us, etc. Question: We have outdoor pens for our present 3 BC's and also for the two pups (the latter on our patio under cover as the summer temps here are 100+ daily). Should we put a screen up between the two pups' pens which are next to each other to discourage them from becoming "doggy" or is that taking it too far i...