Most Popular Q&As

As a Great Dane breeder, I've been using your formula for years and we love it. On Tuesday 05/03/2011, Zonie gave us 8 beautiful babies. She is a first time mom and is doing very good with her babies. The problem is that she's not eating much at all. She is also very picky with what she eats. We had her x-rayed on 05/03/2011 to make sure she was finished. I also had her calcium check and she was normal. On Tuesday 05/10/2011 I did a CBC/Chem7 and an ultrasound. Again everything is normal. No ...

Hello Cindy, I just received the Marker Training video yesterday and I noticed how similar it is to Balabanov's training style. I'm new to all of these different training styles and to dog training in general. Kind of confusing actually with everything out there now.... Leerburg, Balabanov, Ellis, Dildei, etc. Can your training methods work with Balabanov's methods? Am I just keying in on the overall concept and not the specifics of how to use markers for your training methods ...

Thanks for all previous advice. I am learning marker training, I started not long after you wrote the new article around Oct last year I think it was but didn't quite get it and long story short only started the system again recently, the dog and I are now figuring it out and we both enjoy it, he is much more handler focused and its very cool to watch him offer behaviors, so thanks for the direction on that. I have a question on nail clipping ear cleaning etc on dominant han...

My questions is, what if I've been using the clicking sound with my mouth as the marker, but want to change it to "yes." What is the best way to go about it or should I just stay with the clicking sound. It's that I feel that when we're at places where I need to get her focused, I want to call her in some way to get her attention. What do you suggest? Thank you in advance.

Dear Cindy, I have a 10 month old female GSD. We have the use of our neighbors acre size fenced yard and I take my dog over every day to let her run and exercise her. Today, she was getting into something I didn't want her messing with and when I tried to block her getting to what she wanted, she lunged at me a few times trying to bite. I literally had to kick her back to keep her from biting at me. I have seen the pack structure DVD and she has been through obedience training si...

I have a 2-year-old neutered male sheltie (neutered shortly before his second birthday, a couple months ago). He has a lot of drive and he is impatient and does everything fast and "frantic." I have been training him in agility since he was 9 months old along with obedience, i.e. heeling, come front, sit, etc. He is smart and can do things with "half a brain" and will, if allowed, do things half assed. He has been marker trained. Once I finally realized that he was being sloppy (heeling ...

Hi Cindy, I wanted to thank you for all the help on starting with the new raw diet. Caddies itching has reduced by 60% (still some chewing and scratching but not like before) and this is just the first 3 weeks. She has gone from being lethargic to full of energy and personality. When I brought her home (she was a rescue) all she did was sleep and mope around, now it's like someone changed dogs on me and gave me this loving happy active dog. Oh how I love her even more now. I...

Hello, I have several Videos you have made, and refer to them a lot for Schutzhund training I plan to get a Tracking video soon. My problem is.... My 19mth Rottweiler bites the elbow on the sleeve. I have tried the sleeve cover with the plastic on the elbow, tried standing in his way of the elbow (he goes around me), tried outing him and only slipping when he hits center. Have tried barrel sleeve also working on his bite. Maybe I haven't done one or all things long enough to establ...

Ed, I have one very quick question to ask you about. I know I can get other peoples input on your web board, but it's yours I interested in. You have been around the block many times, and I'm sure you also know a lot of other top level dog trainers that have as well, but when is the earliest a person should let their pup work with a helper? I have just about every one of your videos on this topic, and I think I know the right answer, be the reason I'm asking you is that there's a l...

Hi Cindy, I have a 17 month old GSD who I have had since he was 7 weeks old. I have trained him in protection work as well as obedience and agility. In obedience and agility he is doing fine but in protection I have huge control problems. He is extremely highly driven in the presence of a sleeve, even when the sleeve is not on a helpers arm. I have been doing a lot of control exercises in the presence of the sleeve but not rewarding with the sleeve, using a ball as the re...

Hello, I just read your article about introducing dogs. I was glad to hear that I'm proceeding in the right fashion. Just one problem I have is my resident dog (15 year old pom) Is stone deaf and has only 1 eye. My new dog is an 18 month old pom. NO commands are not heard. Any ideas for this delicate situation? They are separated. They bark hysterically at one another upon sight. Thanks. Cathy

Hello, I've been reading your articles on your website about adding a new dog to your home, but I'm still having trouble. I have two female Standard Poodles, and am thinking of introducing a new male standard into our home. My girls are 6 and 3, the new dog is about 7 months. My eldest dog, Tasha, is sweet, even-tempered... we say the younger one, Maya is a toddler... full of mischief, into everything, but so, so loving and fun! They get along sooo well... they are actually ...

I am looking for a 6-10 ft leash (preferably leather) that is not hand held. I need a leash for hiking which leaves my hands free for grasping and crawling rocks. However, my state is very strict about leash laws. Do you have any suggestions?? I saw your police officer leash, but it doesnt look very long. Please help. Thank you, Tanya

Would you tell me if the Ultra Light Weight Trainers Vest is meant to attach the dog or dogs to the vest around my waist? I have two large dogs and it is difficult for me to walk them together. If this is not the correct item, do you know of a product such as this? Thanks, Lisa

I frequent your site often and own several DVD's--thank you for providing such excellent resources! I just finished the "Your Puppy 8 weeks to 8 months" and listening to the pod cast on marker training. When teaching a new behavior, when do you suggest is best to "name" that behavior and give it a command word? For example, when teaching a "sit," are you saying sit before the dog knows the associated motion, as you guide it into position with food? Or, are you waiting until ...

Hello, Just wanted to say thanks.... I sent you an email many months ago on some behavioral problems my 2 year old jack russell had, I purchased your basic dog obedience and training a competition heeling dog DVDs and they worked like magic...he obeys each and every command and I have a lot more control over him when dealt with distractions (especially a jack russell). The only thing that kind of remained from the behavioral issue was at times he would sneak and sit/l...

Hi Cindy, Our male lab has had 8 litters he sired and 10 good ties with several females. He has not been able to tie in over a year, just slip ties. I had the vet check him and though he always had topical protection he got Anaplasmosis. His sperm count is high but the motility was about 2 %, he is being treated with doxacyline for a month. The vet thought a fever from the disease did this and he should recover. Have you ever heard of this before with these affects? After two doses...

Hello Cindy! I have a question about what supplements to give to a young Bernese Mountain Dog with hip dysplasia. (Can't ever remember how to spell that!) This is my mother's dog and she is giving her novox for pain, but I'm thinking that she needs something else besides that. What would be your recommendations? Thank you! Jael

I have been purchasing the honest dog food, "Embark." My last order was 10lbs. My 5 mos. old puppy loves it but I have a concern which brings me to a question I hope you can help me with. Is it normal for the dog to have anywhere from 3-5 bowel movements a day? These are not small, but very healthy so I wonder if she is getting the nutrition from the food before she passes it. She has no gas or anything, just what I have mentioned. Sometimes I do add ground turkey as you mentioned previou...

I am new to the raw diet and I am planning on doing more research. Please could you let me know if it would me OK for me to mix The Honest Kitchen with his kibble and if so how long can I do this. We are also on a tight budget and not sure if we can afford to just feed raw.