Most Popular Q&As

I have a 7 month old Labrador puppy. He is doing very well on most obedience and is comfortable loose leash walking in the neighborhood as well as dog friendly stores. My back yard has a chain link fence and I like to leave my back door open when the weather is nice. My pup will go in and out and is used to one of my neighbors who is out all the time. When any other neighbors come out or that same neighbor is in their front yard and he is alone in the yard he will sometimes bark and sprint ba...

Hi Cindy. I hope this question makes sense. I am looking for a little guidance on how to use what I've learned in Michael Ellis's e-collar course. I think I understand his process of introducing it: verbal command, followed by stim+leash pressure, escape upon compliance. However, I haven't really used leash pressure to teach any of the behaviors ME suggests using leash+e-collar for: foot targets, down, back. We taught those with luring and shaping only. I do use a prong and leash pressure for...

Hello Cindy, I really need your help! I own a 2-year-old GSD with a great pedigree and I'm not able to get his attention on the club field only. He works for me perfectly anywhere in public. I also purchased Forrest Micke's Engagement Skills foundation which he mastered just fine and I still continue on a daily routine. What worked in the past was only a deflated big ball, but a workshop trainer from Finland by name of Marko told me to put it away and get back to engagement, which I di...

Dear Cindy, This might have been obvious to some, but I missed it watching the "8 Week" stream. The way to teach a dog their name and "charging the mark" seems to be the exact same process. If they differ, how do they differ? Should you do one before the other? Can it be done around the same time? Do they get combined at some point? Hopefully, you can provide a little clarity. Thank you

I am returning to training an older pet dog that I had stopped training due to work and personal difficulties. He is 13 years old and does not seem to want to play tug outdoors anymore. He will occasionally bring me a tug toy if I leave it on the ground in our room but he built a lot of bad habits playing informal games of tug with my mother while I was away. Is it too much to expect of this older dog that he play tug with me? He acts like he has been beaten when I show him a tug toy but ...

What is a good whistle for recall? For the French Ring?

Hello Cindy, I have a year-old German Shepherd. I understand the Continuous, then Variable, then Random Reward System. I have been using the marker training with her. I am finally at the Random Reward System with the Basic Commands sit, down, heel, here, stay, wait, etc... But want to start teaching some new commands like Flip Spin into the heeling position. Do I start over with the continuous reward system with the new commands and keep the Random Reward System for the known command...

Can I use an E-collar to teach the out while playing tug? What would be the side effects?

I’m training a German Shepherd. I am a quadriplegic in a wheelchair. I can’t use my arms or legs but I do have a power wheelchair so I can move a little bit. I can’t run from the dog and feed him with my hand. What I do is spit treats to him. It makes for a great eye Contact but after I give him the first treat, he checks out until I call him back for another command. If I spit a treat at him and he catches it then I can give him another one and he doesn’t check out. But once we miss ...

Hi Cindy. I received the New Style Leerburg agitation harness. What a beautiful harness. Thanks. Which that said….do you have an article on how to properly “fit” the harness?

Hi, I have the following problem. My dog (2yr old Malinois) loves playing tug, biting wedges and arms and bites perfectly center but as soon as I let go she starts munching her way to one side and biting the handle or the corners of the wedge. How can I train her to keep it center and stop biting into the handles or corners or in case of the arm sticking her muzzle into it and biting the grab handle? Thank you for your time and all the best!

Two Questions: !). What do you do to keep your dog's teeth clean? 2). I have a 2 y/o Belgian Malinois. When should I have his teeth cleaned by my Vet? What age?

I have a 7-month-old mal/dutch shepherd puppy and I am just starting to put his behaviors on cue. Up to this point, he looks really good being lured into position and I am about 90% happy with the positions he is ending up in. We are both also having a ton of fun with a lot of engagement. Previously in my routines, we have worked through several different positions/behaviors which seems to keep him more engaged. Lately, I have limited the sessions to one behavior per session and have begun to...

I am considering purchasing the top-matic training equipment. How careful do I have to be with the magnets as far as getting near electronic items? Is there a suggested range? Do they come in a case that allows them to be kept without damaging outside items? Can they damage a car computer if they are in the vehicle? Thx

Hello, I recently started in competitive obedience training with my 5 year old Doberman. He is intact and has never been a problem other than being a very high energy dog. I am very intune with him, watch his every move esp. when we're out and about. He listens very well inhouse and while off leash on our runs through the woods. My problem is that he was doing very well in obedience class until he encountered a female coming in season. His nose was on the mats and being 95 lbs, I could ha...

My question concerns Honest Kitchen Preference - what is your opinion on alfalfa? Preference seems to contain alot of alfalfa and I have heard good things and bad things about alfalfa use in dogs. Is the high amount of alfalfa that is in Preference ok to feed on a daily basis? Thank you!

Hi Cindy, I'm looking for an easy on, adjustable Fly Ball harness with a handle. The one I saw yesterday on a dog was very nice. The handle was leather. Said it came from your company. I have a small standard poodle. Thank you.

Will this Non-Spill bowl work for flat faced breeds, such as my Boston Terriers? The problem I have is that when they drink water their chin gets wet and they drip water all over! I'd love to eliminate this mess, but I'm not sure if it would work in this situation. Please let me know it you have any feedback from any other flat faced breeds. Thanks, Linda

I have an eight week old male brussels and have noticed orange seed like items in his bedding every morning for the past 4 days. He has been wormed at 3 weeks and I haven't noticed him with any since but these "seeds" are very perplexing. What are they?

Hello Cindy, I am writing to you as I know you are one of the top places to ask questions. I do not have a question but an answer in regard to ear implants. I have a super drive GSD, which I imported. I was also told he had weak ears, and all the photos showed his ears standing, but a bit wavy. When I picked him up and the airport, it turned out the dogs ears were floppy, not weak. While working and having his attention, they would go up, but not remain up at all times. I decided to in...