Most Popular Q&As

We were wanting to ask you about something. As I had said in our previous email, we had ordered some things from you (DVDs, toys, treats, bait bags), however, we are unable to receive the food treats due to customs. But we are very disappointed not to be able to get these treats - they appear to work so well and I'm sure our puppies would have loved them so much. We realize it's out of your or our power to do anything about actually getting them in our country (Australia) :-) but we we...

Hi- thanks so much for the great site, I currently am spending money with you guys and will continues to do so to support a great resource. I know you get tons of questions and I have read through hours of the site on multiple occasions. I have a just turned 2 year old GSD male, not perfectly trained by any means but I am working on it hard. I really want to get 1 thing under control and its the pulling on leash. My dog will come when called, stay forever, sit, down all that on command an...

Hi, Let me say that I think your website is wonderful and full of great information. I have a problem with my 6-month old female Doberman and wasn't sure which DVDs and items to purchase for correction. My (dog's) problem is this: I have seen subtle signs of what I think is dominance around the house, but by all means not aggressive. We've been training her and she usually does OK - that's why I want to buy your training DVD. She needs correction big-time. She hasn't real...

Dear Cindy, How can I train an adult dog that it's Ok to leave his property? I have a 5 year old Rottweiler that refuses to leave our property. I have tried enticing him to come with me using food and toys. He'll have none of it! He just panics and bolts for home. When I hold him back he almost strangles himself on his collar. This makes vet appointments almost impossible. Any suggestions? Thank you, Fany

Cindy, What are your best drive building toys and are they different than your training toys. I don't like those tugs with a loop on one end because my dog tends to get to close to my hand. I like something that gives more space and distinction from my hand, like a ball on a rope. But this isn't a good drive building toy is it? What do you recommend ? Thanks a lot, Roz Memphis

Hi Ed: Dean Campbell here - long time since I talked to you. I bought Kato vom Leerburg from you years ago was a great dog. Thanks. Anyway, my wife has a 13 month old working line GSD male. She is using Michael Ellis approach to dog training, got the 1st DVD from you, will get the second when released. She want to get some tug toys to use with that training, do know what tugs Michael or you would suggest for his style of training. She is planning to attend a tw...

I have an 8 months old American Staffordshire Terrier... He knows basic obedience (sit, down, beg, stay) but I don't really know how to make him release the Frisbee once he got it? I have tried to throw one Frisbee while keeping another one with me to lure him to me. Once he got to me he released the one he just got to get the one with me and then I would throw the other one... This does not seem to be working. What is the best way to teach a dog to bring things to you and 'Aus' th...

Just watched the DVD, great stuff! Already notice a HUGE improvement in my dogs "out." One question, if you get to the point where you say "yes" and they aren't that interested, does that mean you "outplayed them" with it? Meaning, I should have stopped the game much sooner? Thank you.

Hi Cindy, I have a semi-stupid question for you. I can also ask next week but it is really bothering me. It has to do with the power of playing tug. I am a little stuck. Both my dogs like to play tug but they like other toys a little better. I know I can manipulate what they play with. On a normal day I will do a couple marker training session for behaviors with food and that is all fine. During separate sessions I use the tug working on having them drive it back to me. So i...

Hi, I looked through your Q and A and did not find the exact answer I am looking for. I will try to be quick. I have a 4 month old aussie/BC cross who I will be training for agility (and life skills in general). Right now we are just playing. She is not overly driven but does enjoy tugging, etc. The problem... and I do not really see it so much of a problem but she really prefers tugging on the sleeves of my sweatshirts over any toy that we play with. I tried using a glove.....

My patrol dog will down next to me, however, when I try to down him from a distance (like down a long hallway or while recall or when he's a few feet from me etc.) he runs to my side and just looks at me like a big kid and at times barks at me. He's never liked to down since I got him. It took good hard corrections to get him to lay down for me (when I first got him 7 months ago). Again its only a problem when he's in drive and searching away from me. If you get a chance to give a little ...

I am a police officer in South Carolina. I am in the early stages of training my K-9 with the assistance of an experienced K-9 handler. My question is, can I work my dog on the street before he is certified by a certified instructor. The reason I ask is I was told the state of SC does not require the dog to be certified. Also, could you email me a list of German commands for training my younger 4 month old pup. Thanks, PFC. Gerrald

I'm a police officer new to the K-9 unit with a new dog. I am having difficulty in getting my dog to feel comfortable in buildings, although it would be nice to say I'm still in patrol school, unfortunately I'm on patrol with a "work in progress" in this area. I am seeking all the help I can get; references, articles, etc. please. I have watched your tracking videos and found them to be very informative. I work in urban areas and have doubts as to a dog's ability under adverse conditions;...

I was hoping you would be able to give me some advice. I would like to buy from your website a Stainless Steel Prong Collar for my 14 month old female Doberman. I have measured her neck and it is 13" but that is snug. I was going to purchase the Small Prong (up to 13") but was a bit concerned that I would then not have any flexibility if it was too small. I then thought about the Medium prong (up to 19") but was then concerned that it still might be to big even after taking all the links out....

Thanks for your advice on the prong collar. We have also purchased a couple of dominant dog collars from your web site at different sizes but they all seem to keep slipping down when we use it. Could you suggest a size that would best fit a female doberman aged 15 months? Kind Regards, Caroline

I bought a prong collar from Petsmart a long time ago. I am just now starting to try and learn to use it since Levi is having so much attitude with other dogs. By the time I take the links out to get a snug fit around the upper neck. There are only a about 6 links left fitting the dog primarily on one side of his neck. I can't believe this is a correct fit and even with that being said it still won't stay up on the neck, it always falls down. I'm trying to decide which collar to buy from...

I am about to get a 12 week old Cardigan Welsh Corgi male. Would the micro prong collar be correct for this breed, and then just add prongs as he grows? I want to start him out with it and use it gently rather than start with something else and switch. Thank you for the information. Mary

I own a stainless steel medium prong (from Leerburg). My shepard/ basenji mix is now grown and she is definitely between links as sizing goes. If I remove the link to allow the collar to sit high, it is so tight I can not fit even a half of a pinkie finger between the prong and neck, even with effort. If I leave it, it is definitely too loose and does nothing for control, sliding around. I would like to know if you have a link that is a half-size, or perhaps a link for the small collar mi...

I read thru your site and still have a question. Must I use the dominant collar with the pronged collar, or will a martingale collar suffice? I MUST secure a prong ...I have a lower back injury that is aggravated immensely by pulling behavior (I am still not able to walk my three dogs as I am on the mend--thank goodness I have a large yard and dogs who delight in running thru it for exercise). I have a 35 lb Shiba Inu who is quite strong. I need to train him not to pu...

Hello, I have a 5 year old ..3 lb. 4 oz Yorkshire Terrier. Can you recommend a training collar for this size dog please? Thank you, Forrest