Behavior Problems Q&As

Hi I have a question, I have a 3 year old pure bred Intact female German Shepherd that I just got in December 2008 well at first she seen calm and easy to train. She is pretty smart with learning but then later on I notice she has prey drive. Well her prey drives got stronger I don't want to re home her into a family home or people who just don't know what to do or how to handle her. She was $XXXX and now I feel like I can't rehome her with that price. I am waiting on her registered papers to...

Cindy, My 12 month old female, German Shepherd, Bella, does not seem to like to be pet. In fact, she does not seem to like to be touched at all--this includes grooming. As a puppy, whenever I tried to pet her she would turn and nip at my hands. I would always tell her no and thought that she would grow out of it. She hasn't. I have found that after a good walk she will allow me to brush her without it turning into a wrestling match although I still have to use a lot of treats. I found o...

Dear Cindy, Thanks so much for all your good answers for me concerning my adult dog and puppy who is now 8 months old. I have just finished for the first time the Dominant Dog DVD and it was so helpful--especially differentiating between corrections; for disobedience and also for inappropriate pack behavior (that was/is most of my puppy's problem). My main question right now is; last week she was spayed and is doing really well not bothering her stitches. Next Thursday we go to have the...

Cindy, Thanks for doing this Q&A in the newsletter, it's a great adjunct to the web site, where I've learned a lot. There's always more to learn about working with dogs. We have a pack, consisting of my husband Brian and me and four dogs: Golden Retriever Spenser (9, neutered M); and three European show-line GSDs: Bonnie (9, F spayed at 7), Kaja (19 months, F intact so far), and 'Pollo (19 weeks, M intact). Brian and I were already doing most of your 'pack structure' program even before...

Mr. Frawley, I recently found your web site and would like to ask you a question for some help. I have a Boxer and an American Bull Dog that occasionally fight and I'm not sure why. My Bull Dog is the aggressor and has caused damage to my Boxer, nothing serious but I feel like it may get worse. Of course I love both my dogs and don't want to get rid of one or the other, but what can I do for these dogs? Thank you very much, Rick

Good morning. I have read at least 20 articles that you have written and I finally got fed up when I read the ones on introducing a new dog.... Although what you say "can happen" I think you fail to realize that 80% of all dog owners do not have the time, knowledge or inclination to follow your very restrictive training rules. I have personally had 7 dogs in my career and I have always brought a second puppy into the home without any incident. I am also a member of a lot of dog owners groups ...

Hi! I so enjoy reading your newsletters and have found much help from your web site, both the articles and the DVDs! I have the Basic Obedience Training Video as well as the Dealing with Dominant Aggressive dogs (they have been very helpful, thank you!). I have tried to figure out what is going on between two of my threes dogs but can not figure out if I am causing the issue and thought you might be able to give me a few ideas and point me in the right direction? Background- 3 dogs; 160lbs...

Hi, I am confused about how to handle this. I have a 2 yr old GSD (90lbs). He has very very high prey drive and is very dominant. There is no question that I am pack leader. (He waits for me on stairs, in and out of doors, waits for food, he is obedience trained, etc). When I am home he tries to follow me everywhere and always wants to be with me. When I am NOT home he will sit at the top of the stairs in front of my room and wait. During this time, he WILL listen to everyone in the family...

I have a 3 year old male GSD. Great, obedient, family pet. Most of the training I put him through was prior to coming across your fantastic web site and knowledge base. With that said, I'm happy and he seems happy with how everything has turned out. He is, however, overly friendly with strangers. I have read some of your training on different subjects and was wondering if you can guide me to one of your DVDs or articles on how to keep him from being so overly friendly with strangers. Basicall...

Hi, I just watched your DVD on Establishing Pack Structure with the Family Pet -- and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have 3 collies - two were raised to be guide dogs, and many of their training methods were very similar to yours. Both collies "flunked out" and I was able to adopt them. The third is a rescue dog that I adopted last year. She is now 11. I have been doing collie rescue for a few years and actually bought your DVD to learn methods for my foster homes to help them when they add a...

Dear Ed and Cindy, Thank you for providing such a large amount of information regarding dog training on your web site It is a wonderful resource that is much appreciated. I have also watched your Puppy Training video, and my husband and I are trying to follow the techniques you presented. I'm writing because I'm a little confused about the advice you have given regarding dogs who are timid with strangers on your web site and in your video. In some cases, your advice is to work with the dog...

I am the proud owner of an eight month old black and tan Doberman, He is one of my own puppies. I have raised him from day one and that is the problem. I chose to keep him and to sell the other pups along with the mother. Well that was the first problem. I have babied him entirely too much. He has great drive with no understanding of punishment. His drive is to get to me. He has separation anxiety, jumps up, climbs fences, gobbles food, and has no manners. I have no patience with an unruly do...

Hi, Sorry to bother you, but I have one question. How do I find out if my 2 German Shepherds see me as the pack leader? I've had them for 4 years now since they were 5 weeks old and immediately started training when they were old enough; Schutzhund, search. I sometimes get a feeling that they don't see me as the pack leader. I saw your sample video on pack leadership with the puppies and the bone. They are not aggressive towards people taking they're food away, but sometimes they don't lis...

I have a problem that I'm not sure what direction I should go in here. I have a 4 year old GSD that I brought into our home at 10 weeks old. We placed him in a new home a few months ago, at the time his new owner picked him up he was extremely obedient, and very responsive, and had an excellent temperament. The person that took him, took on a new job and no longer had the time to spend with him. So "Jackson" is now back in my home with my family. I have 4 children, 11, 8, 7, and 18 months. ...

I purchased "Your Puppy 8 Weeks" DVD. Very informative. During our life time my 4 children and myself have had an assortment of dogs. I just purchased a Doberman puppy in June of this year. This is the first Doberman that we have ever owned. I have had German Shepherds, Labradors, Great Danes, Rotts, also little dogs. My question to you is that my Doberman has, (I call it respect for "my" space, we raise and train horses. This is a must with horses.) If I am walking, she is right there. O...

Good Morning, I love your site. It is both comprehensive and straight forward. That said, please don't post me on Dumb and Dumber. I have a Maltese x Japanese Chin who is 8 months. I have worked very hard to be the pack leader from day one. As he is not a working breed (and his only job is to make me happy by obeying and following my rules), I do not expect the things as one would expect of a large working breed. He is "spoiled" in that he comes to work with me everyday, is walked twice...

Hi, I recently added a third dog to my household. I wanted to ask a few questions about pack leaders. I will be purchasing your video for additional help. I watched your video on the web with the puppies. I was amazed at how such young dogs try to establish rank. Now that I have three dogs I really want to continue to maintain my position as pack leader. I know the importance of it. I think I am doing a decent job, but there are things I can improve on. So my first question is, my ...

I've been watching your video on establishing pack order in the family and I recall you mentioned when a dog raises its front paw and places it on you; I forget the meaning. This seems like a statement of superiority to me, but I think you mentioned it is actually one of submission. Should I allow my dog to do this? Please explain... Thanks Christine

Good Morning and thank you for sharing your philosophy and training methods so readily through web articles and DVDs. We have purchased 3 of your videos instituting the Pack Structure method at present with our 6 mo old Papillion/Pomeranian. From 3 mo (age we brought him to our home) we put him in a crate at night, which he accepted quickly. We are into Day Two of all day crate confinement and he is showing improvement in that he is screaming less and less. Our Q is: Where do we keep the crat...

Hi Cindy, The no bark collar worked immediately, in some way, until I got the level adjusted. But by the next two days, it's been so quiet and calm here. I wish I had this knowledge 3 years ago when I first got the dog. Also, the 'no contact' in establishing pack rule has made our living so much better for me and Brody. Brody seems to understand without me saying anything. And, the difference was almost immediate! The dog is a lot smarter than we give credit for. We, humans, are a ...