Behavior Problems Q&As

May 23, 2011

Our boxers had puppies in an accidental breeding. We would like to keep one but are worried about adding a 3rd dog. Do you think the age differences will work?

Hi, First, let me say that your website has been a godsend to me and my family. Without you, I doubt I would have survived the last 8 weeks. A little background. My hubby and I love the boxer breed. We got our 1st boxer in 1996, and added a rescue boxer to the mix in 1997. Since then, we have had 5 boxers over the years. We lost our 1st female at 3.5 to a horrible accident, and from that point on, we have always crated our dogs when we are not home. Our rescue lived to be an old man a...
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May 23, 2011

Our dog is aggressive to other dogs and people. We enrolled her in obedience classes but it doesn’t help!

Hello, My name is Jennifer and I own an Aussie Mix that we adopted last June. She is very aggressive toward other dogs and people (i.e. nipping at peoples heels, showing teeth). We have enrolled her in obedience already but that dosent seem to help. Please help! Jennifer
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May 23, 2011

My 9 month old dog is marking everywhere and chews up my shoes. I’m thinking of neutering him to fix this, do you have any suggestions?

Dear Sir, I have used your training videos and advice to start training my doberman who is now 9 months old. We rescued him and had a lot of issue but have worked through most of them. I tried search for a couple of questions I have on the forum but couldn't find the answers for the following questions. The dog has started marking his territory. Bad thing is he thinks that he gets to urinate on company when they come over and he almost did it to my son. I was thinking of having ...
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May 23, 2011

We have two dogs that like to rough house to the point that everything becomes destructive. How do we best control them without kenneling them one at a time?

Hi, I have been training dogs for over 40 years, both in obedience and in conformation for show and now I'm stumped. We have two dogs, a 7 1/2 year old Bullmastiff male and a 10 1/2 month old Mastiff male. Both dogs are still intact. The older one was recently diagnosed with first stage renal disease and neutering is not an option. The younger one is a very good show prospect so neutering him is also not an option. Neither one have ever been used as a stud dog. The older dog was trained...
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May 23, 2011

When we go to correct our dog, he backs into a corner, bares his teeth, and snarls at you while we are correcting him. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help my dog with this.

I have a 9-10 month old beagle/pitt mix that I had rescued from the pound. He is a smart and fantastic dog, he is trained, and only eats up little things when were gone (we're trying to stop that). The real problem is after we find out he did it. We will go to correct him, and he backs into a corner, bares his teeth, and snarls at you while we are correcting him. This is the only time he showed any sort of aggression, until yesterday. He was sitting on the couch with my mother and when she we...
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May 23, 2011

We’ve moved twice in the last several months and one of our dogs has gone awry. She’s lunging at our other dog when she tries to approach me. This is only when I am working on the computer.

Hi Cindy, We've had a period of stress and instability the past 3-4 months... Having moved 2x in this span of time, our Border Collie mutt has gone awry. We just moved into a 2 bedroom apartment about 4 weeks ago. Initially it was great and our 2 dogs seemed happy and played together like normal. It's a nice quiet location too. This week I also started taking them for walks daily. We have a golden that is the alpha female of the two, both female, and they have been best buds since bring...
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May 23, 2011

We rescued a 2-year-old male Dachshund. He adores me, but is afraid of my husband. He has obvious issues with men and we can tell he was abused. Do you have any advice for us?

I hope you can help us. We rescued a 2 year old male dachshund a couple of months ago. He adores me, but is afraid of my husband. He has obvious issues with men. (We first realized it when my husband put his belt on in front of the dog, the dog howled, ran under the bed and barked). My husband says it's like our dog is a veteran with battle issues. He will let my husband pet him when I'm close though he seems a little tense. When I'm not around the dog paces until he's exhausted then waits at...
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May 23, 2011

My 7 month old dog seems to be testing me a lot lately and I usually show him who's by boss by pinning him to the ground. I need specific advice on how to deal with this.

I have a male Rottweiler who is seven months old. I have started obedience training him since eight weeks old; for the most part he is well behaved and knows the basic commands. He seems to be testing me a lot lately and I usually show him who's by boss by pinning him to the ground by the scruff near is muzzle as well as firm pinching. I usually get a small whine and a submission after some time. I have your video on basic dog training and another on dealing with dominant and aggressive dogs;...
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May 23, 2011

I just adopted a new 9 month old GSD, and I wonder if it’s too late to do the groundwork you have on your website?

Hello, My family and I adopted a 9 month old GSD yesterday, though I didn't find your website until tonight. About him, I don't think he is a dominate dog. When we first met him he came up with his head down and ears flat to my hand. Since he's been here he does the same thing. My question is.... is it too late to start ground work/pack structure training if we've pretty much did the opposite of everything that was suggested? I've tried to do basic obedience training before I found ...
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May 23, 2011

During the day, while I'm at work, where should I put the dog?

I bought your establishing your role as pack leader DVD and have a question. During the day, while I'm at work, where should I put the dog? I teach third grade so I don't get a lunch break where I get to leave, so I couldn't take him out of the crate to let him go out and two days a week I do after school tutoring so I'm gone for ten hours. I can put him on a tie-out in the yard or there is a small fenced-in pen, it's about 12x12 area, I'm just not positive he wouldn't try to dig out since...
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May 20, 2011

My young dog is trying to bite me if I block her from having something that she wants. I don’t use a long line anymore because she gets tangled in it, what should I do?

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 since the ...
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May 20, 2011

My dog went missing for two weeks. Now that she is back, she seems afraid. What do I do?

While I was at work the ups person made a delivery and did not shut my door all the way. My 8 month old GSD got out and she was gone for about 2 weeks. Before she left she has always been upbeat not a coward at all she is from working bloodlines so she has always been high strong dog. I got her to herd, protection work. Then I had put up signs for her and had her name out there suddenly I was out in my yard as she comes crawling up. Usually I had to brace myself with Berlyn seeing me but s...
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May 20, 2011

My dog is a dream to be around except when she wants to meet another dog, what can I do? She’s not being aggressive, just enthusiastic.

I'm so hoping you will read this and respond :) I just ordered your e-collar DVD and looking forward to learning correct training methods with the e-collar. I have a 15 month old Bernese Mountain Dog who is very dog reactive, not aggressive just VERY enthusiastic to meet other dogs, any dogs. She has been well socialized starting at 11 weeks old and this problem persists. We have gone to classes also and she still acts like she's never met a dog in her life! The main problem is when she...
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May 20, 2011

My doberman hovers and growls over anything she has in her crate. What should I do?

Thank you so much for all your help. I wish I had known about you sooner. We are doing the Pack Structure DVD. We have a 3 year old male and a 5 month old. Is this going to set them back in any way on the things we have worked with them on? Do I need to do this with my 5 month old also? I have started, I hope I have not messed up. How do I know when they are crate submissive? I trust what you say and am doing things the way you say, but it sure is hard not to talk and to love on your dogs....
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May 20, 2011

My dog is extremely skittish, we kept him isolated for the first 5 months of his life and he’s afraid of everything. What can we do?

Hi Cindy, I've gone over your website many times and I've learned a lot from it. I have some questions in regards to my 1 year old intact male Shiba Inu. My boyfriend and I got him from a breeder last year when he was 10 weeks old. Unfortunately we didn't do enough research. The breeder only brought the sire out to meet us and told us that the mother was too skittish to take out. We bought the puppy anyway. She had warned us not to bring the puppy out anywhere where another dog might be be...
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May 20, 2011

Our 13 month, very dominate male GSD, has decided he doesn't like it when my husband or 17 year old son laugh. Do I need to be concerned about this? Please help.

Hi Cindy, It has been awhile since I have wrote, but I have another question as we have developed a bit of a new problem. Murphy, our 13 month, very dominate male GSD, has decided he doesn't like it when my husband or 17 year old son laugh. He can be in another room, sound asleep and when one of them laugh, he will come running out barking at them--like he is yelling at them. He doesn't attack them or anything, but he makes it well known that he doesn't like it and would prefer they quit. ...
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May 20, 2011

Do I need to treat my 3 dogs like they are each a new dog to the pack in order to fix my pack issues?

Ed, I have read tons of your articles and will watch the DVDs, but I need to know right away if I need to treat my 3 dogs like they are each a new dog to the pack in order to fix my pack issues. I read the groundwork articles, but you seem to specifically talk about when you get a new dog and I need to fix problems with the three I already have. I couldn't find any articles about how to begin fixing the mess I am already in. I have a 12 yo neutered Lab/Pit Bull, a 6 yo spayed Pit Bull, and...
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May 20, 2011

My dog marks constantly, 2 to four or five times daily, all over the house. What can I do?

Help! My wife is ready to kick myself and my 8yr old Schnauzer out. He marks constantly, 2 to four or five times daily, all over the house. We have 2 females in the house, one spayed one not. What can I do??? Larry
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May 20, 2011

My dog whines all the time. Is it just her or am I missing something?

Kind of a silly question since we have had several litters of gs dogs but our 4 year female puzzles me. Likes people, other dogs no problems in particular. She has been to the vet, has had one small litter, gorgeous pups, wrestles with the male, good appetite-but she whines all the time. Vet check ok whines when you are outside, whines when you bring her in, it's like there is something wrong and I don't see it or something in her personality I just don't understand. Is it just her or am I mi...
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May 20, 2011

As a new owner/trainer, I feel like I'm missing some tools to optimize my 'boy's' behavior - tools that perhaps my trainers have not recognized that I need. Can you help me with him?

Hello, Let me give you some background first: 11 mo. 3 week old intact male, Belgian Tervuren Has been in training (mostly obedience; now starting rally) since 12 weeks old. Training at a local all-volunteer - established - training club This is my first dog - and I'm wanting to try many sports with him following conformation finishing. "Wyatt" has extreme prey drive and is VERY food driven. My continuing problem is the collar situation in conjunction with training my 'alpha' mal...
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