Behavior Problems Q&As

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...

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...

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;...

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 ...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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. ...

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...

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

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...

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...

Hello, I'm hoping you can answer what I hope to be a very easy question. I have been searching the internet for weeks trying to find a good training video. I happened on your site and feel that the answer is on here but I am so totally confused at this point from all the information and opinions I have read it is all becoming a jumble. First a little about my dog. She is an 18 month old pit bull we just got about a month ago from a couple who was splitting up and neither one of them cou...

Hi Cindy, I have a 9 month old female Norfolk Terrier. I am working with a trainer now but he is out of town and I need to understand what is going on. Here is the scenario. A little background. I have behavioral problems with my pup. She will bark at the TV relentlessly, sometimes she does it when there are loud noises but sometimes just because. She will lunge and bark at bikes and cars etc. SHE DOES NOT DO THESE THINGS WHEN MY TRAINER IS OVER FOR A LESSON - She is a perfect lit...

Hey there, I have a 9 month old neutered GSD, who already weighs 85 lbs (he is not over weight, still see contour and vet says he's just big). We have used your videos about pack structure and basic obedience. We try to follow all the rules all the time. He waits before going through door ways or gates, waits for his food at at sit. He knows sit, stay, come, down. Just when I think we can let him off leash (using prong collar) in the house, he turns in to an absolute beast. He jumps on all...

Hi Cindy, I hope you can help me with an issue. I have a 4 year old American Staffordshire Terrier who has her TDI and CGC. She is a rescue that I got at 10 months old and when I got her I was advised the rescue group used to let her play with the young dogs and puppies, because she was soft with them. My brother and his girlfriend brought home a male pup from the HSUS about 8 months ago. The pup (Harvey) was about 4 weeks old and already neutered when they brought him home, so he defi...

Good Morning, I have been reading information on your web site. Thank you, it is very informational. We have a puppy, not by choice, but we love him just the same. He is a bull terrier, miniature as the vet said he will only be another 10 lbs. He has become the flying monkey from hell!! My older pit bull mix (9 yrs) has mothered him since he was 6 weeks. So we have adjusted to him. We kennel at night and when we are away from home. We muzzle for biting and rough bite playing. This has work...