Dog Sports Q&As

I am not sure when to release the puppy tug or puppy sleeve after my dog counters.

Hi, I have a 4 month old (on Nov 1st) boxer puppy, Judah, who has just completed puppy kindergarten and is about to begin beginner obedience at my local dog training facility. He's doing exceptionally well in his general behavior as well as obedience, however in reading through some of your articles, you speak about a dog working obedience with drive instead of compulsion. You defined working with compulsion as a dog who appears to at best tolerate obedience training. I see so many...

Hi Ed, I have a quick question for you regarding defensive drive. When I purchased my GSD thru my breeder I planned on doing Schutzhund or Protection work thru them. We started obedience and have done really well at it. At about 7 months one of the protection helpers took us aside to "check his nerves" and basically brought out his defense. He did this for about an hour off and on by peaking around a corner and trying to get closer while Dakota barked louder or lunged at him. ...

I watched the DVD several times and things are slowly beginning to soak in. One thing that I am confused about is what is causing the dogs to go for the bite during the bark and hold. Is the handler giving the command or is the dog simply taking the sleeve when its presented.

Hi Mr Frawley, I have read your website extensively and purchased several of your videos (puppy bite work, obedience, drive & focus, starting defensive work and the finished protection dog. I have a question that I need your help with that I have not been able to find the answer on my own research. Background... I have a 16 month old intact male Shepherd from Czech lines. Very high prey drive and started nicely in defense. Well developed bite. Does excellent in civil ...

Hello, I have several Videos you have made, and refer to them a lot for Schutzhund training I plan to get a Tracking video soon. My problem is.... My 19mth Rottweiler bites the elbow on the sleeve. I have tried the sleeve cover with the plastic on the elbow, tried standing in his way of the elbow (he goes around me), tried outing him and only slipping when he hits center. Have tried barrel sleeve also working on his bite. Maybe I haven't done one or all things long enough to establ...

I am writing to seek your opinion about whether, in your experience, a properly trained and handled personal protection dog can be an effective deterrent against an aggressive stalker. First, let me say that I don't want to impose on your professional time. I would be happy to pay you for a formal consultation over the phone. I am contacting you because you have consistently been suggested as a knowledgeable resource by trainers and law enforcement officers in my area. Also, I have...

My pup will play with her tug like crazy at home. When I take her to the training field or down the street she ignores it. What should I do?

My name is John and I belong to a French Ring club here in California and our club decoy says that he trains all his dogs in Fight Drive. Well, after I purchased your tape on Fight Drive (Bark and Hold for Police Service Dogs) I'm wondering if his dogs are just playing a mean game of tug of war, because as soon as the decoy works the dogs they come right up to him and he pets them and gives them love. He says that they are working in Fight Drive, but it does not look like the dogs really look...

I have many of your videos, but as I watch the police and personal protection videos I notice that you don't use an ?out? command on the hidden sleeve, but you just pull the dog off. Why don't you use an ?out? command on the hidden sleeve? Thanks again......... Sincerely, John

Hi Cindy: I had my 3 year old German Shepherd female hips xrayed. She has her CGC and BH in the fall I want to go for her Schutzhund 1. I also have her in SAR 6 months training. At the trainer's request she suggested to have my dogs hips xrayed. They were not good. I will have her spayed of course. I was very disappointed because her whole line parents grandparents were all good. My question is do I have to quit Schutzhund? She does very well on the jumps and a frame so I could stop traini...

I am having a problem getting my dog to sit straight in front of me after he returns with the dumb bell. What can I do?

Can I add drive to my dog?

Hi, Do you have a DVD on Czech dog commands? Thanks, Dawn

Dear Cindy, One month ago I had to put down my male super GSD at only 4 years old. His littermates sister has always taken a backseat role. I believe she is now over her grieving and I'm wondering if she'll ever step up to the plate? She is a very kind dog but doesn't quite get the idea of playing fetch, hide and seek, frisbee catching, etc. She watched the male do everything. I give her a ton of time walking,etc. How long will it take for her to take the alpha role, if ever...

I have a 7 month old GSD with loads of prey drive and is also displaying defense drive already. Training is going really well except for one area: Grip! I have inadvertently allowed him to have a chewy grip by throwing a ball for him as a reward during other types of training and allowing him to run back to me carrying the ball to commence a game of tug. During this run back to me he has been mouthing the ball, without me taking much notice and now that I want to do grip training I...

Hi, I have a 7 month old German Shepard and I messed up some of his training. I just watched the building drive DVD and realized that it goes against everything I have done so far playing with my dog. His mother was a highly energetic ball nut, and none of the kids would play with her because she would nip at the toy. I could tell the pup had a high prey drive and did not want issues with the kids. I taught him to NEVER touch a toy in my hands and once retrieved, to drop it ...

Hi Cindy, My name is Annette. I recently got a 8 week old ( now 14 weeks ) Doberman pup. I plan on doing schutzhund with her. I am brand new to schutzhund. I became interested in the sport after watching a few trials and seeing a couple videos of her mother doing protection work. The breeder had the pups evacuated before she sent them to their new homes, to make sure the right pup would be going to the right homes, as some new owners wanted ob and two of us wanted working pu...

I have a question concerning your video on building drive and focus. I was watching your video on electronic collar training and it mentions using this video. I was reading about it on your web site and it sounds like it is meant for younger dogs. My dog is almost 2 1/2 yrs. old. I have worked with him since I brought him home as a 7 1/2 wk old pup and he is an amazing family pet. By the way, he's a neutered male Rotty. I've owned Rotty's exclusively for the last 25 years and love ...

Hello, I have a 13 month old female GSD and I belong to a local Schutzhund club, recently they started obedience class with the younger dogs. I have your video on Basic Obedience and Building Drive and Focus and many more, my problem is she is distracted in the obedience class by other dogs, at home and alone her drive and focus is great. In your video Basic Obedience you say you don't care for these classes because they are crank and pull, should I discontinue these classes and work more on ...