Obedience Q&As

Hi Cindy, I watched the video with you and Rush and really liked the idea of exercising him with the bike. I have a GSD that weighs 98 pounds, is very fit and has high prey drive. In your experience, do you think this will be a major concern if I were to try this form of exercise? Have any of your dogs lunged and pulled the bike over when they saw a rabbit, fox, deer, etc.? My dog has done intermediate level obedience, knows "attention heeling" and is generally good on leash but the ani...

Hi Cindy, Just wondering if you could help me out with a quick question? I am bringing home my new Malinois pup next week, she will be trained in schutzhund. I have read through your all of the eBooks on your website and also have quite a few of the DVDs. I understand that I should not allow strangers interact with or pet my pup, also that she should learn to hold a neutral value towards them. One thing I am confused about though is if (and how) the puppy should be allowed to in...

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Frawley, Firstly I would like to give my thanks for your website. The free articles and videos have been an immense help in training myself and my dog. I was clueless about training dogs, and my dog took full advantage of my weakness in that area. After reading your Q & A sections and your training videos, I immediately set down rules and began to enforce them. I noticed a significant change even after the first day and the improvement since then has been nothing short of...

Dear Cindy, I feel hopeless. I have a 5 year old Dobe that is completely disengaged in me when we show/match and most of the time when I train if he can help it. I'm willing to do the time to retrain but there is so much information out there, I just don't know where to start. Where would you suggest. I'll try anything. I'm tired of him avoiding me. I know it's due to my stress in the ring partially but no more excuses. If I want to be a great trainer, I need solutions. Thank you so much f...

Good afternoon Cindy, Looking for any tips on quicker sits and downs. I have a shepherd and he was doing great but has come to be more sluggish and don't know why. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Ted

My dog is now 10 months old and her one ear is still flopping, I keep re-taping her ear but I'm about ready to give up. Is it to late for her?

Hi Cindy, We have a 5month old female doberman that we are training using your training methods. Specifically I was looking at getting your e-collar for pets video and an e-collar to help work on her stop jumping up and mouthing my wife and two young boys. Is it too soon to use an e-collar to correct this behavior. Also I know you and Ed like the Dogtra collars; which is a good economical model for us. Thanks for all your help in raising our dog. It is greatly appreciated. Brian

Mr. Frawley, I have a 10 week old Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy, who has been crate trained since we brought him home at 8 weeks. We don't take him out when he is crying except at night and when we let him out he goes to the bathroom then he gets put back in the crate. However, he still continues to whine for a half hour or so in the crate when we put him in during the day. Shouldn't this start to get better soon? Thank you for all your time and energy, Matt

Hello, We recently purchased a Rhodesian Ridgeback adult female dog through the RR Rescue in our area. She is 4 yrs old, and had one owner before us, and was not socialized well and crated a lot. That's what we know. She was extremely skittish at first but is no longer afraid of us, and is more comfortable every day. She is not at all aggressive toward us or people, or our young children. She is either shy ? or very sweet and curious. She is very smart and is training well. However, my pro...

Hi, I'm considering changing my 3 English golden retrievers to this new way of feeding them. I was surprised last night after dinner we had some peas left over so I thought I would see if they would eat it and they all loved it! These are breeding dogs and are 4 yrs, 3 yrs, and 18 months - all about 60 lbs. I like the dehydrated idea but I think it is too expensive for 3 - $450 per month is high for me - can you give me some ideas about maybe using both - like could I use the dehyd...

I adopted a Boston Terrier from FOHA a week ago. He is a sweet little guy to everyone he meets, and loves to give kisses. He loves car rides, walks, toys, sleeps in a crate and is not food aggressive. He plays well with my 4 y.o. F Boston, but snarls at my 15 y.o. M Westie. He is estimated 5 y.o. and neutered. But, HE BITES!! The 1st night home, he jumped up on my daughter to be petted and he was licking her face. Evidently she touched him somewhere on his back or belly and he swung around...

I have just received a 5 month old puppy she seems to have a great temperment and self confidence. I have only had her for 3 weeks. Is it to early in our relationship or for her age to start obediance training? I've already started her on the crate training program but I'm not sure if I am putting to much on her to soon by beginning basic obedience...

Hi Cindy, We have purchased 2 of your videos and have been watching several of your free videos on training. We are volunteer puppy raisers for Canine Companions for Independence and have made great progress with our puppy and with our 2 other dogs (lab/golden mixes). We did have a question and have not found it on the videos (although I am sure it is there, we just haven't been able to come across it yet). After marking a behavior with "yes" she will look for the reward/treat. Is it o...

Hi, I have read your website with interest and do have a question that is not quite answered on the site. I am not a huge dog person, and have never owned one, although I am ok with well trained dogs I know and like. Planning on having a baby, and my significant other wants to get a purebred German Shepherd and do schutzhund. I have no issue with either of these, but he wants to not get the dog fixed. He is quite good with animals. I, however, do not have a lot of dog experience and this m...

Hi there, We have a new (to us) border collie who is 4 1/2 months old, he has had some basic training from his breeder. But comes to us, his keen but new to it all dog owners. This puppy will no doubt know more than we will! (although we are quick to learn :o) I have been in contact with Michael Ellis and he has recommended the Training with Food, Marker Training, and

Hello, have read your information on keeping dogs seperate and have a question. Some background, I have 2 german shepherds age 9 and 11. I got them in Germany. One is a high line dog and one a working line. Both are well socialized and obedient and have no aggression toward each other or other dogs. They are both trained in schutzhund which I did for 6 years while there. They have always lived together with no issues. I want to get a new working puppy in the next 6 months and I wondered if I ...

We are trying to train a 1 year old dog who is not motivated by food treats (any kind) or toys. He won't even follow a treat with his eyes. He was found at 6 months of age and was adopted by the current handler. He is always cautious and alert, frightened of noises and people he doesn't know, but much more social than when he was found. He is been rewarded for being calm and interracting calmly with people. We are trying to teach him to sit, stay and relax, but he won't respond to treats. ...

Hi Cindy, I've been seriously thinking of rescuing a cat, there's so many homeless ones where I am. Would their diet be similar to a species appropriate diet for dogs, some meat, giblets, and bones? Can they chew bones?? I have no clue. Anita

We have a 6 month old Portugese Water Dog (weighs 40 pounds). He's an awesome dog and did reasonably well in basic obedience training... but I'm having difficulty getting him to stop jumping and nipping on my 5-year old daughter, going after shoes to chew on, and chasing our cat. I've heard great things about your e-collar video -- before I order can you suggest the best e-collar to go with it? Regards, Eric

Hello Cindy, Can I take a wolf pup and live with him as a pet, or will he "eat" me one day when he will be an adult????!! I mean, are wolves like dogs or are they dangerous?? Can a wolf be good at sheep herding? !!! Thank you