Obedience Q&As

We just adopted a GS who is probably About 5-6 mos. Old. She was a stray and had lived with a family for a couple of months and they wanted to give her up to a good home because they already had 2 dogs. We've only had her a day, but we want to start out right. She is very shy and timid. We finally coaxed her into her crate and now she won't come out. She has always lived outside. We would like for her to live inside with us and our other dog who is a 5 yr. old mix breed. We have a collar ...

I just found your site and read most of it. I think it's given me some hope with my dog Woo, but I still have some questions. Woo is a 2 1/2 year old (approximately) pit bull mix. I've owned her about a year. Her original owners abused her pretty horribly, and then her " rescuers" neglected her to the point of abuse. Her first owners set her on fire. Amazingly she survived, and was taken in by some acquaintances of mine who were running a dog rescue. They're good people, and meant ...

We just adopted a GS who is probably About 5-6 mos. Old. She was a stray and had lived with a family for a couple of months and they wanted to give her up to a good home because they already had 2 dogs. We've only had her a day, but we want to start out right. She is very shy and timid. We finally coaxed her into her crate and now she won't come out. She has always lived outside. We would like for her to live inside with us and our other dog who is a 5 yr. old mix breed. We have a collar ...

Two weeks ago we adopted a 3 1/2 yr. Golden Labrador dog for free, from a reputable kennel. Before deciding on the dog, we asked: - Is he well behaved around people, other animals? Since we have 2 children, 2 birds & a cat, the dog had to have an excellent temperament around other animals and children. - Knowledge of commands, what? - Name, Address & Number of previous owner. - Medical History, shots, neutered, dates shots were last administered. - Exact breed lineage. - V...

Hello, I did read pretty much the whole site. Couldn't find a question completely like this one and it is probably something other people deal with. We have a really good GSD. She is easy to train and easy to live with. We have not had her that long, but she is 1 year old (rescued). When we kennel her for any length of time, she tries to get out of the kennel non-stop and barks non-stop. I understand that we can use the e-collar to fix the barking problem. Again, like...

I have a question. I have just started volunteering at a small shelter. The new director seems to like click-training with a clicker. She also likes using a head harness called a Gentle Lead (goes fairly tight on the mussel and behind the ears). Before I order the video are these methods consistent with your teaching methods? Please comment. Joyce Perry, Iowa

My mother has a 1yr old spayed dachshund. She is well behaved but has a problem that when she is hurt or scared by something (physically, like her lastest, a spiral fracture) she will go hide and not come out when called. She will lay and look at you, thumping her tail, but has to be physically removed frm her hiding place (crate, bushes, under the truck). My mother does allow she has good recall, but only when things like horse poop or playing with the cats are not more exciting. Then it...

Hi There, I always read your articles, but for some reason can't find one on this. I have a problem with my dog doing his Heir. He comes in fast BUT always sits crooked. I have tried to use food and toys. And I have tried corrections but can't seem to get him to understand. Do you have any suggestions? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Jennifer

Hello Ed, I am training my puppy - an 11 month old GSD - in SAR, and I am a beginner at this. A few days ago she did something very bad - she ran after a deer and was gone for 15 minutes. I know that this can only get worse, and I want to nip it in the bud ASAP. Do you have an article or a video that addresses this? I have received conflicting information from other trainers and the internet, ie: 1. Get an e-collar and correct her. (Sounds good, but how do I get a deer to coop...

I have a one-year old German Shepard. He is well trained to sit, down, come, etc. I can work with him at a strange location on a 30 ft leash and he still obeys. The only problem I have with him is a come when he is off leash and he sees another dog that he wants to play with. At that point I lose control and he won't come. I have tried a throw chain to get closer to him, but he could care less about that. He is also quite dominant in his play so I can't allow him to play with a smaller do...

Mr. Frawley, I can't imagine how many emails you receive so I will keep mine short and simple. My dog is 5 now and is very obedient. I have two questions for you, the first one is on the recall I just got done reading your q&a and saw similar questions but not the exact one. When I walk my dog in the afternoon we play with his ball or his tug and he is very good. If he can see another dog he will only sometimes break a recall( 1out of every 10). I have put him on the long lead and ...

Ed, I bought a female from you back in Sept. 99. She is 1 yr. old and I just read an article that said I should not lie on the floor and pat my dog or let her lie at my feet and lay on my feet that she may see that as dominance. She does not seem dominate to me but I wonder if these little things are slowing her recall training. She is a very beautiful female at year a very substantial bitch a lot of prey drive and a very hard bitch. Thank you very much for the time you put into br...

Dear Mr. Frawley, I was wondering if you could help us with a problem we are having with our 9-month-old GSD. We watched your obedience tape and have been working with her on the here command. We have put her on a long line and have treats and praise for her when she returns. One problem is, she knows when the line comes off, that she is free and will dash off, so we've been keeping it on. Another problem is... she has been running out through our front door and when I call her she...

I have written to you before, taken your advice and bought your Basic Obedience video. My 9-month-old GSD bitch is great in most respects (temperament & basic commands) however she has developed a serious habit of refusing to come when called. The situation is that we live on a beachfront where lots of people walk their dogs - there are also many parks nearby. Most of the time she minds (especially if I have a toy - she does not seem to respond to food) but sometimes she decides to keep h...

One of the dogs that I have, a German Shepherd/Husky breed named Tera (approx 2 yrs old), is always looking for an opportunity to get loose and take off. I have taken her to obedience school. She does respond, inside and when on a leash, to the command "come." However, when she is off of the leash she takes off. Eventually she does come home. I thought, at first, that it was because she knew there where cats that lived at a neighbor's house, which is true. When she does take off that is u...

We have a year old Great Pyrenees bitch that I have been looking forward to breeding. She is incredibly obedient even to the subtlest commands when she is in your immediate care. However, we live in a hilly rural area and when she is allowed to be unrestrained she completely rebels against any command and runs all over tyrannically barking and disappearing into the hollows. She has somehow escaped every method of restraint no matter how I've chained her. We have yet to complete a farm fen...

I would like to start by thanking you. I purchased your video Basic Dog Obediance and it was wonderful. I did what you said on the tape and my dog realy responded will to it. I have to say that when my pup was little he was very good at home, but just awfull on a leash in public. Now, after your video and a pinch collar, he is very good out in public and on a leash, but just awful at home. He is now eight months old and my problem is that he will be well behaved as long as you have his le...

I have a big problem with my 9 month old shepherd. I have two pups, one 4 months old from your bloodlines and the 9 month old from mainly American lines. The problem is with the older one, he is not neutered yet and he appears to be developing some territorial aggression. Last week he bit the mail lady, he has never been this way before! Today, he chased a young boy across the school yard that we live next to his hackles were raised and he would circle the boy and bark!! I had one hell of...

I have a question for you. I have an almost 10 month old GSD from very good working lines in Germany. He has been working towards his HGH and SchH titles and progressing very well. I got him at about 4 1/2months of age and he never made the 16 week bond with an owner but rather was with dogs at that time, he was given back to the breeder due to personal problems not related to the dog, he originally went out at 8 weeks. Well needless to say he was very independent and slightly doggy when ...

I think I have a "problem" dog. He is a 14 month old purebred beagle that was bred as a hunter. I got him when he was 8 weeks old and for the most part, he has been pretty good. Except, he has a nose that won't quit and that leads to more problems. He wont listen when called, pulls on his leash until he is choking, and will run away if let off his leash. He seems to be very protective also, almost vicious. Any advice? I have taught him basic commands which he follows most of the time. ...