Obedience Q&As

Ed, You wrote, "I also NEVER allow a dog to come in contact with another dog unless my dog is 100% solid in obedience under extreme distraction (i.e. another dog is extreme distraction). Also I NEVER allow people to pet my dog." My question is how do you socialize the dog if the dog has never been pet by a stranger. If you don't take your dog around other dogs until he is 100% trained, isn't that a little late in life to begin socialization with other animals? Thanks, Vanessa

Hello Ed. When is the most appropriate time to start Training a golden retriever basic commands? I have read a lot of your articles on training and don't want to do any damage to her personality. We have been working on getting her to walk beside us during short walks around the block but we were told to invest in a choke collar to get her to stop pulling on the lease. She she is now 16 weeks is it to early for all of this? Thanks in advance. Lisa

Greetings; I have recently purchased a GSD puppy. I'm keeping him at the kennel I bought him from one month ago. He's now 5 months old. He's the alpha male of his litter, and very protective. Whenever any dog comes about 2 meters from us (him and I), he starts barking uncontrollably. I haven't trained him yet, since his breeder considers 6 months being the ideal age to start obedience training. He barks at any dog he doesn't know, big or small. Another breeder told me his barking reflects ...

Mr. Frawley, My wife and I own a 10 month old GSD. We give him plenty of attention in the afternoon after work. We take him on a two mile walk, play fetch the ball, tug, hide and seek, etc. We also bring him in at night and let him interact with us. However, it's the period that we're not home during the day that concerns me. We have a fairly large fenced back yard, but I know he gets bored and lonely by himself. Do you think it would be a good idea for us to get another dog so that he wou...

We have a 12 week old dachshund puppy that is trained enough to sleep in our bed at night, but needs to be crated during the day to avoid accidents. It has been weeks and the dog drools about a cup of drool over a 2 hour period in the crate and is very nervous when we let him back out. He whines and cries the entire time. Will he get dehydrated? When we give him water in the crate he spills it every time. Does he need some sort of medication to calm his nerves? Any help would be appreciated. ...

We have just acquired two 8 week old German Shepard pups, and I wish I had looked at your web site before purchasing 2 pups at the same time. What is the best way to ensure that the pups each get enough attention? Second question... the pups enjoy being in the same crate with each other. Is this a good idea?? Thank you for your advice. I have ordered your videos and can't wait to watch them.

Hi Mr. Frawley: First I want to say "Thank You" for sharing your extensive knowledge about dogs, particularly German Shepherds. I purchased my first GSD about a month ago (he's now 3 months) and I have applied many of your training techniques (either coincidentally on my own, or taken directly from your puppy video). He's turning into a wonderful family companion. I have to go out of town for a weekend (2 nights), and won't be able to take the puppy. My vet has kennel facilities, but I wil...

I have an 11 month old Akita neutered male. I am a first time Akita owner, I did not get him for protection (or for any status symbol for that matter, unlike some Akita owners) I got him based on a recommendation from a good friend and mostly because with the exception of the same sex dog aggression notable to the breed, I truly love the breed. He is a wonderful dog with a lot of great qualities and from what I can see doesn't seem to have many of the hardcore dominance issues that you sp...

Dear Mr. Frawley, Your web site is a wealth of information on GSD. It is the BEST - like an encyclopedia. Well, I have recently purchased a 6 month old female black/red GSD from a breeder in Palmdale, CA. The GSD has the sweetest temperament I have ever seen. I have had 8 dogs as pets in the past from toy breed to herding breed. This is the first time I have a German Shepherd as a pet. This female GSD is adorable;however, she is friendly to everyone including strangers. Is this good for...

Help I have a 5 month old GSD doing great with a Trainer, lost the trainer the dog obeys well with sit ,down,down stay, heel. does well on leash as far as walking and making turns to the right 90 or 180's but that's it for now. How does one make the dog turn to the left on a leash???? Or make a 180 to the left on a leash??? Maybe I am just dense I would appreciate a response. Thank You in advance.

Hi Ed, I just bought a 4 month old male American Bulldog. I have been checking out breeders since 1998, this pup came from one of the best performance breeders in this country. I told the breeder I wanted a dog to be a family dog and he was to be trained in personal protection. I bought the pup in late March when he was 10 weeks old, and it took the breeder 2 months to ship the pup to me. When I got the pup he seemed a little nervous, but I knew he needed time to adjust. I spent the fi...

Sir, I'm writing you today on a recommendation from a friend who trains military working dogs. I have a 11 week old female GSD. My wife and I purchased her at 7 weeks. Every night for the last 4 weeks, I have been up with her multiple times at night, trying to keep her quiet. She has food and water, and is outside with an adult female GSD (they get along quite well). Sometimes I'll bring her in and put her in a playpen with bedding (continues to whine). I've been spanking her consi...

I hope you can help me with my new German Shepherd puppy. When we got him he was 7.5 weeks and a he's a very aggressive chewer and biter. I've had a german shepherd before and do not allow puppies to bite and chew on anything but their own chew toys. I have never let him bite me or chew on me because he is "cute and little." We constantly were correcting him and telling him "no." One night my husband and I were playing with him rolling a ball around while he chased it. He went to the door...

Hi Ed I have just bought your video bite training for pups and I have a question about it. I have just started tying my 10 week old pup up with a milk jug full of marbles above her head and I have also been using the bamboo stick. Neither of these things phase her. She has awesome nerves and monstrous prey drive, but she will only go after the tennis ball on the string. She will not go after the hand towel. I have used the hand towel to play with her before but she really would ...

Mr. Frawley, I purchased a 5 month old male GSD from a breeder in NY. I have had him for a month. Sire is an East German Sch3, mom is a Czech companion titled dog. Problem: This pup skits and bucks when other leashed dogs/puppies approach. He may or may not allow people to pet him as well. No aggression towards people, but he can become very timid and jumpy, or just stand and remain oblivious to people around him. Always acts the same with other dogs. Stares as...

Hi, I'm Argentine and my name is Martin and I write because I read something interesting on your web page. I would like to know if you could answer this question!!! My family is going to buy a dog and we are in feud between and retriever or rottweiler. I like rottweiler but my mother says that they are dangerous especially with children. I would like to know if you agree with her and if you can send me information about rottweiler!! Thank you.

Dear Mr. Frawley, Thank you for your excellent videos. They are helping me raise my new pup. But I do have a question that is not addressed in the videos: This is a female GSD of excellent working dog bloodlines. She is now 15 weeks. She is doing fine in every aspect, but a week ago she began to bark at people who come to visit us. The bark is not a growl, and she shows no other signs of aggression, but she does appear to be defending her ground. Is this normal? How should I...

Ed, I have read your Q&A section but can't seem to find anything related to my situation. I have a 4 1/2 mo GSD puppy (German lined!) who is having a hard time with traveling in the car. He begins drooling heavily before he even gets into the car. We have been trying to take things slow with him by letting him sit beside the car (drool, drool), letting him sit in the seat without the car running (drool, drool), having him in his crate in the car (drool, drool) and even placing bits of hot...

My husband and I brought a German Shepherd puppy 5 day's ago. She is 8 weeks old we are very happy with her and she seems to be settling in well. The first two nights she never cried during the night at all. Now however she whines and howls and we have got up to her and told her a firm "NO" and given her a light shake on the scruff of her neck. This method does not seem to be working now. Can you help? I think we should ignore her my husband is worried about the noise and the neighbors. We wo...

I have been looking all over the internet and just found your site. WOW! You cover so much. I know it may be a while before you can answer me but if you can I would really appreciate it. We (myself, husband and 2 teenagers) just adopted a collie/shepherd 3-month-old puppy. He has been responding very well to the crate training and in just 2 weeks is "so far" housebroken. Our problem is that after a few days with us he has started this thing where he pees whenever my husband does anything ...