Puppy Training Q&As

Hello, and thanks for your wonderful website and training materials! You have already made a huge difference for us in dealing with our 3.5-month-old GS/Rottie mix. Sorry if you have answered this question elsewhere but I couldn't find anything on it. Our problem is that our puppy happily poops and pees on our property, but she will not do anything away from our property! We live in a pretty rural area and there are lots of places along our walking route where she could relieve herself, but s...

I got your puppy package of 4 DVDs and enjoying them. High quality production values and great info. I am on marker training one now.... one piece of info I have not yet found.. is how much time to train on a daily basis? I am retiring and getting a 3 1/2 month old standard poodle... I have lots of time to walk, train and be with him AND I do not want to over train. How much time each day should be spent "training" as he grows up? Mark

Hi Cindy, We have a 14-week-old German Shepherd puppy who bites at hands and ankles. From reading the articles on the site, I have come to understand that this isn't aggression. But, at 14 weeks, he's almost 40 pounds and, if not aggressive, he's certainly persistent and hard to handle -- to the point that walking him has become extremely difficult. I have seen in your Puppy video (8 Weeks to 8 Months) that you do not recommend reprimanding a pup for what is basically prey drive. (Befor...

Hello, I have a problem with my 8 month Bassett Hound chewing the car. I have tried toys and things he is allowed to chew on and he's not interested but he dose not do it all the time. He's only left for about 2 hours but I go and check him every half hour. I've tried anti chew spray and he got immune to it. What can I do? It's making me depressed.

Hi, This question seemed a little too in depth, I wasn't finding an answer in the database... my parents' dog is a little older and we recently moved to a new house. At our old house we had a fenced in yard where she was just let out to go to the bathroom. At our new house though she has to be on a leash. The problem is when I take her out she won't go. I was out side the other day about five times each in 20 minute increments and twice when she came in she immediately pooped on the carpe...

Hi Cindy, I searched your site and could not find info specific to my situation, so here it goes. I bred a litter of pups this time last year. The pup I kept from this litter is 10 months old now. We have been having a difficult time housebreaking her. She continuously eliminates in the room were the ex-pen was kept were the pups lived until 8-10 weeks old. Right on the same spot (area) in the pen (when it was up)for poop/pee. The ex-pen was divided with sleep area, play/eating a...

Ed and Cindy, I have been following your books, DVDS, and podcasts for some time. I have followed your 8 weeks to Adult puppy video and have had much success. I only am experience one major problem. Our Whippet is very comfortable with her crate and never goes in the house when we are around. This year at 18 months I started to leave her out of her crate during the afternoons (six hours). She constantly goes bathroom on the carpet. Our first house was a tile floor and had no carpet. I hav...

I have an 11 month old husky puppy and am having an extremely hard time house breaking him. When we go for walks, he will not relieve himself until he gets to our backyard. Even when we take him out in our backyard a lot of times he won't do anything, but once we get into the house a couple minutes later he will pee in our walkway (one of two places that he will pee in the house). He knows he does wrong when it happens because he runs to his crate, no matter how many times we take him out thr...

I have two maltipoo puppies. One is 7 months old, one is 8 months. I am still having trouble getting them house trained. They are in the crate at night and sleep all night without accidents. They are taken out first thing in the AM and usually both go pee and poop. Once they eat, they are taken out again within the hour. Sometimes they will both go pee and poop again... sometimes just one will. Here is the problem. They do NOT tell me when they have to go out. I have them confined to the fami...

Hello, I have an 8 month old 80 pound labradoodle. He is intended to become my service dog, but for 4 of his 8 months I have pretty much been unable to train him in any manner that requires physical interaction on my part. Yes, he can be out of control, but in general he prefers the attention I give him and behaves himself. He is very energetic and hunts out all possible items he can chew, then literally eats whatever he may find. This includes his harness!! Simon has chewed through 3 h...

Can you tell us how to housebreak our puppy?

My son's 4 month old German Shepherd snaps or bites quite often. What should I do?

Hi, We just got our 23 week old papillon. She took to the crate right away and for 2 weeks now has not had an accident in the crate. She even seems to enjoy her crate time. There have been numerous times that she has gone in during her play time when the crate door was open. My question is this: She is only allowed in the family area of the house which includes kitchen (which is tiled) and family room (which is carpeted).?We have caught her in the act of relieving herself in the family ...

My 18 week (Chinook) puppy loves to chew shoes and especially boots. We have a boot matt near the front door and he will often try to grab one and run off to play with it. He never has a hold on one for more than a few seconds as I always make him drop it and distract him with something else but I am wondering if I were to give him an old pair of boots as his toy would I be able to teach him to distinguish that these are his and the rest are mine and off limits or should I keep it black a...

Thank you for your website-it's terrific. >My German Sheppard puppy was very bitey and we used your website's recommendations to curb it. He's mostly grown out of it at 6 months BUT whenever I put his leash on or off his mouth is all over my hands/forearms. Not aggressively but very annoying. I've tried increasingly harder corrections (No! or a hard pop on the leash) and this will work but only for that instant. The next time he's biting me again. Any suggestions to help this? Thank you...

Hello. I purchased a sensation collar from you a couple weeks ago. My border terrier had chewed it off within a few hours. This is an ongoing issue. Finding leashes etc that he can't chew off. Do you have any recommendations for leashes and collars that are resistant to a pups chewing? I have ordered and used a number of your products and appreciate the consistent quality and advice on the website and in the newsletter. Thanks. Jenelle

My question is related to a 14 week old German Shepherd Puppy, who has a biting problem. He is constantly chewing on hands, feet, arms, etc., and occasionally nips at the face. I can't figure out if this is an aggression problem or an over stimulated prey drive that needs more of an outlet. Regardless, it needs to stop before he gets uncontrollable. I'm trying everything (e.g., stiff correction, redirection, treats for positive behavior, exercise, putting him in submission, etc.), but all of...

Hi, I recently bought an 8 week full beagle pup. She has a serious temper when she is playing with us. She will actually hiss like a cat, show her teeth and draw blood if she gets us. I'm concerned I'm playing too hard with her that's why, but even if she's chewing a wire and I try and get her from that she will really growl. Not all the time is she mean but I'm afraid she will never get out of this behavior. She will let us put our hand in her dish with food. And kiss us and play but one min...

Hi Cindy, First, I would like to compliment your company for always providing quality products that arrive promptly and provide guaranteed satisfaction. I have purchased many of your products, in addition to some of your DVDs on training. My question is a common one; however, I desperately need your perspective! I have a 5-month-old shepherd who is well-trained thus far for a puppy (marker training and basic commands). However, the exception to that statement is that he is s...

I have a question about dog chew bones. I have a 7 month old miniature english bulldog who needs to constantly chew something. I have tried several items (nylabone, kongs, beef bones, beef hide). She's not interested in the kong or the nylabone, she loves the beef bones but they give her blisters on here chin and around her lips, and she is obsessed with the beef hide. She gets them soft and chews long strands that unravel. Is there anything else out there that I could try. Will the...