Puppy Training Q&As

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...

We have an 11 week old puppy. He appears to be very dominant. We think we are having problems establishing our pack structure with him- we have watched all your videos but can't seem to find a solution. We are crate training him and he seems to have picked up on housebreaking pretty quickly. The problem is that he has a mind of his own. One of the problems is when he is biting something. We will tell him to stop- and he will stop. But then he will wait a few seconds and try t...

I have an almost six month old female German Shepherd that I purchased for my first working dog with high prey drive. She is not my first dog. I have a 12 year old shepherd too. They are never together. The pup loves food treats and she also loves to play ball. According to your videos she is a hard dog. When corrected she sometimes grabs your arm or hand in her mouth with a look like so what are ya gonna do about it? She has never growled . She has always been mouthy but we were able to ...

Hi, My husband and I have a four month old Boxer who likes to put his open mouth on our hands, arms, feet while playing, but he never clamps down. How should we discourage this behavior? We have been holding his jaw closed and saying "no biting" and then putting him in his crate, but this seems to be unsuccessful as he continues later on. What are your ideas on improving the situation? And now when we come to the crate to let him out, he has been cowering his head. We ignore this and ...

Hi, Can you tell me at what age I can start using the dominant dog collar. I got a puppy that is out of control with the biting. He has been like this since he was 6 weeks old and now he's 16 weeks old. I have your DVDs on pack structure and puppy training 8 weeks to 8 months and nothing seems to help I had to put him on a choker for self preservation. Please help he acts at times like a viscous dog. I don't know if its my fault in this training process or what, would a prong colla...

Hello, I have read dozens of Q&A responses on your web site and several of your articles in search of what to do about my puppy. I have a 11 week old, 2 pound, Cockapoo that I have had since she was 8 weeks old. I am sure that in my quest for raising her to be a good, well behaved, puppy I have probably confused her so I want to make sure that whatever I do from here on out is a final approach! Here are my 2 main problems with her: (1) I think she may hate my husband. Re...

My wife and I have two kids. We have a son (7) and a daughter (4). They desperately wanted a puppy and we came a cross a seven week old female boxer puppy. She is adorable, but has aggressive tendencies. She's very playful, but she will start growling and bite to the point of drawing blood from the arm. I'm a little concerned that she may hurt one on the kids. First thing in the morning she's fine, she wags here tail and is excited to see you. However, as the day progresses, it's like she tur...

When you say puppy prong collar are you referring to something different than just a normal prong collar that is small enough to fit a puppy? My 10 week old border collie is biting near constantly and through most every correction given to her. I've tried the basic ouch!, a low growl, scruff shaking, picking her up by the cheeks, pressing down on her tongue lightly but firmly, pushing my hand into her mouth to force a gag, pushing her away, holding her down, taps on the nose. All result in he...

I am a first time dog owner, and I was directed to your site by the breeder I purchased my now 9 week old german shepherd puppy from. I just ordered your 8 week to 8 month video for my puppy, in the meantime I have questions I need answers to. I want to know how soon does a dog start showing dominant behavior? My puppy (Rex) constantly bites and chews our feet, toes, legs and whatever he can get his teeth into, I know this is normal for a puppy by reading diff rent articles on your web site.,...

I have a 7 month old male GSD and I have a problem with him chewing on things. If anything is left outside or in the kitchen, were he sleeps he will chew it up. I have completed your basic obedience video and we are continuing to train him. But I don't know how to stop him from chewing things up. I have been giving him corrections when I catch him in the act, but those times are few and far between. Can I correct him for chewing if its the next day when I find something chewed up. ...

I know you are extremely busy, but you are the acknowledged dog expert from so many different circles, and I am running out of ideas on what to do with my dog, so forgive me for taking your time... I adopted a rott/shep mix when he was 6 mo old, and have had him for a year and a half. As you have probably already guessed, he is a fear biter. We have been to several different trainers, and he is somewhat more comfortable around children after our follow up trips to the park, but he is stil...

I received and viewed your "puppy" video. Thanks, it helped, although I already knew most of it from having a Doberman and GS years ago, though the refresher was appreciated. However, I now have an 11-week old Rottie. He is friendly, outgoing, and learns quickly. However, when we walk by, he will "latch on" to our pant legs or legs if we have shorts on, the jeans will rip as he will not let go until the command of "no bite" is given. We want to stop the original bite. We hadn't planned to do ...

I have a question for you. When I am working with Tasha I have to correct her, because she will try and bite my hands, or even try to jump on me. When she gets her fingers pinched she gets madder and really bites at my hands. This especially happens if I have to correct her after inappropriate behavior towards other dogs. I know this is training oriented, but I have never encountered this before, this is a recent behavior, and I am not sure how to approach dealing with it. I need your adv...

We have a 10 wk GSD that has so far shown no signs of dominance. My question: is it OK for her to chase my two kids ages 7 and 9 around the backyard? She is mouthy so the kids try to stay just out of her reach. Everyone is having a great time with this but my husband thought it might not be a good idea. I was thinking it was fine but that maybe we should correct her if she puts her teeth on them. Or should we just let her outgrow her mouthiness? I have your video Your Puppy 8 Weeks to 8 M...