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March 2, 2020

Recommended What are the magnetic effects from the Top-matic ball on phones, credit cards, and dog microchips?

What are the magnetic effects from the magnet and ball on phones, credit cards, and dog microchips? I know to keep magnets away from the cards and electronic devices but how close can you be without effects? What about the dog microchip? Any problems with that?
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March 2, 2020

Our GSD has always barked when he hears noises outside but now when he hears something, he quickly goes after our other dog as if she were the threat. How can I get him to stop associating our other dog with noises he hears outside?

Hi Cindy! Thanks so much for all the helpful info you've shared. We have a 2.5-year-old male GSD who has always been a major barker when he hears someone outside our house – especially other dogs. We and our trainer have been trying to train him out of it and thought we were seeing progress up until recently. He developed a scary habit where upon hearing someone outside, he not only barks but quickly goes after our other dog (a 3-year-old Malinois) as if she were the threat, even if she ...
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February 25, 2020

When training the recall, why do we stop the remote collar immediately after the dog starts to turn in our direction? Won't the dog want to stop midway the recall and go elsewhere?

My question is about Michael's explanation in the video Training the Recall with Michael Ellis when working with the e-collar at the 39:36 mark. Michael explains what needs to be done. Turn on the collar.Call the dog.Guide the dog with the leashAfter the dog turns into our direction, we will turn off the collar.So my question is: Why do we stop the collar immediately after the dog starts to turn to our direction, and not just after the dog standing near us? Couldn't it be that the dog ...
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February 17, 2020

If I do protection sports (Schutzhund/IGP) with my German Shepherd is it going to make him aggressive to strangers? He’s currently a very friendly dog and I don’t want to ruin that.

Hello! My GSD is 14 months and we decided to try Schutzhund. Prior to giving this a try, he has basic on and off leash obedience, getting ready to certify in AKC tracking and is taking Rally classes. Suddenly I am a little worried, is Schutzhund going to make him more aggressive to strangers? I know this may be a stupid fear, but he is a nice, friendly dog most of the time and I am worried about doing something to ruin that. On the other hand, he really enjoyed the tug and puppy sleeve ...
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February 10, 2020

I purchased a 2 year old dog that is already trained & has a BH in IPO but I am new to the sport. One of my club members suggested I go back to basics and start with food training even though the dog is more advanced. Do you have any advice?

Hello, I've purchased a 2 year old, fully trained dog who has already earned a BH, and who tried for an IPO1 twice and failed protection both times, but earned 72 and 93 in tracking, and 80 and 70 in obedience. Since buying the dog, I realized I was teaching him bad habits because when I first got him, he snapped into position really quickly, but I didn't know how to reinforce him because I knew nothing about IPO training until about a month ago, when I started showing up at Schutzhund Club ...
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February 4, 2020

I read your article about dog parks and completely agree, do you have the same feeling about doggy daycare

Hello, I have an 8 month old akita. I was reading the article about Dog Parks and completely agree. I would not take him to one. I was wondering if you have the same feelings about doggy Daycare. We have considered trying a half day a week. it seems to be well run. They bring in new dogs into a separate area and introduce one new dog at a time starting with the dogs with the best temperament. Eventually they will be in the general area if all goes well. Our puppy has had have very little inte...
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January 28, 2020

I'm having a hard time switching from food to toy rewards, do you have any suggestions?

Cindy, I'm having a hard time switching over from food to toy rewards. My dog will play tug with enthusiasm at the house, but when we are out she will show no interest if something else remotely interesting is around. I am trying to get away from carrying around food rewards and just keep a tug on me. It just seems like that will not be motivational enough for her. She likes the flirt pole but that's hard to take around. Do you have any suggestions on how I can increase her interest in toy...
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January 21, 2020

How should I react to my 5 month old puppy who bites and growls at me when I correct him with a verbal 'nope'?

Not sure If I should call it defiance, but my 5 month old Malinois puppy has gotten defiant and bit and growled at me when I tried to correct him with a verbal "nope" command when I went to pick up a bag of trash. Typically the "nope" command works well. He started to drag a bag of trash that was sitting inside the fence that I was about to take out. I think he may have just gotten amped up into thinking it was a game of play because it seemed like he thought it was more of a fun game like tu...
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January 14, 2020

Any suggestions for a 1 year old lab that engages well, takes the tug on command, and enthusiastically plays and outs well but will not bring the tug back to me?

This is a follow up question to using a tug for reward. To this point, my 1 year old lab engages well, takes the tug on command and enthusiastically plays and outs well. The problem I'm having is the return. As long as she is on a long lead, she never bales but her returns are unenthusiastic. She will also try to play keep away or stand in place and shake the tug or drop it a few feet away from me. I tried to shape with food but the moment she realizes I have food she drops the tug. I have...
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January 13, 2020

Recently, I started adding verbal cues to my dog's behaviors and now his engagement is waning. Why?

I have a 7-month-old mal/dutch shepherd puppy and I am just starting to put his behaviors on cue. Up to this point, he looks really good being lured into position and I am about 90% happy with the positions he is ending up in. We are both also having a ton of fun with a lot of engagement. Previously in my routines, we have worked through several different positions/behaviors which seems to keep him more engaged. Lately, I have limited the sessions to one behavior per session and have begun to...
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January 6, 2020

I read an article that says using a 'no reward marker' is aversive to dogs and doesn't help tell the dog that they did not succeed or did something wrong. What are your thoughts on the matter?

Hi Cindy, I saw an article recently on the subject of marker training, specifically the use of a no reward marker or negative marker. The article argues that the use of NRM's while it may not seem like it, is actually "aversive" to the dog and that it does not help to tell the dog that they did not succeed or that they did something wrong. They said that dogs learn faster if just encouraged through what they do correctly. This is the first I had ever heard of this idea and I know you have ...
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December 31, 2019

My puppy has began resource guarding. How do I stop this?

Hi, I have a 14 week old Rottweiler puppy. She has a bone and when I went to pick it up, she went after me. I thought she was kind of young to do that. What would be the best plan to handle this?
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December 23, 2019

How do I teach the stay command to my dog?

Hi Cindy, I've purchased all of the Ellis DVDs and the Basic Dog Obedience DVD and the Marker Training DVD but still am unsure how to train the basic "stay" command - whether in a sit or down. All of the DVDs seem to assume the "stay" command has already been taught to the dog. Anyway, can you assist in how to teach the "stay" command so that I can move on to some of the more skilled obedience commands in the DVDs with my Dutch Shepherd? Thank you!
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December 12, 2019

Do you have any recommendations on what I could do to teach my puppy what her name is?

Hello, I just got my first German Shepherd puppy on 12/4 she is 9 weeks old. I've had Akitas and Belgian Shepherds in the past and haven't had many issues teaching them their names. With this puppy, I am having ZERO luck. Do you have any recommendations on what I could do to teach her what her name is? Also, she is incredibly mouthy. And when she bites it isn't a very nice one either she is very vicious with it. I have plenty of toys and I take her outside but she just likes to bite her...
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December 12, 2019

At what age can I run or jog with my puppy? Is fetch also considered running?

Hello! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your website and all of it's contents. We have a 9-week old Golden Retriever puppy and the information you've provided has given us such a firm foundation. Thank you! My question has to do with running. I know pups this age shouldn't be running/jogging until they're older, but what age is that? Also, is playing fetch considered running as well? I've searched your database but couldn't find this answer. I'm sure it's in there but I couldn't l...
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