Recommended Q&As

May 9, 2013

Recommended If my puppy refuses a command, do I say NO or just lure him into the position I asked for?

Hi Cindy, When I am sure my puppy knows a command and he does it 99 times when I tell him, but refuse to the 100th time, do I give a negative marker(NO) or do I just repeat the command and lure him into a sit? This puppy of mine knows exactly what a sit is but sometimes he looks at me with those "what are you talking about" eyes. Thanks
100% (21 out of 21)
respondents found this answer helpful
May 9, 2013

Recommended I want a dog to protect me because I'm going to become homeless. What can I do to make a dog aggressive towards people?

Ok, this might sound bad, but I'm going to become Homeless this year and I'm a Girl. So I, want to get a dog to protect me. So I want it to be aggressive toward people. I know its a liablity and dangerous but I don't have $$ for protection training. Is there certain thing or things I can do to making him this way. And is there a test I can do on him to see if he can be aggressive? I'm think of getting a German Shepherd or American Pitbull Terrier. 6-10 months old. Also I would be very car...
85% (61 out of 72)
respondents found this answer helpful
May 6, 2013

Recommended My dog had a mesenteric torsion surgery & had 30% of his small intestine removed. He recovered and is doing well except for horrible gas. Do you have any recommendations?

My 1 1/2 year old Golden suffered from bad GI issues as a pup. Ended up having surgery at nine months: vet called from OR and said it's mesenteric torsion. Basically asking if I wanted to stop the surgery and put the pup down. I decided to finish the surgery and see what happened. Vet removed an estimated 30% of the small intestine. Miraculously the dog recovered and is thriving with no apparent side affects, except the dog has terrible intermittent gas. I had him on Pro Plan salmon and o...
100% (2 out of 2)
respondents found this answer helpful
April 18, 2013

Recommended I got a large prong collar for my dog and it slips down his neck during walking and training. If I take a link out, it seems too tight. Should I consider getting the chain portion of the collar shortened?

Hi, I have found your website very informative. I ended up using a prong collar as a result, and so far I'm happy with the results. However, I did have one question. I have a large (3mm) collar for my german shepherd mix. Basically I took off enough prong-links that the collar fits around the jaw and below the ears, as it's supposed to. However, there's still just enough play that it slips down during walking/training. The problem is that if I take away any more prong-links, the collar...
96% (25 out of 26)
respondents found this answer helpful
April 18, 2013

Recommended We have consulted with 3 trainers about training our aggressive 9 month old dog. Two of them said that you should not use food for training as it increases dominant behavior in dogs. Can you give us some advice?

Cindy, I have recently purchased the videos "dominant and aggressive dogs" and "ecollar training" from your site. I have a 9 month old alpha female doberman and a 4 year old Golden Retriever. The doberman shows handler aggression, aggression towards our golden retriever and toward her bones/toys. I have watched both videos and we have implemented the back to basics approach where we ignore the dog for 2 weeks, keep her on a leash with us in the house at all times, removed all of the t...
85% (11 out of 13)
respondents found this answer helpful
April 17, 2013

Recommended Our one year old Golden Retriever has a tendency to get very aggressive. I've been bitten a number of times as have 2 of my children. Help!

Hello, We have a male Golden Retriever who is turning one year old next week.? He was neutered at 7 months of age and we have had him since he was 8 weeks old. With the help of your videos on Establishing a Pack Structure and Dealing with Dominant dogs we have for the most part an obedient dog who stays and comes on command. Walks well with us and responds to verbal correction when he wants to wander toward other dogs or to sniff around. Unfortunately he has tendency to get very agg...
90% (18 out of 20)
respondents found this answer helpful
April 17, 2013

Recommended When I play tug with my 9 week old GSD pup he humps after winning the towel. Is this a worry?

I have a 9 week old male pup from strong working lines. had him a week. Really super, level headed, drives that us working folk are looking for. One snag though. When playing with a towel, rag, old shirt, he has started humping it? after winning it. Is this a worry, what action should I take. So far I distract him and continue the game. I'm following Micheal Ellis systems on training. Would appreciate some sort of guide.Thanks
83% (5 out of 6)
respondents found this answer helpful
April 11, 2013

Recommended My dog is ball obsessed, she will never spit it out. Nothing works. Can you help?

I have a female pit bull, spayed, I've had her since she was 5 weeks old, she was born at the shelter and I'm a failed foster! She is now 3 years, went to puppy classes, obedience, agility, she is a phenomenal dog and I could probably take her on to do anything I chose to do with her as she is just that smart and obedient. That is until it comes to her tennis balls. She is so ball driven, and uses that as her reward system instead of food. This dog has no food drive whatsoever. Only ball driv...
54% (110 out of 203)
respondents found this answer helpful
April 11, 2013

Recommended I've had a few high drive GSDs, great dogs but they can't seem to relax in the house. I was never able to find the off switch. Do you have a DVD about this?

Cindy, I have had a few high drive GSD. Great dogs, except when we are in the home relaxing. I am relaxing but the dog is pacing and whining. He never seems to be able to turn it off. I was not able to ever find his "off" switch. Can you help me with some ideas or make a DVD on how to turn your dog off when you are not working? Think there is a need for us novice dogsters. Thanks
97% (31 out of 32)
respondents found this answer helpful
April 4, 2013

Recommended We have a adopted a beautiful dog that likes to bite other people. We need help selecting a muzzle.

Hi there, We have adopted a beautiful dog, who likes to bite other people. In order to protect them and himself (from being destroyed) while we are trying to alter his behavior we are going to try a muzzle. I'm not sure of the which one to get and ask for your assistance. Also, before proceeding any further, do you post to Australia? Muzzle size: nose length from top (just below eyes) to end is 4", and circum (fairly snug) is 11". We have tried a plastic muzzle which was not the righ...
97% (28 out of 29)
respondents found this answer helpful
March 29, 2013

Recommended Our previously social 7 year old dog was attacked by 2 Jack Russells and now she's lunging at other dogs. Would putting a muzzle on her help?

Hi, I have an apricot colored GSD, she will soon be 7 years old. She is adorable with people. In fact, so much so, that I have to pen her when we have visitors after a while, as she wants a fuss all the time. My problem is I can't trust her with other dogs when we go out to the local woods for a walk. She lives with a greyhound, and I lost my male GSD a year ago. She is wonderful with them, and is very good with a stray cat that has adopted us. Although I keep an eye on her with the cat...
68% (40 out of 59)
respondents found this answer helpful
March 29, 2013

Recommended My dog pays too much attention to the neighbor dogs behind the fence and he won't come when I call him. I need to work on his recall, do you have any suggestions? Do you recommend a tug toy?

I have a 2 year old (65 lbs) Belgian Malinois. Have had trouble with him fence fighting. He pays too much attention to the dogs behind the fence because they are barking at him. I need to work on his recall. I have been working with someone that has me putting him on a long line and calling him when he starts to get too close to the fence. I was watching some of your videos on YouTube and I saw the restrained recall with the tug toy. Is there a video you recommend to learn more about the reca...
100% (13 out of 13)
respondents found this answer helpful
March 22, 2013

Recommended My new Malinois puppy will not stop barking/whining and crying in the crate, she chews on the bars and throws a tantrum. I've had her for 2 days and 2 nights, do you have any suggestions?

Hi Cindy, I just brought home an 8 week old F Belgian Malinois. I have 2 other dogs. A 3.5 year old F Rottweiler and a 5.5 year old M Boston Terrier, and so I'm pretty familiar with how to raise a pup. But it seems that the Malinois pup is a bit more challenging when it comes to the crate. I've had her for 2 days and 2 nights. She goes in voluntarily and comfortably in and out of the crate, when the door is left open, but once it closes, she goes on a high pitch barking/whining/crying t...
97% (136 out of 140)
respondents found this answer helpful
March 18, 2013

Recommended I have some questions after watching the new Power of Training with Food.

Hi Cindy, I just finished watching the new training dogs with food video with Michael Ellis. Owning the old and the new, I found the new one to be considerably better - good job Leerburg! I do have one question, which was highlighted after watching the new one (I thought I understood it before watching the new one). At the end of the video, Michael talks about reward schedules. He gives a few examples, all of which skip the marking - he simply just gestured like he was giving a relea...
100% (3 out of 3)
respondents found this answer helpful
March 15, 2013

Recommended Your newsletter videos don't play well for me, but one of your recent ones did. Is there any way your videos could be done in a YouTube format?

Hi Cindy, Your newsletters are always very informative and helpful. However, I have been unable to play your videos without constant stopping and stuttering until you sent out this video which played perfectly on my computer. I can always play YouTube videos without a problem and other videos sent to me. 1. Could you please send out videos that play like the 'A Good Explanation of IPO'? 2. Could your newsletter video clips be in a YouTube type format? We live in the country in Ontar...
100% (3 out of 3)
respondents found this answer helpful
March 13, 2013

Recommended My 14 month old Rottweiler has become obsessed with her crate over the last 2 weeks. I'm considering removing her crate from the house, do you have any ideas?

Hi Cindy, I have a 14 month intact female Rottweiler. She was crate trained, and was relatively neutral in terms of her love of the crate. Suddenly in the last 2 weeks she is obsessed with the crate. There is no food or treat in the crate, and with the bedding removed her behavior is identical. She will spend more than half of the day inside the crate with the door open. She often runs back into it when she is out, with intensity. When she is taken outside her energy is great. Her appetit...
87% (26 out of 30)
respondents found this answer helpful
March 7, 2013

Recommended My 10 month old puppy is on a raw diet and kibble but he has a lot of gas and seems constipated. Do you have any ideas?

I have a 10 month old Greyhound puppy who is on a raw diet much to the chagrin of my vet. I have two questions, he has a very hard time having a bowel movement and is very gassy. He gate chicken backs, veggies and some fruit, I also give him flak seed oil as his skin is quite dry. I have been giving him about 2 cups of kibble and has helped with the constipation but I am wondering if that is why he is so gassy. Thank you in advance
100% (11 out of 11)
respondents found this answer helpful
March 5, 2013

Recommended Is it a bad idea to teach my 17 week old puppy to play tug or do some Schutzhund protection if I don't plan on working with a helper?

Hello, First, my wife and I wanted to thank you for providing us the information in Your Puppy 8 Weeks to 8 Months DVD and Obedience training DVD for setting us up with a wonderfully trained dog for life. The training has been fun and rewarding, so rewarding we are debating on doing more. We have a high drive doberman that just turned 17 weeks old yesterday. I have been interested in protection work and Schutzhund competition but we don't have any good trainers locally. Also, I am not su...
100% (13 out of 13)
respondents found this answer helpful
February 28, 2013

Recommended Our 15 pound peekapoo just killed our 4 pound poodle. Do I need to put the peekapoo down?

We have two dogs that have had issues for a long time. I understand the dominance issues from your article but at this point training won't cure. Our 4lb poodle female was killed by our 15lb peekapoo female. What do I now do about the dog that is living and what kind of future issues do I need to be worried about? It was a distinct relationship that these two dogs had but the peekapoo has nipped at people. I understand the dog that died may very well have caused the problem but do I nee...
79% (72 out of 91)
respondents found this answer helpful
February 27, 2013

Recommended I've had several people tell me that my 9 week old lab is too young to go for walks. Do you agree?

I have a 9 week old black lab male. I've had him for about 17 days. He's being crate trained and has been doing great. I've had several people tell me he's far too young to take out for walks, and that I should wait until he's at least 12 weeks old. And even then, no more than 15 minutes at a time. Do you agree with this?
77% (53 out of 69)
respondents found this answer helpful
Scroll to Top