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Dog Training/Questions Answered by Expert Anne Springer, B.S., Dip., CAPCT
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Problems with toy possessiveness . | 2/5/2012 |
| Q: I adopted my dog Brody last August. He is an eighteen month old huge Golden-Irish. I take him ... A: Unless he is possessive of his things with humans, this is a management issue for the most part ... | |
| Male Chesador | 1/13/2012 |
| Q: We have a 8 month old puppy that is more than stubborn.He was the boss of his litter of 7 puppies. ... A: I never think of dogs as stubborn, I just think of them as independent or untrained:-) At eight ... | |
| Aggressive behavior | 1/11/2012 |
| Q: I've adopted a Boston terrier Chihuahua, Male neutered at a yr.old. He is sweet but aggressive when ... A: Stop correcting the dog. Instead, use prevention, management, and positive training to alter his ... | |
| new 1 yr old chihuahua puppies | 1/7/2012 |
| Q: my husband and i just saved two puppies from going to the pound, the previous owners brought them ... A: Google "littermate syndrome" and you will find information on how keeping litter mates together can ... | |
| general training issue | 1/4/2012 |
| Q: I have an 8 month old male half Pekingese and half Chihuahua. He is not potty trained. I go ... A: Have you been scolding him for accidents in the house, or might a previous owner have done that? If ... | |
| Jealousy | 12/31/2011 |
| Q: At the moment my husband and I are looking after my 2 grandchildren ( 8 & 5 yrs) for a period of 10 ... A: It's hard for me to comment on this without being able to see the interaction between the dog and ... | |
| Separation Anxiety | 12/30/2011 |
| Q: We recently adopted a rescue dog. He is about 1 year old, neutered and is a small Doberman/Shepherd ... A: First, stop thinking about yourselves as pack leaders or setting any kind of time limit on training. ... | |
| two dogs won't finish their business outside | 12/6/2011 |
| Q: This has been going on for two months now. My Terrier/boxer mix 1 year old started pooping inside ... A: I didn't realize the puppy was a new addition. Whenever there is a change in a household, dogs ... | |
| two dogs won't finish their business outside | 12/5/2011 |
| Q: This has been going on for two months now. My Terrier/boxer mix 1 year old started pooping inside ... A: It sounds as though they just weren't adequately house trained and need to be individually trained ... | |
| Crate "anxiety"/"phobia"??? | 11/19/2011 |
| Q: Re: 3 y.o. spayed French Brittany. Reluctant to enter crate when it's located in back of truck or ... A: I may not be the expert who should be answering this question for you, as I do not advocate the use ... | |
| Lab boxer mix chews everything | 11/13/2011 |
| Q: I have a 7 month old lab boxer mix and everytime we put him in the back yard by himself he whine ... A: All adolescent dogs need to chew at that age, so that their adult teeth set correctly into the jaw ... | |
| walking | 11/10/2011 |
| Q: We tried spraying him with a water bottle but he just loves water. so we were wondering what do we ... A: I would not advise squirting a dog for anything, it simply isn't necessary and really doesn't tell ... | |
| Cocker Spaniel who screams-cries | 11/7/2011 |
| Q: We have a 10 year old, female cocker spaniel who has started screaming / crying. It sounds like she ... A: Whenever a dog's behavior suddenly changes, the first thing I recommend is a visit to the vet to ... | |
| Help in potty trainig a 6 months old labrador | 9/30/2011 |
| Q: We have got Sarah, my Labrador female puppy, when she was 1 month old.At first she started moving ... A: She *doesn't* understand. What you are doing is not training. You have simply been trying to speak ... | |
| Biting and Jumping | 9/29/2011 |
| Q: I have a 12 week old English Springer Spaniel. My husband and I are getting increasingly frustrated ... A: This little guy needs to be in a positive puppy class YESTERDAY - pups that play with other puppies, ... | |
| jealous rottweilers | 9/23/2011 |
| Q: I have 2 rottweilers. diesel i got as a pup, he is now 8yrs old. I also have his son tank, hes 4 ... A: If you love them, neuter them. It's not too late! Also, get a trainer or behaviorist to evaluate ... | |
| unpredictable barking at people | 9/19/2011 |
| Q: I have a 2 1/2 year old, neutered terrier mix (sire was a soft-coated wheaten terrier, dam was an ... A: He may have been less than adequately socialized to people when he was between age 8-16 weeks (pups ... | |
| sneaky aggressive behavior | 9/18/2011 |
| Q: We rescued a beautiful Golden Retriever 5 months ago. She had been hit by a car and left for ... A: Dogs are often stoic about pain and humans may not notice that they actually hurt. Ear infections ... | |
| potty trained dog poops inside | 9/17/2011 |
| Q: I've got a 1 year old miniature pinscher that is potty trained. In the past week she has pooped in ... A: If she was originally potty trained (that means no accidents ever) then my guess is that the ... | |
| my collie's behavior | 9/12/2011 |
| Q: She is a regular sized collie (not border)...I just got her...she has never been on a leash, she is ... A: No, dogs have to be trained to walk on a leash if they've never been exposed to one before. Go ... | |
| trying to house train | 9/10/2011 |
| Q: I've had my dog for some time now, He still will use the bathroom in the house if your not watching ... A: NO!!!! Tell your hubby that is the worst way to try to try to house train a dog. What the dog will ... | |
| 5mo Shiba Inu pup Potty Training | 8/25/2011 |
| Q: Hey, I've had my Shiba pup, Apollo, since he was 8 weeks old. I've kept him to a very strict ... A: Small breed puppies have a harder time holding it for a long time, and the fact that he could hold ... | |
| snaping dog | 8/24/2011 |
| Q: i have a 3 year old male neutered americain pitbul terrior, usually he is very gental and playful. ... A: Without seeing it, I'm not sure why he's snapping, and anything I might suspect could be wrong. ... | |
| leash training | 8/23/2011 |
| Q: I have a one year old american bulldog and I cannot get him to walk on a leash without pulling me. ... A: There's really no way to know in advance what your dog would really do if there was a real threat ... | |
| my lab | 8/22/2011 |
| Q: having a couple of problems that we need a bit of help with but first some background. wife and I ... A: I think that you might want to investigate clicker training, for two reasons. One, it works! And, ... | |
| Question about trainer | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: I have a friend that takes her dog to classes and I was curious about taking my dog as well so I ... A: I can't say whether the trainer is good, but I can tell you that she is right when she says that ... | |
| Ponter cross aggression | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: I have an 8 y/o pointer cross lurcher (we think) who we've had for 5 years since we rescued him from ... A: I would suggest these two articles, especially the second one, so that you can get a better idea why ... | |
| Crazy dog | 7/25/2011 |
| Q: I have a year and a half old female Corgi named Maggie. She is a highly intelligent dog and I feel ... A: She's training you! Why would you go get it for her just because she's staring at you - that just ... | |
| Teaching my dog to play fetch | 7/20/2011 |
| Q: I have 2 year old Golden retreiver who I recenly got from a family that had to give him away. He ... A: If you've only just gotten him, HE probably isn't sure you will keep him! Give him at least a few ... | |
| house training your puppy | 7/19/2011 |
| Q: Our puppy is 8 weeks old. He is a beagle. Here are my questions: What do we do we our puppy goes ... A: At age eight weeks, puppies can't "hold it" very long if they are awake. They'll need to eliminate ... | |
| Dog training motivation | 6/28/2011 |
| Q: I'm not sure if this is the right section, but my questions pertain to motivating my dogs during ... A: Reinforcements, by definition, are something the dog wants. So, don't be hesitant to use food to ... | |
| Dog will not leave yard for walk | 6/26/2011 |
| Q: We have a 10 month old Black Lab. When we brought her home at age 3 months we would take her on ... A: I believe that your dog has been terribly frightened by the e-fence (after all, it is a shock, and ... | |
| aggressive behavior | 6/25/2011 |
| Q: I don't know what to do, I've had dogs my whole life and trained several dogs years ago for CD ... A: I think playing with her separately is a great idea because she needs that exercise, too. If she is ... | |
| aggression | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: I have a Lhasa also who gets very aggressive at times especially when he goes in his kennel. He does ... A: Google "litter mate syndrome" - if these dogs are litter mates, that could be part of the problem. ... | |
| aggressive behavior | 6/23/2011 |
| Q: I don't know what to do, I've had dogs my whole life and trained several dogs years ago for CD ... A: I think that yelling at the dog just creates more drama, and is counterproductive both to the ... | |
| puPpy training | 5/28/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could give me tips on how to train my 4month old GSD puppy to 'speak' (bark) ... A: Here's the "roll over" - http://www.youtube.com/user/sequoyahbean?feature=mhee#p/u/19/SGQOc218rZI I ... | |
| Dog eating underwear since I became pregnant | 5/9/2011 |
| Q: Our 8 year old bordie collie mix has always been VERY well behaved. She's very intelligent and gets ... A: Dogs are very sensitive to scent, and this is probably just a case of your scent having changed. I ... | |
| 6 yr old Maltese Peeing in her Crate | 5/7/2011 |
| Q: our Maltese has started peeing in her kennel. She sometimes pees in the house in other spots as ... A: Is your female dog spayed? It could be that she has a relaxed sphincter, which means that she could ... | |
| recently adopted Mastiff | 5/1/2011 |
| Q: I just adopted a 1 year old Mastiff a few days ago named Roxie and she's very sweet. However, she ... A: This is the page that describes the Mastiff standard for size: http://www.akc.org/breeds/mastiff/ so ... | |
| Beagle refuses to leave the house | 4/29/2011 |
| Q: I recently brought home a 12.5 wk old beagle and for the first week he was loveable & docile and ... A: This is just a developmental stage, and common among many young puppies. Your pup isn't being ... | |
| walking on a leash | 4/16/2011 |
| Q: I have a 11 month old american bulldog that pulls me when I walk her on a leash and I would like to ... A: The best protocol I know of for teaching a dog to come is Leslie Nelson's DVD, "Really Reliable ... | |
| teaching to stay outside in the daytime | 4/13/2011 |
| Q: How do i teach my 10 month boxer to stay outside in the daytime , without barking and whining , and ... A: Most dogs hate to be isolated outdoors, and without the company of another dog or a person, you are ... | |
| Dog Pooping in House | 3/19/2011 |
| Q: I have a 8 1/2 year old male Yellow Lab that has been neutered. It is completely housebroken, but ... A: Any time an older dog suddenly has a change in his bowel habits, it's time for a vet visit. ... | |
| swaying | 3/10/2011 |
| Q: male, full bred Chihuahua. He hasn't been neutered though we're trying to get him to breed with ... A: He is not too old to breed, however I do not advocate it for a few reasons. Firstly, he may not be ... | |
| aggressive towards strangers | 3/7/2011 |
| Q: I have a 5 year old border collie. She is a mix. We believe with a husky. She is very loving. Great ... A: I hope you don't take offense, but you really have no business letting a dog like this off of her ... | |
| Aggression towards strangers | 3/5/2011 |
| Q: My husband and I adopted her last year from the Humane Society - she had been abandoned by her ... A: I would suggest that you engage the services of a really good clicker trainer to help you train the ... | |
| 3 year old beagle peeing in the house at night and not going outside when put out | 3/4/2011 |
| Q: We have a three year old beagle who is in a crate during the day, he does not og in the house or in ... A: Neutering only helps stop a male dog from urine-marking, but this is probably a house training issue ... | |
| Potty Training. | 3/3/2011 |
| Q: We recently introduced a 4 month old St. Bernard/Great Dane mix to our home. When purchasing the ... A: Rules for potty training: take the dog out more often than you think she needs to go, supervise the ... | |
| Dog peeing | 2/12/2011 |
| Q: We have twin Mini dashounds that will not stop peeing/marking on chairs, blankets, beds, walls, ... A: Dachshunds are among the more difficult breeds to house train, and being intact does not help, as ... | |
| My dog eats poop | 1/16/2011 |
| Q: how are you? I have a 2 year old Chihuahua named twinkles, and a 3 year old Chihuahua named luna, ... A: While it bothers humans, poop-eating is not abhorrent to dogs. I suspect your dog may possibly have ... | |
| Crate potty training | 1/11/2011 |
| Q: I just adopted a 1 year old mix poodle, I have been trying to potty train him. I have read what you ... A: I never think it's a good idea leave dogs outdoors alone all day. too much chance for boredom to ... | |
| rottweiler | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: i just got a rottweiler from my frnds place...he is 8 months old.he is not trained in ... A: It sounds as though he is very anxious. Try using a better treat (real meat instead of biscuits) at ... | |
| how to train my puppy. | 12/13/2010 |
| Q: I have a american pit bull terrier puppy (although i m not sure of the breed) of 2 months old. I do ... A: If you have a puppy class available, take him to class. If not, there are some free lessons at ... | |
| Dog and toddler | 12/10/2010 |
| Q: I am in the process of certifying with a dog for a service animal for emotional needs. The dog I ... A: I would be very suspicious of this company, as it seems they are giving you advice that is very ... | |
| Puppy on a leash | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a 9 week old puppy, mixed German Shepherd and Pit bull, that refuses to walk on the leash. ... A: He's just a baby, and this is very common in puppies. When he stops, let him have a look around, ... | |
| potty training | 11/18/2010 |
| Q: How do I train my dog to use the potty outside? he is four months old. A: The biggest thing is supervision. So, you watch the puppy all the time, whenever he is outside of ... | |
| Introducing a pit bull to other dogs and people | 11/17/2010 |
| Q: Anne, First let me tell you how well my 3 year old pit bull is doing. 6 Months ago I asked you for ... A: If you aren't sure of your dog's intentions, don't put anyone, dog or human, at risk. Engage the ... | |
| problem jack russel | 11/16/2010 |
| Q: my jack russel is 17 months old had him since apup when hes out with the other two dogs he gets ... A: Your dog is not a problem dog, he's just untrained. It isn't reasonable to expect a dog to ... | |
| dog peeing | 11/15/2010 |
| Q: I just discovered that my 5 year old SCHNOODLE (he is neutered) has been peeing on the living room ... A: He was probably insufficiently house trained and you didn't realize it. But, it's not impossible to ... | |
| shitzu sam | 11/13/2010 |
| Q: sam is really good the problem were having is that when i take him out he does his dootie i then say ... A: He may not be completely house trained. You could take him out more frequently, but you should also ... | |
| Male Marking | 11/11/2010 |
| Q: I've asked another expert about this problem before, but we're not having very much success. We ... A: DAP is just a calming pheromone, and I'm not aware of any impact on territory. It just tends to ... | |
| Young Moodle Trouble | 11/10/2010 |
| Q: I have a two question. I have a Moodle his still only young, about 10 - 11 months, and he is a ... A: The reason your Maltese/Poodle mix is urinating, licking, and tail chasing is that he is an anxious ... | |
| Male Marking | 11/9/2010 |
| Q: I've asked another expert about this problem before, but we're not having very much success. We ... A: Are you tethering him because he isn't crate trained, or might soil in his crate? Crate training is ... | |
| About 1year old Training | 11/7/2010 |
| Q: I have a blue tick hound mixed with maybe coonhound. He is about 9months old still squatting to pee. ... A: I would stop reprimanding him and not insist that your neighbor's dog be welcome in your house if he ... | |
| Black Lab puppy not grasping potty training | 11/5/2010 |
| Q: my sister recently adopted a 7-week-old Black Lab puppy named Inca. We've had her for nearly a week ... A: Here's a good article on house training: ... | |
| toilet training | 11/4/2010 |
| Q: my 2yr old house living dog is toilet trained. But she has taken to urinating/poohing on the ... A: I think it might be simpler to try to get her to use the yard, rather than the veranda. First, ... | |
| hyper and disobediant | 11/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a blue nose full blooded pit, (well I think he is all pit) I received him almost 3 weeks ago, ... A: He doesn't "know better" or he'd be cooperating - dogs are not stubborn as a rule, they are just ... | |
| Dog verses cat | 10/30/2010 |
| Q: I need help with helping my adopted mini aussie to accept my cats. When Sam first came to our house ... A: I'm curious if you got your other dogs as puppies, or if they already had experience with cats. If ... | |
| Housebreaking | 10/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a two year old dorkie that is proving to be impossible to house break. I adopted her six ... A: I suspect that her previous owner may have acquired this dog from a pet shop or unscrupulous breeder ... | |
| Excited/scared peeing | 9/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a 6 y/o female boxer, whom I have had since she was 5 weeks old. She has a peeing problem. ... A: If this dog is spayed, she may have a relaxed sphincter that complicates a submissive or excitable ... | |
| learning to walk on a leash | 9/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a 10 week old adopted-rescue mixed terrier female puppy. Bella will be very stubborn when ... A: I doubt if this is stubbornness at this early age:-) She may just be going through a brief fear ... | |
| Silky Terrier puppy | 9/19/2010 |
| Q: Me and my girlfriend just purchased a 4 month old male silky terrier puppy from "The Pet Company" at ... A: I'm not as concerned about his ability to be house trained because of his age as I am because of ... | |
| housebreaking only 98% complete - tried everything | 9/17/2010 |
| Q: Eight months ago we adopted a rescue dog, spayed boxer-mix about 2 1/2, to join our existing 2 ... A: If she never does it in front of you, it may be that someone in her past scolded her for mistakes in ... | |
| Running Away | 9/16/2010 |
| Q: Our 1.5 yr old pointer loves to run away from the yard every so often. He is neutered and extremely ... A: Yes, this is still a situation where you do NOT punish the dog for getting home - EVER. Dogs that ... | |
| Digging Dogg | 8/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a 6 month old mixed breed dog, I was told he is part chiwawa and part terrier, he ways 11 ... A: Actually, there is only one solution I think may work. Terriers are natural diggers and are ... | |
| terrified to go outside | 8/24/2010 |
| Q: We have 2 dogs---Duke is a 5 year old neutered male. He is a lab mix. Katie is a 2 year old spayed ... A: It's not unusual for dogs to be "one trial learners" or to be superstitious about an area where they ... | |
| 6 mo, male boxer | 8/23/2010 |
| Q: Our boxer does not bark (rarely barks). We want him to alert us to someone on the outside of the ... A: He's still very young, so I wouldn't be too concerned yet. Boxers are generally naturally ... | |
| Marking While Walking Reinforcing? | 8/2/2010 |
| Q: I'm trying to get my 1 year old old Lab to stop peeing and marking in the house. My girlfriend says ... A: Urine marking is normal canine behavior, most commonly done by intact male dogs. Marking outside is ... | |
| 4 yr lab getting up several times a night | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: My friends lab was potty trained to go outside and when she came back in he always gave her a treat. ... A: If she has accidents in the house she is not house trained, and may never have been. If she is a ... | |
| PLEASE HELP! | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: I have a 2 year old Rhodisian Ridgeback mix and he is extremely dog aggressive. We got him from a ... A: Since I cannot see your dog's behavior, I can't tell if it's related to pure aggression, or if he is ... | |
| Training adult dogs | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: I have 4 terriers, 2 ratties & 2 cairns, all under 5 years, all under 12#. 3 females, 1 male, all ... A: This is difficult, because the only way to successfully house train dogs is to prevent them from ... | |
| Beagle Puppy | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: We have a 7 mo Beagle that I am spending my days crate training and other training basics. I am ... A: Beagles that get bored outdoors can become howlers or diggers, neither of which behavior you ... | |
| Puppy scares me, and I don't know what to do! | 7/19/2010 |
| Q: I have a 11week old Chiweenie. (dachshund/Chi mix) She is very playful and teething. She likes to ... A: Just checking in to see how you are doing with your puppy. | |
| piddling in kennel | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: I have a 3 month old lab puppy. She doesn't pee or poop in the kennel during the night or anything, ... A: This sounds like "submissive urination" or "excitable urination" and it usually subsides as a puppy ... | |
| dog attacks kitten | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: we have two dogs right now, sadie a pure bred jack russel and bailey, her daughter, a jack-sheltie ... A: For most dogs, which are predators by nature, to live successfully with other species of pets, they ... | |
| Crystal the beagle | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: Crystal is 8 1/2 years old,she is a beagle, She is a female, and she is neutered. Over the last year ... A: Speak to Crystal's veterinarian. Beagles generally live long, active lives, and to get lazy at this ... | |
| puppy house training | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: I got a puppy 4 days ago and am trying to train him to go to the bathroom outside. For awhile he ... A: Have you accidentally startled him inside when he's had an "accident"? Sometimes, puppies that have ... | |
| dogs attack kitten | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: we have two dogs right now, sadie a pure bred jack russel and bailey, her daughter, a jack-sheltie ... A: Dogs are often fine with cats they meet when they are puppies, but not with others. That's because ... | |
| puppy peeing problem | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a 5 month old cocker spaniel. Ever since we bought him, he has had a habit of peeing when ... A: Cockers do have more than their fair share of "submissive (or excitable) urination." The best thing ... | |
| Pomeranian leash training. | 6/25/2010 |
| Q: i have recently bought a Pomeranian puppy named Zoey. She is about 4 months old. I just started to ... A: Lots of times, this behavior is the result of the puppy having lots of energy. One thing you can ... | |
| dog weeing on couch at night only | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: We have 2 male boxers, a 2yr old and a 6mth old, the 6mth old has started to wee on the couch at ... A: If the puppy was previously house trained, and has suddenly started this behavior, the first thing ... | |
| Teaching an emergancy down | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: I wonder if you could please explain how to do this both where the dog is coming towards you - my ... A: If the dog is running off, and focused on prey, it can be too late. In that situation, you really ... | |
| Dog will is afraid to go outside | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1 year Norweigan She has been spayed. Up until about a week ago she would spend the ... A: I have no way of knowing what happened but, sometimes, dogs get this way because of a loud noise, a ... | |
| old habits | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a little dog that is 7yrs. old. My mother-in-law feed it scraps all the time and it weights ... A: It sounds as though some of her behavior is related to anxiety. It's also possible that her extreme ... | |
| male dog marking while on walks | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a 3 year old male dog (probably a mix of poodle/bischon/maltese - maybe a tad of terrier - ... A: The first thing to do with any dog that is constantly urinating everywhere is to have a culture and ... | |
| House-Training | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: I just got my dog about a month ago. I was told that he was house-trained and at first he seemed to ... A: There are a couple of reasons why this could be happening. It may be that he really doesn't know ... | |
| border collie | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: WE have a 5 year old border collie female named mandy. she is very smart, and smart enough to ... A: Good for you for not punishing your dog! Your instinct was right. The key to a good recall is to ... | |
| Naughty Shihtzu's | 5/28/2010 |
| Q: I have two AKC registered, purebred Shihtzu's, mother and daughter. We had them perfectly ... A: Punishment for house training issues, even if it's mild, can have the unwanted effect of having your ... | |
| dog body blocking new puppy | 5/27/2010 |
| Q: We have a 10 month female/spayed labradore and recently got a 5 month shih zu neutered male. For the ... A: I need a little more description, if you wouldn't mind. Can you tell me how the Lab is doing this ... | |
| Scared, possibly abused puppy | 5/24/2010 |
| Q: I've just recently moved back into my parents place, and they have a new dog. They have had him for ... A: You are doing the wrong things, quite innocently of course. Never chase or drag a scared dog - ... | |
| Skittish 12 week husky | 5/21/2010 |
| Q: We adopted a 12 week old female husky that was born under a house. She was very skittish when we ... A: Unfortunately, you may have inadvertently "trapped" her by putting her on the leash "to show her it ... | |
| my puppy | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: My dog is being over protective and i want him to be nice to people. When some one walks by he ... A: Usually when dogs seem overprotective or aggressive, it really isn't protectiveness that they are ... | |
| Puppy house training | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: Ok my two main things are crate training, and also potty training. We got him Sunday, and went to ... A: Here's our house training protocol. As to the crate whining, you NEVER acknowledge a puppy in its ... | |
| puppy tears up all training pads | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: HELP!!! My new puppy-female- TOY Chihuahua- is only 2.8lbs. and 3 mos old now and I am at my "wits ... A: First, she seems very mouthy, so I suspect that she has had little experience playing with other ... | |
| Dog neutering | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I are purchasing a German Shepherd.The breeder deals only with German and french ... A: I am not an authority on early neuter, but here is a study you may want to read: ... | |
| digging | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: i have a 5 month old puppy that is mixed between a husky and a German shepard and a lab is there a ... A: Digging is a hard habit to break. It usually starts from boredom and being left alone in the yard, ... | |
| digging | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: i have a 5 month old puppy that is mixed between a husky and a German shepard and a lab is there a ... A: Probably not, but what you can do is provide a safe area for him to dig and train him to only use ... | |
| going to the bathroom in the house | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: I got a 9yr old lab mix, very well trained dog. He is house broken and get lots of outside time. In ... A: Sometimes, when a dog's living situation changes, his house training skills regress. So, go back to ... | |
| Agressive Pitt/Hound mix | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I recently got an 8 month old pitt/hound mix named Bo. He is about 60 pounds and ... A: You have a few issues, but the most important to deal with are the aggression issues and the ... | |
| Swimming and Seperation Anxiety Issues | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: First of all, I have a beautiful Siberian husky that will be 4 this year and he's a great buddy, ... A: True separation anxiety usually involves either destruction to the environment, or to the dog. Just ... | |
| Dog | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a three year old Pit-German Shepherd mix, male dog. I had him fixed very early because of the ... A: It sounds as though your dog has food related aggression. There are protocols you can use to reduce ... | |
| How do i potty train my dog inside and outside | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: To wait till i take him outside, but when im not home i would like for it to learn how to potty in a ... A: I'm not a big fan of training a Dobe to potty in a litter box. When your dog is full grown, he will ... | |
| puppy aggression | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: We have a 4 month old cow-dog/collie mix. Bella is starting to get more aggressive toward my ... A: Puppy nipping is normal but should not be encouraged. This dog needs to get in to a good positive ... | |
| head collar on dogs | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: may i know when to use a head collar on a dog?? A: Head collars are useful for dogs that pull while being walked on leash. They are not a substitute ... | |
| Aggression towards other dogs | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a 3yo male neutered Siberian Husky and my friend has a ~2yo female neutered pit bill. We ... A: Some Pit Bulls simply are dog aggressive, and, often, that's more due to genetics than any failure ... | |
| toilet trianing | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: 1) that a medical issue please hello i got my dog 3 weeks ago from someone who dont want her ... A: Take her back to the vet - it's not normal for a dog to be lethargic, and if she is sneezing, she ... | |
| Headstrong Great Dane | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: We have a 15 month old male Great Dane,Loki. We took him to an obedience class in the Fall and did ... A: He simply isn't trained to come reliably, so for now, he doesn't belong off leash. The best system ... | |
| Stopping dog from peeing on wee wee pad | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: We just adopted a small 8 month old Norfolk terrier who is trained to do his business on a wee wee ... A: You can do either, so long as you supervise the dog whenever he is in the house so that you prevent ... | |
| puppy potty | 3/30/2010 |
| Q: Our Shihzu/Pug cross pup is 20wks old and paper trained, we are currently attempting to train her to ... A: She's probably just confused by the carpet's similarity to grassy places. I usually recommend that ... | |
| Puppy outside chewing | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: My just 4 month old standard poodle chews pinhe cones, leaves, twigs and just about anything that is ... A: Puppies investigate everything with their mouths. He's old enough to go to class and learn the ... | |
| fear and house training | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: I recently adopted a mix pit bull terrier about 2- 3 years old. She spent most of her life in a ... A: The first thing to do is build the bond - you have great instincts about that. Use food!!! It's a ... | |
| Inside to Outside Business | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: My mini Aussie Shepard is 21 weeks old. I got her when she was 10 weeks old. I live in an ... A: To be honest, I would have started her outside in the first place, albeit in an area free from the ... | |
| dog behavior | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a mix breed, thought to be golden retriever, lab and some chow. We have had Wally since he ... A: I think what you may not realize is that you can't "socialize" a dog that is beyond the ... | |
| dog behavior | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a mix breed, thought to be golden retriever, lab and some chow. We have had Wally since he ... A: You may not have socialized him quite enough to novel people when he was really, really young, or it ... | |
| Help!!! | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: My name is Michelle and I recently purchased a 4 month old yorkie. I bought him from someone who ... A: I think you should get him in to a class with a positive trainer really soon. You have multiple ... | |
| uninterested potential therapy dog!! | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: I just rescued a 4 yr old Australian Shepard. She is the most laid back, calm dog I have ever met. ... A: If all she does is sleep, I would consult with the veterinarian. If the fosterer was shady, the dog ... | |
| uninterested potential therapy dog!! | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: I just rescued a 4 yr old Australian Shepard. She is the most laid back, calm dog I have ever met. ... A: If you just rescued her, it may take up to three months to see her personality really come out. In ... | |
| new aggressive behavior in my mature yorkie | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: My Yorkie just turned 3years old and has developed a new aggressive habit toward other dogs when ... A: Do you mind if I ask you a few questions that could help me answer better? 1. Did your Yorkie have ... | |
| My dog is unexplicably affraid of a friends bongo. | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: My dog is a one year old syber-caan. (cross between a NAID and a Israeli Caan.) He is a large ... A: Dogs are often fearful of very novel items, especially one that makes noise. To get your dog used ... | |
| Animal training | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: :) my name is myriam and im really interested in being a animal trainer. Im in rosemere high school ... A: According to you, what are the advantages and disadvantages of being a animal trainer? Advantages: ... | |
| How to keep dog from peeing/pooping when nobody is home | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: My girlfriend and I have a Boston Terrier that we've had for about a month and a half now. She is 3 ... A: I wonder if the first owner was not honest with you, or if the dog was not left for such long ... | |
| chiauaua is going potty around house(instead of using litterbox) since new baby came home | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: our 10 year old Chihuahua has used her litterbox faithfully- never having any mistakes before. Now ... A: Dogs often regress in their house training when there are significant changes in the household, such ... | |
| serious resource guarding | 1/30/2010 |
| Q: I have a 9 months old Beagle puppy, and he is a SERIOUS resource guarding dog. My sister and I got ... A: The first thing you must do is stop chasing him or approaching him when he has a forbidden object - ... | |
| Mini Pincher putty training | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: My mini pincher is 4.5 months old. Usually he eliminate on the paper. Accidents happen, but seldom ... A: If you have ever scolded him for missing his papers or having an accident inside, he may be ... | |
| leash tug of war | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a 12 week old male Border Collie/Blue Heeler mix. I've recently begun leash training with ... A: I sense that you may not have owned working herding breeds before. They often, even as young ones, ... | |
| Stubborn and Hyperactive Puppy | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: We've recently adopted two Japanese Spitz puppies, now 10 weeks old (both female, from the same ... A: You said you "adopted", but if you "bought", your breeder took you for a ride, or you adopted from ... | |
| Crate Training a Puppy | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a dachsund/chihuahua mix puppy, male, not neutered yet, who is 6 weeks old. I just got him ... A: Whoever sold you this puppy did him, and you, an injustice. This pup is too young to have been ... | |
| Bruce- my Rottie | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: My Rottweiler bruce is almost 9 months old, and he's showing territorial aggression! i live in a ... A: Rottweilers, Dobermans, and German Shepherds often display territorial behavior. You most certainly ... | |
| Cavachon Puppy Training | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: Anne, My partner and I have just got a Cavachon puppy, 9 weeks old. She had been at a new home ... A: No nine week old puppy is house trained, and no toy dog should ever be left outside alone! The ... | |
| my dogs fight (follow up) | 1/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a Pyrenees/St. Bernard mix and my mother has a small collie kind of dog. My dog is 125 lbs. ... A: Even if they don't "fight to the end" one of those dogs might be fearful and anxious - is it really ... | |
| my dogs fight | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: I have a Pyrenees/St. Bernard mix and my mother has a small collie kind of dog. My dog is 125 lbs. ... A: Dogs choose who they like and dislike, just as we do. Also, dogs will sometimes choose to guard ... | |
| my dog keeps peeing on my bed and couches. | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: I have a corgie mix I got from the pound .. He is three and neutered ... He will pee in the bed at ... A: I would restrict his access to those places, and go back to house training 101. Often, when dogs ... | |
| Introducing two female dogs | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: My question is how should my Dad and I introduce, the right way, our two dogs that are already in ... A: I doubt if you can get them to get along. When two females who are socially mature decide to ... | |
| Spinone pup 3 1/2 mo | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: Our pup got anaphalaxis shock from probable bee sting last week. Can't take out all blooms on lage ... A: Speak to your veterinarian about whether you should keep epinephrine on hand. Most dog owners that ... | |
| Make my dog sleep in his own bed and not mine! | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: I hope you can help me. My husband and I have a Mini Schnauzer that is 9 months old. We got him when ... A: Learn to clicker train! Here's a video of someone teaching her dog to "go to mat" ... | |
| 7 year old Dachshund lifting leg in house | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: I have a 7 year old neutered mini dachshund that has just started lifting his leg. He has always ... A: This sounds like urine marking behavior and is probably due to the other dog having reached social ... | |
| dog distraction/deer carcass | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: Our dog is a mutt mostly Rhodesian Ridgeback. She has been spayed and is about 2 years old. We ... A: I never recommend shock collars. Here's a site that explains why: ... | |
| Dog training invisible fence | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: We have a 1 year old mix lab we rescued from the shelter two months ago. She is very bright, well ... A: Unfortunately, you've made her noise phobic, as she is terrified that she is going to be shocked, ... | |
| 4 year old Pomeranian and kennel training | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: I adopted a Pomeranian that is about 4 years old. She is very sweet. She does exibit some ... A: Patricia McConnell has two great little books that I think you may want to get...the first is "Way ... | |
| Labrador doing pooing on patio | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: Please help I have 6 month old black Labrador. She is a wonderful dog, the only problem is that she ... A: You can teach her to pee and poop in an approved spot, but she will never learn it unless you take ... | |
| House Training | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a 2 months old female lab.I have been trying to house train her since last week.Since she has ... A: Don't isolate your puppy - she needs to meet new people, new dogs (they should be vaccinated) and ... | |
| walking my 11 month old pup | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: ) I have an 11 month old female Golden Retriever - she is a sweetheart, and loves her daily ... A: Well, you have two things working against you right now. One is that Goldens, because they are bred ... | |
| previously housebroken dog has started pooping inside | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a four year old black lab mutt that I have owned since he was 8 weeks old. He was perfectly ... A: Dogs can sense pregnancy hormones, and changes in routines, and in the general stress level of a ... | |
| Dog won't use dog door when we are not home | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: Our 2 year old Miniature Schnauzer, Phoebe, is a proud beneficiary of a brand new dog door. We work ... A: Unfortunately, other than perhaps leaving some poo in the yard to create scent, you really can't do ... | |
| walking | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: I have an 11 week old staffy pup he has had all his injections and things. I have been walking him ... A: This varies with each pup, but you don't want to walk more than about five minutes for every month ... | |
| Peeing on beds | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1 year old Cockapoo who has been with us for 4 months now (Rosie). She came to us at 9 ... A: I think that you are experiencing a "territorial marking" issue, not a house training failure. Here ... | |
| my dog is out of control | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: my dog is a little Maltese terrier and hes so out of control everytime we leave the house he either ... A: Your dog sounds very anxious, as though your leaving is very stressful for him. Dogs will often try ... | |
| paper training a 7 wk. old puppy | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: I have a 16 month old Chihuahua (Wooda) that is paper trained --kind of--, she thinks if one paw is ... A: I think you may have made a grave error. First of all, your Chihuahua should not be living in close ... | |
| Dog training | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a 6 year old Alsatian and a one year old Dalmatian. My dogs have gotten into a habit of ... A: You can teach them a "stay" and a good recall. For the recall, I like the method Leslie Nelson ... | |
| Becoming a qualified dog trainer | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: I am 17 years old and i am currently at college studying chemistry, physics and biology. I used to ... A: If you want to pursue training, some of the online courses are ok, but nothing takes the place of ... | |
| Fear of doors? | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: My family rescued a 4 to 5 year old West Highland Ranch terrier named Bella. Bella seems to have ... A: Bella may not have been socialized to anyone with a disability when she was a puppy, so avoids this ... | |
| Shih-poo housebreaking | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: I asked this question on the general Dogs board but I probably should have posted it here under ... A: Here is how I house train a dog: I allow the dog no freedom in the house unless I am watching it. If ... | |
| puppy seperation | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: We just add a Tibetan Spaniel 5.5 months to our family, he was neutered almost 2 weeks ago prior to ... A: Grab a copy of Patricia McConnell's booklet "I'll be Home Soon" - there are lots of excellent tips ... | |
| Cavalier king Charles Peeing Problem | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: I recently adopted a 2 year old female Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from a family who never ... A: Unfortunately, you have to house train her as you would a young puppy, right from the get go so that ... | |
| Needs help getting my puppy to pee outside | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: Hey there i have a 6 week old puppy and she is peeing and poopin in my house i brings her out often ... A: Do NOT tap the puppy on the nose. Here's a cheat sheet on nipping that I give my students: PUPPY ... | |
| Australian shepherd | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: I am waiting on a friend also a breeder of Aussie to have a litter ready for me to choose from. I am ... A: Your dog does not have to wait until it's six months old to start obedience training. In fact, if ... | |
| peeing | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: My partner and I recently adopted a rot/husky/boxer mix. We feel he is a perfect match, especially ... A: For one thing, stop scolding!!! A dog that has "submissive urination" or "excitable urination" gets ... | |
| lhasa apso, biting behavior | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: We adopted a lhasa apso from the pound about eight months ago. He is a very sweet and loving dog but ... A: If you can't control the chaos, you will not be able to control the dog - they feed off of the ... | |
| my dog keeps crying n howling | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: hi i have a staffordshire bull terrier he is now 18 months old and has always slept in a kennel ... A: I have no idea why, but any time a dog exhibits a sudden change in behavior, you should get a vet to ... | |
| Adopting 10 mo. old intact male black lab | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: My husband's sister recently left her husband from an abusive relationship. Apparently, she ... A: First things first. It may be best to have the dog neutered before you introduce him to your ... | |
| Litter box training | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: I have a 11 week old puppy. She ( Layla )is half shi tzu half mini-dachshund. She only weighs 1.5 ... A: I think that may be a good idea. She is being given too much freedom too soon at night. She is ... | |
| soft coated wheaton terrior adult | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a wheaton terrior he is one year old and he is still peeing in the house and on people. I ... A: If he is still urinating in the home, and he is neutered, you should probably go back to "house ... | |
| Chiwennie pooping on floor | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: We adopted a chihuahua, terrier, dachshund mix when he was 8 weeks old. He has been a dream since ... A: First of all, you should not be punishing the dog, you should be training him. Punishment adds to ... | |
| My dog(s) poop and pee in the house and are sometimes destructive when I am gone | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: I have 6 dogs total; one of which is a full blooded Weimaraner, 3 are puppies of the Weimar that are ... A: You may not like my answer, but I think you have way too many untrained dogs, and are expecting too ... | |
| jumping at windows | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: i have a 2 1/2 year old male boxer who when he sees from the window a person or dogs walking past ... A: First, I'd place a barrier over the windows to minimize his view. Next, train him to "leave it" and ... | |
| my yorkie hates toddlers | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: My male Yorkie, Killer, is 1.5 yrs and not neutered. He has been with us his whole life and never ... A: There's nothing you can do to *guarantee* that children will be safe with this dog. First, I would ... | |
| crate training | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a 3 years old Shih Tzu mix rescued from a puppy mill where she was left in a crate to breed. ... A: Chances are that she was kept in a wire crate as a breeder, so you might want to consider leaving ... | |
| my chiweenie | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I both work during the day and my chiweenie is left home alone. She is house trained ... A: Whether your dog is ok being left alone is not solely a question of his breed, but also his ... | |
| Evaluating shy/aggressive behavior | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: I'd like your help evaluating the training needs of a purebred female "young adult" Norwegian ... A: I think that's a wise choice. If you intend to purchase from a breeder, I know a great one in ... | |
| Housetraining a puupy | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: Although its not my first dog, its been a while since I last trained a dog, who ended up a lovely, ... A: If you don't want to use a crate excessively, you can tether the pup to your belt or use a waist ... | |
| Evaluating shy/aggressive behavior | 7/25/2009 |
| Q: I'd like your help evaluating the training needs of a purebred female "young adult" Norwegian ... A: The optimal socialization period for dogs is between age 8-12 weeks! If you have not yet adopted ... | |
| DOG WETTING IN THE HOUSE | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: I HAVE A STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER (MALE) HE IS 17 MONTHS OLD. HE HAS FULL ACCESS TO ALL OF THE ... A: You need to go back to house training 101, and stop allowing him full access to the house until he ... | |
| Puppy Yelping | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a 6 month old Cocker Spaniel/King Charles Cavalier mix. She is the sweetest dog except when ... A: Meeting the dog's mother is not the only criterion for determining who is and is not a responsible ... | |
| Puppy Yelping | 7/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a 6 month old Cocker Spaniel/King Charles Cavalier mix. She is the sweetest dog except when ... A: Cockers are world class screamers sometimes, so this pup's genetics are probably at work a bit, but ... | |
| apprehensive basenji | 7/2/2009 |
| Q: Good day, Anne. My wife and I adopted an 8 year old female basenji back in April. Her name is Gypsy ... A: Sometimes, it isn't that a dog has been abused by anyone. It could just be that she didn't receive ... | |
| Puggle Separation Anxiety | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: My puggle is 10 months old, and has a serious case of seperation anxiety. When I leave the house, I ... A: Unfortunately, your story is not uncommon among people who make the mistake of buying puppies from ... | |
| training?? | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1yr old american bull dog mix that weights almost a hundred pounds. Which I walk about ... A: Dogs jump up to get attention, or to greet (that's because dogs sniff one another's faces when they ... | |
| Neutered Male mounting spayed female | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: I saw this question was previously addressed but, my situation is a little different. I recently ... A: I suspect that if your female really didn't want him to do it, she might be more forceful in her ... | |
| Aggresively defends her crate | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a West Highland White Terrier and we trained her to know that her crate is her home and it's ... A: This sounds like resource guarding behavior. One thing you can do is read Jean Donaldson's book ... | |
| Aggressive Puppy Play | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: We recently purchased a beautiful German Shepherd from a breeder. The puppy is 9 weeks old. We ... A: This sounds like normal activity to me. However, your puppy should also be playing with other dogs ... | |
| Puppy Biting | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a 4 month old male chow. He is mixed with something I am unaware of though I suspect it to be ... A: Without personally evaluating the dog, I don't know if it's fixable, but I can tell you that the way ... | |
| Dog barking while I am gone | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: My dog is about 9-10 months old. We adopted him about a month ago, he was a stray. Not sure if he ... A: This is not full blown separation anxiety, as that usually involves dogs being quite destructive to ... | |
| dog barking | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: all my attention he starts barking uncontrollable , and he is constantly chomping with his teeth and ... A: My suggestion is to take him to training classes - dogs don't just come because you say "Come". ... | |
| recall at the beach | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 border collies,male5yo,female3yo.Both have very reliable recall,stay,down,etc.We take them ... A: Teach them an emergency recall using a real whistle. I use the Acme Thunder, which seems to be loud ... | |
| nervous dog - urinating | 5/9/2009 |
| Q: I have what I call a weeney dog - female and 8 years old. I have had the dog going on 5 months. ... A: Why "correct" her when you can "instruct" her? Try marker, or clicker, training to teach her how ... | |
| New dog moved in with ours | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: we have a 10month old staffy x pitbull male dog, who is quite a playful and excited dog 24/7, and ... A: You might not be able to - dogs make their own friends, and you should have introduced them on ... | |
| housetraining | 5/2/2009 |
| Q: We have a 10 week old retriever/collie female puppy. We live in a highrise so I started to use ... A: Definitely do not wait to socialize her. Stay away from areas where a lot of dogs urinate or ... | |
| housetraining | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: We have a 10 week old retriever/collie female puppy. We live in a highrise so I started to use ... A: It sounds like she may be going through a bit of a fear period, which is common at her age. Try to ... | |
| Potty Trained | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: im Brandi. And i own a 3 year old stafford shire. (little pitbull). She is a very cuddly dog. She ... A: If she is spayed, it could be that she is suffering from spay incontinence. There are inexpensive ... | |
| Our dog just started peeing in his kennel. | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: We have a three year old lab that we have had since he was two months old. We previously lived in a ... A: Dogs don't generalize well, and are often disconcerted and forget their house manners after a move. ... | |
| fear agression? | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: For the first 3 weeks he was the friendliest, sunniest dog we ever had and knew basic commands of ... A: Humping is NOT aggressive behavior, it's just status seeking behavior, and can be rude, but not ... | |
| aggression | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: My German Shepherd (7 years old female) has not responded to training re aggression and dominance ... A: Your dog may not have been adequately socialized as a puppy (age 8-12 weeks) to accept lots of ... | |
| labrador wont poop in the yard | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a five year old full lab and I have walked him since he was a puppy. we just had a fence put ... A: Teach him a word that means "go poop" (that's what I use, but some people prefer "hurry up" or some ... | |
| fear aggression or resource guarding...? | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a 18 month old beagle, terrier, cocker mix. I have had her since a puppy and have had 2 ... A: Don't stop mealtime - by taking her food, you are actually making her worse. Her anxiety is that ... | |
| New 3yr old Shepherd - Socialization Tips | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: We have recently adopted a 3.5yr old steralized German Shepherd form the RSPCA. Apparently the ... A: I hate to be pessimistic, but if puppies are not well socialized between the ages of 8-12 weeks, as ... | |
| puppy training & behavior | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: I adopted a shepherd from our local humane society about one week ago. He still acts very scared and ... A: Make friends! Don't drag him, try to entice him with a nice piece of chicken to take a step ... | |
| Toy poodle barking incessantly when enclosed in a space | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: My toy poodle is about 10 weeks old. I got him a week ago exactly. He is so wonderful..he ... A: First, make his crate a great place to be so that he will be less likely to mind being confined in ... | |
| german shepherd aggression/overprotectiveness | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: i have a one year old german shepherd female dog who is spayed. we got her when she was about 14 ... A: At her age, she is reaching social maturity, which is when dogs decide who's in the pack, and who is ... | |
| behavioral | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a basset terrier mix dog who is 1yr and 3 months old. He is generally a great dog and follows ... A: Without seeing his behavior, I cannot accurately tell you why he does it, or if it's aggression or ... | |
| having problems with housebreaking | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a 15wk olde english bulldog puppy that likes to potty in the house alot. So I limit the ... A: Never limit a dog's water during the day - it's fine to do a couple of hours before bedtime. If you ... | |
| getting my husky 2 pee outside | 4/7/2009 |
| Q: my siberian husky is about 4months old and dicides 2 urinate wherever he chooses usally when he ... A: Take him out more often than you think he needs to go, and don't wait for him to "tell you" at this ... | |
| discipline for rescue dog | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: Lorie, I recently adopted a 2 yr old retriever mix. He's a very affectionate dog but doesn't like to ... A: This is horrible - once a dog has performed an action, you have about 2 SECONDS to address it if you ... | |
| Play techniques-dogs | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: Any tips on interactive play techniques? Small dog is very non-aggressive. responds to commands for ... A: Count your blessings, LOL. This sounds like an ideal family dog! Unfortunately, the very qualities ... | |
| Farm Dog | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: we adopted our black lab / hound from the pound 2 and a half years ago. He is an avid hunter on his ... A: Once he has been rewarded for going to the other farms, he'll keep going. why does he have to be ... | |
| older dog sleeping in bed | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: I have two 9 year old poms. They have slept with me all their lives. I am getting married soon, ... A: A dog can be trained at any age. You simply need to arrange some cozy beds (preferably still in ... | |
| Dog has started pooping in house | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: My 9 1/2 year old West Highland Terrier has recently started pooping--and just last night ... A: Dogs do not generally engage in attention seeking behavior this way, so my guess is that something ... | |
| staying home | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: I adopted a one year old yellow lab retriever mix from the local animal shelter a few weeks ago. I ... A: You need lots of obedience training, and it is not realistic to be able to leave a dog run free and ... | |
| House breakinf | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: How can I completely house train my 6 yr old cockapoo? A: House breaking is really an exercise in supervision. Either tether your dog to your waist, or crate ... | |
| My dog has afraid of bus | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: My dog has afraid of bus. I have an 3 year old Akita. After 1 year and a half, we don´t know why he ... A: Buses are noisy and give off fumes that are strange to dogs. So, my advice is to keep your distance ... | |
| behavior | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: I also wanted to know why my friends redheeler/border collie mix, dog's behavior change when going ... A: For the same reasons that your own behavior changes in the context of where you are. Different ... | |
| Dog Taking Forever to Fetch | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: My 11 month old plays the first half of fetch fine, but its the part before coming back that really ... A: Well, first, don't be so inclined to call it "nonsense" LOL. To the dog, it's perfectly normal ... | |
| Agressive behavior | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: My boyfriend saw this dog roaming our neighborhood and Tom, myself and our neighbor played with the ... A: Actually, most Pits are people friendly. Some dogs are territorial, but my guess is that the dog ... | |
| female dog agression | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: was looking on the internet and came across the site. We have a 5 month old female bernese mountain ... A: The simple answer is that she doesn't respect you. Therefore, you need to turn the tables. First, ... | |
| Puppy Biting | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a 3.5 month old Black Lab/Rottweiler mix. Ever since I got him at 8 weeks, he has had a ... A: If you've been yelling at him, stop it right now - he thinks you're barking:-)) That means he ... | |
| English Bulldog and our stairs | 3/16/2009 |
| Q: ..we have a 2 year old english bulldog who will not go down long flight of stairs. We have tried ... A: If you position yourself at the top of the stairs, and lean over the edge looking down, you can see ... | |
| separation anxiety | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: MY DOG CAN'T BE LEFT ALONE AT HOME. HE WILL BARK AND HOWL THE WHOLE TIME AND IS PANTING AND ... A: Well, you are right to be concerned. This could easily turn in to full blown separation anxiety if ... | |
| puppy staying and coming | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: im trying to teach my 3 month old pug puppy to stay and come and i was wondering if it is ok to ... A: No, I'd work on these two behaviors separately, and I would not call a novice dog out of a "stay". ... | |
| Dog peeing issue + other | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: I just recently got a puppy and am fully aware that it takes a lot of time to train a puppy (and ... A: Some dogs won't go outside because they have been scolded for "mistakes" indoors, and they learn to ... | |
| ROTTIE - 3 YEARS | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: We have a wonderful Rottie, she is just 3 years of age and in most ways lovely. However, we have two ... A: Even though the book was written to help owners of aggressive dogs, I like the protocol in Emma ... | |
| puppy paper training | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: i have fully trained my 3 month old pug puppy to PEE on newspapers but she never POOPS on the ... A: You have to observe when she looks like she has to go and actually take her to the papers. Dogs ... | |
| new dog in house | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: We have an 8yr old flat-coated retriever who we adopted 3 years ago. He is unbelievably docile and ... A: It sounds as though you have brought home "leader", and not another docile "follower". Your old dog ... | |
| Litter Training | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: I am moving cross-country from a house into an apartment. My dog is 7 mos. old and I am concerned ... A: Unless you are in a high rise, toileting in the city is possible - there are grassy patches or you ... | |
| Training a Special Needs Rescue Dog | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: My approximately 3 year old Pit Bull/German Shepherd/Husky mix is generally a mild manner, silly ... A: Well, firstly, you do have to walk him in something, and my guess is that he would be likelier to ... | |
| Every day she pees and poops in house!!! | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: Eight mths ago we rescued a lab/bloodhound or lab/boxer mix,Vets thinks she 2yrs old now.She was ... A: She simply isn't house trained, and it sounds like she may have the beginnings of separation ... | |
| Beagle Steals from Pockets | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: We have two Beagles - 16 months and 6 months. They're pretty well trained and well behaved in ... A: Unfortunately, dogs do what works, and they repeat behaviors that are intermittently reinforced. ... | |
| 7 year old female German Shepherd meeting 13 week old male german shepherd. | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a 7 year old female german shepherd who has always gotten along with other dogs. She would ... A: The fact that she didn't react badly when separated by a fence was good. It's normal for a female ... | |
| pinscher out of control | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: I just bought a 2 year old pinscher.my dog barks and cries while in the car driving like you are ... A: It sounds like you have an anxious dog. A couple of things you can do. Training helps - the more ... | |
| housebreaking | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: it doesn't matter what time of day i take my dog outside to go to the bathroom she refuses to go no ... A: It sounds as though someone may have scolded her for accidents. Some dogs don't learn not to pee ... | |
| pooing, nail cutting | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could tell me how to cut my 2 month old female unspayed pug puppy's nails. ... A: This is a good nail clipping tutorial: http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/dog_nails.aspx and has ... | |
| Dog Reacclimation | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: My daughter owns and loves a young mixed-breed female neutered dog. The dog is accustomed to ... A: This is a clear case of separation anxiety (the determining criteria being the self injury and ... | |
| Tether Training | 2/22/2009 |
| Q: We have lab/beagle mix and he has just started to want to take off an go down the road. So we bought ... A: The short answer is that he cannot be alone in the yard and be safe. There should always be a human ... | |
| puppy litter box | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a new 2 month old, female, not spayed pug. I am teaching it to use a litter box and have been ... A: With puppies, I would use the crate when you aren't there. Fighting with kitties isn't the only ... | |
| biting (4 moth old lab) | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: he constantly tries to bite me ( for the most part playfully) and will chew at the bottom of my pant ... A: Get your shoes off the floor!! Seriously, that's the solution at this age, because puppies think ... | |
| Dog Training But Never Home | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: I am not home enough. I work full-time, go to school and have other obligations. So I can be away ... A: Unfortunately, if you can't train or follow through, your problems will persist. But, you don't ... | |
| Puppy question about crying | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: I have an 8 week German Shep pup that I am crate training. I had the pup for about 5 days now and ... A: I don't know what you mean by "making it a positive experience" but if you mean that you are talking ... | |
| training to find something | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: i have 6 months old Lab female. how can i train it to find people, lost things etc. A: First, make sure that you have off leash control of your dog. So, a basic class, and maybe a "come ... | |
| Teaching an old dog new tricks? | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: We recently adopted a 7 year old rough collie that was previously a kennel dog. She is wonderful, ... A: First, stop correcting her physically - it isn't working anyway, and she has no idea what you do ... | |
| labrador behavior | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: I have a 7month old lab. He walks great sometimes. He likes to get ahead but I try to correct it. ... A: Stop correcting him!!!! Sometimes, that contributes to a dog's anxiety over meeting other dogs on ... | |
| my dog ripped up our carpet | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a female shepherd keshound mix, fixed. She is 11 and will be 12 around may. She weighs about ... A: Without a full behavioral consultation, I'm not sure, but one possibility is that her age is ... | |
| Distressed dog when left alone | 2/16/2009 |
| Q: not desexed, Rotty x Ridgeback that is having some boredom/anxiety issues when left alone during the ... A: Castration is one way to prevent dog to dog aggression, and should be done if you leave this dog ... | |
| barking and growling when people come to our house | 2/15/2009 |
| Q: We have adopted a female terrier/shitsu mix (neutered)about 1 yr old. We've had her shortly over 2 ... A: She may just be a bit fearful or unsure in certain situations. It can take a month or more before a ... | |
| now growling only after hes been fixed | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: We adobted a 11 month old rottweiler about a month ago he was gentle and playful until we got him ... A: What you refer to is known as "food aggression", or "resource guarding" (some dogs guard food, but ... | |
| abused peke puppy | 2/12/2009 |
| Q: I got a female pekingese a week ago from a pet shop that assured me she came from a wonderful, ... A: All pet store puppies come from puppy mills or backyard breeders, and are often un-socialized during ... | |
| fear of doggie door | 2/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a small dog of indeterminate breeding (probably part chihuahua, though he is bigger than ... A: I often share this article with people who ask me about dog doors and fearful dogs: ... | |
| dog doesn't bark | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: i have 6 months old Lab female. it does not bark. plz help me. how she barks on everyone? A: Don't worry, dogs often don't start barking until they reach adolescence. But, be aware that Labs ... | |
| Pit Bull Aggression | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a three year old neutered male pit bull. We also have a female spayed medium size dog we ... A: Muzzles protect the dog being attacked to some extent, but do absolutely nothing to prevent a dog ... | |
| over excitement | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: My mixed breed spayed female lab mix 6 month old puppy Rosy is highly excitable. We are in puppy ... A: Maybe, maybe not. But, you can do a lot to reduce the excitability. Try clicker training her to be ... | |
| Walking my dog | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a 7.5 lb. toy poodle (spayed female) almost 4 yrs. old. We enjoy going for long walks. So ... A: It's not always safe. Dogs can be very stoic in an effort to please you. If the weather is good, ... | |
| spray for dog pee | 2/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a 8 month old pitbull whom is spayeded.I have problems with her peeing the coach.Is there a ... A: No spray will work if the dog is not house trained. They just move on to a different spot. You ... | |
| spray for dog pee | 2/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a 8 month old pitbull whom is spayeded.I have problems with her peeing the coach.Is there a ... A: If she is not house trained, then you will need to do that.* However, some female dogs that have ... | |
| dog licking baby | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a 14 month old. My dog knows not to lick via past training (loud "no" praise when no ... A: Teach your dog to "leave it". There are some free lessons at www.clickertraininglessons.com. I ... | |
| Rescue Dog = I'm Losing My Mind. HELP! | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: Need all kinds of help with our rescue dog? We have rescued a Pointer mix, female, about a year old, ... A: Good for you for rescuing her:-))) If she pulls on her leash, don't go with her. Stand still ... | |
| dog | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: I want to get a puppy soon by I want to train it to not bark at everything not to bite and not to ... A: I would advise you to attend a good puppy class very early in your pup's life. I am a trainer, and ... | |
| My pit bull has confidence issues | 1/9/2009 |
| Q: Well, my little pit bull is about 18 to 20 weeks old and she has very big self esteem issues. she ... A: Well, first off, you are doing the wrong thing by scolding her when she pees in the house. When you ... | |
| Male Husky scared of Male owner | 12/29/2008 |
| Q: my husband and I recently (4 days) adopted a 14 month old male husky. We have had a 4 year old ... A: Jake CAN change. For the next three weeks, have your hubby be the only one to feed or walk the dog. ... | |
| climbing stairs and sleeping | 12/27/2008 |
| Q: I adopted a 5yr old Bison Poodle mix from the human society and have had him for 6 mo. He is a ... A: Elders often live in one story homes, so the dog may not ever have learned about stairs. Instead of ... | |
| house training | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: My girlfriend and I recently adopted a beagle mix (don't know what the other part is) from the ... A: 1. Why did she just start having these accidents? 2. How do we prevent them in the future? I ... | |
| dog's behavior with roommate | 12/1/2008 |
| Q: I have a rescue dog who I've had a little over 2 months. He's a young adult, roughly 3 years old. ... A: It appears that he is "resource guarding", and he doesn't respect your roommate the way he does you. ... | |
| shit tzu | 11/30/2008 |
| Q: I have a three year old neutered shih tzu. I watched "At the end of my leash" with Brad, he makes ... A: Dogs that like to go after things while on their walks may actually be fearful. Grab a copy of ... | |
| Potty Training a Great Dane Puppy | 11/28/2008 |
| Q: We have a great dane pup, and she is almost 6 mos. old. We have consistently tried to potty train ... A: Is this a pet shop dog, or did she come from a backyard breeder or internet breeder? Sometimes, ... | |
| grumpy old girl | 11/26/2008 |
| Q: I have a dog who wants nothing to do with other dogs.She is a mongrel in good health and is 11 years ... A: Unless your dog was well socialized to unfamiliar dogs of all ages and sizes when she was young ... | |
| Dog Behaviour | 11/14/2008 |
| Q: I have a 5 year old male bulldog, who has recently started pooping in the house in the evening. He ... A: Firstly, destructiveness might be normal for an adolescent dog, but not an adult. I would be ... | |
| behavior changes | 11/13/2008 |
| Q: I have 4 year old 70 lb britney spaniel mix. He is excellent dog and we live in an apartment and he ... A: With regard to his excitable behavior when you bring out the leash, that has been reinforced ... | |
| Shy Border Collie | 11/10/2008 |
| Q: I have an 8 year old Female Border Collie (spayed). She came to me at about 9 months of age, and had ... A: This sounds like normal Border Collie behavior, and is common among quite a few of the herding ... | |
| dog training | 11/9/2008 |
| Q: I just adopted a male dog about 2 from a shelter. I have pretty much taught him not to urinate in ... A: I do think he can learn. The secret is not to let him out of your sight inside the house. You can ... | |
| reward for "going" outside quickly | 11/8/2008 |
| Q: My son moved home and brought his 60lb huskie/lab mix dog. The dog is potty trained for outside and ... A: Try clicker training. You must click when she is completely finished (or she could learn to stop ... | |
| How to discipline | 11/5/2008 |
| Q: My dog is very stubborn. She is a 10 month old yorki poo. She was spayed about two months ago. ... A: Well, first of all, your dog is not being stubborn - she simply doesn't understand what you want her ... | |
| How to get my dog to play | 10/29/2008 |
| Q: I have a golden retriever and basset hound mix and she never wants to play with toys or balls....she ... A: Some dogs never learned to play as youngsters, and others have no particular interest in playing ... | |
| Territorial Aggression | 10/28/2008 |
| Q: I have a wonderful 11 month old fixed beagle mix named Maggie. She is sweet and loving, and I went ... A: With any form of aggression, I am leery of any trainer who uses physical correction or punishment. ... | |
| Fearful Dog | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: We adopted a collie/terrier mix 4 months ago. She is about one year old. When we brought her home, ... A: Don't force a scared dog to interact with the object of her fear. Let her take her time getting ... | |
| Potty Train A Puppy | 10/19/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to potty train her. I read many books and many websites and my puppy training class ... A: I think you should follow your trainer's advice. However, I also think it's unrealistic to expect a ... | |
| Puppy Biting | 10/16/2008 |
| Q: I have a puppy who is abou 5 almost 6 months old now and is a blue heeler. When I first got her, she ... A: If you continue to be aggressive with her, you may not like the result, as some dogs eventually get ... | |
| My Lab acts like a cat & training issues | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: my 7 month old female lab does everything backwards... she gets in trouble for chewing i tell her No ... A: You are making the dog very anxious with all your punishment that doesn't work anyway. My advice is ... | |
| Running off | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: he did this before and we trained him to play more with a ball,he is in no way aggressive in fact he ... A: A lot of owners get complacent about teaching their puppies a really good recall because, at first, ... | |
| Shitzu | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: I have a 6 month old shitzu and as long as i keep him in the kitchen he'll let us know when he needs ... A: Dogs don't generalize well, so if his only experience thus far has been that he shouldn't pee in the ... | |
| puppy biting and growling | 10/13/2008 |
| Q: I have a 14 week old Havatsu. He is adorable (I can literally not walk (I live in NYC)a block ... A: Here'a a little cheat sheet about this behavior that we give to our clients regarding this behavior, ... | |
| attached yorkie pup | 10/13/2008 |
| Q: I got toy yorkie about 3 weeks ago. He is a really great dog. He has just became VERY attached. In ... A: You will probably make your problem worse by letting him sleep in bed, by constant efforts to soothe ... | |
| dog walking | 10/12/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I just adopted the sweetest boxer mix 2-3 yr. old female who was left to fend for ... A: The first thing is to give her some time to develop a trust in you. Next, when she gets scared, you ... | |
| jumping | 10/12/2008 |
| Q: i have a 5 month mantel dane...he is very hyper...i guess they are noted for that...he jumps on all ... A: How much obedience training has he had? It's important to teach any pup to "come" and to "leave ... | |
| cratetraining/nighttime | 10/10/2008 |
| Q: I have a 4monthold Peekapoo.She has been trainedin a crate from birth, but does not sleep through ... A: When you take a dog out in the middle of the night, it's best to go out quietly, praise softly when ... | |
| wetting in house | 10/9/2008 |
| Q: I have acquired a 2yr. old female (spayed) Lab mix. She wets in the house when I come home. I do ... A: The first thing to do is have your vet check to see if she has a urinary tract infection or is spay ... | |
| Having 2 dogs | 10/7/2008 |
| Q: My fiance and I have one dog that is a puggle. She is very good hearted but being first time ... A: Actually, if neither dog is in pain or bleeding, let them play!!! Dogs play rough, and dogs that ... | |
| Barking at other dogs | 10/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a pom who is 2lbs. and five months. She recently started going to doggie daycare. Before she ... A: Dog day care is supposed to help social dogs continue to socialize. However, the optimal ... | |
| "Housebroken" dog pooping in house | 9/22/2008 |
| Q: I have a two and half year old German Shephard and Lab mix who has some serious issues with pooping ... A: Dogs that "look guilty" when they have "been bad" are often dogs that have been punished after the ... | |
| dog won't use doggie door | 9/18/2008 |
| Q: Ann, I asked you this question before and just clicked on the link you suggested but it was to a dog ... A: I think it's just that the site redirects you to the home page. Try this: Go to ... | |
| dog and cat | 9/17/2008 |
| Q: i have recently adopted a puppy who is approx 3 months, had him for 18 days, and was wondering if ... A: Probably you are making something of nothing. Dogs don't begin urine marking until they are ... | |
| Junior wont go outside | 9/14/2008 |
| Q: I just got a 2yr old cocker/maltese mix from the anticruelity society one week and 3days ago. They ... A: Here are some house training hints that I give to my classes. Hope they help. Pay particular ... | |
| pee on lawn | 9/13/2008 |
| Q: we just rescued a stray border collie cross 2 yr. female dog from the shelter, who was obviously ... A: You can't teach her anything, including how to play, until you have a means of communication. For ... | |
| excited jumping | 9/12/2008 |
| Q: My dog get so excited when anyone walks through the front door that it is begninning to be a problem ... A: Well, at least she LIKES people;-)) The truth is that dogs jump up because normal canine greeting ... | |
| Back to old habits | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: We have a wonderful Husky/Lab cross. She's 6 months old and we crate-trained her from about 2 months ... A: Your dog might have had a low grade urinary tract infection that got worse, or she might even have ... | |
| New Baby - Help! | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: I have 2 dogs. They are form the same litter, both going to be 8 in Nov. They are both VERY well ... A: Actually, you being home all summer may have made things worse, not better. The dog got used to you ... | |
| walkingmy dog | 9/7/2008 |
| Q: Ok heres our story.I have a half american bulldog and half bermesse ... A: Many puppies balk on the leash, and the fact that you have been able to get him to walk is good. ... | |
| proper way to handle rescued pit mix at dog park | 9/5/2008 |
| Q: I want to bring my recently rescued pit mix, Lola to the dog park. She gets along pretty well with ... A: As the responsible owner of a part Pit, you want to make sure that she is not a danger to other ... | |
| excited puppy | 9/4/2008 |
| Q: yes, I have about a 5month old puppy mix. maybe pug and cocker spaniel mix. who ever she first ... A: This is known as excitable urination or submissive urination, and is a natural canine behavior ... | |
| sit + down | 9/3/2008 |
| Q: One question.. I've been teaching my dog to sit and then down, but now whenever I say sit he goes ... A: He has simply learned a "behavior chain" instead of the discrete behavior that you wanted him to ... | |
| aggression on the leash | 9/2/2008 |
| Q: I have a 10-year-old golden retriever. He was trained by my boyfriends parents, and now my ... A: The fact that he is ok off leash with other dogs tells me that he is basically friendly and not ... | |
| pooping | 9/1/2008 |
| Q: My dog is twelve she has always been a great inside dog. This past year she has started to poop in ... A: Ask your vet about Canine Cognitive Dysfunction - she may not realize she needs to go, and that can ... | |
| help with doggy door training | 8/30/2008 |
| Q: I am so glad I found you and I hope you can help. I am fostering a male cocker spaniel and have a ... A: The door itself may be a problem. Some dogs feel that the door part is too heavy, and others get ... | |
| dog trainning | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: my pitbull puppy is really giving me a headache. he uses the bathroom in the house. i take him ... A: This is the "cheat sheet" that our students get on the house training issue. See if it helps you, ... | |
| separation anxiety | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: I have a two year old Lab Collie mix who has to be right next to me at all times or she whines non ... A: Get a copy of Patricia McConnell's "I'll Be Home Soon" and take the suggestions in the book ... | |
| play fighting | 8/20/2008 |
| Q: I got Buddy, a 2 1/2 year old American Stafford about 4 months ago from the shelter, he is an ... A: As long as they are taking turns, no one is drawing blood, no one is yelping, and no one is ... | |
| Destructive Black Lab | 8/19/2008 |
| Q: I have a 18 month old male Black Labwho is neutered, who is absolutely wonderful apart from the fact ... A: Dogs don't know the difference between sticks on the ground, and ones that are attached to your ... | |
| Separation anxiety and urinating in the house | 8/18/2008 |
| Q: We rescued our chocolate lab/shar pei mix from a shelter. Clearly, she has been abused. She shakes ... A: One of the most frequently used resources is this inexpensive little book: "I'll Be Home Soon - ... | |
| barking wile in kennal | 8/17/2008 |
| Q: why does he do that ? A: Dogs generally hate to be alone, ignored, or isolated from the active areas of the household. Don't ... | |
| Doggie Door and still pees and defecates in house | 8/16/2008 |
| Q: Question I hope you can help. We have a rescue that will not stop going to the bathroom in the ... A: The dog may not have been thoroughly house trained, or she may simply not realize that she shouldn't ... | |
| breader prob | 8/15/2008 |
| Q: my name is nick and me and my best friend got a german shepard collie mix. and the breader asured us ... A: Firstly, never buy a puppy from a person who is breeding mixed breed dogs!!! You could have gotten ... | |
| agressive ACD | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: I have a 2 year old cattledog who has been very agressive since we got her at about 10 weeks. ... A: Now you know why most cattle dogs are not for first time, or inexperienced owners. This is a ... | |
| Aggresive tendencies | 8/13/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I are a bit dumbfounded with our dog's behavior lately. In the company of people he's ... A: My guess is that if he is a good dog park dog while off leash, that he is not being aggressive on ... | |
| dog/ dog aggression | 8/12/2008 |
| Q: I have an extremely loving Staffordshire Bull Terrier. (family daycare, 4 children plus an intense ... A: In my opinion, shock collars are inhumane, and more likely to cause aggression than to stop it. ... | |
| House Training/Pee Pads | 7/30/2008 |
| Q: My Australian Shepherd is turning 1 this week. When I got him at 3 months, I used pee pads for him, ... A: You sort of answered your own question. The solution is to remove the pee pads, but crate the dog ... | |
| husky chases horses | 7/28/2008 |
| Q: I just adopted a 7 month old female husky. She only weighs about 40lbs but can pull my 100lb wife ... A: Huskies are a generally predatory breed, and should not be allowed to worry horses. What your dog ... | |
| Aggresive behaviour | 7/28/2008 |
| Q: My 2 year old,neutered, male labradoodle has started showing aggressive behaviour towards people and ... A: First, when dealing with "aggression", never punish the dog, as you could make things worse. You ... | |
| Housebreaking 2 puppies at once.. | 7/25/2008 |
| Q: . I submitted a question in the spring asking how I should introduce a new puppy to an older dog.. ... A: The crate needs to be the correct size, just large enough for the pup to stand, turn around, and lie ... | |
| House-breaking | 7/24/2008 |
| Q: We want to use puppy pads while we're not home but when we're home we would like to train him to go ... A: To be honest, I'm not a big fan of puppy pads. My preference is for dogs to learn right from the ... | |
| advanced potty training | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: We are in the process of adopting a rescue dog (a bluetick coonhound) who is approx 4-5 years old. ... A: It is possible. The way to do it is to take the dog on leash every time he needs to go, and praise ... | |
| border collie | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: we bought our border for a pet.we dont want to show him or take him to an agility class. will he be ... A: Border Collies are smart dogs that were bred to work. That means that they are active dogs that ... | |
| Egor a 5 year German Shepard K-9 Trained | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: We purchased Egor and he is a wonderful dog. We need to learn German for his commands and we are ... A: First of all, any dog that is trained for protection work, if that's what you meant by K-9 trained, ... | |
| marking | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: i have a 2 year old male yorkie. ( we also have 2 other dogs who do not urinate in the house), we ... A: Is he neutered? If not, time to do that if you aren't showing him in the breed ring. If he is ... | |
| Aggressive dog | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: Anne ~ I have a dachsund/cocker mix, approximately seven years old that we rescued six years ago. ... A: Food aggression is one of those behaviors that is easy to train away, except that once you train the ... | |
| excited dog | 7/13/2008 |
| Q: My Girlfriends dog always pees when i come to visit.. the dog doesnt pee when others come over but ... A: Many dogs are a bit more intimidated by men than women. Most likely, it's just your size, or the ... | |
| Housetraining | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: I recently adopted a "long little doggie" from the shelter. She is perfect in all respects with the ... A: Well, you can't get any dog to eliminate if they don't have to go, but you can get a dog that does ... | |
| Housetraining | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: I recently adopted a "long little doggie" from the shelter. She is perfect in all respects with the ... A: Well, I own an almost 8 year old hound (Foxhound mix) that has done that for the last six years! ... | |
| Crate Training | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: I am not new to crate training in the least but this problem is new to me. I have a 9 month old ... A: If the dog continues to whine, it's probably because he somehow got reinforced for doing it. Even ... | |
| possessive/aggressive behavior | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: I adopted a 2 year old Great Dane about 6 months ago. She bonded very strongly to me, very quickly. ... A: From what you have described, it sounds as though she has some combination of barrier aggression or ... | |
| puppy growling and biting | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a 6 month old terrier and poodle mix. He has been described as "submissive" around other dogs ... A: I'm surprised your trainer didn't address this. Anyway, good book for you is Jean Donaldson's ... | |
| dog agression | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: i thought my puppy was amazing with other dogs. she is 6 months old and is a west highland terrier. ... A: You really can't "correct" this. Dogs pick their friends, just like we do. If you do ever get ... | |
| 6 month old Chow/Lab Mix | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I rescued our Chow Mix when she was 3 months old. I have been obsessed with making ... A: You may not like my initial response, but I suggest you avoid the "Dog Whisperer" and start watching ... | |
| potty training question | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: My bichon frise/Havanese puppy- actually he's one today- has been hard to potty train, but I blame ... A: Some really well trained dogs still may not signal to go outside, but simply wait for the human to ... | |
| strange new behavior | 7/6/2008 |
| Q: I have the distinct feeling this may be a new one on you...here goes...Sarge 4 yr old Male Greater ... A: By any chance is the new fencing the "invisible" type? The behavior you describe sounds like he is ... | |
| Growling | 7/5/2008 |
| Q: My Maltese dog is six months old. he sometimes growls at my 9 yr old and 12 yr old grandchildren. ... A: He's probably growling out of fear, or he simply wants them to stop. The good news is that he ... | |
| blind dog | 7/3/2008 |
| Q: About six years ago I rescued my dog from a highway in Louisiana. I am interested in training him to ... A: The good news is that a dog's primary sense is NOT sight, it's scent. So, the only issue here is ... | |
| dog scratching | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: My 7 yr old cocker spaniel has decided to scratch certain areas of my new carpet. I cannot seem to ... A: If she learns "leave it" or even "come", you wouldn't have to sneak up - you would just divert her ... | |
| House Training | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1 year old Bichon Frise who has been house trained since she was 4 months old. I have never ... A: The first thing to do is have your vet check to make sure she does not have a low grade urinary ... | |
| unexpected behaviour | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: we have a 1 yr old golden retriever, he is a gentle dog which always lays down for a stranger to pet ... A: From your description, it appears that your dog has no manners, and is quite submissive, not ... | |
| biting | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: mu 6 month old puppy snapped at my daughter, leaving scratches on her face. It wasn't what I would ... A: Here's a neat article about kids and dogs. While I can't say why your dog is biting at the kids and ... | |
| dog scratching | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: My 7 yr old cocker spaniel has decided to scratch certain areas of my new carpet. I cannot seem to ... A: This behavior may be due to a couple of things. It could be from boredom, in which case, you would ... | |
| Dog aggresion | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: I have a dog that is a German shepherd/husky mix and whenever i try to put him to bed he always ... A: If you are referring to putting him in his crate, you shouldn't have to push him, or otherwise force ... | |
| Bicheon crying | 6/28/2008 |
| Q: My dog has been crying for 2 days. She carries a toy in her mouth and just whines and cries ... A: Is your dog spayed, and if not, how old is she? Some intact bitches have false pregnancies and they ... | |
| Cocker Spaniel Training difficulty | 6/27/2008 |
| Q: We are having difficulty training our cocker spaniel puppy "Lucy". We have trained our 2 other dogs ... A: Unfortunately, pet store dogs are often the hardest to train, and I don't advise anyone to purchase ... | |
| 61/2 year old Beagle, just adopted. He only urinates outside, but has B.M. in the house. | 6/27/2008 |
| Q: This dog is intelligent, and mellow in nature. We have had him only 10 days. He will have B.M. in ... A: Well, score one for you. In this case, I disagree with your hubby. Some dogs, when scolded, do NOT ... | |
| Pet Doors | 6/26/2008 |
| Q: Was wondering what brand or type of pet door you would recommend? We have a bichon who recently has ... A: To be honest, I don't usually recommend dog doors for the small breeds. One reason is that they are ... | |
| Wolf training | 6/26/2008 |
| Q: I volunteer at a wolf sanctuary. They have about 11 wolf/wolf-dogs. Most of them get to go out on ... A: First, let me say that I am not a wolf expert - dogs and wolves are very similar in a lot of ways, ... | |
| separation anxiety? | 6/20/2008 |
| Q: I adopted a 1 year old terrier mix (definitely has some yorkie in him along with who knows what ... A: Shelter dogs often hate being crated. If the dog isn't destructive and is house trained, you ... | |
| territorial guarding | 6/19/2008 |
| Q: we have a 3yr old pure German shepherd we installed electric fence as there is not enough room in ... A: I never recommend electric fencing with any of the herding breeds for this reason. They were bred ... | |
| 11 month old male miniature pinscher | 6/18/2008 |
| Q: I just purchased a 11 month old male miniature pinscher last week and I have noticed that when he ... A: My first thought was to wonder if he might have a genetic defect such as dysplasia or luxating ... | |
| neutered male dog still tracking | 6/7/2008 |
| Q: I adopted a 4 year old dog who wasn't neutered. I immediately had him neutered. Now, 3 weeks ... A: Firstly, it takes some time for the testosterone to completely diminish post neuter. Secondly, dogs ... | |
| puppies | 6/6/2008 |
| Q: Which would do better with an older, female black lab, a male or female puppy? I've found someone ... A: If all the pups have nice temperaments, and their parents were screened for genetic diseases such as ... | |
| fearful dog | 6/5/2008 |
| Q: I'm looking for any advice you can offer regarding helping a fearful (but completely non-aggressive) ... A: If your dog is suffering from noise phobia (sunroom door slam - and fear that if she walks through, ... | |
| Old dog cries and barks all the time | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: I have a 13 year old English cocker spaniel (Toby) who cries a lot. Let me tell you a little bit ... A: I would suggest that you not leave a thirteen year old dog outdoors. And, you need to find out why ... | |
| New Puppy | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: I just recently bought a 3 month old mini pincher + Chihuahua hybrid, and I was just wanting to know ... A: Try making the crate more fun when you are home. Toss a treat in, and let her go get it but come ... | |
| House training 9m.o. yorkie | 5/31/2008 |
| Q: I have a 9 month old yorkie and we have been trying to crate train him since he was about 4months. ... A: Please never limit a dog's water. That has nothing to do with the house training problems. More ... | |
| Dog Aggression | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: About 2 weeks ago my husband and I adopted a male lab/rottie mix(maybe part beagle, or pinscher) who ... A: This sounds like "leash reactivity" to me, and is most often based in fear. (I can't get away, ... | |
| Barking and Lack of Respect | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I own a 8 year old Lab. she had him for 4 years before we met and treated him like a ... A: The simple answer is that if she continues to treat him the same way, nothing will change. If he ... | |
| How do I stop feeling guilty not giving enough attention? | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: I own two yorkies and am dogsitting one toy poodle for my sister for a few months. They are all ... A: You are normal LOL. But, you are also giving in. Try thinking of the pawing and whining as though ... | |
| 7 yr old Maltese is relieving himself while we are gone | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: My dog, a maltese, is seven yrs. old. We recently moved to a new house 9 months ago. I've tried ... A: When people move, dogs are sometimes very disconcerted and can have lapses in their house training. ... | |
| marking certain spots | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: We have a unnurtured boston terrier, and we don't want to. I have heard it looses character. Our ... A: You may not like my response, but if you are not going to show your dog in the breed ring, or breed ... | |
| puppy bites | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: MY 10 WEEK OLD MALE RAT TERRIER PUPPY HAS BEEN GROWLING AND BITING FOR 2 WEEKS. I SMACK HIS FACE AND ... A: Right now, this minute, stop being aggressive with your puppy!!!!! If you are smacking him and ... | |
| peeing/marking?? | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: Two weeks ago I brought home a seven week old female Vizsla, Sasha. So far she has been fantastic ... A: Bob, I doubt she is "getting lost". Seriously, any pup that still has "accidents" in the house ... | |
| puppy toilet training | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: is a puppy suppossed to have solid feaces or runny. i picked the puppy up this morning A: Your puppy should be at least eight weeks old to be separated from its mom and littermates, and it ... | |
| 1 year old shih tzu/poodle still making bad potty's | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: i have a one year old shih tzu poodle mix, who is an only dog. she was crate trained but we recently ... A: First of all, a dog that "knows where to go" goes where she is supposed to. If your dog has ... | |
| scared/submissive Mastiff | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1 1/2 year old Tibetan Mastiff. Have had him since he was a puppy. We have recently moved ... A: A move can really disconcert some dogs, especially if they were not terribly well socialized to ... | |
| bad puppy | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: I've had my dog for 4 months now she is 9 months old bichon, from the begging she will not go potty ... A: Dog training is expensive, but it DOES work. The problem is that many people are inconsistent about ... | |
| Overly Submissive Dog | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: I adopted a rescue dog 2 weeks ago. I have the opposite problem most people have with crate ... A: I don't think you should force her. Since you only got her two weeks ago, and many such fearful ... | |
| Husky Wolf Training | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: How and when would you recommend leash and obedience training a 10 week old 50% Wolf 50% Husky? A: I would start immediately. I like people to use hands off training, and at this age, you can ... | |
| puppy aggression | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: Anne, I have an 11-week-old boggle who shows aggression to both myself and my 3-year-old son. It ... A: I get a lot of questions like this from owners of so called "designer dogs" and the fact that you ... | |
| new puppy adivce needed | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: I just got a new dog from a breeder. She is my first dog and I am very lost about how to train her. ... A: Sometimes, even a house trained dog will have an accident or two in a new home. And, sometimes ... | |
| Dog getting in trash | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: Within the past 4 months my dog has started getting into the trash and she is starting to do it more ... A: First of all, spanking does not work, and is never acceptable. It merely teaches your dog that you ... | |
| Follow Up | 5/16/2008 |
| Q: I have a six month old Jack Russel Puppu who tends to pee from excitement when she meets new people. ... A: It's fine to tell people to ignore her for a moment and then be quiet as they pat her. You can also ... | |
| Leaving pets at home & housebreaking | 5/10/2008 |
| Q: I have wrote to you previously this month about my two 9 week shih zhu puppies (male and female) ... A: I think it's fine to take them out often, because you are able to reward them for doing their ... | |
| Potty training a miniature pinscher | 5/10/2008 |
| Q: .. I've had a min pin for a month now, her name is Mimi and she's 7 months old. She was given to me ... A: Keep in mind that dogs don't generalize well, so if you want her to potty for other people, they ... | |
| peeing/marking?? | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: Two weeks ago I brought home a seven week old female Vizsla, Sasha. So far she has been fantastic ... A: She isn't marking at that age. I suspect that she learned to pee on that particular substrate at ... | |
| Started to hang back and dreag on the lead | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: We have a Labrador, and she is now 9 years old. For most of her life she has been relatively good on ... A: If she's 9, and this is a sudden change, get her to the vet. Labs are prone to hip dysplasia that, ... | |
| peeing/marking?? | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: Two weeks ago I brought home a seven week old female Vizsla, Sasha. So far she has been fantastic ... A: The "breeder" (and I use the term loosely, as it is NOT ok to send a puppy to its new home at the ... | |
| dog peeing | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: Our dog is outside all day while we're gone. He has an acre of land to himself, but always comes to ... A: You really can't stop it unless you train him - you would have to go out with him, praise/reward him ... | |
| dog runs away doesnt come when called | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: 5-8-08 I have an almost 2 year old male Pomeranian. (born approx. Aug. 2006) We got him in Jan. 2008 ... A: I use a method developed by Leslie Nelson, of "Tails U Win", called the "Really Reliable Recall". ... | |
| Dog Training | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: I have two pet dogs at home. They are almost two years old but i am still unable to train them from ... A: First, I'm glad you don't want to beat your dogs again. That is NEVER an appropriate response to ... | |
| Potty problem | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I live in an apartment building so when I first ... A: Well, first, think of this from his point of view. You taught him to poop in the house, and now ... | |
| housebreaking | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: I do have experience with house training however this puppy is a little difficult for me. I just got ... A: Ten hours is too long for a four month old pup to hold it, but my feeling is that if you use pads, ... | |
| Crate Training | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: Anne, We brought home a 15 week old Shihtzu on 4/27. We immediately started crate training but he ... A: You really don't have much option, if no one is home during the day. You could try hiring a dog ... | |
| Pomarenian | 5/6/2008 |
| Q: Good morning, Quick question about our new pom. My partner and I just got a pom, she's a little ... A: Don't shout "no", or even make eye contact or speak to her once you leave her in her crate. You are ... | |
| Crate Training | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: Anne, We brought home a 15 week old Shihtzu on 4/27. We immediately started crate training but he ... A: I don't know if you'll have a problem or not, since I don't know where you got your dog. If she's a ... | |
| Two shih zhu puppies | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: I have found this web-site to be very valuable because I am a new dog owner, and in addition, i ... A: I'll do my best to answer your concerns one by one:-)) Allow me to quote you first, then my answer ... | |
| 2+ year old pup eating own feces | 5/1/2008 |
| Q: Our young dog was born and raised by a breeder of dachshunds until we purchased her when she was 3 ... A: Bob, what are you feeding her? Heavily grain-based foods with lots of fillers can influence dogs' ... | |
| dog potte and urine tranining | 4/29/2008 |
| Q: i have a 4 month old male dog of lasa apso breed, i have tried several things to tach him where to ... A: You are going about this all wrong if you want your dog to potty outdoors. Housetraining is all ... | |
| Puppy constantly jumps | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: We recently adopted an 8-month-old female Golden Lab mix. She is very sweet and playful, but maybe a ... A: Large, boisterous retriever puppies are often too much for toddlers. Here are some things you can ... | |
| Adopted dog - crate issues | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: We adopted a 1 year lab/spaniel mix on Sunday. She was in foster care for a few weeks. She is very ... A: Some dogs do appear to be claustrophobic. If she is clean and not destructive when left alone in ... | |
| Dog behavior | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: I have a 14wk old miniature dachshund. She is a very smart dog and does very well with house ... A: Dogs are denning animals, so they are naturally attracted to spaces where they feel enclosed on ... | |
| upset Shit zue | 4/26/2008 |
| Q: we are tempted to buy anothe shit zue to keep our poppy cmpany when we are out , because when we get ... A: I would not do that. The first order of business should be to completely train the first pup before ... | |
| best method for walking | 4/25/2008 |
| Q: I have an 11 month old black lab mix (hes small though, not even 40lbs) and we are having some ... A: I would rather see you use an Easy Walk Harness (www.premierpet.com) or a Gentle Leader or Snoot ... | |
| Dog poops in the basement | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: I have 7 month old dog who along with my 12 year old Black lab spends time in the basement while we ... A: First of all, stop pushing your dog's nose in his poop, and punishing him. It doesn't work, as you ... | |
| Adopted dog (crate & accidents in the house) | 4/21/2008 |
| Q: "My wife and i recently adopted a male BC Mix and introduced him to our home and our pure bred ... A: It sounds as though he may have been scolded for accidents, and could have learned that it's ... | |
| Introducing Puppy to a Older Dog | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: I notice my Maltese has fears of puppies, as a family friend of mine had just gotten a puppy(Waldo). ... A: If you are purchasing from a reputable breeder, they will take the puppy back for any reason, if you ... | |
| aggression | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: i have a 2 1/2 year old shitzu, he has recently in the last 6 months became very aggressive with me ... A: Dogs seldom bite for no reason, and it doesn't take much for a small dog to decide that children are ... | |
| 2+ year old pup eating own feces | 4/19/2008 |
| Q: Our young dog was born and raised by a breeder of dachshunds until we purchased her when she was 3 ... A: Some folks use pumpkin instead of the artificial deterrents. You could try that. But, take a look ... | |
| Unable to potty train | 4/19/2008 |
| Q: My 11 month old puppy will potty (both) in her wire cage and in the house. The longest she is left ... A: Try feeding her in her crate (dogs don't like to poo where they eat), or don't use a crate, and, ... | |
| Introducing Puppy to a Older Dog | 4/17/2008 |
| Q: I notice my Maltese has fears of puppies, as a family friend of mine had just gotten a puppy(Waldo). ... A: Any introduction should be done away from your home, perhaps at the home of your Schnauzer's ... | |
| Adopted dig crate & accidents in the house | 4/17/2008 |
| Q: My wife and i recently adopted a male BC Mix and introduced him to our home and our pure bred female ... A: This is not a dog I would "discipline". He's anxious enough - many herders tend to be reactive and ... | |
| A 3 yo people needy dog won't go potty outside | 4/17/2008 |
| Q: A year ago I adopted a slender 1/2 Aussie Shepard, 1/2 lab. She spent a couple weeks at the ... A: Any dog with Aussie in them can be "clingy". This is a breed that likes to be near its people. ... | |
| 1 yr old boxer peeing in crate at night | 4/17/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1 yr old boxer who was easily trained and very consistent up to this last week. He is bell ... A: The first thing I would do is to have a vet take a urine sample, just to make sure that he doesn't ... | |
| Trying to curb unwanted behaviors | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: We adopted a 1 year old Bulldog/Pit mix in February. He is potty & crate trained and a very good ... A: If this behavior is sudden, there are a couple of possibilities. First, is he neutered? If not, ... | |
| dog destroying house | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: My brother-in-law had given us a dog he raised from a puppy about a month ago. I believe she is a ... A: Please - immediately, stop smacking the dog. Her destructiveness is due to anxiety and you are only ... | |
| misbehaving shih tzu | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: I love my 2 year old shih tzu male to death but he will not listen to me. When I scold him he just ... A: Scolding is NOT training!!!!! Learn to use a clicker, try these reward-based lessons instead, and ... | |
| New Puppy! | 4/15/2008 |
| Q: I just bought a new puppy, he is about 5-6 weeks old. I already own two other dogs, an Old English ... A: My first question is why do you have a puppy that is too young to leave its mother???? Many states ... | |
| Stressed out dog! | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: We re-homed a Staffordshire Bull Terrier on December 2007, and wew he first arrived, he had chewed ... A: Please read this: http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/behaviourproblems/tailchase.html ... | |
| Training | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: My dog has a really bad habit of chewing things when I'm not watching and eating out of my cat's ... A: If you have paid any attention whatsoever to the dog when he cries, you may have accidentally ... | |
| Dog who only wants to potty in an area we don't want him to | 4/10/2008 |
| Q: Patch, our 4-year-old Australian Shepherd, is the topic of this question. Patch has always been ... A: Unfortunately, Aussies are brilliant, and often they are "one trial learners". He learned to prefer ... | |
| aggression | 4/10/2008 |
| Q: I have two dogs, they are sisters, Tink and Jade. Tink was originally my sisters dog but she had to ... A: These dogs probably should not be in the same home, and your gut feeling about things turning ugly ... | |
| dog traning | 4/9/2008 |
| Q: i was wondering if you could give me a list of things to try to make me dog stop barking. thanks A: Sure. 1. Attend a positive reinforcement training class (www.clickerteachers.net) 2. Read Karen ... | |
| scared iggy, more questions | 4/8/2008 |
| Q: anne, you helped me with some questions about a month ago when i brought home a rescue italian ... A: I like your vet's suggestion, and I would use treats that are just delectable. Bones don't make it ... | |
| Puppy crying when first out of crate | 4/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a 2 month old miniature schnauzer. I had him for about 2 weeks now. He is being trained to ... A: That sounds like "excitable" or "submissive" urination. This often happens with socially inept ... | |
| scared iggy, more questions | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: anne, you helped me with some questions about a month ago when i brought home a rescue italian ... A: When I first adopted my hound, he was scared to death of men indoors (outdoors, he would go up to ... | |
| Newly adopted dog having accidents | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: We adopted a 2yr old golden retreiver, 3 days ago. I just found a pile of poo in the basement! We ... A: Sometimes dogs do have regression in their house-training skills when they are faced with a big ... | |
| House training a puppy | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: I have an adorable 4 mo old male chihuahua, I am very consistant at taking him outside to potty. He ... A: I'm sure that you are thinking of it with the best intentions, and it's good that you would have ... | |
| House training a puppy | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: I have an adorable 4 mo old male chihuahua, I am very consistant at taking him outside to potty. He ... A: I'm not trying to insult you, and mean this only in the most helpful way, but, frankly, you are not ... | |
| jack russell | 4/6/2008 |
| Q: me and my wife just got a jack russell from the pet store but before that she had a skin condition ... A: Pet store dogs are notoriously hard to house-train. If you watched Oprah this week, then perhaps ... | |
| Skiddish dog won't walk on leash | 4/6/2008 |
| Q: I have a 5 year old purebred rat terrier. She is the sweetest dog I've ever met. She loves my ... A: My advice would be to enlist the advice of a good clicker trainer (www.clickerteachers.net). If the ... | |
| Puppy Socialisation | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: We recently brought home a labrador retriever puppy who's just turned 9 weeks old. He's a bit of a ... A: At nine weeks, he might simply be in a "fear period". So, he may get more confident on his own ... | |
| excessive chewing | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: I have a male(not neutered) Maltese Shtz zu mix approx. 10 months old named bosley . He is extremely ... A: First of all, getting people food has nothing to do with this. My dogs get people food all the ... | |
| boxer behaving badly | 4/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a boxer, almost a year old who is refuses to go outside without me leaving the door open for ... A: Unfortunately, dogs hate isolation. Instead of isolating her outdoors, consider crate training her. ... | |
| Dog behavior | 4/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a boxer who I am having trouble with. She's an indoor dog but there are times throughout the ... A: Sorry, but you may be fighting a losing battle if you think your dog should LIKE to be banished to ... | |
| crate training | 4/4/2008 |
| Q: My puppy, a schnoodle, will be 6 onths old 4/18. She sleeps in her crate at night and while we are ... A: Have you ever scolded her for "mistakes"? That makes some pups unwilling to poop in front of the ... | |
| Getting my house trained dog to "go" when and where I want him to | 4/3/2008 |
| Q: I am the proud owner of a very smart, 19 month old German Shepherd Black Lab X. He is a neutered ... A: First, I like the idea of you taking him on the leash outdoors (why on earth would you want a dog ... | |
| digging dog | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: I have a 6 month old shih tzu. He is digging in our back yard. Our 4 year old shih tzu never did ... A: Dogs that dig usually keep it up. However, you can try this - create a "digging pit" for your dog, ... | |
| 1 yr old mixed breed | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: We have a 1 yr old mixed breed she has been with us since 7 wks. As a puppy we were able to leave ... A: It is far safer to crate train her, than to put her in any kind of choke collar - she could choke to ... | |
| 1 yr old mixed breed | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: We have a 1 yr old mixed breed she has been with us since 7 wks. As a puppy we were able to leave ... A: Dogs are NOT sneaky, they're just dogs. As such, they are opportunistic - it's what helped them to ... | |
| sneaky dog | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: My dog is is a 1 year old mixed breed. When I or any of my family members are at home with her she ... A: It sounds as though you have an anxious dog with some separation anxiety. Please read "I'll Be Home ... | |
| Huskie possessed at the Beach | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: Our Huskie is a rescue dog. We've had heard two months. Around our survey, she walks perfectly ... A: Two months isn't a long time for a newly rescued dog to build confidence in you and her new home, so ... | |
| Dog circling problem | 3/28/2008 |
| Q: I have a one year old Alaskan Malamute bitch and she has started walking or running around in ... A: This is really something for your vet to solve, and I'm a bit surprised that you haven't gone that ... | |
| my dog is not toilet train! | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: someone just gave me a 2 year old golden retriever 2 weeks ago.and the owner said that it is toilet ... A: First of all, it's pretty ridiculous to have a healthy adult Golden Retriever pee'ing and pooping ... | |
| separation anxiety? | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: I have an 11 month old lab mix who was rescued from living in the woods at 6 weeks old. My boyfriend ... A: Don't discipline him, contain him! Unfortunately, he is NOT out of the teething stage - well, he is ... | |
| 2 year old female grawls at my daughter | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: I purchased a 2 year old female ori pei. She seems to be a little shy. My 3-1/2 year old daughter ... A: Any reputable breeder would take a dog back that you could no longer care for, so I suspect that you ... | |
| Sleeping in the bed | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: We just got Emmie, a 2-month old puggle, last week. She is already the apple of my eye. I am ... A: Here are some crate training links for you. http://www.wonderpuppy.net/canwehelp/1crate.php If the ... | |
| Why has my 11 month old Shih Tzu started urinating/defacating inside? | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: My 11 month old female Shih Tzu has been house trained since about 3-4 months of age. She ... A: Since you seem so new to the housebreaking issues, I'm wondering why you have an intact female at ... | |
| refuses to go home | 3/23/2008 |
| Q: We adopted an 8 month old lab mix not quite two weeks ago and things are going quite well. But we ... A: There are several possibilities that I can readily think of. First, she is right at the age where ... | |
| Household fights | 3/22/2008 |
| Q: So heres the story. I have a 7 year old male westie that I've had since he was a puppy. I also have ... A: It sounds as though the Jack Russell has reached the age of social maturity and is interested in ... | |
| Crating | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I own a 1 yr old JRT Pug X. We have recently had to start crating her while we are ... A: Sure there is - but you pretty much answered your own question as to why she hates it - she hates ... | |
| Sleeping in the bed | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: We just got Emmie, a 2-month old puggle, last week. She is already the apple of my eye. I am ... A: I'm going out on the trainer limb here, and not going to tell you it's a big mistake when your dog ... | |
| Dog peeing on the couch | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: I have a 10 month old Cavachon (XCavalier and Bischon Frise) He was very hard to toilet train, I ... A: Here's a good resource for you: "I'll Be Home Soon - Preventing and Treating Separation Anxiety" by ... | |
| House Training | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: Help! What am I doing wrong. We just adopted a 9 month old malti-poo who came from a wonderful home ... A: Your new "designer dog" probably came from an Internet puppy mill or backyard breeder originally. ... | |
| Dog peeing on the couch | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: I have a 10 month old Cavachon (XCavalier and Bischon Frise) He was very hard to toilet train, I ... A: I am not trying to offend you, but you made a classic mistake - you bought a "designer dog", ... | |
| dachshunds | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: my two yr. old male mini dachshund is the most gentle dog we have ever had, however when my ... A: First of all, assume that nothing is "unprovoked" when it comes to dog bites. It might seem ... | |
| Housebroken/bell/crate trained dog having accidents. | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: Our 7 year old Maltese (Molly)has been having accidents in the house several times a week. She has ... A: Michelle. What you are experiencing is not that rare. Dogs often have regression in their ... | |
| scared iggy, part 2 | 3/18/2008 |
| Q: by the way, he is not responding to any praise, treats or toys of any kind so i don't know reward ... A: Well, don't even think about discipline at this point. You want him to think he has nothing to fear ... | |
| scared iggy | 3/18/2008 |
| Q: i recently adopted a 3-year old italian greyhound. though the rescue where i adopted him had been ... A: First of all, pat on the back to you for taking on a special needs dog like this! Don't expect too ... | |
| pitbull mix with german shepred | 3/18/2008 |
| Q: she stay eating out the trash can eat jewel up swallow plastic,newspaper,swallow jewel too always ... A: If your dog gets in to things she shouldn't, then teach her to stay in a crate when you can't watch ... | |
| ugh! all that barking | 3/18/2008 |
| Q: ) and i am sure i brought all this on as a little pup we have had him since he was 6 weeks and i ... A: What you are probably seeing is "demand barking" or barking for attention. In general, dogs ... | |
| dog in own bed | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: I have a 2 yr. old daschund who has took over our bed. I want her in her own bed .Any easy tips? A: It's easy to teach your dog that you don't want to share your sleeping quarters, but don't take her ... | |
Dog Training
Answers by Expert:
Anne Springer, B.S., Dip., CAPCT
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I'm happy to answer questions on behavior and training. I prefer a training philosophy much like your physician might adopt when treating patients - first, do no harm. Dogs are generally best trained using humane methods that make sense to them and put you in control, not necessarily by physical means, but by controlling the dog's access to resources, such as food, toys, access to the outdoors, etc. I want your dog to behave, but also to trust you and rely on you for guidance.
Experience
Professional trainer, owner of Paws for Praise, in Danvers, MA. We use positive training and behavior modification techniques, and are committed to having the dogs that come through our center be both as well trained and behaviorally healthy as we can help their humans make them.
Organizations
International Positive Dog Training Association (Regional Director for Massachusetts)
APDT
Therapy Dogs, Inc.
Truly Dog Friendly
Publications
Gloucester Times, Ipswich Chronicle, Examiner.com, and more
Education/Credentials
B.S., Cum Laude, Salem State College
Diploma, Dog Obedience Training/Instruction (Apprenticed also)
Graduate, New York School of Dog Grooming
Pet CPR/First Aid Certified
Certified Pet Care Technician
AKC CGC Evaluator
Therapy Dogs Inc. Tester/Observer
Awards and Honors
Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society
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