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Your Questions About Dog Training

Training Expert — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:00:19 +0000

Mary asks…

Ideas on holding a Pit Bull only obedience class?

I’m trying to come up with ideas to make a class breed-specific. I want to make it accessible to everyone price-wise. I want to provide for the safety of everyone in class as well. My goal is to educate, have owners proud of working with their dogs, and most of all to have an end product of some super well-trained, obedient, in-control dogs.

Also, I’m trying to get more people on our Facebook page and promote training tips and our dogs for adoption, so please do me a favor and “LIKE” our page!!, www.facebook.com/dynamicdogschicago

What do you think is a fair price that would be accessible to ALL Pit Bull owners, for 8 weeks of obedience. Should the first class be “people only” where we meet up and talk about training and go over questions, or is that just a waste. And what equipment should I require, how will the trainer handle any problem dogs who are a distraction to the class, etc.

I also considered a free class for low-income individuals, as a charity thing. And I could probably get donations from dog food companies and soforth, maybe I should do this instead? We are in Chicago where there are tons of Pits and unfortunately many people in low-income areas leave them in the yard and some are involved in dog fighting, especially youth.

I am planning it all out now )
Clumsical– I see your concern. However-These dogs would be on-lead and under supervision of trainers who can read body language and have handled aggressive dogs.

But most importantly we want to educate these dog owners– there are OTHER DOGS in the real world, and that is what they have to train for.

Training Expert answers:

I think it would be a disaster. The APBT is a naturally dog aggressive breed, and having a room full of untrained ones is just asking for someone to get hurt

ADD: Not to mention that you specifically want to target low income people who may use their dogs for fighting. They buy poorly bred APBTs that they chose for their dog aggression. Do you really think that having a room full of untrained dog aggressive animals is a good idea? It’s a HORRIBLE ONE.

Chris asks…

When I tell my dog to sit he lies down, how can i retrain him?

I have a four month old puppy who is pretty good at basic obedience commands. One of the issues we have is that when I say sit he lies down. It is very annoying and it isn’t an issue right now, but I want to know if it will become an issue with some more complex training. Also if anyone has any training tip on how to reverse this, it would be helpful. Thanks.

Training Expert answers:

With treats authority praise and persistence, hes young to so hed be easy to train, they love it! Its fun to them

George asks…

Guess what? I’m getting my first service puppy to train!?

i know how to train dogs in basic obedience but if anybody has tips on training service puppies i would love to hear from you! i know they have certain things they are not allowed to do. but any good info is appreciated. i will have the puppy for about 17 months to a year. Thanks!

Training Expert answers:

How wonderful for you. Congratulations! I’m sure you’ll do an excellent job if you can do obedience.

James asks…

Too much barking help

I asked this before but wanted to get as many responses as possible

Okay so we have a barker (well 2 barkers but the one only barks when the other gets started) Well both dogs are in obedience training but the tips the trainer has given on barking just don’t help. In our old apartment the neighbors could care less but here at our new place they are getting a little upset. When our older dog was younger (he barks the most) we got a sonic collar that emits a high pitched noise and he destroyed it. Also he can’t have a shock collar it would kill him.

So my question is of the different collars
Sonic
Citronella (spay)
Shock

What is the most effective and what brands?

We aren’t trying to be cruel we just need to prevent a bigger problem
I’m not a fan of the shock collar as it is but as a last resort I might consider it for the one who it won’t hurt.

Any suggestions would be great, like I said they are in classes and we work with them but when we are gone they bark the whole time

Thanks

Please no rude remarks about it being inhumane or cruel I’m just trying to keep my dogs from annoying others and getting reported and/or taken away

(they’ve never been reported but I don’t want it to happen)

just wanted to add for the one dog he can’t have shock for health reasons

one is a poodle the other is a mutt (mixed between a Jack russell/ lab/ and possibly chiuauaha but she is very calm)
our mix doesn’t bark nearly as much as our poodle but when she barks you know it. She gets started only after the poodle does and his bark is so high pitched it hurts
Also its mostly while we are away, running errands and stuff they are never left alone that long an hour or two a day maybe a little longer on the weekends. They also bark at every little sound and every person walking by, mostly the poodlee
They were both crate trained and are crated while we are away
did i mention we are in an apartment and that is why this is crucial

Training Expert answers:

I have a barking Poodle too. I have really good luck with a citronella collar. Self activated, not remote control. I am not always around to command it so it has to self-activate. If he choses to bark he gets a small squirt of citronella towards his nose. One bark is all I get most of the time. If the collar is broken, he will still be quiet if it’s on – most of the time. He knows what wearing it means. No barking, no squirt. I use it in the house when I’m home to keep him from reacting to people across the street and in the car to stop the reaction to motorcycles.

I really like it because I’m not punishing him. He choses to bark he get a negative reniforcement. He cosses not to bark, no problem.

I’m on my 3rd one. The second was a little cheaper, but did not last long. So this one is from Drs Foster & Smith.

Maria asks…

electric collar training?

Hi,
I want to train my dog with an electric collar. He is obedience trained quite well. He sits, stays, downs, sit-stays, down-stays, etc.
His recall is the problem when we are out. He will run through 3 fields if he gets it in his head and has gone onto a main road before, and has gotten himself attacked by a greyhound by running off on a scent. Thats just the worst of it. I am terribly afraid something awful will happen him so currently I cannot let him off lead.

He is a Doberman. He is yugoslavian lined and he’s very strong (mentally and physically). He is only 9 months now. I got a cheap shock collar for him but it did not work, it wore off very quickly and he ignored the shock. This makes me hesitant to get another shock collar.
Can someone reccomend a good one for my dog? Something like a Dogtra type maybe?

I trained him myself and I am at about the correction stage right now.

Can you give me some tips on using them? Any advise would be great!! Thanks
P.S. Answers from people who have used and know how to use them, please. I know they can be very good when used properly.
I have had him on a stretch lead, he has broken 2. It is simply not practical to keep a dog on a lead around here all the time. Everybody here has their dog off lead in the field (my other dog follows me) and even around the estate. Those dogs never run away and are not fased by anything, they were given freedom since puppyhood so they are very well socialised. I don’t want to let my dog wander, but I want him to be something like the rest of the dogs and my other dog.
“*Amara’s Momma*”, BRILLIANT answer!
My dog does loom at me for further instruction,
I taught him ‘OK’ (release command) to good effect,
I did the popping on a long line with a prong collar (got a good instant recall with that on a line)
I always train in short sessions and never bore him,
I admit I got angry at him once for not coming, I caught him (which I think is ok to correct them?) and never did it again.
I totally agree with the repitiotion of commands thing. I give one strong command, and its something I just cannot get through to people that the dog wont listen if you mumble!

And to back up the fact that prongs and e-collars are NOT CRUEL (or grossly inhumane as I’ve heard people say, lol),
I HAVE TESTED both a prong collar on my neck and a shock collar on my hand, they are definitly not cruel, and a human neck is a LOT softer than a dogs.

Thanks to tlctreecare too, great answer thanks.
‘Deez’, man do you talk bs….

Training Expert answers:

I’ve been using the E-collar with my dogs for almost a year, also young dobermans, they’re awful! Read my last question! I started using the E-collar because we trained for agility (will get back to it when it warms up) and I need to be able to correct them without having a leash on. I LOVE them for recall. I have a Dogtra 202NCP Gold. It goes pretty high but isn’t the strongest one they supply. It has a half-mile range. It has made my dogs completely reliable off leash and that’s pretty much the only thing I use it for right now (except when I had to stealthily catch them trash digging). It also has a vibrate mode, which is all I use to get their attention, if they ignore me, I use a low e-stim, and increase it if they continue to ignore me ( I almost never have to use the e-stim though). I have gradually stopped using it most of the time, their recall is very close to 100% if not actually that, even without it now. My dogs know that if they ignore me there WILL be consequences. The trick to using it is, give the command (if he’s already ignoring COME, change the word, I use HERE) if he doesn’t react, slowly turn it higher until he does. When he turns towards you stop with the stim, and praise him like CRAZY. Start with using treats until he understands the whole idea then phase them out. First get him to come right to you, in front of you, then start making him sit when he’s in front of you (after he “gets it”). If you haven’t taught your dog to look you in the face for directions, do that with treats as well, you can hold a treat in front of you and bring it to your eyes, keep a treat in your other hand and hold his gaze for a few seconds then praise him and release him with a treat. Do this while sitting on the couch or doing whatever and it’s a GREAT thing to teach them. I like my dogs to come straight to me and sit in front of me, looking at me for further instructions. When your working on the recall, don’t let him get distracted, if he turns or sees something else or tries to turn around, correct him until he turns back around and continues towards you.

I also started the basics of recall (pretty much the same with the treats/sitting etc.) on a long line and pinch. We would walk, I would suddenly start taking a few steps backwards and give him the command, If he didn’t turn around I gave a pop correction until they came towards me, praising them. When he does what you want, like coming straight at you and sitting, release him with an OK!!! And play with him a second and start walking again. Do this over and over for about 10 minutes and he’ll start to “get it”. Frequent, short training sessions benefit ALL training. I say, treat to teach – correct to proof (actually I stole that from another answerer, but it’s the perfect way of putting it).

THE MOST important thing is to NEVER EVER EVER, punish him when you catch him/or he finally comes after ignoring you. That may be your problem, he may have learned that COMING BACK is a bad thing. No matter how long it takes, or how frustrated/angry you are, ALWAYS give praise for him returning/you catching him, and try to make yourself project happy and excited, forget that he wasn’t listening. Then he will associate coming back with being an EXCELLENT thing, they can sense emotions so you will have to forget your mad and be glad instead. Also, yelling over and over will make the command word obsolete as well as your yelling, it creates the “Wah wah wah” of the adults in Charlie Brown. I give a command once, then a warning, then the command again and if still not listening a correction (with hold down) until they turn around, letting go and getting excited the SECOND they head back.

When phasing in the e-collar, ALWAYS do it in an enclosed area. Until he gets used to it, it may freak him out and make him run harder. That’s why it’s better to TEACH it with a pinch, rather than correct him for something he doesn’t understand. Corrections are ONLY for something already taught.

Sorry it was long, but I thought a thorough explanation of how I taught it would be better. Personally, the e-collar has been the best investment I’ve made in training my dogs.

Just thought I’d ADD: For those of you who nay-say properly using an e-collar, test one on yourself, like *I* have (as I do with any training tool) and you will understand it doesn’t SHOCK the dog. It’s not like an electric fence or hot wire or even a spark from an outlet. It is like the e-stimulus they use in physical therapy. It contracts the muscles and while a strange sensation it is not painful except on the very HIGHEST setting of the middle grade collars (which he should use) and the middle setting of strong collars (usually used for working/police dogs). On all but the highest setting it is mildly uncomfortable and an odd sensation. It’s meant to be a disruption, not a cruel electrocution, and when used properly in the right context is not cruel in the slightest.

Also, (sorry this is getting long) getting a QUALITY collar with the correct strength is key. I love the Dogtra collar model I have, they’re what works for my dogs without being to mild or too harsh. Using a cheapo can be either not enough or too strong. If you want to try out different brands, and strengths, call around to contact a TRADITIONAL obedience trainer who is experienced with them (after you’ve TAUGHT the recall command with a long line) and ask if you can try out different models/strengths to see what works for you and your dog. Many hunting clubs will also be willing to let you try it out. Either will also be a good place to test it out, most will have an fenced area where you can try it. I bought my collar at BassPro, but you can go to the dogtra website and call in an order.

For the person who said that their neighbors dog came from the same litter bla bla bla, I’ll guarantee that since you both had a dog from the same litter, they were from a backyard greeder, which could have made him mentally unstable to begin with, and that he wasn’t using it properly because he didn’t bother to utilize the resources pertaining to the training. I seriously doubt that even if he WASNT using it right that would make a dog “snap” and go insane….

Yet another add: Tom actually gave a really good explanation as well, I didn’t condition or proof my dogs with it, but he makes a good point and it’s probably a good idea for most dogs. Since your dog has already had one on though, you probably wont need that approach.

If Greekman gets to this Q, he’s the authority (in my opinion) for traditional obedience on this site. So listen to him…

David J, like that last little bit lol.

Your Questions About Dog Training

Training Expert — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:01:00 +0000

Helen asks…

My dog bit me… again! I need training tips, please!?

I posted last week about how my seven year old golden retriever took a chunk out of my hand while was trying to get a kleenex out of her mouth. Well, since then, we have all been very careful around her, but she has now bitten my mom and dad as well as snapped at my brother for no reason, other than he was carrying a bounce ball in his hand that she apparently wanted to chew up. My whole family is really tired of her nonsense, and while we DON’T want to euthanize her, training doesn’t seem to be having any effect whatsoever. My parents want to sell her on Craigslist (yes they will mention that she bites, as some people pointed out in the other post) and they know a couple of people through other sales ho would be fine with an old, biting dog. I’m really sick of her and I don’t want her hurting my family any more, but I DON’T want to sell her either. She has become a hazard in our household and my family is hesitant about inviting people over because we don’t know what she’ll do. We took her to the vet and she has no health problems whatsoever – no arthritis, no toothache – she is in prime health. So any reason as to WHy on EARTH she is doing this will be appreciated, as will any training tips. But please don’t go yelling at me for saying all this, I DON’T want to kill her and I DON’T want to sell her, but it’s becoming the only option.
Please. Give me something to go on.

Training Expert answers:

She’s older.. Have you talked to your vet about this aggression? Maybe she has something medical going on thats causing this…

Check with the vet first and foremost

Then look up a dog behaviorist…

Nancy asks…

Tips on training a dog to not bite?

I adopted a dog about a year ago normally he is a very sweet little dog. He cuddles with me when I sleep, follows me everywhere, and lays at my feet.

He is also very smart he was 2 when I got him and I taught him how to sit, lay down and shake.

But whenever he is bad I go to give him a smack on the butt he snaps at me. He has already bit my boyfriend and almost got me the other day. I love him I really do but I don’t want a dog who Is going to try to bite me every time I go to discipline him.

nd I really think I can brake him of this but I don’t know where to start. Any tips on how to get him to stop snapping? Oh and I tried spraying him with a water bottle and I really think he likes that so that will not work,

Training Expert answers:

It might sound cruel but when ever he bites smack him on the nose and say NO strongly but make sure you are looking straight at him when you do.

Laura asks…

Need some Dog training tips?

Hi, we just got a 4-5 month old Lab Mix. She is pretty good except she likes to be stubborn sometimes.

Here are some problems we are having:

- She eats rocks, grass, and plants
- She will sometimes just sit when she’s on leash and then try and pull away or chew
- She sometimes bites, usually its just a nibble
- She cries in her crate (just started doing this after first week)
- She is always moving and never sits still – most puppies are like this, but is there anyway to calm her down?

Can anyone give me some advice with these issues, I know all of them probably can’t be fix because she is a puppy and puppies are like this

Training Expert answers:

Sounds like she’s a puppy lol..Well I have a much smaller puppy (a weenie dog) and she’s about 2-3 months old..She does most of these things, except for the eating of rocks, grass and plants.. We don’t have her on a leash, but she does bite people. She will cry when she’s alone and she’s very rambunctious! The only problems I know to fix are to get her away from the objects she’s eating when she eats them.. And a chew toy might fix the biting and the crying in her crate, and it will keep her occupied so she’s not everywhere at once. Oh, and when on a leash, try not to drag her along..call her and encourage her to go where you want her to.
Hope this helped=]

Susan asks…

I need tips on dog training?

we’re getting a rottweiler and i want to train him so that he doesnt end up bitting some kid or adult. Should i say no when he bites to play? idk what i should do.

Training Expert answers:

If he’s younger than 6months, don’t be too harsh with discipline since he’s still a puppy. If he starts nipping, say no, & give him a chew toy & praise him for chewing that. Remember, he isn’t born aggressive, he’s only teething.

Don’t yell // hit // squirt or try to scare your puppy.
Yelling will make him nervous, hitting will cause fear & squirt bottles will cause him to fear water. &if you’re bathing him yourself, you definitley don’t want challenges in the tub with a full grown fearful rottie!

Betty asks…

Dog Obedience Training Tips?

I have a 2 year old Pom. I adopted him recently. He has started to bite my pant legs. I want to know WHY he does that, what I can do the stop it, and how to teach a dog basic tricks. I am thinking of putting my dog is a obedience class if he doesn’t stop doing this. I need to know!!
My Pom is obedient and the previous owners brought him to the shelter because they were sick and could not take care of him.

Training Expert answers:

Maybe he wants something and is trying to get your attention. Pet-smart has really good training. Try going there.

Your Questions About Dog Training

Training Expert — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:00:04 +0000

Helen asks…

Am I going to be fat forever?

I am 29 and I want badly to lose weight but I’m so scared that I’m too far gone, too old, etc. It sounds like I’m making excuses but is it even possible for someone to lose a substantial amount of weight at 29? People tell me I look small, but I’m disgusted with how I look. I’m only 5’6″ and I weigh over 140 lbs. Maybe it IS lack of willpower but I am bored to death and I think that boredom is making me fat. Lately I have been bored to death with my life, and I get depressed easily. When I’m profoundly depressed, I just lose my appetite completely and food nauseates me. this happened last fall and I lost 20 pounds within a couple months, and it is a miracle I’m still alive. But, when I’m just angry, tearful, or emotionally depressed, I turn to food. today is my last Saturday off for the next three months and I am going crazy because there’s nothing to do but sit at home. My life consists of home, and work, and I get depressed because I am so bored and lonely. I know that the cause of my weight problem is emotional. I’m from Florida, and I used to have a wonderful figure… when I lived there, whenever boredom or depression would strike, a walk on the beach would cure me. Now I live in High Point (North Carolina) and I am going crazy, there’s nothing to do in this town but rot. When I get frustrated and cry because it’s Saturday and I’m trapped at home, I dry my tears and grab the platter of tacos, and grab the McDonalds fishfilet, and drown my boredom in food. (I don’t drink because I’d surely become an alcoholic, because of my tendency to self-medicate and alcoholism runs rampant in my family) I am bored to death, and food has become a sort of drug to me when I’ve been crying or sad, I forget what was bothering me so much.
I would like to play a sport that I really love. I used to play soccer but I don’t know anyone around here my age that would play with me. I used to be really athletic, I used to ride horses, swim and I even achieved the rank of second-degree blue belt in taekwondo… but the problem is money. In November, I’m going to go abraod (to Spain) for some career training and every penny I earn goes to my trip (I work two jobs). My gym membership is 10 dollars a month but going to the gym is torture. I keep telling myself that I have something to look forward to in November (I’ve wanted to go to Spain all my life). But, the day to day monotony and loneliness is making me mental and eating crap is the only craving that I can give into. I have tried to give it up but I just go into withdrawal like an addict. I am so sick and tired of being fat and ugly and I want to lose the weight in time for my trip. I don’t want to be fat when I go to Spain because everyone knows all Spanish women are beutiful and I don’t want to stand out as the big fat hogger from melbourne. I’m so scared that it might be too late, that I’m too old.
It’s Saturday, and a beautiful day, and I’m trapped at home, bored and lonely… and then I have to work again on Tuesday and school starts in a couple weeks. I’ve had no vacation and i am grateful to have finally found a second job, but I’m stressed out because all I do is work like a dog and rot at home.
How can I lose weight when I’m 29 and have become dependent on food, out of boredom? I’m so sick of being a fat pig

If you can help me, thank you.

Training Expert answers:

You’re not fat (Trust me), but don’t eat food like that… And try to go out some more and have fun

Donna asks…

Would he have left if he really loved me?

My boyfriend and I have been dating for almost a year. He is a minor league baseball and part of his job is that he has to be away for months at a time. He just recently left for Florida, which is 15 hours away from where I live. He lived with me 6 months before he left. We had a life together and even got a dog together. He told me that he wasn’t going to go back to baseball and wanted to get a full-time job. We looked at apartments together, he looked for jobs, and then suddenly when he was frustrated with his job search, he up and left Friday, because baseball is his “sure job,” even though he doesn’t make any money during spring training and won’t make that much money when his season starts. However, I became really sad after he left and nothing has been the same. I can’t eat, sleep, and I find myself depending on my family more. I have plenty to keep me busy– a part-time job and going to school full-time, but I can’t get over the fact that he just LEFT. I understand it is his passion, but we are going to be away for 6 months. We have been fighting, and sometimes I find myself selfish for wanting him to stay here, but other times, I feel like if he really loved me, he would stay here. Am I in the wrong for being like this, or does he not really care about me?

Training Expert answers:

Not sure, but I get the feeling he doesn’t really care about you as wife material.

My husband was a full time fisherman with no permanent address going up an down the coast following the fish until he met me. He decided he wanted to marry me so he got a job in town and does his commercial fishing on weekends and vacations, weather permitting.

But, in the event he was to lose his regular job and had to go back to full-time fishing, I would never hold it against him for being gone more than he is now. He just wants to make a good living so we can have a good life together.

AND – fishing is his passion and I would never, ever try to take that away from him. I knew what he was like before I married him.

David asks…

Can someone with foreign exchange expirience please rate this host family letter?

Dear Host Family,

My name is Hailey Hall, and I live in the state of Florida. I am currently a sophomore at my local high school, and I just turned sixteen this past October. I am so excited to get to meet you! I would like to thank you in advance for picking me as a temporary “daughter”. I am sure that I will learn so much from you during the year that I will be living with you.

I have been living for the past five years in a rural area just outside of Jacksonville Florida. I live on eight acres, and care for five horses, three dogs, and three cats. As for my human family, I live with both my parents and two little sisters whom I love very much. Alyson is twelve, and Sydney is seven. My grandmother, who I call Grammy, also lives with us in the extra apartment. We play rummy and talk about politics. My Grammy has a friend, Krista, who comes over every Sunday. She is from Germany originally. I love to talk to her about her native country and listen to her speak. Krista is the reason that I became interested in Germany. She entranced me with tales of her many years in Germany. She spoke of childhood experiences during World War II, and breathtaking scenery no matter where in the country you are. After a bit of digging around to locate my family tree, Krista and I discovered my German heritage. Just two generations ago my ancestors were living in Germany, until my great great Grandmother immigrated to America. After this discovery, I suddenly felt a longing to become better acquainted with the country of my ancestors.

I am a very independent person, and I actually enjoy doing things on my own usually. I am not an incessant talker, but I love a stimulating conversation. I especially love reading and discussing important global topics, which I know isn’t really a normal teen-age thing to do, but I enjoy it never the less. I do not belong to a practicing religion, although my parents do, but I respect each and every religion whole heartedly.

I recently became a vegetarian for the usual reasons, and I would love to be able to stick with my decision, but I would understand if this would not be a feasible task. I think that eating a little meat for a year is worth a year abroad! My favorite kind of food is Italian, like eggplant parmesan and other pastas. I especially like fruits and vegetables, my favorites being strawberries and apples.

Horses are a huge part of my life. I am a student of Parelli Natural Horsemanship, a horse training program that is all about the relationship between the human and the horse. I am in the midst of completing the third level with my two Arabian horses, Sweet Briar and Blaze. My newest horse, Blaze, was given to me by his misunderstanding owners when he became “aggressive” and unmanageable. He is neither of these, as a little bit of love and better communication soon proved. That is what we do at our farm. We take in un-wanted and misunderstood horses and with love, language, and leadership, give them another chance. I train and ride my horses almost every day, and my mother and I participate in educational clinics and perform at expos.

Along with horses, I love to play my guitar. I believe that playing an instrument is a fabulous stress reliever. I have not ever had formal guitar lessons, but instead have taught myself with a little help from my father. The only thing is I am incredibly nervous about playing in front of people; even my family.

Another thing that I enjoy and spend a good bit of time doing is reading. I absolutely adore the time spent nestled up with a truly engrossing book. My favorite book right now is “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” by Jonathan Safran Foer. I read just about anything though, even non-fiction. It was actually a book that got me interested in a foreign exchange.

I hope that I have given you an idea of who I am and why I chose to be here. Once again I would like to thank you for being so generous as to open up your home and share your culture with me.

Sincerely,
Hailey Rae Hall

Training Expert answers:

As a 15 time host parent, I loved your letter. Don’t worry too much about a potential host family not being able to understand it — most of the time your organization will translate it for you. However, if you already know you’re going to Germany, you might at least write a personal note in German at the bottom — perhaps have your friend help you.

When I’m picking my students, I always depend upon their letter! It’s the most important thing. And it’s also very important that it represent you well. There is nothing worse than kids who “builds themselves up” and you get a totally different person at the airport!

I liked your reference to religion. Very well put. Most Germans don’t practice religion either (except for major holidays) and are sometimes uncomfortable around very religious people.

You might want to include what you see are your “faults”. I’m sure you have some and it’s good to be honest. For example, do you tend to be a little messy? Have difficulty with math? You get the idea.

Finally, I have a couple of “off topic” things to add.

First and foremost, please edit this letter to remove your name and town. IMMEDIATELY. It’s way too much personal information to be up here.

Second, when you get there, please try to become part of your family as soon as possible. Volunteer to help out, share your culture, teach your favorite game, cook your family your favorite food, involve yourself as much as possible in your new culture.

Third, very important, the Internet is NOT your friend. When you arrive there, you need to put Florida away for a year. Yes, write home to your parents, but refrain from chatting and talking to your friends and family on a regular basis. Start a blog instead, where you can share thoughts and pictures of your experiences. There are two main reasons for this … One, if you are consistently and constantly “talking” back home, you are regressing in your ability to function in German. Generally, for each hour you “chat/talk” in English, you’ll lose two or three days of progress in your immersion language (unless you are quite fluent). Second, if you are talking and relating “back home” then your heart is “back home” and not with your new family and friends. They will sense that and resent it.

And as a last thing .. Have a GREAT time! Germany is a beautiful country and the people are wonderful!

Linda asks…

We are moving to Mississippi?

My husband and I are moving to Mississppi due to his job. His job will be in McHenry Mississippi but we want to fing a good place to live near there that is a good area and has good schools with plenty of houses or apartments to rent but do not want to drive no more than 30-45 from his job. Does anyone know about this area and know anything about housing or schools? I am so stressed about this so any help would be great. We are going to have to find a place and move in around Febuary 1 2008. We own a home in Florida but we are renting it out. We do not want our rent to go over $1100.00 and we need somewhere that will take dogs cause we have 2 chihuahua’s that are crate trained. We also need 3 bedrooms cause we have to kids ages 7 and 5. Like I said any help would be great. Thanks A Bunch

Training Expert answers:

Hopefully someone familiar with this part of southern Mississippi will chime in, but just a little digging around on the net turns up the following:

McHenry is located in Stone County. The recent, estimated population of the entire county is about 17,300. The county seat is Wiggins (pop. About 3,800) located about 11 miles north of McHenry (pop. About 1,280).

The Stone County School District http://www.stone.k12.ms.us/education/district/district.php?sectionid=1
is comprised of four schools, three of which are located in Wiggins. An additional elementary school is located in Perkinston, about halfway between Wiggins and McHenry.

The school information should help you with your decision on where to live. Good luck with your move.

Daniel asks…

i am getting a 2 year old victorian bulldog in 2 days..?

Me and my boyfriend have always wanted an english bulldog puppy but we are only 19 and live in his parents house until i graduate school in july 2011. Our plan was to get an apartment and a puppy after i graduate, but a friend of a friend is giving away her 2 year old victorian bulldog (english bulldog mixed with american bulldog) We couldnt pass her up, she is so adorable even though she isnt the purebred english bulldog we wanted. My boyfriends parents agreed to let her move in with us and she is coming from florida (i live in NY) in 2 days. My mom bred dogs all through my childhood so i know how to raise a puppy, but i have never gotten a 2 year old before. How do i handle taking her outside to go potty, she is already trained but how do i get her used to my house? Should I mix her food with the new food i want to put her on like a puppy so she doesnt get an upset tummy? My friend says her friend that owns the dog right now keeps her in her crate all the time and doesnt let her kiss her on the lips, so she isnt very loveable, how can i change this, besides giving her lots of love and cuddles without scaring her? Any advice on getting my new dog would be much appreciated. Thank you!

Training Expert answers:

Congrats on your new dog! I have two dogs, one which we raised ourselves the other we adopted, and this is what i”ve learned over the years. Hope this helps you out…

Potty- when bringing a pet to a new environment you always want to introduce them to their designated potty area. Initially you’ll have to keep an eye on her and take her out routinely, after a few days she’ll put the two together. While your introducing this to her you could also train her to sit next to the door before letting her out so she can let you know in the future when she needs out.

Food- you can either stick to her old food or introduce to new food gradually. If you don’t have any of her old food put her on a bland diet(1 part plain yogurt, 1 part cooked white rice, 1 part cooked ground beef – all unseasoned) for the first day. After a the first day you can begin to add some of her new kibbles in, increasing the amount with time. You should be able to do this in 3-5 days. **Also the bland diet helps if she ever gets an upset stomach.

Affection! – as far as her demeanor towards you, you’ll have to let her evolve on her own time. You’ll have to establish your trust with her, only then will she open up and become YOUR dog. This may take time, be patient she’ll come around.

Good luck to you! Enjoy your new pup!

Your Questions About Dog Training

Training Expert — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:00:12 +0000

Nancy asks…

Can a retired police dog be trained as a search and rescue dog?

I have a 4 year old Belgian Malinois that used to be a police K9 but was retired due to a shoulder injury that causes her to walk with a slight limp. She still gets around fine and can run normally. She has been trained in suspect apprehension and tracking. I was wondering if it would be possible to do SAR with her?

Training Expert answers:

For fun, yes. I imagine she would even enjoy having a ‘job’ to do again. However, the same shoulder injury that caused her early retirement will prevent her from joining the forces of professional search and rescue dogs.

Mark asks…

Being a Quarry? (police dogs)?

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience being a Quarry, or has had any K9 training with police dogs? If so, what information can you share about being a Quarry or being a dog handler? Looking into volunteering as a Quarry with the police department.

Training Expert answers:

I helped out on of our local handlers by being a “Quarry” or “Target dummy” for a while when I was younger

It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s deeply appreciated by the handlers. Basically you suit up to be a moving chew toy for the dog. You act as the “Bad guy” so both the handler and dog practice together and it helps keep the dog “Focused” on what it has to do and not get stagnant.

Maria asks…

Help finding a K9 puppy?

Well I finally convinced my dad to get a puppy. But he said that I could only get one if it was a K9 dog, a European German Shepard, and it is able to be trained to be a guard dog, since I want to go into the K9 field.
Now, I have NO idea if there is such a thing as K9 bred dogs, or if you just have to get a puppy and train it. Any idea on where to start? Any tips or suggestions would be helpful! I’m kind of starting from scratch here.

Thanks!!!

Training Expert answers:

Forget the shelter and all the guilt that people try to place on you.
You need a dog that will be able to do serious work when he gets older and there is NONE at the shelter that will offer you that.
Start checking out dogs in Europe, puppies out of top working dogs, etc. I will include a link that you can go to and see some of the best dogs in Europe at the moment.http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu.5FjJpKb20BGQNXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyc3RtZzAwBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA0Y4MjNfODA-/SIG=119htl33v/EXP=1251728837/**http%3a//www.jinopo.cz/

Hope I helped and good luck.

James asks…

aggressive german shepherd?

my gsd is 4 years old, he is very aggressive torward everyone, we took him to a k9 training center, to see if he could be helped, when he saw the trainer he was trying to attack them, when the trainer told me to pull up on the leash thats when he attacked me and bit me in my shoulder, i was in schock i was so afraid at that moment of my own dog, the trainer said there will be no hope for him btw the trainer is a police k9 trainer, he told me it’s best to put him down, please if anyone could help me…

Training Expert answers:

Your dog’s frustration at trying to get at the trainer was redirected to you. However, he still did bite you. He was trying to get at a neutral stranger. He sounds dangerous and now you are afraid of him.
The person telling you there are lots of reasons for aggression is right, but does it matter if it’s fear or territorial or whatever? The dog is aggressive to the point he bit you and is trying to bite complete strangers. And he was at a place other than his home.
I’d follow the trainers advise and have him put down. Owning a dangerous dog is a huge liability and in some states, if you dog bites and injures someone, you can go to jail. Texas has such a law. It is a felony if your dog bites and seriously injures someone.

David asks…

Puppy Question?

I have a 7 week old Golden Retriever/Husky mix puppy.
I want to K9 train him. How old does he have to be for
me to put him in that training?
Like Police dog training.

Training Expert answers:

What do you mean by K9 training?

Look into begginer or puppy level obediance training courses. That is where you will have to start out. After that, it depends on what you want to teach him exactly, and how well he did with the puppy classes. (not just how well he did learning, but how you did at teaching)

Generally though, depending on the dog, intermediate obedience can start around 8 months.

Service Dogs generally learn basic obedience starting as a puppy (around 12 weeks) and start learning more advanced skills between 12 and 18 months.

Your Questions About Dog Training

Training Expert — Sun, 13 May 2012 09:00:05 +0000

Betty asks…

Dog training question? Wanna put someone in their place!?

Now, I read on my last answer that Petsmart is not REAL training. What is then? Fake training? How come it’s helped my puppy big time? How come we learned so much about how to communicate with the dog? Fake training? It may not be the best in the world, but its not fake. It is real training. We do behaviorial training, trick training, overall obedience. Patches is 100 times better after his Fake training. I’ll take fake training anyday. I must be an idiot then.
We had an awesome trainer, and it was us and another dog. Just the two dogs, and the other dog was absent a few times, so I got a whole hour of one on one. Dina was our trainer, and she taught us leadership and how to show command. We have Patches in a submissive state all the time now. We learned so much. The dog learned sit, stay, leave it, drop it, come, roll over, give paw, down, off. Many commands with positive reinforcement and a clicker. I can calm Patches down by having him sit and wait for something. I can make him stay for almost 10 mins now. I do a lot after training too. Like homework. I work on it. I’m q good dog owner. If all I can afford is Petsmart, then U should support me. I’m doing the best I can. I walk him over an hour a day. He has a big fenced in yard. We play with him. He eats good food. Petsmart has helped so much with that.

Training Expert answers:

The classes that are given at petsmart is not pet training..it’s people training. It teaches owners the very basics of owning and caring for a dog and simple commands like sit, stay, down.
If you want real training, hire a trainer..one who took more then 8 hours of training in the back of a store…

Donna asks…

Treat suggestion for basic obedience training?

Out of curiosity.

What treat(s) would you suggest for one training their dog in basic obedience training with positive reinforcement(clicker training)?

(The dog that is being trained, in this situation, is not picky when it comes to food/treats)

Training Expert answers:

Dried liver or string cheese .. Both none messy and they love both

Mary asks…

dog training?

i have booked my 6 month border collie into obedience classes, to be honest he is a very well behaved pup, no real problems with him but just thought some training would be very helpful, i have 3 children and the trainer has said that they would be welcome to come along, i want them involved as much as possible but am a bit concerned them being present will distract alfie because he loves them to bits, is it a good idea to take them with me or should i take alfie on my own. any thoughts from anyone.

Training Expert answers:

You want your dog to listen to all members of the family at all times. You also want your dog to be able to respond no matter what the distraction is. So the more distractions around when he is training the better. Take him alone a few times to learn the routine and the commands, then bring the kids. EVERYONE in the house should work on training him.

Good luck

Sharon asks…

Is my dog beyond training?

I have a Lhasa Apso bitch who is 15months old…Shes a nightmare..I take her to dog obedience lessons every tuesday and she is ok in there although quite nervous of other dogs.However, at home shes a devil dog totally unpradictable and I have to keep her seperate from my 3 year old daughter as much as I can as she has bitten her a couple of times. she knows that she ca not go on the couch tables ect but as soon as my back is turned for like 1 second to put a cup in the kitchen say…she is on te couch scratching it when I come back in she will jump straight off its like she is taking the p~ss out of me ha ha…I had a friend round (who is good with dogs) and we were both teaching my dog to stay when my friend went near her my dog bit her twice bruised her thumb nail and punchured her skin ..I was so imbarrased I put my dog outside because I didnt trust her near my friend. Im having a nother baby soon and really worried about her constantly being locked in another room but Im so scared of her hurting my kids,.
I think she sees me as her boss as if I say sit, stay, come, out ect she will do but o occasions she has tried to bite me also…Any Ideas people Im getting desprate now. Ps. I have gien her toys , chews, walks, training (still going obedience classes, )
pps. she barks at everyting e slightest noise and will not stop even if I shout at her any advise on this?
Always unstoppable …below…dont bother answering if you cant answer with any advise……what a div…I think I t is obvious from all the time and effort I am giving to my dog that I do care…. Idiot
and yer read above she has had training.. I tae her every Tuesday.. I have taught her to sit stay. come, lie down ect so thats wrong also

Training Expert answers:

This dog can be trained. You need to change the way you respond to her when she does something wrong. You are letting her get away with the bad behavior without letting her know that the behavior is wrong. When she does something wrong such as biting she needs a firm no biting said then remove her from the situation. In her training you need to do the same thing over and over again until she gets it right. You might need to take her to training that is one on one. You the trainer and the dog.
You need to let her know each and every time that you are the alpha dog and if she gets out of line she will be punished. No excuses No exceptions. Its going to take work and everyone that deals with her needs to do the same thing you are as far as training or punishment when doing something wrong.

Sandra asks…

rusty cues on dog obedience?

i just recently gotten a dog from the local shelter. we’ve come to find out that she was already house broke and had a little bit of obedience training. at first she had great commands: come, sit down, heel, and stay was a little harder. but now the more i practice these commands she seems to be regressing. like when i ask her to “come” she will casually walk away like she didn’t hear me. she used to perform the cues very well on leash and off leash. but they are getting slower and not working.

is there a reason for this? and what can i do to get her to progress again?

Training Expert answers:

You may be working her too long and she’s bored or tired of “performing” for you…an intelligent dog won’t just turn it on forever if it’s pointless. When training, smaller more intense sessions more often is far more effective than trying to get an hour in practicing. Better yet, if the dog already knows the basics, use them…”sit” before you put a dinner bowl down or open the door to go out to play…make them earn their treats etc. This reinforces the command, your position of authority and rewards them without always using treats by them immediately getting whatever they earned (the ball, a run around the yard, dinner, whatever.) And this keeps them from becoming bored of it all.

Also, don’t forget that praise and affection is a great positive reinforcement and goes a long way in motivating them to pay you some mind when you ask them to do something! Try mixing it up a bit…take her out back (if it’s fenced of course) and try hiding behind a tree and calling her once to “come”…when she finds you, act the total fool! Run around like a dork with her and stop suddenly and ask her to “sit”, then immediately pick up the play again…if you don’t make it fun, they can lose interest; but, if it’s fun, and they never know when you’re gonna give them a command, you’ve got their interest and complete control over them.

Good luck!

Your Questions About Dog Training

Training Expert — Sat, 12 May 2012 09:00:25 +0000

Daniel asks…

How to train a service dog to heel going up the stairs?

I have a 5 year old yellow labrador, and he is a very laid back dog, and is currently being trained to be a service dog. He is completely done with his training, except he still won’t go up the stairs at a heel. He likes to have his leash taken off and likes to run up the stairs. Obviously he needs to be able to go up the stairs at a heel when we are out places, and can’t just run up the stairs. He does go down the stairs at a perfect heel though, and will stand on the stairs for however long I need him to without moving as long as he is facing down and putting most of the weight on his front legs. I am training him myself to be a service dog for me, so any help would be appreciated! When I try holding onto his vest (he has a handle on his vest for me to hold on to him) he pulls away, and can slip out of his vest (It is pretty loose because I want to have him be able to take deep pants on a hot day, and not pinch him). Please help me, it is imperative that he learns this skill asap, and I don’t have any extra money for him to be trained by a professional.
Thanks!

Training Expert answers:

Teach him step-for-step heeling. Start on flat ground. Have him on a correction collar (prong or martingale) and have treats. Start with him sitting next to you. Lift your left foot, say “heel”, take one step with him, then stop and sit again. Then work up to two steps, three steps, and so forth. Every step you take, he should take one step and wait. If he moves ahead, correct him gently with the collar. Reward him heartily for good work. If you do it correctly, he should be able to continue the step for step even on stairs.

You can also build confidence on the stairs, walk down backards in from of him, after each step tell him “wait” and reward him with food if he pauses. Work on increasing the time he’ll stand facing down on a step without moving.

Mandy asks…

walking dogs and getting them to heel?

i love walking my dog but she pulls on the lead too hard, how do you train your dog to heel and walk next to you? she is a year old but is a very intelligent german shepherd, it doesnt take her long to learn new things i just dont exactly know how to teach her in the most proactive way?

Training Expert answers:

Ok i had to do the same thing to my german shepard, and all you have to do is make sure to hold them where you want them, if you want your dog 1 foot in front of you only give your dog a foot of leash, if you want your dog right next to you hold your dog there. Or you can try geting a retrackable leash and let your dog go out then say heel and then stop the leash do this over and over until you dog doesnt need you to stop the leash.

Donald asks…

Any good DVDs or books on dog training?

My dog is a little over 1 year old, and I would like to learn how to train her better. She currently knows sit, stay, come here, and when she feels like it lay down. I would like her to learn roll over and heel but haven’t had any luck so far (she is VERY fidgety). Are there any good books or DVDs that can help? Thanks.

Training Expert answers:

Hello Rainbow,

I fully understand how you feel because I encountered the same situation when I have tried to train up my baby dog months ago, you need to be patience and render your supreme love caring for your dog.

I am lucky to have my friend who recommends a series of breakthrough videos for training my baby dog in a remarkable training techniques to quickly end all of my frustrating dog problems.

Best of all, all I have to do is just sit back and relax in the comfort of my home to enjoy the “live” (with real dogs) demonstration how to easily solve each and every one of my dog’s behavior issues!

Hope this link http://dog-training-video.pinurl.com will help you a lot!

Enjoy it.

Sandy asks…

I didnt agree with the dog training technique???

today i took my dog to a trainning class , where they also give private training. Now i have a 9m husky, that likes to bark at people and sometimes dogs. Well today the man introduced a prong collar over my halti. I didnt like the way it looked or what iv herd about prongs. So he put two chains -prongs- on my dog with a muzzle and was pulling him so hard that he cried twice. Than he was talking about that its not mean because i need to be leader because the dog knows weakness, and then hes talking about shock collars. All these things im against, he also had me heel with my dog, which i thought he needed to learn. But he had a long leash on him in the back of me with another one i held, so everytime he would be out of place. He would yank him hard then my dog cried. I dont know what to do because the whole time my dog was scared he didnt look happy , he didnt even get excited when i talk to him in a high pitched voice.

What do you guys think, should i go again?

Training Expert answers:

If you don’t agree with the trainer’s methods, then you shouldn’t go back. The point of going is to learn how to work with your dog, and to practice what you’ve learned at home. If you don’t agree with the methods, then you won’t want to use them at home. That defeats the purpose of going. I understand how you feel, because I took one of my dogs to an advanced obedience class and it wasn’t the methods I disagreed with, it was the attitude of the trainer. She had certain owners and breeds that she favored over everybody else and their dogs. After one particularly rude class, I never went back. I actually saw her in a pet store later, and she remembered my dog and asked why we dropped out. I told her exactly why. Your trainer doesn’t seem to know any methods besides using force on a dog, and I’d never subject my dog to such brutal handling. Please, don’t go back, for the sake of your dog.

Steven asks…

Please help with training a non-food-motivated dog?

A few months ago, my husband and I rescued a dog from the pound. She was skin-and-bones and losing her fur from malnourishment. We have spent a lot of time helping her to get healthy again, and now she is beautiful. Her name is Gypsy, and she is a German Shepherd mix.

Now that she is healthy, I would really like to train her with basic commands, especially “Sit”, “Wait”, and “Heel“. But my dog-training book is for food-motivated dogs, and Gypsy is NOT food-motivated. I have tried 5 different kinds of dog treats, vienna sausages, canned chicken, ground beef (cooked), and boiled chicken. She is just not interested in food rewards. At all.

I have also tried the “say ‘sit’ and press gently on her rump” technique. She locks up, and she is too strong for me to force her to sit.

She doesn’t have any -bad- behavior that I want to correct. She is friendly and gentle – wonderful with my 20-month-old son. But my husband and I have both owned German Shepherds in the past, and our experience is that German Sherpherds need guidance and training for their active minds.

Does anyone know of any websites, books, or advice that I could use to train a non-food-motivated dog? I am really at a loss as to where to begin.

Thank you!

Training Expert answers:

You don’t need food, you need verbal praise and the voice tone to match.

Start slow, and in short 5 minute training sessions. Use a collar and leash–the sit command should be accompanied by lifting up the leash and back to make the dog’s neck go a tad back, making the ‘sit’ easier. There’s a section on the side of the dog’s haunch to put your finger in, where the leg meets the body, to push in instead of pushing down on the hips. Pushing the hips just locks some dogs up.

Check online for the book by Barbara Woodhouse, the lady made famous for her line ‘Walkies!!!’, She describes the right training methods for the dog. She may even have Youtube videos put up. Here’s her wikipedia entry.

Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Woodhouse

Cesar Milan also covers basics, and he’s got a ton of dog whisperer videos on Youtube. He’s the ‘dog whisperer’ and here’s his website –

http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/

Some of his training methods are phenominal and they work.

Your Questions About Dog Training

Training Expert — Fri, 11 May 2012 09:00:03 +0000

Michael asks…

Obedience school for toy breeds?

I have a small toy breed 6 month old puppy and I’d like to enter her into obedience school. My local SCPA has a training course that I tried…but all the other dogs were HUGE and it was outside (a half an hour in 20 degree temperature nearly killed her). Can anyone tell me what I should look for in a toy breed friendly obedience school? Especially in the DC/MD area. ty!

Training Expert answers:

Petsmart and Petco have their training classes inside. I have a private trainer that teaches her classes inside at a local auditorium and she taught a class specifically for little dogs. Your vet may be able to give you a recommendation.

You’ll still probably find that you are outnumbered by big dogs. Unfortunately toy breeds need training just as much but many toy owners seem to treat them like babies that couldn’t possibly hurt anyone and don’t bother – which leads to the problem of many toy breed dogs with terrible manners. So I appreciate that you want to do it. My golden retriever took obedience classes with a corgi and some terriers, and they all got along fine. And my golden still plays with a friend who is shih tzu and they are great together. Dogs do very well at compensating for size when they play and socialize.

Helen asks…

Are there any good sites for dog training?

My dog pees and poops on the floor and sometimes when she can’t control her bladder (she is a small dog). She also is not friendly to guests. And when it is time for her to go to bed (she has a room and cage for sleeping in) she is starting to get cunning about running away and trying to keep from getting put away. She is also really bad about begging. My family refuses to put her in obedience school because they don’t want to spend the money and she is 5 years old. Any sites that help me teach her myself?
Okay, first of all I don’t live in the UK and $8 a session is money that I don’t really have to be spending. Apparently my parents would rather pick up the pee and poop rather than taking her to obedience school because I even offered to take her. As far as I am concerned she can go to a new family. I love her because she is a family pet, but I am not an animal person really and I am tired of being the one cleaning up the messes.

Training Expert answers:

One here on Dog Training => http://www.DogExpertReveal.com

It answers all the questions you asked. Go to “sitemap” and then the website’s “article directory” will pop out some good articles to solve your problems.

This is one of the simple clean but great site I found while surfing for dog information. Many tips through free subscription in which he revealed his dog training videos for common folks.

William asks…

How do some people get their dog to walk by their side WITHOUT dedicated training? (plz read the rest)?

I live in a town that’s full of drug addicts and wasters. A lot of these people own dogs.

Walking up town shopping I saw a girl I new from school and her boyfriend (they are both addicts) and they had a well behaved dog just walking behind them with out a lead. These people are the type that have their children taken away for neglect and not even caring about themselves, so I really cant see them going to obedience training or even taking the time to train their dog.

I put a lot of effort into training everyday and I still cant walk in a public place with out my dog wanting attention from strangers.

Are some dogs just easier?

Training Expert answers:

What an interesting question. I’m glad you noted to “read the rest” because the whole story brings up a good point. In the example you gave, it’s really about the dog’s personality, and maybe even the age. Dogs calm down a lot in their older years. You didn’t mention if you are training a younger dog or not, but… My two puppies (7 and 8 mos old) would NEVER just walk by my side in public right now. No matter HOW well I train them. Right now they’re babies and the world is a playground, LOL. The dog you saw may not only have a more submissive personality, but may have been 5+ years old.

Good luck with your training and remember that age and personality have a lot to do with it.

George asks…

How can i make my HYPER dog less hyper?

she is gonna be a 2 year old German Shepard/lab mix. she has been neutered/spayed. i don’t have the $200 (the cheapest obedience school) to have her trained. i have been training her myself and she knows the basics sit, lay, stay. but she so hyper i can’t get her to do it for long. i have a lil brother that is scared of her because she is so hyper.
she doesnt jump but she will weave threw your legs and make me fall down, and then she will jump on me. SHE IS A HUGE DOG! IM 6’3″ AND SHES PAST MY KNEE! i really need her to calm down! i thought she’d grow out of it but she hasn’t! PLEASE HELP!

Training Expert answers:

Don’t worry. Terrible two’s apply to dogs as well as kids. This is when all dogs start to calm down. I know that some people are reading this and saying that their dogs are still really hyper. Well I didn’t say that your dog was going to lay down and die, but if you think about it didn’t your dog calm down from when he was a puppy and stop some of it’s super destructive behavior. I know that all mine did. You do need to exercise your dog as much as possible. They are alot easier to deal with if you where them out. As for training, I’ve never paid for obediance lessons. I find that I am much more likely to stick to training if all I have to do is walk outside and start, or into the next room. I like the clicker method and it works well. I included links below. You said you can’t get her to do her trick for long, but this is not a bad thing. You can’t tell her to sit for example and expect her to stay that way to take care of her hyperness. Try the clicker training though. I think it will help. You could also try telling her no and ignoring her. Give her no indication that you want to play and she may stop. Or you can use the clicker method to teach her to go to her pad or another room. Getting a fenced in yard to turn her loose in is also a good idea for when she gets too hyper and you just need a break. Good luck.

Mark asks…

Dog Training…..help!!!!????!!!?

Ok. My pup is a shar pei mix. She has been to obedience school and is doing fairly well since we have left. Her problem is that whenever we tell her “no” on something she will start to growl and bark, sometimes even pee in the floor. She is wagging her tail while doing this so I don’t know if she is trying to play or that is just a misconception.I think that she is trying to show her dominance but we are trying to discipline her and it is not working does anyone have an other ideas? Please?!

Training Expert answers:

Hi, if you contact the RSPCA or the equivalent in your country ( I’m in Australia) and ask someone there. They have many staff there with training in animal husbandry and they will hopefully be able to advise you on what to do, or direct you to someone that can.

Your Questions About Dog Training

Training Expert — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:00:11 +0000

David asks…

Training dogs? Advice?

Ok. So thus far, our 9 week old puppy is doing GREAT on potty training. Hes had about 1 accident a day (uisually popps, and I figured its usually in the morning, so im going to make sure he stays out longer in the mornings so he finishes his business). I have a 5 yr old and 18 month old. The puppy gets very excited when he see’s the kids. He tries to jump on my 18 month old, and it knocks her over. He is also going through that biting stage. he bites at everything and chews it up. Whats the best way to try to teach him not to do this? Especially not to bite at the kids. My son was playing with him this morning, and the dog tried to bite at his pant leg, and bite his knee. Obviously not hard, he only has his little milk teeth, but enough my son cried and wanted nothing to do with the dog. How can I start teaching the puppy this is bad behavior? Also, when the puppy does go potty outside, should I give him alittle snack as a reward? What snacks are best for a puppy this age?

Training Expert answers:

He may bite because of overexcitement.

You need to teach him that if he bites, playtime or whatever stops. WHen he bites, make a loud yelping noise, and then turn your back on him. Ignore him for a few minutes. He’ll eventually realize that biting = no more attention.

Paul asks…

I’m 14 and Want to train dogs for money?

I want to have a summer job or two and I want one to be training/working with dogs.

But i’m only 14 so… I have a few questions…..
1) am I old enough?
2) if not, how old do I need to be?
3) do I need a license to do so?
4) would you trust a 14 year old to train your dog?

here’s about me:

I have memorized over 180 dog breeds since I was around 8 years old and know facts about each one, I’m 14, and I own two dogs of my own. I’ve helped train a friends dog just for free and fun and I LOVE to be around dogs.
I’m really good with canines, they love me to death and follow me everywhere once I get to know them. I’ve taught my dog to “jump up”, “crawl”, “speak” on command only, “sit”, “lay” or “lay down, “stay”, and “come” in only 6 months total, while potty training him at only 2 months old he knew all those by 8 months.
I would NEVER hurt a dog or even JOKE about it! I would never blame a dog for an incident, such as a dog bite, and I would never scold a dog with a beating or a flick, I don’t scold for bad behavior, only reward for good.

The pricing would be based on the persons ability to pay a certain amount due to economy. If they can’t afford the flat rate of whatever I choose, I will bump it down 2 or 3 dollars for them, to fit their needs if they need me to and I trust them enough not to lie.
=)

I don’t do it for the money only, but to show humans and dogs that they can get along fine, my job is to show them that they can live in harmony when the dog is trained and the owner is too.

The owner can choose to have me bring my dog and demonstrate while they do what I do or I can do it for them and show them what to do when they return, if they’re busy.

I work for the dog and owner bond, I would even train a bad-case dog for free.
ADD: I know in the Q i said for money then halfway thru I said not just for money, I meant in the heading Q that I want it as a job, not just for money sorry if that didn’t make sense… =/
ADD: I have volunteered at a vet and a shelter before.
ADD: I can’t foster dogs, mom thinks it’s too much money…
I also am able to compete in jr.showmanship, all I need to do is finnish registering my dog, I have all the info and stuff already. I might do it, I might not. I have a jr.handling number and pin and everything.
I’ve studied pack mentality since I was 10 and body language of canis familiarus for that same amount of time, ask me any question and I’ll have the answer, or at least AN answer.

Training Expert answers:

You sound like a great dog person!

Having any job at your age is difficult as most people that hire someone what that person to have finished High School. I live in the US and there are child labor laws. There is also liability. If a child is hurt by an animal the owner may be sued.

I would advise you to try out many activities with animals, more then sitting, walking dogs. The Zoo’s her have programs for children. You might want to open your mind to all the things a animal loven person can do in their future.

Then I would work hard in school, So I can get into the very best collages. Then I would educate myself so I could be the best at what I love.

My daughters 16 and 23 share my love of dogs and we have fostered 40 over the last 9 months. 5 of them were mom’s to be having a total of 18 pups. It was a reward experience. Didn’t pay a penny.

From that experience one daughter is going for her Master in Medicine and the other graduating today in fact will also go into medicin.

A great thing you can do right now is talk to your friends and share with them your love of dogs, teach them to be responsiable by example. Teach them the difference between a breed dog and a shelter dog. Inform them that 8 million dogs a year are distroyed. Because there are too many. That altering a pet is a great thing to do.

Teach the youth and you can change the world!

Good luck in your furture

Charles asks…

How normal is it for a 1/12 year old dog to bite its owner?

Last night, our dog (female, 1/12 yrs, 50lbs – springer spaniel, border collie, pitbull?, maybe others) bit my wife on her arm. The bite did not hurt my wife or break skin (scared her a lot), but it was a deliberate bite. It occurred while the dog was on my wife’s lap and she tried to move the dog to another part of the couch. My wife is ready to get rid of the dog because she feels no amount of biting of this sort is tolerable. I’m trying to figure out what is acceptable.

We’ve had the dog since she was 9 mos. At that age, she was very mouthy, but it subsided with 4 months of dog training and age. It does not occur too often, but the dog uses her mouth on people’s hands occasionally. We’re still trying to train her off that habit.

The only change recently is that our dog is now allowed on the couch and bed with us sometimes.

My wife doesn’t trust information from websites and only trusts dog owners’ real experiences.

What is normal? Has your dog ever bit? What did you do?

Training Expert answers:

Any bite that is dilberate is a seriouse problem. Especially if the dog was on your wifes lap and showed her that her moving was unexceptable to her (your dog). This can turn into a potentionally dangerouse problem.

My first intinct is not to rehome the dog, but to step into action with asserting dominance. She needs to learn where she stands in the family pack. Right now she sees herself over your wife, in which is dangerouse right there and more bites will come.

I highly recomend a good veterinary physical exam, to make sure nothing is hurting thus contributing to any onset aggression (sore hips, or a sore lump etc.) then seek the advice of a professional dog trainer or a basic obience class, to put structure back into her life and re-enforce the reality that she is not above your wife in the pack family.

I wouldn’t let sleep on the bed and get on the couch any more, that is a priviallege not a necisity for her, and you have to let her see this.

One really easy way for your wife to reassert her dominace over the dog is to bind them, its a non physicical method of taking the leash and tying it to your wifes belt. She ignores the dog, and shows no special favors but every where your wife goes the dog must follow as a subivive pack follower, and your wife is now the dominant pack leader making the desions. You don’t talk to the dog, when you get up and get ready to go, you just go and the dog is forced to acept you and follow.

I know it sounds odd, but I did this method with my husky when she would run off and not return when called, and it worked fantasically with her.

I don’t think this method, just like a variety of training methods will work with every dog, thats why its important to talk to a professional trainer, where they can properly assess you and your dog to find the right method for all of you.

This is extreemly normal behavior for a dog who is asserting thier dominance over the submissive pack members, but should not be acepted from any dog owner when the dog begins to view themselves as the dominant leader and the owner as the submissive.

I have never given my dogs the oppertunity to bite me dilibertly, they have growled at me and I stopped them there.

Fact is, in dog sociology, the pack leader is never challenged, by his pack.

I can totally understand your wife and her reaction, but I would try the professional trainer to see if they can help you guys out.

Good luck.

Ken asks…

training a puppy to fit the ideal dog persona?

I got a 10 week old puppy three days ago. Mind you that I have trained JRT’s, German Sheperds, Australians Sheperds, I decided to check out what the new school of dog training advice was out there. I am kind of dissapointed in advice people are dispensing about training dogs. I was wondering if anyone feels the same way? I think the trainers forget that people have different ideals. For instance, training a hunting dog is different from training a hunting breed to live as a family pet. There is this one guy who went on and on about not allowing a puppy/dog to sit on your lap. I have never had a problem with any of my dogs, and they were all allowed to sit/rest-head on my lap. I think he just didn’t want a dog that sat next to him, or maybe he had a bad experience. What one considers misbehaving can be considered appropriate to another person. This goes for how people raise children as well.

I also don’t want my dog to like all people, and have no problem if my dog growls at strangers. I don’t want strangers touching my dogs without me interacting with the person first. There are many trainers who want to take this form of aggression out of dogs. If my dog bites someone who approaches my dog while I have her on a leash after I told them she is not good with strangers, shame on that person. I would teach my child, to not interact with strangers as well. This is what I consider ideal. Maybe some say, “what if my dog escapses”. Well shame on me. I have not had it happen yet over 20 years of owning and training dogs.

How do the rest of you feel? Do you feel like some advice just does not fit in to what you consider an ideal dog?
“Suit bait?” You sound exactly like one of those people who go around touching other people’s pets without permission. It sounds to me like you need training.
I just wanted to clairfy that I don’t have problems training my dogs to do this. However, that was not the whole question I was asking. I was asking if you had your own divergences in opinion with trainers. I was just giving an example of my own.
I am not asking for training advice. I am asking if anyone else is frusterated with people who think want they want is what you want.
Different states have different laws about dog bites. Some states, people bitten by dogs have more rights, whereas, places like Nebraska don’t extend such rights. Basically, my dog could kill you if you tresspassed on my property, and you would not win a lawsuit. However, California affords rights that I think are ridiculous as laws that protect j-walkers.

Training Expert answers:

There are many different training methods out there and one doesn’t just fit every dog, as you said. If you want a dog for protection, you aren’t going to sign up for your local basic obedience classes using positive reinforcement. Just as you don’t go to one doctor for all of your medial needs (my internist won’t fill my cavities, my dentist won’t adjust my back, etc.), I feel it’s the same with training. It depends on how you want your dog to behave. I find it hilarious that people think no matter what their dog does, they are trying to ‘dominate’ them. Our dogs are allowed on our furniture. They have to ask first (they do so with a paw up), but we taught them that because we have company that comes over who may not want our drooling AmStaffs on the couch with them. They may weigh 70 pounds, but they still try to sit on my lap. This isn’t because they are dominant, but because they love to cuddle. People watch too much tv and believe everything they see on it.

Jumping dogs drive me nuts. When we were training our youngest, it would really tick me off when she would jump, I would correct her and someone would say ‘no, it’s okay.’ It’s not okay. She will be a big dog one day and then she’s going to knock someone over. We have friends who think its adorable that their labs jump on everyone that enters the house. Acceptable for them, not for us. People definitely have different views of what is acceptable and what is not. Our dogs are allowed on furniture, my dad doesn’t allow his dogs on furniture. Our dogs aren’t allowed on our bed, but my bestfriend lets her dogs sleep with her. To each their own. I did find it funny in my very first training class that someone tried to tell me we should always eat before our dogs do or they will think they are the boss. Really? Just because I ate a few potato chips before Max and Lily got their kibble on the floor, they’re going to think they own the house? But some people really believe this. My dogs sit for their food. They wait until they are given a release signal to eat. I don’t make my children do that. We eat as we please. I seriously doubt they think they’re at an elevated status because I fed them their kibble before I took a half hour making a complete breakfast for my husband and kids, of which they got none. To each their own, and whatever works for your individual dog, though.

While I agree that it is shame on someone for approaching YOUR dog even after you have said it doesn’t like strangers, I don’t think the court will see it that way if it bites a child. The problem is not your dog, but children these days. Their parents don’t teach them about dogs. We have a little ‘biter’ in the neighborhood who is in the middle of a dangerous dog hearing and his owners may lose him. He is an extremely nasty little purebred Jack Russell from questionable lineage (pet store pup) that has bit almost every child in a two block radius. Why should the owner not be allowed to walk his dog? It’s not HIS fault that these stupid kids coming running right up to him and stick their hands out. However, their parents don’t agree and have sued. The parents have won and medical bills have had to be paid. After all of this, the dog is likely going to lose it’s life. Why? Because people don’t ask. They just see a small, cute dog and reach for it. While I agree with you, the courts don’t see it our way.

My dogs are extremely friendly, it’s inherent in the breed and there wasn’t a thing we could do about it even if we wanted to. They welcome strangers with open arms. We are fine with that.

William asks…

How does a couple Labrador Retriever attacks mean all dogs are monsters?

Okay there was this Lab who attacked a kid. The owner kept the poor thing chained in the yard all day, and never socialized it. In fact, 90% of Labrador retriever bites, and dog bites in general were caused by chained dogs. Not counting abused dogs, dogs TRAINED to bite… So anyway, now a city wants to ban ALL labs. Anyone with a lab must move or surrender it to be euthanized, whether it has bitten anyone or not. People are ranting all over the internet and media about how labs are vicious monsters bred to kill, because they were used as hunting dogs and are very good at retrieving dead bodies/mortally gunshot/arrow wounded animals, so now they love the smell of death… People are saying on y/a that the state has a right to seize and gas to death a dog who has never bitten anyone, because they are all monsters, and that the lab owners have no rights, never mind the rights of an innocent dog.
Oh, oops, I mean pit bull. A dog created as a farm hand to BULL BAIT
NOT fight. They were the original bull dogs, and the long faced Spuds dog/squat, cute bull dog of today are actually genetic offshoots. Because these dogs were adept at catching cows, bulls in particular, and were brave, some people fought them in pits, and bred them to be super human-submissive so that the opponent’s handler could handle them, inspecting for poison/other cheating, and needed to recover injured, red-zone dogs from the pit w/o being bitten (try doing that with another breed). They didn’t fight to the death or mortal injury in those days, not like todays “thugs” These “thugs” are the ones who should be banned! So, how are people who only see stories on the news, and have no knowledge of pit bulls or dog behavior, allowed to make these Hitler-ish race/breed selection rules? And what can REAL dog lovers do to fight them, and people who think the “state” has the right to kill innocents?
Oh my god! Tony IV now? What did you have to change your name cuz of all the trolling you do? EWW. Everyone, this guy STALKED me last night, answering every question i or other women asked with “you should murder your dog” and other one liners, increasingly personal attacks linking people to offensive/sexual websites. Apparently now he’s back at it. A warning to all women: this guy is 60+ by his own admission. He leaves offensive/sexually harassing messages and answers to people’s questions. I stood up to him last night and told him I had reported him, and he launched into an attack saying I was a “primitive zionist” or something like that and only people who can’t “debate” report people! So now he’s reported for asking him to leave me and other women alone? Great! Just like a pervert to expose himself to the authorities! I can’t wait to see what happens, because Tony, women have been reporting you all night. LEAVE US ALONE.

Training Expert answers:

Welcome to my world. As the owner of 3 Pitties, and a rescue volunteer, I have been following the progress of BSL for some time. I know it’s only a matter of time before the so-called ‘family dogs’ made it to the list.

It is a shame that legislatore don’t realize that all dogs have the potential to bite, that all dogs can inflict damage, and that well-bred well-trained socialized animals raised correctly are the least likely to be involved in an incident like this. This is why we owners of large breeds lobby for stricter leash laws, harsher punishments for neglect and cruelty, and education and licensing requirements for anyone wanting to own a large breed dog. Write to your congressmen, be active in your community….get involved. We can always use the help

Your Questions About Dog Training

Training Expert — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:00:21 +0000

Richard asks…

How do i get sponsorship for a dog training school?

looking for sponsorship for dog training Agility equipment how is the best people to try?

Training Expert answers:

Http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Letter-Requesting-Sponsorship

only thing i could find

George asks…

anyone knows a good dog training school?

i want to become a dog trainer and i was just wondering if theres a good dog training school in California?

Training Expert answers:

I’ve heard that Moorepark College is good at teaching people to train all kinds of animals including dogs.

Michael asks…

I Need name for my dog training business?

Hi, I am about to graduate from dog training school and I need advice or ideas for a business name. I will offer group classes, private training and problem solving and training. I will also train deaf dogs and blind dogs.
The only name I have so far is, K9 Elite Dog Training.

Training Expert answers:

Bark Busters

K9 on the Straight Line

Sorry . . I’m pretty crap at thinking up names. Good Luck!

James asks…

Where can I find a reputable dog training school?

Ive looked at the ABC, animal behavioral college. Any thoughts or suggestions? Is this school for real?

Training Expert answers:

Http://www.triplecrowndogs.com/

That place is awesome. It is seriously in the middle of nowhere (Hutto, Texas), but I have visited the campus personally and it is legit. I was impressed with my tour, and the only reason I didn’t enroll myself was because it was so far away from my current home in Washington state…

Susan asks…

I am in need of a dog training school in bolton?

I have just got a fox terrier who is around 18 motnhs and is in need of some training.
I would like to take her to training school by where I live in Bolton.
Has anyone got any suggestions where I can take her please??
bolton is in lancashire (by manchester – uk)
got an 18 month old fox terrier in need of training. and i have had a look in the phone book, but i was wondering whether anyone can reccommend 1

Training Expert answers:

Check out Kay Laurence’s website:
www.learningaboutdogs.com – she might be able to recommend someone in your area.
She’s attended Crufts many times. She also has some very good books and videos that might help.

Check the Association of Pet Dog Trainers for referrals. Ask you local vet for suggestions.

Audit a class before enrolling – ask a lot of questions and ask for referrences from past clients.

Good luck!

Your Questions About Dog Training

Training Expert — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:00:35 +0000

Joseph asks…

Has anyone tried leash-free training collars to correct unwanted chasing?

I live in the country and have a highly active 10-month old cattle dog/german shepherd mix. She’s a great dog in every way except of course naturally she thinks cows and horses are for chasing. I would like for her to be able to run around the property and get some exercise with the other dogs but I need to be able to trust her around the livestock first and I’ve tried using a long line to train her but she knows when she is and isn’t attatched to a leash (good on leash, does what she wants off-leash). When she goes into prey drive of course she does not listen to commands and treats and toys are nowhere near as interesting as a moving horse or cow. SO, I recently came across collars online that are not shock collars, but similar. Instead of a shock they use sound or vibration. I need something powerful enough to snap her out of prey drive but would like to avoid a shock collar if possible. Just looking at options, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Training Expert answers:

I admit I have no experience with electric training collars. The one you describe sounds more humane than the shock collars. However, I wonder if you could achieve similar results by continuing to use the long lead for a while longer. Most of us tend to want to ‘hurry’ training to meet some pre-determined goal of ours. Dogs, of course, tend to train at their own pace (it’s not volitional – it’s just how they are). You could continue to use the long lead and reinforce EVERY appropriate response around the livestock (a high rate of reinforcement tends to solidify responses better). And then test the learning (briefly and with the lead handy) on animals that are not moving much or not going far (say, in a more confined area than the field – perhaps the barn?). Again, reinforcing every appropriate response.
Gradually increasing the level of difficulty, but going back to a more successful level if she fails too often at the new level.
Whatever method you choose to use, just keep in mind that there are no guarantees – she may well learn the same thing with the collar that she learned with the lead: when it’s on, she’s ok; when it’s off, the animals are fair game. Another reason gradually transitioning to training and reinforcing appropriate responses without tools is critical.

Maria asks…

14 week old Jack Russell went from teething to biting at my face, help?

My JRT is very smart and has now attempted to use it towards his advantage… I have read several books and have done weeks and weeks of research prior to getting him into the home.

To give you some background I started training him the day after I got him. I did lay the ground work as to where he can go and should be. I did read not to start crate training until after a few days at the home which i did, and think may have been a mistake. However, he knows how to sit, lay, roll over, and can ring a bell when he has to go outside. Again HOWEVER… he does a lot of this when he wants too, and does not come when called only sometimes, and is starting to finally look at me when I say his name without a treat in my hand. He almost goes pee on command. Sometimes he just has to find his sweet spot in the yard.

My problem is recently his teething or chewing has become increasingly harder and closer to the face. From reading things online, I do not see this as a positive thing, but as him trying to be the leader of the pack maybe? I do have him signed up for dog training at Pets Mart…

Has anyone heard about this and is their training worth it? It was either spend 2500 dollars for some 2 week course from a guy who also thinks he can whisper to dogs in Chicago or Pets mart… I do not have a lot of options around here for a fair price.

I was having issues on the leash but think I have learned how to correct him. He is learning and seems like he wants to learn. I am going strict with positive re enforcement training and pretty much carry treats in my pocket 24/7.

I have not yet used a clicker but was told that it also works and that I will be getting one next week at pets mart.

Any feed back or advice would be much appreciated. I love my dog very very much and just want him to have a wonderful life, and just need some guidance.

Am I asking too much too fast?

Thanks

Mike
I almost forgot… He likes to eat and chew on shoes and anything he sees which I think is his puppy phase.. However I gave him an old shoe.. was this a bad choice and will this only make him want to eat more shoes? I feel like he knows that this is his shoe, and I am going to try and enforce him understanding that it is ok to eat this one but not the others…

Training Expert answers:

The ‘biting at your face’ has to be curtailed immediately, as you know. Does your puppy display bite inhibition? This is something that they should have learned by about 2-3 months; a dog without bite inhibition will lunge and snap, hard; while a dog with bite inhibition should hesitate and stop short of actually biting. They will normally learn this through their mom and siblings, but some puppies (such as my border collie) will have this issue. If your puppy isn’t displaying bite inhibition then you will have to teach him this. A good way to start is if your puppy grabs a finger or hand when you are playing with him, even if it is just a gentle mouthing bite react as though he hurt you….pull your hand away and say “OW!!” If he jumps up at your face, whether it is to bite or if he is playing, block him immediately and say “NO!” – not with anger, just firm determination. Do it every time he does this; once he has earned your respect he will begin to understand that biting/chewing on body parts equates to hurting the person, and he should stop. For a puppy who has been biting or lunging, I’d suggest you have absolutely NO roughhousing play with him. Teach him to play gently, tossing and fetching a ball, hiding a toy and having him find it, etc. Always keep training positive; no frustration, no yelling, just firm voice reprimands and tons of praise when he does what you want.

At 3-1/2 months he’s probably smack in the middle of a pre-teething puppy stage. Again you will have to correct him firmly whenever he’s chewing something you don’t want him to chew, such as an article of clothing. Take it away from him as you tell him “NO” and replace it with a Kong or other durable, chewable dog toy. You can even put a treat (such as a tiny smattering or peanut butter, or some wet dog food) inside the Kong to keep his interest there.

Yes, giving him one shoe to play with was a mistake…something that many dog owners make, as they soon discover when their ‘good’ shoe or shoes go missing. A puppy can’t distinguish between a shoe that’s been given to him as a chew toy or the pair of $500 dress shoes you keep in your closet. Take away the one you gave to him and make sure his chew toys are exactly that; toys designed for puppies to chew on.

Clicker training is something I haven’t used on my dogs but I do keep hearing great things about it, so yes, I’d say that’s a great idea. I don’t have any opinions on PetSmart training as I’ve never used that, but your dog does definitely need guidance and training. See if you can ask your local PetSmart if they have any clients who have agreed to give out contact info for referrals; if they do you might be able to get an idea of how they operate.

*One thing I wanted to add on to what a couple of others mentioned…yes, JRT’s definitely require a lot of exercise, something that can be overlooked by an owner. Make sure he’s getting lots of exercise during the day. At the same time though, because of his age he still requires a lot of sleep, so just make sure he’s also not being overstimulated with too much excitable play. Sometimes an owner will be so keen on making sure their dog has enough exercise that the puppy gets overtired, which can lead to nipping, not listening, and other unwanted behaviours. It’s a fine balance, but as you get to know your puppy you should be able to recognize when he’s had enough, and to give him down time.

Best of luck to you…JRTs are an amazing little breed of dog!

Nancy asks…

what breed do you think i should get ?

before i get the “adopt” speech i want another show dog.
i want a dog that is :
med to low shedding
prefer med to large breeds
less stubborn breed
in the future when i graduate i want to raise train and breed service dogs. (help the blind ect)
i have a large fenced yard currently live in a trailer and am inheriting 2 story house with large fenced yard. i am never away from my dogs for more than 2 hours. (i take mainly online college courses and my work allows for my dogs as i run my own business)
breeds i am considering:
czech vlcak
thai ridgebacks
border collies
neapolitan mastiff
saluki
azawakh
afghan hound
whippet
briard
cavalier king charles spaniel
curly coat retriever
flat coat retriever
wetterhound
german shepherd
standard poodle
bracco italiano
dogo argentino
german short haired pointer
spanish water dog
american water dog
irish water dog
doberman
american staffordshire terrier
Podenco Canario
what breed do you think i should get and why?
China Rose: keep your hate speech to yourself my dog enjoys shows. he likes getting out and meeting new people and other dogs and he will try and get into the ring with or without me . he prances when they cheer . and you can’t show a rescue
1. they arent show quality they do not meet the standard
2. they are fixed.

Training Expert answers:

Sorry, but you’re all over the place with personalities, looks, activity level, purposes, coat types, etc. If you can’t narrow it down further than 24 breeds, you really don’t know what you want.

First figure out what it is you want to DO. You said you wanted a show dog, but If you want to show at AKC events, then a few of the breeds you listed aren’t eligible at this time. I would suggest you eliminate those.

Next discard the heavy shedders, since you said you didn’t want that. This site is a good place to check up on that: http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/dogbreeds/

You also said you preferred medium to large…Cavs are small, and have several serious health issues.

Now you go through the remaining breeds and check out the health issues of each one. (The website I gave above is a start, but google the breed name plus “health issues” and look at 2 or 3 sites for each one. Write the issues down beside each breed. Are those issues you are willing to test for, and to deal with if they crop up in your dogs? *Are* there even tests for some of the more serious ones?

Next on the list is to look at the amount of coat maintenance. Do you really want to keep an Afghan or a Water Spaniel in show coat? It’s a lot of work, especially if you get one that’s good enough to special. Some people enjoy brushing and clipping, others don’t. Be honest with yourself.

Lastly, some of the breeds are VERY common in the show ring (GSD’s, whippets, etc.) Depends where you live too, of course. Are you okay with your dog almost never winning because there are always several dogs as good or better in the ring? What breeds are being shown locally? Attend some dogs shows and look at the breeds you still have on your list (or look up old show results with AKC). Is there a top special in your breed that you likely won’t get past? Is that even important to you? Will you be happy with just getting a championship and then moving on to another activity such as obedience or agility?

I would expect by this point you’d have reduced your list to maybe 2 or 3 dogs. Then come back here and ask for our input.

Though most of what you’ll get here is a bunch of teenagers telling you that the best breed is the one they own…simply because they own it….lol….

Ken asks…

What kind of dog is this?

Hey guys, this dog belonged to my room mate and I always thought it was such a gorgeous dog. What breed do you think it is? The dog was a stray so no background is known. He was medium size, maybe 50-60 lbs and lean, lightly built. High energy and active/athletic but not hyper or destructive. Loved to roam, if it got loose it would take off (probably how he became a stray in the first place!) and he was really good at getting out of fences. Friendly to all people and dogs, loved to play. But not really affectionate or devoted at all, very independent. Kind of a silly, goofy personality, most of our friends thought he was an idiot. Really bad about stealing food off the counters. Interested in the cats, but we eventually trained him not to chase or hurt them, so he had some prey drive but not too much. Almost never barked for any reason, no guarding instincts at all. He was a very whiny dog though.

So what do you guys think he could be?? Have gotten ‘Heeler thing’, ‘some Shepherd’, ‘husky mix’ and even ‘little coyote’ or ‘dingo dog’from strangers. Whenever I think I’ve decided what breeds he is, I look at pics of purebreds and change my mind, that he looks nothing like them. Lol. Its always something about the face or eyes, I just don’t know what he looks like. He’s just a mutt. Here are some ideas that have been tossed around… German Shep, Malinois, Smooth Collie, Red Heeler, Husky, Alaskan Husky, Akita.. I did find a pic of a GSDxAkita online that looked SOO much like him except it was built heavier thicker bones, thicker tail. He was a pretty light boned guy, looked nothing like an Akita to me except for color.An of course not protective at all. And thin coat, not plushy and dense. But I guess you never know.

Here is a link to his pictures:

http://s948.photobucket.com/albums/ad322/meadowdivinity/Pepsi/

P.S. dog is dead so DNA testing can’t be done. I’m just curious anyway.

Thanks for reading!!!
I hope you enjoy the pics, I think he was such a super cute dog!! Isn’t he adorable? It makes me sad looking at them though, now that he’s gone.

So what bred do you think he is?

Training Expert answers:

I definitely see Shepherd with the ears, and the coat, he does have a husky quality about him, so I would go with Shepherd/Husky Cross, my friend has a Shepherd Husky Cross but he’s got a longer coat and tends to look more like a shepherd. There could also be some Lab in him but the funny thing is I see Weimaraner, I have a Weim and he looks similar to her in some photos.

He was definitely a great looking dog.

George asks…

Where should i look to learn how to herd with my dogs? (Only experianced people please.)?

I have 1 german shepard and 1 sheltie, both i feel would be really good at herding, they are Extreamly active… and like to herd each other and my other dogs… iv been trying to figure out how to mainly teach myself how to herd with them.. are there mabye any books or people you could sugest to talk to? or mabye thigns i could do? i mean myself and hubby want to have a ranch like home in a few years if possible.. and id Really like to learn how to herd with these girls.. i was going to have a friend help me.. but idk if she’s going to be able to, so does anyone know mabye any online sites, or books? courses or stuf like that? Im training my sheltie in agility and obedience already… though she’s still young she’s smart, the shepard’s actually my husbands dog, but he does wish to do herding with her…

Please any help would be appreciated

Thanks

Training Expert answers:

WHere are you located? There are many places. Start with www.akc.org and search for herding. The site has many herding clubs etc. Also try the national Shetland Sheepdog club website and the German Shepherd website. Herding is a lot of fun.

Good Luck.