Here’s today’s Q&A. Enjoy!
Ed
We have a 4 year old intact female Rottweiler from a conformation line. She has good obedience/functional skills, with some extra tricks for fun. Very affectionate. She failed a protection dog evaluation – wanted nothing to do with a bite-tug on a rope the trainer threw at my feet. Assuming her shyness is a bit genetic and a bit environmental, what is the best way to build her up a bit. Dog #2: 6 year old fixed male Pit. Dog #3: soon to come Rottweiler male puppy from a protection line. Thanks!!
Jamie S
I live in Oregon, the last 2 days have been extremely hot here. I have a 4.5 month old, male(Echo) & 14 month old, female(Allie) both GSD’S. I’ve noticed the last 2 or 3 days they haven’t been acting like themselves. They have been acting lazy, tired, uninterested in playing & there food. Echo even threw up twice today, he is a grass eater so I just assumed he got sick due to that. I keep them inside with A.C on. Is this normal? Could it be something else? Any suggestions to keep their temp down
Josh M
My 14 month old, female GS, hates water, I mean turns around & starts hauling a** in the other direction. I really want her to enjoy the pool & sprinkler, this summer How can I help her get over this fear? I worked with her all last summer, after months of of training & hard work, she finally put her front paws in the pool but now it’s almost worse? Am I babying her to much? Could I be making it worse? Thank you for all of advice and commitment to our pups. Have s wonderful evening.
Ana
I know that with most behaviors, you want to remove the lure ASAP. However, I frequently have to lure my 5-month-old puppy with food to a heel when we’re walking if she gets distracted with something or starts pulling. I’m having difficulties measuring progress because sometimes she walks great, others she’s all over the place. Our walks are no longer than 10 minutes, which I think is appropriate for her age. Will she become dependent on the food or is this okay while she learns to walk loosely?
Ed
Congrats on the 200K milestone!! Following up on my question on how to build a dog for tonight’s AMA, do you have a recommendation for a local trainer (northern NJ) that I can work with. Many trainers find a Rottie a dish full, and building one up is the opposite of what is normally asked. I think a lot of her shyness is environmental rather than genetic. Thanks!
Irene
My Anatolian shepherd isn’t an excessive barker, but he does bark at wild animals and strangers on our property. A dog trainer friend told me that dogs will only bark at things/people because they are insecure/scared and were not socialized properly. Is this true for a guardian and vocal breed like my AS? it IS true my two dogs were not socialized properly before I came into the picture, but my other dog is GS/lab/beagle mix, was raised the same way, and almost never barks at strangers or animals.
Naomi K
My 11 mo GSD mix works great when I’m using a ball as her reward. But for some commands, the ball seems to be too distracting for her, and she offers me a behavior I’m not asking. For example, she does both spin right and spin left if I’m not using a ball as a reward. But in the presence of the ball, she only does spin right and never spin left. How can I fix this? Thank you very much for all you do.
