Here are today’s member Q&A:
Monika
I have a group of GSD owners and we go for walks with our dogs a few times a week (I have a 4mth puppy). I heard one of them giving the other advice to grab a pup by the scruff and hold down when she misbehaves. I do not feel comfortable with that method and would not use it with my dog. Am not sure what this should teach the pup other than the aggression and force is ok to use… But I was wondering what your opinion is.
Max
Hey Robert – I have been playing tug with my 1 year old GSD/Mal mix just like in your videos. He loves it and we have a great time. I am able to remove the tug from his mouth using your technique. My issue is he doesn’t always stop wanting to bite immediately after I remove the tug. He sometimes starts to jump and bite at my sleeve. I have been correcting him with a pop on the prong collar but sometimes this happens too quickly. Any tips to help with this?
JoAnn
You answered my question about my male Eurasier 11 week (originated Germany, mix of chow chow, Keeshond and Samoyed). He is batshit crazy (supposed to be a calm breed – Obviously I got an outlier) and you said to crate in the day. It’s working fairly well.
Question: We go to the regular park (not a dog park) and other people are walking their dogs on leashes. My dog tries to hump them all. He wouldn’t leave the 16 week chow chow alone. Should I stop this and how? I don’t like it.
Bali
Hi Robert, I have a 1 yr old GSD (working line) and over the last 2-3 months has become quite leash aggressive. Have been advised to get him neutered asap – from your experience does this actually reduce aggression? The plan has always been to get him neutered at 18 months to allow him to better develop. The question is do I do it sooner and what (if any) are the potential risks? Thanks in advance, Bali
Jay
I have a Doberman. He’s about 2 years old, I have been feeding him Victor hi pro plus I was wondering if this is a good choice or if there is something better I can be feeding him for around the same price? It’s about $100 for a 50lb bag.
Shelley
I have a 3 yr. old Border Collie/Lab , she is anxious, and scared of many things. She bit someone who came into our home and I thank you for helping me, during a training phone call. She is scared when I vacuum, when she is let outside any time after I have finished, she will stay outside for 2-3 hours. Finally a trail of kibble that leads into the home will get her in, although she is still very skeptical and I have to grab her. Would an e-collar be ok to get her back in the house?
Jack A
Hey Robert, 5 month GSD really good training, manners and recall. Due to weather improving here in the UK more people are at the park playing football, basketball etc (which she hasn’t really seen). She was going for the basketball on the leash like crazy. How is it best to deal with this? Shall we avoid that park or go back everyday and just walk past to normalize / desensitize it. Cheers.
Saul
I was looking for some feedback regarding the proper behavior training flow when using a NR with the mark “No”
Example, which would be a better flow when introducing a NR?:
1- Say command (Sit) > Introduce stim (NR) > Dog does behavior > remove stim (NR) > Mark & Reward
or
2- Say command (Sit) > Introduce stim after correction marker (No) > Dog does behavior > remove stim (NR) > Mark & Reward
Would example 1 be a better option to create urgency?
Josephine M
Hi Robert, How do you feel about electric fences? Getting an 8 week old GSD West Show line pup in 1 month & I want to understand the pros and cons of them first before making a decision. I would prefer just teaching our GSD pup to not run up to people or run into the road but I wonder if that will be enough. We have a 24 acre farm with rolling hills that we want him to have free reign on but we have approx. 1440ft of road frontage and our home is right on the road. Would love your advice.
Max
Hey Robert – can you clarify something with the e collar? I have watched all your videos and you use the e collar stimulation as a correction. I’ve seen other trainers who use it in a different way. They will hold the stimulation on and turn it off when the dog listens to the command. For instance they would hold the stimulation and then turn it off when the dog recalls. Can you clarify which way is the best? Thanks!
Justin
When beginning training any dog that is new to you, where do you look? I know this may seem silly but I was doing a little basic training with a 6 month puppy who I have had little interaction with previously, and was wondering if eye contact could be misinterpreted and make the dog uncomfortable? Is this something to even consider? Would the age of the dog also change this? Thank you Robert!
Bridget
Hi Robert my 1.5 yr GSD was just diagnosed with Pannus. She will require a life long regiment of eye drops. Any tips you can give me to teach her to keep her head still while giving her drops. I’m using high value treats to try to keep the experience positive but having a hard time with her moving her head. Thank you for all you do for us dog moms and dads
Christine
Hi Robert! Do you have thoughts on whether two people can be successful on our daily walks? Since we got our GSD cross puppy, my partner and I both go on the dog walks twice a day. He is the centre of attention during these walks. He’s 10 months old now and testing boundaries. Would having only one of us there to focus on improve his behavior? We both invest a lot of time in training but I am wondering if two people can ever truly be equals in ownership and authority over a dog.
Alice
Hi Robert, becoming a member here has been the best resource for me and my dog as I train her. Recently, we have been having an issue with reactivity coming very close to aggression towards smaller dogs. I’ve conditioned her around big dogs so she is fine near them, but haven’t had the chance to condition her near small dogs, as all the ones near me are untrained and out of control making her reactivity worse. Any tips you could give me would be great! Thanks, Alice and Kona.
Saul
I have a 2 month old puppy, when I put the collar and leash on and walk, she lays down and doesn’t walk, what would be the best solution towards encouraging her to walk with me with the leash?
Shelley
I have a 3 yr old female border collie/lab, when she is With her friend a 1 yr old vizsla, and another dog comes up to them she becomes aggressive toward that dog, even when she knows the dog and is fine with the other dog on her own. Why does she behave this way and what should I do? Also when in the backyard playing with me and she senses someone walking by the house she will run to the front and follow them down the underground fence line barking at them. What makes her do this?
Max
Hey Robert – I have been playing tug with my 1 year old GSD/Mal mix just like in your videos. He loves it and we have a great time. I am able to remove the tug from his mouth using your technique. My issue is he doesn’t always stop wanting to bite immediately after I remove the tug. He sometimes starts to jump and bite at my sleeve. I have been correcting him with a pop on the prong collar but sometimes this happens too quickly. Any tips to help with this?
Monika
I want to teach my 4mth GSD to be dog neutral and not to greet other dogs without my command / permission. Can you suggest approach / method? Or maybe there is a video on that already (I could not find it…)? Thanks
