92 Responses

1. Hello Doggy Dan,

   I have two dogs both raised when they were 8 week old puppies. One is a boy Shitzhu (Buddy) and the other is girl a Maltese (Rosie). They will be 2 years old this year.

   Buddy, our boy was and still can be the most wonderful happy affectionate relaxed dog you could ask for but in the last 6 months we have found him to be aggressive towards us if we touch him at night when he is resting or even in the day when he will be sitting near us and we go to pat him. It is odd because sometimes he is happy for us to pat him, but at other times he is not. During the rest of the time we can cuddle and pat him and there is no problem. It just seems like he has a brain snap. At first he would warn us with a growl and show of teeth, but now he really lashes out and bites. He is now doing this growl snap around his meal time if he thinks I am going to take his food away. However, after he has done the growl, snap, bite he then comes back and gives us kisses. It’s like he knows what he has done and then says sorry.

   How can we help him? I note from your previous website that it looks to be fear-based aggression. He is not aggressive with our Maltese, rather she might growl at him if he comes to close to her food, but he always backs down from her without any reaction. She really is the boss between the two.

   Rosie on the other hand is only aggressive with other dogs if they come to close to Buddy when we are walking in the park – she is very anti-social with other dogs, but a loving and affectionate dog to us.

   Please advise what video we need to help our Buddy & Rosie.

   Kindest regards
   Sandy

   1. Hi Sandy…..Some dogs are a little more protective of their personal space and whether or not they want to interact with people than others. The best way to help Buddy is to always allow him feel like he has a choice in these interactions, by verbally inviting him to you to receive that affection. If he would rather be left alone then he won’t come to you, but if he is happy to interact then he will. The saying ‘let sleeping dogs lie’ is one I recommend. When dogs are asleep or resting they can be startle by a pat or stroke and their reaction is one based on instinct and survival……before their brain has a chance to calmly analyse the situation. All the best….Doggy Dan

2. Hi Dan,
   I’m getting a 10 week old Aussie puppy this week and am looking forward to signing up for your course then! In the meantime I’m trying to plan ahead. My puppy is not yet fixed- do you recommend doing this before our after puberty? I’ve mostly read its best to do it young but have also read the opposite. Would love your thoughts on how the timing of the operation impacts a dogs behavior and happiness.
   Thanks so much.
   Kate

   1. Hi Kate….choosing when to spay or neuter a puppy depends on a few factors but mainly relating to the individual dog’s breed or sex. The best piece of advice I can give you would be to consult your Vet who will know all the pros and cons, or maybe ask your puppy’s breeder for their advice. It’s essential that a puppy is allowed time to grow, especially larger breeds, so many Vets do advise holding off until closer to 12 months. Best ask you Vet! Doggy Dan

3. Hey Dan! I really need some help, One of my dogs is over-protective (her name is Lulu) of random things (she’ll pick something up, then put it down, and if my other dog so much as sniffs it, there’s a giant fight) the other dog (BB) is the victim, she recently was taken out of her “Top dog” place in the family and has lost almost all confidence. She sits to the side and has little nicks, and scratches from getting in fights. They usually play and sleep together. Any suggestions?

   1. Hi Willa,
      In the dog world possession is 9 tenths the law…..in other words who owns the possession indicated who is higher ranking. Unfortunately Lulu is setting your other dogs up and they are falling for it! If she reacts aggressively towards your other dogs then she needs to know this is not ok. It sounds like there’s a bit of a transition happening between your dogs and this can certainly account for increased aggression. The key to calming things down is for you to show both dogs that you decide how they get along and if there is any pushy, aggressive behaviour then they will be spending some time on their own!
      My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com addresses aggression between dogs living together and how to restore calm…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

4. We recently rescued our Licorice from a shelter he had been at for over three years. The shelter got him from the woods he was living in. We do not know his breed but he has a beautiful brindle coat, weighs a little over 60 lbs & is around 4 years old. Amazingly he has been pretty much a great boy, but has a few issues that we must deal with. The worst is that he has severe separation anxiety when my husband leaves the house & is destroying the door frame that we leave out of. When we return home there are door shavings everywhere and massive puddles of drool on the floor. Does your online training program address separation anxiety?

   The other issues would be covered in the training as he likes to “hump” legs of humans and he also thinks that animals on tv are real and jumps at the tv every time one comes on. The final thing he does is he likes to pull our pillows off of the bed and roll around on them on the floor.

   We love our Licorice, but are most concerned with his separation anxiety. Would this training help to alleviate some of this anxiety?

   Thank you for any suggestions you can give us.

   1. Hi Becky,
      Separation Anxiety is one of the more common behaviours we deal with and my membership website does explain it in detail and give solutions about how to overcome it. It’s not a complex process to put in place at all, but it does require you and your husband to change your behaviour first so that you can help Licorice start to relax. We currently have a free 3 day trial on my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com …maybe take a quick look and see what you think……all the best Doggy Dan

5. Haven’t checked out your audio book I just purchased yesterday, but am jumping ahead to ask how do I implement the training with 3 adult dogs, 1 ten month old and 2, 10 week old Aussies? My pack is extremely diverse, but the youngest 3 are where my focus goes for now. The barking, jumping and play biting is getting way too crazy! Help!!!!
   Jackie & the wild bunch

   1. Hi Jackie…it certainly sounds like you have your hands full! Applying the rules in a multiple dog household can be challenging but it’s really all about being consistent with all of your dogs. Some will test you more than others and some will require more input due to their developmental age. If things are a bit hectic then it can help to have some one-on-one training time where the distractions of other dogs being present don’t become an inhibiting factor. I guess the best piece of advice I can give you is to be very clear and consistent with the information you give them all! Good luck, Doggy Dan!

6. How can I get my dog to stop. Burying her food on my carpet. It starting to become a big problem since she is now destroying the carpet

   1. Hi Dernesha…ooh this is one I haven’t been asked frequently before but I do know why it happens.. it’s all about instinct. If she is mainly trying to bury bones or chews then try giving them to her outside or create a space where she can have them but not have access to any carpeted areas. If she is taking pieces of food out of her bowl and trying to bury them then I would recommend not leaving food down for her to freely access and if you are feeding her and she walks away from her bowl then remove it. This will show her that if she tries to hide food then she will actually lose the opportunity to eat and it may motivate her to stay with the bowl and eat. If she has walked away from her bowl then only offer it to her again at her next scheduled meal-time, if you are currently only feeding her once a day then it would be a good idea to increase that to two just to allow her another chance to eat if she refuses one of those meals. Best, Doggy Dan

7. Hi my dogs were attacked 2 years ago and became dog reactive because of it. I’ve managed by keeping distance and going less busy places to walk. Well today we were charged and attacked by an off lead dog. I want to help my dogs to be more confident on walks (stop barking lunging etc) but how can I get them to that point when they keep getting attacked by idiot dogs!

   1. This is a common scenario Sherry. Sometimes all it takes is one negative encounter with another dog and all of a sudden (understandably) we have a dog who reacts defensively when other dogs are nearby. Often this isn’t made any easier when owners allow their dogs to rush up to other dogs without recognising that the dog is uncomfortable. Before heading into a park or onto a dog beach it may be a good idea to do a bit of a survey of the other dogs present to see how they are interacting with each other…..if you see any concerning behaviours, that the owners are not managing, then it may be a better idea to head to another location. It’s unfortunate that we can only control our own behaviour and not that of other dog owners who may not be doing the responsible thing! Best, Doggy Dan

8. Dear Dan we recently have adopted a German shepherd puppy. He was raised until 8 weeks with 9 other litter mates and 3 8 months old and 3 adult dogs all shepherds, anyway my question he gets wild at night or just when he is over tired is it ok to put him in his play pen till he falls to sleep? And by wild I mean bite

   1. Hi Amy, that would actually be exactly what I recommend you do! Young puppies often have what I call a ‘witching hour’ and it can brought on by a number of factors….generally being over-tired or over-stimulated. When they get in this state they can find it hard to control their impulses and placing them in their crate or puppy pen for some calm time can be really helpful. The less fuss and commotion you make the better as well! Best, Doggy Dan

9. Dan, I just recently purchased your online training course and am really enjoying the content. We have 3 Newfoundlands, ages 8 1/2 yrs, 2yrs, 9 months. I read your blog post on the passing of Peanut and want you to know that as a Hospice Nurse, I have seen many times that our dogs do sense when death is near, staying close to their owners/family members for days before their passing. I do believe that they can sense and do grieve for their owners/pack-mates when they pass on. Thank you for sharing such an personal story. Terry

   1. Thanks for your kind words Terry..we still remember Peanut every day in our house. The passing of a dogs does have an effect on us but also other dogs in the family and they do go through a mourning period of sorts. I know we got quite a few questions from our remaining dogs after Peanuts passing and it’s actually really normal behaviour. I hope you’re enjoying the online course! Best, Doggy Dan

10. My husband and I received word about out new pups being ready to pick up at the end of the week. We would like to sign up with you, but have a question. We would like to be able to watch your information on the TV together instead of huddling around the computer at the desk on one desk chair and one hard chair. Is there a way to access your information with a TV??? We have access to Apple Air Play (Apple TV). Thank you for your help.

    Lynne

    1. Hi Lynne, greetings from The Online Dog Trainer Team. Thanks for getting in touch…and a great question.
       Unfortunately, until our TVs let us properly browse the internet, you won’t be able to ‘cast’ or watch our content on your TV.
       You see our content is played and protected via web protocols, which don’t translate onto our TVs.
       The only thing we could do is publish our own TV channel via something like ROKU or AmazonTV, but this is a massive effort for a small company like ours and not on our to-do list for the coming year.
       Sorry to bring you disappointing news…we are all waiting for technology to help us get onto TV so we can also share our videos with our families.
       We appreciate your support, and will announce any advancements we make in this regard as soon as we can.
       Wishing you every success!

11. Hi
    I’m Absolutely desperate for help with my 6 yr old cockapoo luna … I’m in tears every day , luna has really bad separation anxiety… I watch her on camera when I leave her and it’s heartbreaking… barking .. howling … panting … non stop until I return… I’m suffering anxiety bow myself when I have to leave her .. 8 wks ago luna had knee open and she has been in a pen whilst recovering… and will be for another 3 wks … as luna still not allowed off lead ( even toilet breaks on lead ) so luna doesn’t jump etc … I desperately need help as luna is very clingy to me even when I’m in the house , when I leave her it’s dreadful as luna has to be in pen .. so she can’t jump when I’m out … but to be truthful luna has never really settled when I’m out even before knee operation… please please help I’m desperate… many thanks Kerry Sessions (uk)

    1. Hi Kerry,
       Separation Anxiety is one of the more common behaviours we get asked about. It can be really distressing for owners to see their dog in such a state and not know what to do about it, so i absolutely understand why you feel overwhelmed. The good news is that the behaviour is certainly one you can solve, by giving your dog the right information at the right time. A great place to start is to check out the Blog I put together to help owners whose dogs suffer from this behaviour, I will post the link below. It contains an audio as well as some really great content to review. Also, my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to start to work through this issue…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan
       http://theonlinedogtrainer.com/barking-when-left-alone/

12. Hello! Why does everything seem so scammy regarding how well it works? All the reviews on youtube sounded really scripted, and it’s hard to find a review that doesn’t have affiliate links attached. Why are there no reviews that have absolutly no connection to this site? I have a puppy and need to train it, but this seems to much like a scam… Can you try and convince me it’s not so that I can see if I should try it out? Thanks! 🙂

    1. Haha, yes it can be a little tough sometimes trying to work out the genuine products from the not-so-good ones, and reviews can be helpful but I do understand why you treat them with a degree of caution. I’ve put together a broad range of video resources, covering just about every behavioural issue you can imagine, based on decades of professional experience. Our aim is to educate our members for the long-term so that they develop the skills and knowledge to tackle their dog’s behaviour, no matter what it may be. I explain the real motivation behind a dog’s behaviour and then give owners the most effective and appropriate way to solve issues, without the use of force or intimidation. So I help build better relationships between dogs and their owners! We have a comprehensive Forum where help can be sought if needed, but I guess the best way I can convince you to try my website out is for you to take a look yourself….we have an introductory trial for just this reason…it’s a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

13. Hello Dan,
    I have a Yorkshire terrier who is 6 yrs old and deaf. I didn’t know he was deaf when I first got him at 5 months old, the problem I have is that it is very difficult to train him, especially potty training because he can hear. I haven’t been successful in training him in other things also and I feel sad and frustrated about it. Is there any advice or suggestions you can give me on how to deal with this problem due to his deafness.

    1. Hi Elizabeth,
       The great news is that you don’t actually need to speak to your dog in order to toilet train him. As long as you are proactive in taking him out to toilet regularly and you reward him when he does the right behaviour, by signalling him to come to you for a pat/fuss, then he will get the idea. With most other training you can use treats to encourage him to do the behaviours you want by ‘shaping’ his behaviour. You can also use hand signals in place of verbal commands but the most important communication tool you can use will be vibration (to get his attention) and eye contact so he knows you would like him to do something for you. Try not to be too hard on yourself, or your dog, for not training him to do loads of things. As long as he has the basics in place….like sit, stay & come..then those are the most important ones. I hope that helps! Dan

14. Hi Doggy Dan,
    We completed your training and advice with our puppy who is now 10month old (GSPx collie) and it was amazing! So helpful to have clear guidelines and has really helped developed her training. We are thinking of getting another dog but wondered when is the best time to introduce this and if the ‘teenage’ years are not a good time to do this? Would be grateful for your ideas.
    Thanks!

    1. I do gets asked this question quite a lot and my advice really does depend on each individual dog. If your dog is generally well behaved, and has no significant behavioural issues that still require addressing, then any age can be a good time to add another dogs to the family. If you are still working your dog through a few issues then it may not be a good time to add another dog into the equation. Adding another dog will mean that your dog will question their place in the family to include the new dog, and upon arrival the new dog may also feed off any anxiety/unease the existing dog may be exhibiting. Don’t get me wrong, you don’t have to wait until your dog is perfectly behaved but you should get them to a point where you are happy that you can manage their behaviour when a new dog is added to the mix. I always advise a meet and greet between your dog and any dog you may be seriously looking to bring home, just so you can see how they get along. Great question Celia! Best, Doggy Dan

15. Hello Dan
    I need your help,
    My 3.5 year old Anatolian keeps running off, I have gps on him, my property is 6 acre, partially opens to the canyon not fenced, he goes around the canyon, neighboors, just loves to wander off. today i brought him back home 3 times.
    We train him with animals, horses, pigs, cats, chickens, but he still loves to wander off and does not come back till he is exhausted and I go find him

    what should I do?

    1. Dogs don’t really recognise physical boundaries, like fences or the end of our property, in the same way we do. As far as they are concerned their territory is as far as their eye can see! That’s not to say you can’t teach a dog to respect property boundaries, you absolutely can, but you need to give them the right information to encourage them to respect those boundaries. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this, in fact we have a topic bout dogs who run away from home…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

16. Hi Dan. We used the online dog trainer for about a year. I rescued a feral dog from Spain and the online dog trainer helped massively. We live in Britain and there does seem to be an influx of dogs that are rescued from abroad, mainly Spain and Romania at the moment. Do you think you might do a blog or a bit of advice about Street dogs and rescue dogs? Would love to see this if you do!

17. Hi Dan, We got a Great Dane from a friend who lived in the city about 8 months ago. Lou was about a year and half. We do not have a huge yard but we also can drive him and his little sister (Lab/Boxer 9 year old) to the dog park to run. His behaviors are getting worse and I am starting grad school. Right now he is having a lot of accidents in the house but he is very hard to control so I can’t have other people take him out for me. He yanks his leash right out of my hand to chase the neighbor cats, other dogs, birds, etc. Most times when I take him out, he just looks around for something to chase. I cannot walk him because he is scared of the sounds of cars so he yanks me through the whole neighborhood so it is hard to walk him to burn off energy. I do not want to get a prong neck chain but I either have to get rid of him (he really has bonded with us) or I have to find something that works asap. Can you help me? He has a lot of faulty behaviors. I will take over the training 100% if it will help. But he is an adult dog and I am worried. How much is your full program. We will have to start at the beginning…

    1. Hi Carol, it sounds like you just need a little bit of guidance to help calm things down a little with Lou. Overcoming behavioural issues doesn’t require a lot of time or space, in fact the best place to start is in your home and garden because there are limited distraction while you put the changes into place. Having access to the right information, that will allow you to change Lou’s behaviour, is vital….and there is no need to use a prong collar to do this. If you have trouble with his strength then I generally recommend an Easy Walk Harness, where the leash attaches to a ring on the chest of the dog, but it’s the training you do that will really make the biggest difference. There is quite a bit of information involved, too much to write in this post!, so take a look at my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com as it shows you very clearly how to achieve this…we have a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

18. We have a 15 month German shepherd who is of good behaviour but 2 things – we cannot control his excitement when people come to visit he is too friendly! The other he still chews everything – mostly wood – how can we stop this . We give him loads of toys and chewies.

    1. Hi Shirley,
       With dogs who tend to get a bit excited when visitors come over it can be really effective to place your dog on-leash and ask your visitors to delay greeting giving him a pat or saying ‘hi’ to him until he has calmed down. Restricting him can mean he calms down a whole lot quicker and it will also help if you limit your interaction with him at this point, so avoid trying to get him to ‘sit’ or speaking to him too much….just let your calm actions do the work here. When it comes to chewing it really is important to understand whether this behaviour mainly happens when you are out of the house or if it happens all the time. Chewing can indicate a dog who is generally anxious and if it mainly occurs when you are out of the house then Separations Anxiety is the likely cause. Either way my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com will help you with both issues you mention…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

19. Hello, my name is Bryan and I just resentlly got a dog from my wife friend. The dog,( Jackson) is 1.5 yod with a mix of german shepher, lab,pit and possibly Rhodesian ridge back. We’ve had him for about 2 weeks and has adjusted pretty well. The Issue I have is that he keeps pawing me and so I have scratches on my arms. I tell him no but he just barks at me. I know he’s wanting attention and playing but after a while it starts too hurt. I would like for him to listen and stop when I ask him to.
    Thanks for your input.

    1. Hi Bryan,
       This kind of behaviour is generally motivated by trying to get your attention….and unfortunately by telling Jackson off when he does it, he does in fact get your attention….which means he is likely to continue the behaviour because it works for him. Of course I’m not suggesting that you simply let him get away with it, but there are better ways to get him to give up this behaviour. If he paws at you gently remove his paw but avoid telling him off…or saying anything at all…and avoid making eye contact with him. If he repeats the behaviour or starts to bark at you then you can either get up and walk away from him or you can calmly place him outside or in another room for a few minutes. You may need to repeat this a few times until he realises that your response is the same, but this technique is all about showing Jackson that his pawing will no longer gain your attention AND if he continues doing it he will find himself on his own for a while. If you are calm and consistent in how you respond…every time…then he will soon stop the behaviour because it no longer serves his purpose. Hope that helps! Doggy Dan

20. Hello. I have an 8 weeks old puppy and I’m very concerned about her bitting. I’ ve tried redirecting her but it’s just too difficult. Once she attacks on my foot or clothes she just won’t let go and if I try to gently push her or try to walk away, she starts growling, barking, attacking even harder and acting as if possessed. Giving her an alternative to bite doesn’t always work, but even if it does, within seconds she goes for my hands, feet or clothes again. I’m just so frustrated and even afraid of her sometimes. Please help! Thank you in advance!

    1. Hi Maggy,
       Biting/Mouthing is a really common behaviour that young puppies do. When responding to it you do need to be really careful that you don’t end up engaging with them in such a way that it escalates things. So my advice is to avoid speaking to your puppy too much, including telling them off, or trying to be too forceful in moving them away. Let your calm and consistent actions do the work for you, and don’t be afraid to pop he in time-out for a minute or so if she continues with the behaviour. We cover this topic on my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com …maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

21. Hello. I have an 8 month old Sheltie with a terrible case of separation anxiety. He is crated when we go out. We have a puppy cam and have watched him spin, bark and flip his bedding the entire time we are gone. We have tried a Thundershirt, calming spray, kong with peanut butter, chew toy, t-shirt with my scent (which he shredded), television and radio. Nothing works. It is very distressing for him and us. I watched your video on the subject and have implemented your techniques but haven’t seen any change in his behavior. Please help!

    1. Hi Susan,
       Separation Anxiety is actually a really common behavioural issue and it all boils down to a dog who feels responsible for their human family’s safety and survival and they become distressed/anxious when they feel they are not able to do that. Trying to distract them out of their anxiety by using toys and calming devices generally aren’t successful because they don’t address the cause of the behavior in the first place – responsibility. It’s similar to a parent and child relationship, where your dog views himself as the parent (no disrespect intended). In order to help your dog relax when you are out you first need to show him that his job is not to worry about you, you can look after yourself now. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

22. Hi Dan,
    I have a jack russel/patterdale mix puppy and she’s very playful. However when she sees other dogs she doesn’t listen and runs straight towards them. Most of the time she’s aggressive towards them and starts growling and barking at them. I just want her to walk past them or to play calmly. Any advice?

    1. Hi Eva, this is actually a really common behaviour from a dog who sees themselves as the protector of their family. The easiest way to prevent this from happening in the short-term is to have your dog on-leash when you are out at the park. The overall aim though is that she learns she is not the one responsible for protecting her family from other strange dogs, you are! My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

23. Hi Dan, Two months ago we got a 10 month old puppy from a friend of ours that breeds gordon setters as field trial dogs. “Rey” flunked out of field trial school because she didn’t have the drive needed to compete in field trials. Since the breeder is a friend of ours, she asked us if we’d be interested in her but allowing her to have 1 litter of pups. We agreed as we were about to be in the market for a new puppy. The problem we’re having is that this 10 month old pup was at a trainer and comes with a lot of bad habits that we’re not making any progress on breaking. She’s a chewer (and not for lack of entertainment, there are toys everywhere as well as another dog that loves to play), she has been caught standing on the dining room table, she digs holes in the back yard, she’s constantly “let me out/let me in”, she’s jumps up on people, she counter surfs, oh my, the list just keeps going. I’ve had dogs non-stop for more years than I can remember and I’ve never had a dog like this before. When she’s not being bad, she is the most lovable dog (we say there is no middle ground with her, either lovable or getting in trouble). We’re at our wits end. Please help!!! Thanks so much!!! Bettyjo

    1. Hi Bettyjo,
       It is very true that some dogs require a lot more guidance and patience when working them through unwanted behaviours BUT the great thing about these dogs is they make us truly great dog owners! They teach us how important consistency is, as well as giving them meaningful information designed to prevent these behaviours. Dogs only have one major may to seek information from us, their behaviour, and so if they realise the ‘naughty’ ones work better for them then they continue to do those over the good ones. You have mentioned a lot of different behaviours here but they all come from the one source and so you can tackle them all at the same time. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

24. Hi. We have a 2 year old show cocker spaniel, although he’s just a pet and has never been shown. He steals lots of things, socks and paper are his favourites. He will then hit under the table and show aggression in the the way of growling and even nipping. We have started your golden rules training but are finding it hard to put him in isolation as he sometimes wont let you take him by the collar. He drops to the ground, goes floppy and try to mouth you to stop you getting near his collar. Out on a walk he is as good as gold. I can recall him by hiding behind a tree or just walking in the other direction. Thank you in advance

    1. Hi Sarah,
       A strategy that can work really well here is to offer your dog an exchange for the item he has but he must come to you to receive it. You can use a favourite toy or ball, usually a squeaky toy work well. The key is not to make a big fuss of trying to retrieve the stolen item, avoid chasing them or scolding them as both can actually be quite counterproductive in stopping the behaviour in the long-term. Attaching a long-line to his collar when you are home to supervise him can make it far easier to take hold of him with the least amount of interaction so that you can more calmly remove the stolen item. Hope that helps, Doggy Dan

25. I would like to get your4 training videos I have 7 Dogs and really Need tiempo to change their agresive attitude

    1. Hi Sylvia,
       My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

26. Hi Dan,
    I adopted a Fox terrier x shih tzu who is 2 & 1/2 years old, we have had him for about 6 months, and he constantly shows agression towards my family and other dogs and I have hired a trainer but the aggression is simply not stopping, he also has a habit of stealing socks, tissues, basically anything small that he sees around. I came across your website and I am definitely intrigued and I was wondering if you could help me by recommending some videos I could watch once I’ve signed up to your website.
    Thanks in advance

    1. Hi Alisha,
       It may help for you to have a look at a Blog I wrote about Dog Aggression (link below) as I cover a lot of information there about the cause of this behaviour and how to go about overcoming it. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com also shows you very clearly how to address this behaviour…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan
       http://theonlinedogtrainer.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-dealing-with-dangerous-dog-aggression-issues/

27. I have been working your program for 3 weeks, so I’m still learning. I would like a little direction because of the somewhat unusual situation I have. In January I brought 2 shelter bound puppies, 8 week old littermates, home to live with me and my 2 dogs. All 4 dogs are female. The dogs seem to get along well most of the time, but the puppies have during the past few weeks several times attacked together one of the other dogs, who is much smaller than they are. Any suggestions would be welcome.

    1. Hi Marian,
       If you have joined up to my membership website then remember that we have a Forum where you can post your questions and can review similar questions posted by other members. We will be able to give you far more information there and direct you to resources that will help.
       Merging new dogs/puppies with existing dogs can take a little patience and all dogs need to understand that certain behaviours are not acceptable, aggression towards other dogs being one of them. While you are working on integrating your puppies into the family my suggestion would be to supervise their interactions with your other dogs to ensure you intervene when necessary. Please get in touch with us on the Forum and we can help you further. All the best….Doggy Dan

28. Hi Dan, I’m looking for a trainer. Could I ask which qualifications you hold and where did you study? Also are you force free?

    1. Hi Lara,
       The main techniques that I use are based around Jan Fennell’s approach to understanding how to win the dogs mind and Cesar Millan’s approach to energy.
       I qualified as a Dog Listener with Jan Fennell when she visited New Zealand however its from working with the dog themselves that I have learnt the most 🙂
       Yes I am force free in my approach.
       All the best in finding a trainer…I am not sure if you have found my online training site http://theonlinedogtrainer.com/ however you may wish to take a look regards Dan.

29. Hi, we have a lovely sensitive border collie. Almost 2 years old. He is great around other dogs and also great around adults but has a dislike for children, anyone under maybe 7 years. He barks, stands in front of them confrontingly. When we call him back he doesn’t listen if he’s doing his ‘barking’ thing. We have decided to just keep him on a lead, but he needs his off leash running time. Any advice?

    1. Hi Jo, I think you need a comprehensive training program. Of course I would suggest you start with my own, partly because at $1 its a great purchase! That gets you a 3 day trial… I think you will find that its a very comprehensive program. Its $37 US/month if you chose to stay on but there are no strings attached, cancel whenever you like. Best regards Dan

30. Hi Dave
    We have a cross setter/springer rescue dog about 14 monthe old. How can we stop him jumping up for food while we are eating and also stop him barking when he hears sounds outside?
    He also has a habit of hiding food.
    All the Best
    Eve

    1. Ha ha! Hi Eve, you have a lively little dog there by the sound of things. Firstly I would simply ignore your dog at the table and put him in timeout if he jumps up for food when you are eating. The barking is a more complex solution…if you really want to calm him down you need to put in place what I call the foundation (5 golden rules which I teach inside my training program http://theonlinedogtrainer.com ) the barking is a case of your dog starting to hear things and the key is to stay calm, take a look out the window and then just say something like, “its all good” then walk away. If your dog knows you are in charge they will chill out and relax because you did, if they take no notice then I would suggest that they are are starting to think they are in charge… AND…get ready for it… one of the main ways that a dog will think they are in charge is because they control the food! 🙂 So funny… the last issue is partly the cause of the first two issues… Maybe check out my site…its a $1 trial…you’ll love it, best, Dan

31. I have a well behaved boarder collie/collie and need some instruction on how to keep him this way?

    1. Hi Margie,

       Having a well behaved and responsive dog is our goal for all dog owners and it really isn’t difficult to achieve or maintain that. My website theonlinedogtrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

32. How can I stop my shihtzu, LILY, from scratch at the door when she sees someone come to the door. I have tried the ignoring and trying to get her upstairs without speaking but she is persistent to say the least. I put her in time out but not working when she hears someone coming she barrels over the stairs before I can get to her.

    1. Hi Joan, think of it like this. The person who is in charge at a house answers the door. E.g If I come to your house and the bell rings, YOU would answer the door. If you came to my house then I would answer the door. So it is with the dogs, the more they think they are in charge the more a dog will try to get to the door to “check out who it is”
       If you deal with that foundational issue then I think you will find many of the training techniques you are using will work. But not before. Its a case of “win your dogs mind FIRST and THEN you can train the body.” That is what my training site is all about. Getting the foundation in place (there are also a bunch of videos of dogs barking at the door and how to stop it)
       My website is TheOnlineDogTrainer.com – all the best, Dan

33. Hey Dan,
    I was wondering if your videos/sections break down into breed specific portions. I am getting my first ever German shepherd puppy and I have only had chow chows previously. I have purchased a few books but then I came across your podcasts. I’ve listened to all of them and I was eager to check out your website. I am going to buy your membership a few days before the puppy arrives so I can be prepared. I also enrolled the puppy in a puppy class for socialization purposes. My second question is do you have a sections for introducing your puppy to cats? I have a 2 year old cat and a 1 year old cat, they are loving and playful and have gotten along with any animal they meet but I want to social them all properly. Lastly, is there a time limit on the monthly membership? I am hoping to get it for a few months to get formalist with the videos and trainings but I do not want to have it for a year or something that long. Thanks so much! Can’t wait to get my puppy and start using your videos! Kendall

    1. Hi Kendall, great to here that you are going to be joining the membership site. I think you’ll love it.
       The site is broken down into different sections according to the age of the dog / puppy and the behavioral issue or training that is required.
       There is very little difference to training between the breeds. Of course there is a difference between big dogs and little dogs but an aggressive German Shepherd can be trained in a very similar way to a Rottweiller or other large breed dog. I give many options for training each behavioral issue or command (we cover off large and small dogs! and puppies) I also have a great section about introducing dogs and cats. Its under the “Dog Problems” section – go to “Dog Aggression” then go to “Other animals” and you will find a video of me working with a dog and a cat 🙂 Its a goodie!!! You can stay on the site as long as you like. Its $37/month and stops when you cancel. Many people cancel after 2-4 months. There is also a 6 months option which is better value – something you may wish to check out and invest in… Enjoy and all the best, Dan

    2. Hey Dan,
       I was wondering if your videos/sections break down into breed specific portions. I am getting my first ever German shepherd puppy and I have only had chow chows previously. I have purchased a few books but then I came across your podcasts. I’ve listened to all of them and I was eager to check out your website. I am going to buy your membership a few days before the puppy arrives so I can be prepared. I also enrolled the puppy in a puppy class for socialization purposes. My second question is do you have a sections for introducing your puppy to cats? I have a 2 year old cat and a 1 year old cat, they are loving and playful and have gotten along with any animal they meet but I want to social them all properly. Lastly, is there a time limit on the monthly membership? I am hoping to get it for a few months to get formalist with the videos and trainings but I do not want to have it for a year or something that long. Thanks so much! Can’t wait to get my puppy and start using your videos! Kendall

34. Hi Dan,
    I watched your video on Aston and he is exactly like my 1 yr old boxer. We have tried to train him not to jump up at us with commands like ‘down’ or ‘wait’ and generally he will calm down with us. However if he sees dog owner or some kids with a ball in the park, he will run towards them and jump for the ball when he is out of our reach, which is obviously unacceptable due to his size and strength. We try to walk him in quieter areas where kids aren’t playing football etc but it is hard to always avoid everyone with a ball. Apart from walking him on a long lead, is there anything else you can recommend?
    Many thanks for your help.

    1. Hi Salina, most jumping up on people is a dominance issue rather than a training one. By that I mean a dog instinctively knows that jumping onto another dog is a dominant move and most dogs have been told its not acceptable. When it comes to humans, many of us encourage dominant behaviour in and around the house without even realising it and then wonder why the dog does the same thing at the park…Check out my site http://theonlinedogtrainer.com The pack leader section inside the site goes through exactly why the 5 Golden Rules will sort out this issue. Its pretty east to stop once its explained and you put it into practice…best regards, Dan

35. Hi Dan

    We have an 8.5 month old Doberman that we adopted 2 weeks ago. Her old owner forgot to mention that she chases cars and birds and doesn’t come when called when fixated on these 2 objects. Is there any suggestions you could give me? Thanks Danielle and Raine(the dobie)

    1. Hi Danielle, the suggestion that I can give you is an odd one!
       This is not in my opinion a “spot fix” sort of issue. Most issues are actually a bit more complex (if you want to really to sort the cause of the issue out)
       So you will need a long line, you need to master “The Walk” you need to develop a good recall and understand how to keep your dogs energy calm and distract etc. But most importantly you need to become the pack leader INSIDE the house before your take your dog outside and try to control her!
       Its a bit like training kids. You need to train them to eat dinner at HOME first, before you can expect them to eat well at the restaurant! Dont try training them at the restaurant as you will probably fail 🙂 Check out http://theonlinedogtrainer.com for all the above answers and videos…including how to stop dogs chasing things 🙂 Best, Dan

36. Hi Dan, I have just discovered your website. I have 2 dogs one is 4 and the other one is her puppy which is now 2 years old, Becassine. Becassine was born blind so we decided to keep her out of the 5 pups born. She is truly amazing, comes when she’s called and is very soft and kind. She can be destructive in the house, less so now, but my biggest problem is the jumping up issue. Seeing as she can’t see I have to do everything with my voice, therefore, turning away, etc. I am not sure this will work. She also barks a lot at her Mum when I take them out for walks. I’ve read about the not pulling on the lead issue, which I will give a go at. Any suggestions. Many thanks Sue

    1. Hi Sue, there is a lot that you can do to help your blind dog Becassine. The biggest thing is providing her with strong leadership so she doesn’t have to make any big decisions. Then she take life easy and just chill and play 🙂 Jumping etc is usually / nearly always connected to a sign of a lack of respect. I think you will find she will get the turning away, even though she can’t see you. See how it goes. There are other things that you really need to be doing BEFORE that however such as understanding how to control the food etc. Are you able to do the $1 trial for 3 days. It will set you up with invaluable understanding and knowledge. You are free to cancel during the 3 days if you like. I just know how much it will help…lots of stuff on pulling on the leash as well which will help….Best, Dan 🙂

37. I don’t want to buy a membership. do you have a video and or book I can get?

    1. Hi Debbie,
       sure I have an audio book which you can buy here http://theonlinedogtrainer.com/audio-book-699
       Enjoy and all the best, Dan

38. Hi Dan ,I have rescued a staffy/mastiff mix breed- never been socialised with dogs- been with several trainers but is still aggressive towards other dogs.. please can u help– in the home he is perfect in every way, no issues with walking, eating ect……

    1. Hi Ahmed, sure I can help…the key thing is to ensure that your dog knows that you are the pack leader, that you make all the decisions. Then you can start the training. I cover all this off in my video website for $1. http://theonlinedogtrainer.com take a look, I think you will enjoy it 🙂
       Regards, Dan

39. Hi,
    My family has a 10 month old labrador puppy. He loves water. When he was little we turned on the hose and he liked to get himself wet and “play” with the water. At first we thought it was okay, but now he is very obsessive with it. He is too strong now and it is getting a bit unmanageable. What should we do?
    Thank you!

    1. Hi there,
       sounds like your efforts have backfired ! You most likely need to get a real foundation in place (establishing yourselves as the pack leader) this can be done with my training site http://theonlinedogtrainer.com
       Then it is a case of desensitising him…a skill in itself…Start with the water on very low, slow and distract him with his dinner! That is the easiest start. Then it is a case of slowly increasing the water and decreasing the distraction.The key is keeping your dogs mind, calm or occupied on something else 🙂 Take your time and don’t rush it. You do need to have the basics in place first though regards, Dan

40. Hey Dan! I was wondering if there is certain age where the pack leader mentality kicks in for a dog? We are considering getting a puppy and whether to allow the breeder to do the “starter training” for the first 17 weeks. Would it be bad for the dog to have someone else train them before we receive him.

    1. Hi Andrew, the pack leader instinct is there front the start…it’s why the runt eats last! It is just the primal instinct to survive. It should be fine if the breeder knows what they are doing…puppies are learning from day 1 and the early stage is important…however it will be fine either way if they are doing it right. Maybe put her in touch with our site 🙂 ask her what she thinks…then you will know 🙂 Regards Dan

    2. Hi Andrew, the primal instinct to survive and rise to the top of the pack can start very young…almost from day 1. It’s why the runt of the litter gets pushed to the back of the queue. You should be fine so long as the breeder knows what they are doing… Maybe point them to this site 🙂
       Best regards, Dan

41. Hi Dan!
    I love your training techniques and am so glad you are out there spreading the love and showing people the real reasons behind their dogs strange behaviour. I know that sometimes it just comes down to the dogs character. But I am having a little trouble with my little bundle when it comes to greeting people who come to the house.
    Now when I say little bundle (he still is in my mind) I mean our 60kg Rottweiler, Vlad 🙂 He is 2.5 years old, and the most wonderful, gentle creature on the planet. Unfortunately since he was a puppy, we have had trouble keeping his excitement in check when people come to visit.
    It’s the usual story – he hears the cars arrive, and immediately starts that happy yelping and scurrying around the floor. I trained him initially to sit when we had people over, he only got to come forward and greet them when we said it was okay, once they were inside. The premise being if it was someone we didn’t know/trust then he would know the difference. Unfortunately my husband and I work away alternately, and when I got back, all that seemed to have gone out the window. Inconsistency is disastrous and being a Rottweiler, give an inch and he takes a mile !
    So now every time someone arrives, he loses his marble and will try and push past you in order to get to the door. We can call him back, he does listen, but he is still very very excited to the point where I have to tell him to go sit outside because they physically can’t get in the door, and nor should they when he is acting like that.
    I know he is 2.5 years old, but he still seems to have a bit of the Rottie puppy brain, I just can’t seem to curb that initial excitement of seeing someone at the door! And being 60kg (a big, tall boy) this can sometimes be a bit destructive to the furniture / legs of guests when he spins around and gets under their legs.
    He is a very happy dog, but do you have any ideas how I can try and settle him a bit quicker? Usually within 15 minutes he is back to normal again and snoozing on his bed, but it’s a very stressful 15 minutes and some people don’t appreciate the kind of love he has to give 
    Sometimes if I get him outside immediately and say ‘get your rope toy’ he can usually run it out in the yard with whoever got through the door first. This seems to go a long way to getting him to settle, but is exhausting! He is like a 4 year old on red lollies when he has guests!
    Any advice you have would be appreciated!

    1. Hi Beth, loved reading your post 🙂 I love Rotties.
       I am not trying to be clever here but I need to know if you have been on my training program ” http://theonlinedogtrainer.com ” if not then I think you should go there now, sign up and check it out…everything you are asking is in there with videos etc. It sounds like you need a bit of help. The reason I ask is that if you are doing what’s inside the site You generally would not have a dog like this. Let me know either way….all the best, Dan

42. Hi Beth, loved reading your post 🙂 I love Rotties.
    I am not trying to be clever here but I need to know if you have been on my training program ” http://theonlinedogtrainer.com ” if not then I think you should go there now, sign up and check it out…everything you are asking is in there with videos etc. It sounds like you need a bit of help. The reason I ask is that if you are doing what’s inside the site You generally would not have a dog like this. Let me know either way….all the best, Dan

    1. Hi there Cheleena,
       it is normal for dogs to share food with very young puppies but not as they grow older. You need to separate them when feeding. Not necessarily in separate rooms but maybe 5m apart. Stand in the middle and do not let the puppy or dog to bother the other if they are still eating. If necessary leave a lead on your dog so you can stop them going over to them.
       I have made many movies on the importance of feeding / food and ensuring that dog get along inside the home together. You can find a FREE audio on itunes regarding two dogs living together. My website http://theonlinedogtrainer.com shows you exactly how to ensure you do not experience problems in this area. All the best, Dan

43. Dear Dan,

    Oh my God. I just this morning found you, your website and your method online, simply by googling “Training a 5 month-old Segugio pup! We got Jelee just five days ago, she was flown over from Sardenia, crammed into a crate with her brother and another puppy, and she is unbelievable loving, and unbelievable WILD! I’ve taught her to sit, to lie down and she’s starting to understand “no” already. My biggest problem right now is the potty training, as we live on the third floor. Luckily we are right next to a humongous and gorgeous park, where lots of dogs are, but because Jelee is so energy laden, getting her down to the pee spot outside before she just suddenly squats and eliminates is not that easy. I’m keeping everything at the ready by the door – shoes, leash, treats, jacket, etc. But to calmly get her into the collar/leash, following all the tips that are under your 5 Golden Rules, and to still beat the event of a pee lake is a little over my head. What is the longest interval that I should let lapse between pees and what kind of expert guidance can you impart on me? You are an amazing person, and I can’t wait to watch more videos later and start putting your brilliance into practice! How can I ever thank you?

    1. Hi Caroline,
       thanks for your kind words. As you are now a member of my video website http://theonlinedogtrainer.com I can point you to the best solution of all. It is inside the site under the section “PUPPY TRAINING” – “BEHAVIORAL ISSUES” – “TOILET TRAINING” inside you will find a video and a 30 minute audio that will help you through all your puppy training toilet issues. By the sounds of things you need to start taking her 5 minutes earlier than you are currently doing. This will help her “hold on” also as she grows up she will be able to hold on for longer so it does get easier…All the best, Doggy Dan 🙂

       1. hi dan i have 10 week puppy chihiuhua i am dyslexic so its hard to read for me do u have video to help me with my puppy i really need some advice

          1. Hi Roberta, I do have a complete puppy training program which is available at http://theonlinedogtrainer.com this takes you through all the puppy behavioral issues and also shows you the video diary of me raising my puppy from 8 weeks through to 8 months… Enjoy and all the best, Dan

44. have a bishun barks then I place him in the yard he senses a nother dog does not stop a got a complain they sent me three warnings
    please a need your help

    1. Hi Gina, if you are putting your dog into timeout in the yard and he is stressed and senses another dog then he is very likely to carry on barking. What is very important is to understand the cause of his barking, (Why he is doing it and why he is stressed) This is not a quick reply in a blog sort of answer but you can find a complete solution here. http://theonlinedogtrainer.com For the time being I would consider putting your dog in a smaller area inside the house for timeout rather than outside in the yard. This will be better for the neighbours. Only let him out when he is quiet and then let him out and ignore him. This will help. Check out the site now and all the best, Dan

    2. Hi Gina,
       have you visited my website http://theonlinedogtrainer.com ? This will show you how to stop the barking…regards Dan