SInce my husband and I bought a house with lots of land, we thought we could just open the door and let them go out and play with one another. We also play lots of ball and frisbee with them, and since we moved from out apartment we had abandoned the walk.

Since I heard Cesar say how important the walk was on his show and again here in his post, I can tell you from experience he is 1000 percent on the money. I started to take both of my German Shepherds from long walks on their leashes on our property after I get done with a frisbee or ball playing session. We have been doing this daily for a while and I can't tell you how content and happy they both had been-and CALM. For those who have read my posts from the past we were having problems with my older dog attacking the younger one.

They both walk along a bit behind me, and they are focused and happy. When we lived in the city taking them for walks used to be a nightmare for me. Even though they are trained they would ignore my commands if they saw something that either appealed to them or they didn't like. Now that I have re-established myself as their pack leader since watching the show we all enjoy our long walks and I look forward to them instead of dreading them like I used to.

SInce I started following Cesar's tips it has made a huge difference in both of them and us as well.

Been watching Dog Whisper for @6 months now and Cesar is amazing! I try to follow all his rules and learn alot from this site too. I have a 2 1/2 yr old Chow/German Shep mix that I adopted at @1 yr old. Previous owner totally spoiled her and I inherited many bad problems. Was told she was sweet girl but instead found she thought she was QueenBee, was semi child aggressive, semi dog aggressive too, would challenge me constantly on things. Have been working w/Cesar's techniques and at home, she is marvelous! Totally focused on me. Been walking daily (she does eventually calm down), but "out of the house" on our walk, completely different dog! At home, I am pack leader. At walk, she transforms into a semi petulant child personality! Have been working on being pack leader (it works except for at walks). Walk her @45+ min a day, both on short lead and 30 ft horse "lungeline"; short lead used on street, long lead on river levee trail. Use chokechain, have not tried "halti" lead. She pulls like a sleddog most times, but can be very well behaved otherwise, only after I have made her come/sit until she semi calms down. Lately, we spend more time trying to sit calmly than walking. One problem is, when she comes/sits, she throws herself down like a petulant child, as if "OK! HURRY UP and GET IT OVER WITH!" attitude, will NOT make eye contact. Another problem, she was never socialized dogwise when young. She will stand on hind legs and yip/howl at them; even at a sit/stay. Doesn't seem as "aggressive" unless the other dog exhibits same behavior. Been letting her "run" on lungeline for @15 min on soccerfields to burn energy before walk; helps a little. Have heard Cesar say chows are notoriously stubborn and aggressive. Anyone have any luck with a dog like this? Thanks to all...

Hi Richard- yes I know Cesar did say that, but I prefer to have them a little tired before we go out for a walk so I have time to react - where we live it's very rural and there are no street lights - since I have night blindness to a degree I don't always catch something in my sight that they may-and there are all types of animals that catch their attention-deer, rabbits, birds etc.
Since I have had problems with them in the past with hem not listening and trying to go after something, I feel it's best this way for now.
Plus like most things, every situation has a varies and nothing is a balck and white blue print when it comes to behavior, especially animal behavior.

I am adopting a German Shepard mix. I have not brought him home yet but will be seeing him tomorrow. I was wondering if anyone out there remembered how long Ceaser said you should walk a dog before bringing him home for the first time? I really want to start our relationship off to a good start so if anyone has any suggestions they would be appreciated. He also has been known to eat things like glass, aluminum, and even plaster from a bucket.

Ashley,

I don't know how long, but I would guess 45 minutes to an hour like a normal walk. About the eating: If you watched the episode on Nugget, he had the same problem of eating things. The way Cesar helped him was to walk him every day to release frustration. He was only getting 3 walks a week and so he was getting bored. Cesar also did an exercise where he set things that Nugget usually ate around him, and corrected him every time he would focus or go for one of the objests. Good luck with your newcomer. :D

~Chantel

When I first saw Ceasar's show, (last year sometime) I decided to take my 12 year old beagle for a walk the "right way" and I was amazed. In 5 minutes the dog was walking how I wanted him to walk. Before that I use to let him lead and he would pull and I thought that was alright. Once I knew what to do and how to do it, it took 5 minutes to erase 12 years of bad leash walking for my dog. That moment right there just proves that dogs really do live in the moment.
Another way I have realized that dogs live in the moment is true is just recently I decided to not let my dog stay on the couch anymore. Well for 12 years he's been on the couch and then not even a full day later after starting to keep him on the floor, he knew what I wanted from him. Now my dog stays on the floor like he's been doing it for years. When you know how to use your energy and how to speak to the dogs, they will get your message you are trying to convey to them. It's so amazing. Also my beagle doesn't hate me or isn't mad at me because I make him now stay on the floor. (you know that's some people's excuses) they say ,"oh the dog will be mad at me, blah blah blah." They are just people making the dog, human instead of keeping it dog. Ceasar truly is the best.

We have 4 dogs with great age/breed differences. I walk ALL of them, separately/couple walking. Their breed and ages are: Shep mix 9 yrs, golden retreiver 14 yrs, mini doxie 2 yrs and 8 month old mastiff. Walking 45 min per day separately is SOOOO time consuming. We go on individual walks in a.m. and couple walks in p.m. We usually mix the couples. Spending this extra time has made all the difference in their behavior and more importantly my "patience" in working with them. THANKS CESARS:>

Niko,

My chow mix has very similar behaviors, it might come with the breed. She is chow/border collie mix. Used to be very agressive even with us, me and the kids all have bite marks. But that was three years ago.
Now, she is very nice and sweet with all of us, wouldn't dare to bite us, even though she still growls sometimes.
On her property (front yard and van) she is very protective. No one uninvited would dare to come close when she is tied up in the front (since she fights with my husky mix, she spends lots of time in the front, she loves to be a watchdog there, she is tied up on a long line).
However when we walk 100 yards away from the yard, she changes to a perfect dog. She is my only dog that I can walk off the leash anywhere. She ignores all the distractions (cats, dogs, kids, squirells) and just follows me nicely. It's like Jekyll and Hide, depending on where we are, she can either be a mean, stubborn dog, or a great one. She doesn't like children (bit my neighbors daughter), and I didn't let her close to a child in years (she is 5 now), untill last summer a child came to her and started petting her while I was looking elsewhere. Now I trust her 100% outside of our yard. If she didn't fight with my other dog, she would be a perfect one.

I have a 1 1/2 year old Norfolk Terrier mix that I got from a shelter last November. He is great with people but when I am out walking him he tries to attack any other dogs that he meets. There is one particular yard where there are 2 dogs that used to growl and bark at my dog. Now I walk across the street from that house and Sandy pays very little attention to that house as he goes by. He also doesn't like motorcycles or people on bikes. Any suggestions?

Hi Emmy,

Yeah, it really doesn't matter where you feed your dog. Just remember to make your dog , eventhough it's still a puppy, he still has to work a little for his food. Remember it's never too early to teach him rules, boundaries and limitations.
The only thing I like to do is keep a bowl of water in the cage when i know I'll be gone for long hours, because dogs should ALWAYS have access to water. I have a bowl that is elevated and connected to the cage so my dog won't spill it all over. Like I know my dog can hold it for a very long time and he's never urinated inside his cage or in the house so i'm not worried about him doing that. Other than that, good luck.

I have a 7-8 yr old cocker spaniel. We adopoted her about a year ago. She had been dumped on the side of the road and was brought to a local vet, where we got her.

She has a very bad habit of howling. Any time we let her outside, or she wants to go outside, or one of us leaves the house, whatever, she howls. When I take her to be groomed and she is crated, she howls.

We do not often walk her. We live in the country and allow her in and out of the house.

Any ideas?

Hi KathyB,
I didn't get a clear sense of what your dog was doing when you asked him to sit. Was he in a state of mind that required the "claw" or would a finger on his rear been enough. I remember hearing Cesar mention using just enough force/energy to bring the mind into the calm, submissive state. I wonder if you may have inadvertantly used more force than needed and this confused your dog. Also, it sounds like you may not have been 100% into the role, as if you were excited to try this approach, but not totally sure about it. Like you may have been thinking about the way you usually walk; I have found my dogs pick up on this instantly. When I first started applying Cesar's principles, I often confused my dogs because I myself was confused (and I still confuse them once in awhile, but it gets better each moment you are a true pack leader). I found I really needed to be 100% into my pack leader role to achieve results without confusing my boys. I need to be calm inside and out. When I confuse myself (and them) I default back to the basics, be it the walk or behavior in the house, and enjoy it, then later on I try to figure out how I can add the extras in.

Best of luck.
Tom

Hi Tom!
Thank you for your response! Actually after reading your post & I thought about the situation I may have been overly assertive....maybe more assertive today than normal. (I was just reading an exerpt of Cesar's soon to be released book, and I have a feeling that I was too "forceful/assertive"???)
My trainer says that I should always "win", that if he does not obey, to not go any further until he fulfills the command without repeating it. So sometimes Budha wants to do "his thing" and not what I'm telling him. When I walk him, it's not just walking....we are constantly "working" (aka sit & stay, come, sit, stopping, working on heeling,etc.).
At the time the incident happened we were almost at the end of our walk and I stopped, he stopped, I said sit, he didn't, I checked him and said sit agina, he didn't, used my hand and touched his backside, still no sit, so I did it again with a tad more pressure, when he "reacted". Sometimes while we are walking I will just stop on a dime, and he will then stop or if not paying attention gets stopped short by his leash and we "train" so to speak.
Friday my trainer & I worked on how to "introduce" Budha to other dogs and 2 pain pills later (I've had 2 back surgeries), a visit to the nail salon (broken nail), and a new box of Band-Aids (shredded skin off finger from the leash) , I have decided that He (Budha) is without a doubt what Cesar would call a Gladiator!!!lol
I decided yesterday that I will NEVER be pulled, yanked or do that again!lol Anyways, I could have possibly pushed him too hard? Or maybe it was the fact that he snapped at the bather? Do you think that my dog could have been worn out or something as he has NEVER acted that way with people before. Or maybe it really is or was all about my energy at the time as my back is completely out, and I was more determined than I think was necessary with our walk today.
We of course have another walk to go on today, so I plan on using my same routine he is used to with some of Cesar's mixed in, and maybe less time "training" and more time just walking (my trainer believes in praise as soon as he does what is commanded, but I have noticed with Budha that it seems as though he thinks that means ok I can go back to acting a fool!), as he is just still a puppy and I have only been training him for week 3 and have only had him for 5 weeks (he is my daughters dog and she has had him since he was 8 weeks old, but we flew him from Texas as he was with her dad and he had NO manners whatsoever!!)
I think I am going to be less "assertive/aggresive" and more relaxed and just go for a walk? I am waiting to hear from my trainer, as it had me concerned enough to call them and I also plan on making a vet appt. as the bather said that sometimes when they act that way with their ears its a sign of an ear infection. I just do not need to screw up and get bitten by a very large Rottweiler!lol
Again, Thank you so much for your reply!!! Kathy

I have been trying for months to get my dog to heel. I made the mistake of not training him to do it when he was a little pup, as I was not aware of the implications of pack roles at the time. My lab mix is a year and a half now and a big dog, and he is used to walking in front of me and pulling. I use a pronged collar, which only helps a little bit and doesn't bother him at all. In any case, after months of trying to get him to heel, he still hasn't learned. At no point have I gotten the impression that "aha! he understands he needs to walk right next to me!" From watching some episodes yesterday, I realized that it helps A LOT to have the collar up high, behind the ears. I tried it today, and it worked for a minute, but the collar always slips back down. My dog has a thick neck with lots of skin. Does anyone have a solution for this?

Thanks

I have been watching your show for a little while and can't wait to see other series. I can see why every dog we have had has not worked out. But this time my husband and my self are working to keep this one become a better pet by being a better owner. We have a lab and I can see he needs a lot of attention and needs work outs with direction or he will get this self in trouble. Thanks for your show and I look forward to seeing more.

Sherry,
I have only been working with mine for 3 weeks now and if you get a good trainer and are patient, your dog will get it! I have the same problem with my dogs collar, but I have realized if I stop, check him if he pulls, make him sit, walk up next to him or a little ahead of him, making him sit & stay the whole time, he finally got it! I hope that helped! KathyB

I am having problems just taking my dog for a walk. I own two pups, well actually one is about a year old and the other is about 4 months old. Both are pitbulls, the youngest is a blue nose pit bull. They are both amazing dogs, but incredibly incredibly strong. Buddy is my oldest, and when i walk him, he is literally pulling me down the block. I try to shorten the length of the leash allowed to keep him next to my thigh as we walk but he's still pulling on it with all of his strength and i feel like he's choking himself when he does this., so usually i end up lengthening the leash out again because he's pulling and pulling and gasping for air. Why does he do this to himself? Is there anyone who knows how i can teach him to walk at my pace and to not pull with such strength on the leash?? Is this something to do with the breed of dog?

Appreciate all help and comments, thanks!

Thanks to Beth!-
The pup will be a 12 week old Welsh Terrier. There will always be someone home to take him out with the exception some days for 1 hour. I have that pretty much covered.

Thanks to John R!-
Your advice is much appreciated. What type of work for his food do you mean? With my previous dos, I would have him sit and wait until I put the food out and let hi have it when I said "ok" as a bit of training. He then started doing it automatically. The same with going out when he was older. I would have him sit and wait by the door while I put his leash on, he would sit until I said "ok" and then he would follow me out. He later did it instantly without me telling him. He also did this while waiting at corners for lights to change. I loved that he knew what was expected of him. I guess that is what training is all about. Hopefully, I can get to this stage with the Welsh.

For me as well, teaching the heel has been most difficult. My German shepherd did an eight week basic obedience through Pet Smart and what they teach is "loose leash walking." I'm not sure if this is a typical approach of using a clicker to reinforce when the dog is walking without pulling but it is very time consuming and hard to change directions everytime the dog pulls if you actually have a destination in mind. I tried it their way for a while and used a halti but still feel like the only time she consistently walks without pulling is after she is worn out from throwing the ball and we are walking back home. I recently put her slip chain back on up high and tried Cesar's method again and it was amazing how much better she did. I also had her wear her backpack with two large water bottles on each side because Cesar has suggested this in a couple shows to make the walk more effective and to give the dog something to focus on. I'm very intrigued with the "illusion collar" because it looks like it would work like a slip chain but is rigged to never fall down. I am anxious to try it when it is finally available to buy.

Thanks for the words of encouragement, Kathy. Amber, what's this "illusion collar" you're referring to?

I figured that was how the collar worked. I noticed this season of the show that all the dogs Cesar worked with were wearing that odd looking collar and sure enough when I went to his website its listed as a product that will be available soon. I just wonder if it will be better than a halti or gentle leader. One thing I don't like about my dogs halti is that people assume its a muzzle and think she's a biter.

KathyB

You are very lucky that your encounter with that pit puppy turned out the way it did.

A year ago, I was walking my cocker spaniel on a leash and a pit that had been tied up, chewed through his leash and attacked me and killed my dog. Needless to say, I have never gotten over it. A pit can bring down a dog 3 times its weight and size. Its jaw strength can do great harm and permanent damage.

I now walk my dogs with more caution. I now have pepper spray and would not hesitate to use it on a dog that was in attack mode.

Be safe.

Cocker x3,
Thank you for your post. I am SO SORRY to hear about your dog!
The sad part is, its not the dogs fault but the owners!!!!....Irresponsible dog owners of large breeds that train them to be aggressive just makes me want to scream!
I have grown up around and raised a few Pitbulls, so I know EXACTLY what you mean!!! The funny thing is she is the tinyest thing I ever saw!lololol And she backed up really quick when mine gave his full attention to her....she basically "played" tough girl until she was up in his face and it all changed when he turned around and said "okay..I wanna play too!"lol His reaction was not aggresive at all.
I guess thats why I asked the question....I am used to having Pitbulls and I KNOW they can take care of themselves...I have never been in a situation where I have owned a dog that while is large, may not have a chance if I have an adult Pitt in attack mode come after us!
If my Rott was a Pit I know exactly what I would do....release/let go of the leash and just let be what will be. But now that I don't have a Pitt, things are different.
I think I may take your advice and get some pepper spray?? Are there any other ways to take control?

Like I said in my earlier post I have been in situations where me, my daughter (she was 9 at the time) and 6 month old pittbull where charged by two large German Shepards, and I Calmly gave my daughter the leash and told her to calmly/quietly to walk back to our left AWAY from me, look both ways before walking accross the street and just GO...as I was speaking to her I was also making the dogs keep their focus on ME and was yelling commands or something to that effect. It must have been divine intervention or primal instinct because they stopped dead in their tracks. I've had a few experiences like that and I've always gone into or taken charge and made it through....not so smart eh?!lol
I was just curious if I acctually instictivly know how to react or have just been "lucky"?
I guess until I know I better get some pepper spray!?lol
Thank you again for your reply, and again I am so sorry to hear about your dog. KathyB

KathyB

Thank you for your kind words. I have had dogs since I was 2 years old and have NEVER had that happen to me. I have had rescued dogs all my life and sadly, the pit that attacked us was also a rescue. The owner was the problem and I'm sure if someone else had owned that dog, the episode would never had happened. It was not the dogs fault at all.

Also, Pepper spray is not deadly to a dog if used properly. The main thing to remember when walking your precious dogs is...be confident...be aware of your surroundings at all times and if a strange dog does come up to you and your dog, as Cesar says, no touch, no talk, no eye contact.

As someone once told me, it takes humans their whole life to learn to love unconditionally but dogs are born that way. That is why they are not here as long.

Thank You Cocker x3!
I will remember that...no touch, no talk, no eye contact!!
The puppy was no threat but it did get me to thinking about the adult pitts in my neighborhood!!! My focus at the time was getting MY DOG to not tug, yank on me, focus his attention back on me and he did FABULOUS! :)

I will go buy some pepper spray and read the directions on how to use it, and hopefully never have to use it! Thank you again!!!!! KathyB

Hi Emmy,
What I mean by making your dog work for his food is take him for walks. This way walking is like the dog is working for his food. At the end of the walk when you are home, then you can feed him, but make sure your dog is calm/submissive when you feed him because that's the state of the mind you want the dog's mind to be in. Also you can make him sit and wait until you give the ok for him to eat.

To KathyB with the Rot,
Yeah when your Rot snapped at the groomers and then they baby talked to him, what they were doing is basically showing affection to the dog when he was in an unstable state of mind. So they were actually nurturing that unwanted behavior w/o even knowing it. That also goes with you not being able to get your dog to sit. He doesn't respect you all the way. It's kind of a challenge he is giving you. Also by backing away, he won. So now your dog knows that he can get his way by either growling or giving you the look because he sensed you were weak when he did that, if you were scared.
Remember to alway be calm/assertive around the dog even when at time you want to get angry, upset, scared etc.. If you are gonna be scared or upset et.. go in a different room and let those feeling out. DON'T show those emotions to your dog as he will see that you are unstable and he'll feed off of that and he'll try to challenge you even more to take your leadership role away.

Also your dog is in a stage where he's really gonna try to find his place in the pack and he'll start challenging more than ever. Just keep working with it everyday and in the end if you do everything right, you'll have a wonderful and beautiful 180lb dog.

Seminar in Philly 3/4/06: Cesar, if you're reading these posts I just wanted to let you know that my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed attending the seminar in Philly on March 4th. We drove 6 hours from Rhode Island to attend the seminar and had a wonderful mini vacation. My husband sat next to Illusion who was very kind and gracious and you were a pleasure to listen to and talk with. We returned home Sunday and on Monday night my husband had a heart attack. He is now home from the hospital and the only thing he is able to do for the time being is walk. He will be walking our dogs for exercise and thanks to you we have learned the proper way to walk with our dogs. I am very grateful my husband's heart attack did not occur when we were so far from home or during your seminar. I believe God was watching out for us. :)

I have just recently started watching the show and really love it. I have signed up for the seminar in Columbus, OH in July. In the meantime, I have 5 dogs that have a big yard, and I have just started taking them on walks outside of the yard. Because time is precious, does anyone have any suggestions about how to walk multiple dogs at one time? 2 are small, 2 are medium and 1 is medium-large in size. I saw the post earlier about not walking two high energy dogs together and will keep that in mind. Also, we have had a week of rain, do you continue to walk your dogs in the rain, or are there other activities that can be done inside that would equate - I am a wimp when it comes to bad weather!

Tom,
Thanks for your reply!
Can you tell me more or give me more direction to look or search/investigate the raw meaty bones diet???? I no NOTHING about it, but am willing to learn anything if it means better health for my dog! Thank! KathyB

I agree - A ban retractable leashes! There was a case recently that a man's dog was hit by a car and he was suing the man in the car. The judge said that if the leash length was 6', he had a case but since the retractable leash was over 7', he (the owner) was at risk of having his dog hit by a car and he lost the case. There is no way to have a stable dog if you walk your dog on this type of leash or if you encounter a dog on this type of leash. There is no control in either situation and quite deadly if an aggressive dog encounters a friendly dog and they become tangled or aggressive and scared have an encounter. Bad news all around.

Sabrina,

In answer to your multiple dog walk question, I have one dog walk beside me and one behind me. Being beside you enables your dog to anticipate what you expect of him/her and the dog in back will follow his/her/your lead.

Dogs Rule!

Tom,

I have been trying the raw bone diet for my dogs, but I don't have much sucess. I only feed them when they are hungry. In the beginning they ate the bones, but now they start to play with it, or just leave it, looking at me like "I want some food". I give up and feed them something else. The worst part is that two of my dogs burry the bones, and then a few days (or weeks) later they bring that piece inside (they have doggie doors), sometimes lay it on my pillow. I live in Georgia, it's quite warm here, so you can imagine the smell. How do I prevent that?
One day I didn't give them anything else but raw bones, and one of my dogs didn't eat at all till next morning, when she again didn't want the bones I gave her something else (I am not a real fan of dog food, so my dogs eat canned fish, cottage cheese, yoghurt, veggies and fruits in addition to dog food).
I thought they would love the raw diet, did they get bored too fast?

Tom,
How do you find a holistic vet?

Niko,
I love chows. They are wonderful in spite of their problems with dominance, agression, being stubborn etc.
What I love about Blackie the most is that she only likes her family. We can play with her, pet her, have fun, and she doesn't want to do it with anybody else (unlike my pit mix who loves everyone). We feel special.
She would still bite that neighbors daughter if she could, and I have to make sure she can't. She has spent 10 days in jail (well, at the vet after biting Kristina).
What changed her was adopting the other dog. I don't recommend it as a way to train your dog, but all the agression with us, her family disappeared after we got Ruffy. I have no idea why this happened. Maybe now she had another dog to be agressive to (she really wasn't agressive with Ruffy and they became best friends until last May). But it worked. Good luck.

Sylvain,

I totally know what you meen. Ever sence I started watching the Dog Whisperer I have seen poeple walk their dog's and it drives me nuts! Almost everyone I see has thier dogs in front just pulling them down the sidewalk. Some poeple that I've talked to don't want thier dogs to be "structured" with the dog beside them because they think the dog is happier in front exploring. The dog would be even happier if he had a good pack leader and was
balanced. I wish some people would see dogs as they really are and then they wouldn't worry about hurting the dog's feelings and baby them until their rotten and unbalanced. Other poeple feel they don't have the time to train the dog to walk beside them. It's so easy, and you can do it while you are walking the dog.

Another thing that really bugs me is when I go to other's houses and the dogs jump all over me and are obviously running the house. I try to tell people about Cesar and his show, but some are so ignorant.

~Chantel

I have had several people ask me how I get my 2 Basset hounds to walk with me and behave like good K-9 citizens. I get so frustrated! I try to explain about Cesar and his dog fullfilment plan, (exercise, disipline, affection) and refer them to the dvd and Dog Whisperer show. The usual response is a bunch of reasons why the plan wouldn't work with their dog, or they just don't have the time and can't be bothered. Then they tell me that they wish their dogs would behave!!! Go figure???

I should ad that it is very cool that many people here in this blog 'get it' and they know how to be pack leaders. that makes it worthwhile to tell as many as you can about this site and about the show. who knew that dogs were such simple creatures? i am still amazed every time i walk my dog at how happy he is to follow behind me and sit every time i point to the ground or stop walking.

The more I watch Dog Whisperer, the more I understand dogs and really start to communicate with them. It's funny how poeple make them more complicated than they really are, they give them human charicteristics and use love and affection to make them happy. That just ain't gonna cut it. It's more enjoyable to be around dogs when you understand them.

~Chantel

Just got a dog... Saw the show for the first time last Friday, feel lke I just walked in, on a movie...right in the middle. Need help, tell me about the walking. She wants to pull meand she doesn't come when called. She's a very smart dog. Because when she runs away...lol...she comes back and knocks on the door to be let in. But I want to be a "Pack Leader"...but don't know how. HELP?!?!?

I have 2 Border Collie puppies (10 week old litter mates) they are wonderful, attentive, smart dogs but I am having problems with the "Walk". I know they are young but they are having problems with the leash. They do not want to be on the leash or walk. The breeder I got them from never used a leash with them. When we start out we take 5 steps and then they sit down and look at me and won't budge. I have tried to entice them with treats, affection, and praise. I walk them every morning before work and every evening when I get home but this turns into a frustrating event for all 3 of us since we only get to the end of the block (3 houses down) in a 30 minute period. I know they are babies and it will take time to train them but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

I have a 4 month old cockapoo who weighs about 7lbs. How often should a dog of that size and age be walked? I let him play outside in the backyard before I leave for work and I've recently started walking him in the evenings for about 25 minutes. I want him to be happy.

Cesar's techniques work amazingly well with my 3 yr. old German Shepherd Dog. He used to pull me for a walk, but since using Cesar's walking strategies, he is a joy to walk with. I still have a few problems with him lunging at cars (he thinks he should herd them). Once he has settled down to calm submissive, I can ask him to sit when a car comes, and he will often just turn his head. That's improvement! Today, I bought him a backpack so that he has a job to do while we walk. I would love it if he could get along with our cat, but the cat is scared to death of him and runs away - which just brings out prey drive behavior with my dog. I have gotten him to sit quietly and watch the cat from a distance - but only after the brisk walk. THANKS CESAR for sharing your dog psychology with us. I hope that you can come to Pittsburgh for a seminar some day! God bless.

Chris-I have 2 german shepherds, one five year old, and one three year old, and I think Cesar's techniques are fantastic with shepherds too. Before my husband and I moved to the country, I found walking them a chore, they would lunge at other dogs, people they didn't like etc. They are obedience trained but I was not a good pack leader and they did not respect me at all, and wouldn't listen to me if they really wanted to chase something.

SInce I found Cesar- I take them on extened walks all over our property, and even down to our mail box which is a long distance away from our house. They listen perfectly-through other dogs barking, people, cars you name it. I ask them to sit on a grassy area off the road while I get the mail from the box, and they comply beautifly. I can't believe the change.
I think I"m going to get them a backpack too so they can carry the mail home, and water for all of us.

HI Priscilla- I'm an old pro at this one-I've had shepherds since 1992 and they ALL bite at the leashes and the pant leg when they want to be entertained, or have alot of excess energy to burn off.

I would suggest walking your shepherd on either a chain collar or a pinch collar (they are tough strong dogs and their necks can handle it- I prefer the pinch myself.)
When your dog starts to bite the leash or your pants give her a quick stern correction with the leash. The motion is a fast snap using your wrist-make sure you say "NO" sternly as you do the correction-trust me she will stop.

Priscilla: A prong collar is sometimes referred to as a pinch collar also. So to answer your question, yes, they are one and the same. The gentle lead which you spoke of is called a choke collar (or check collar or chain lead). I find it somewhat ironic that you have heard it called a gentle lead because if used improperly, it is anything but gentle. If you decide to go with a prong collar, make sure you do your research first as far as proper fit and usage. The collar should fit SNUG (not tight, or loose for that matter) right behind the dog's ears and around it's neck just beneath the jaw. A word on having it too loose: Don't make the mistake of getting it a few sizes bigger because you think it will benefit the dog. Having it too large will hinder the prongs from closing properly and drive them into the neck and throat. Obviously this would not be a good thing. I hope I have answered all your concerns.

Ewa,
I do notice that my Chow and Husky are usually great buddies....then every once in a while the Husky challenges the Chow for dominance and then all heck breaks loose. I took a hard look at why these "slip ups" were happening and I think (and wish I had Cesar to confirm or deny) that I am doing something during that time to foul up the pack order. Perhaps I am not acting as legitimate Pack Leader for some reason and the Husky takes a stab at rearranging things.

The more act as supreme pack leader and treat the Chow as number 1 dog and the Husky as number 2 dog there seems to be some relaxation of the pack order. Also....the Husky needs constants walks where I pay big-time attention to whose nose is in front of who as they walk beside me.

I can't wait until Cesar's book comes out. Until then I am re-reading "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell and one called "Dogs on the Couch" by another animal behaviorist. Both address the pack leader idea and the pack order idea and are a great read. I highly recommend them for those who need something while we wait for Cesar's book.

Take care!

Priscilla & Shari,

One reason why I wanted a dog was to go with me on walks. We have always had GSD, and love the breed. We have had GSD since 1980. I remember having the same problem as you, Priscilla, are having, with the snapping at the lead and anything else that may challenge them to be submissive. I use the gentle leader on my Shepherd. It fits snugly over the nose and behind the ears. I find that if I control the nose, I control the dog. I've heard Cesar refer to this also, saying that 60% of stimuli a dog is taking into his brain is through his nose. So, I do not allow Jonas to sniff, pee, or check things out on our walk. Watch the puppy, practice catching him and correcting him before the behavior escalates. You will catch on to his signals, and he will catch on to you as well. Priscilla, don't forget that it is a process. Don't be hard on yourself for mistakes - like Cesar says, the dog lives in the moment, and he won't remember your mistakes like you do! Good luck with your puppy!

Shari, Jonas & I also went to obedience classes, and he just loves to work. we even earned our canine good citizen and pet therapy dog. I didn't pursue the therapy dog at that time because I was afraid Jonas would get excited, perhaps jump on someone and hurt them. He's a big boy! Since I got the backpack, I'm looking forward to longer walks. He can carry the PBJ's and water! I'm still having some problems with cars - I think that when the car is approaching, he feels me getting tense and reacts. So, I'm practicing on keeping calm, and not reacting by tightening up on the leash, maintaining body language. I'll get it. Practice practice practice!

Priscilla,

At first, I was concerned about the gentle leader, but it isn't a muzzle. The dog can still pant, drink, and even bite. If you think it is yukky, the pup will think it is yukky too! I'm learning not to feel badly for treating Jonas like a dog! That's what he is, and he is much more comfortable being a dog! And I'm not as frustrated. I save all my hugs and kisses for the end of the day, when we sit on the floor together. He gets groomed, and I get to give him all the kisses I saved up. He just rolls his big darling eyes up at me, and I remember what Cesar says, kisses are just for the human, not for the dog, and I have to laugh that he is tolerating it for my sake. Your personal trainer can help you choose the right collars and lead. Good luck!

Maybe I missed something in the responses to Episode 8, but didn't anyone find the Basset hound owner carrying her 50 something pound dog up and down the stairs to the dog bed in the kitchen to be hilarious? This poor lady was pumping dog not iron. And the dog with that Basset face...

Another friend from Rottie rescue and I just about rolled laughing!!! I always like to say our pets and children train us so well!

When my husband and I evacuated for Hurricane Rita, we took along a friend's foster Blue Tick hound with my 3 Rotts, my sister's mixed breed dog and her cat about 200 miles inland to our house in Texas Hill Country.

That dog looked like her Basset hound except with long legs and spots ("ticks"), the sad eyes and so "lazy" that he seemed to be almost dead. When he got up (I don't allow dogs to lie in the middle of doorways, so he got gentle foot nudges along with the command "move") he was in the slowest motion of any dog I have ever seen. I do remember thinking that I would be in trouble if there was something wrong with him that I would have to pick up all 80 pounds of him.

My husband is from the old South and he assured me that this hound would come alive after dark if that old dog thought there was something to hunt around the area.

Sure enough, the sun set, the raccoons, deer, and o'possums came out. That old hound was very lively, when he smelled them. And to think, he almost had me trained in such a short amount of time!

Oh, yes. If we do not train our pets and children, they train us. Keep on watching Cesar. We have to stay one step ahead of them.

MAM

Help ~ I’ve watched the video’s, TV shows and read the books on mastering “the walk”. My only problem is, it almost ALWAYS is demonstrated with a small or medium sized dog. I bought my dream dog - a Great Dane puppy named “Maximum”. When he was 3 months old we went through an eight-week basic obedience training through Pet Smart. Unlike Cesar’s walking style, they teach a “loose leash” where the dog walks in front. While we did so-so with this method, I’ve realized that’s it’s not practical for the dog to walk in front and yet be watching me. Pet Smart’s main goal seems to be walking Maximum without pulling me (which he pretty much does). I don’t feel like the Alpha dog walking in this manner. My problem is that Maximum (now 120lbs) feels too big to walk him in Cesar’s method. I’m 5’ 3” and my arm gets tired after about 5 minutes of forcing Maximum to walk behind me. I eventually give up and end up having him walk along side of me. I absolutly love Cesar Millan and would ask to see more episodes dealing with Ex-Large breeds like Great Danes, Mastiff’s, etc..

I haven't had a dog since I was a child - over 30 years ago! 10 days ago I adopted a 1 yr old St. Bernard/Hound mix. She's a very good, affectionate dog - knows some commands (sit, come, stay) and is crate trained and housebroken. I am registered for obedience training in 2 weeks but need help with the walking issue NOW. I just discovered the Dog Whisperer so I did not see the episode on walking a dog. She pulls a ton. On my quiet street I've got her to walk somewhat calm next to me but as soon as I decide to take her further into the subdivision she pulls like crazy! I have a nylon collar on her and a six foot nylon leash. I hold the end of the leash in my right hand and hold taunt the other end to keep her next to me. It takes a lot of strength to walk her. I would welcome suggestions. Thank you!

Any suggestions on how to train a husband?!? (lol) It really is a serious question though. As much as I try to explain to him that they need to have training, he keeps saying he doesn't want "robot dogs."

We have 2 Cavaliers (great breed) - one is 2 yrs old, the other a yr. Both were essentially rescues, having been taken back by the breeders because they weren't in acceptable households (the older one was kept crated about 20 hrs/day, the younger one was returned because a young child didn't like being jumped on). Because I had knee replacement surgery, I wasn't able to be out there walking them, and everytime he came back from a walk he complained how the younger one constantly pulled. He had her on a regular leash, and the older one on a retractable one - anyone see what I already knew? Plus the fact that our older one is a little princess, and the younger one is a real tomboy, and we didn't have as much time to spend working with her before my surgery.

Last weekend I was finally able to get out for a walk with them. I took the younger one (the "puller"), even though my husband was afraid I couldn't handle her because of my leg. So guess what happened? After about 5 minutes into our walk, working with the techniques I've learned watching Cesar, she was behaving like a doll! My husband made the comment - how'd you do that? - in utter amazement. No more chasing after the squirrels, etc. Granted, she wasn't perfect the entire way, but it was a first step, and my husband was able to see that it worked, so hopefully he'll get with the program!

I do have a question about something I haven't seen addressed on the show. How you you stop licking behavior? Our older one will lick any patch of bare skin she can find (the younger one doesn't). They are both such sweet girls. I would like to possibly get them certified to go visit hospitals & nursing homes, but with the licking problem, I don't think that would be possible. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Chris, thanks for your reply - it's good to know I'm not the only one with a contrary husband! I also appreciate the encouragement for getting the pups to work in nursing homes. My brother is a pediatrician, and I'd also love to be able to take them into the children's hospital where I live. Cavaliers are such great dogs - all they want to do is be with you, and they love people so much, all they want to do is be with you!

Regarding the licking, she doesn't do it to herself, she does it to us. If I'm sitting around in shorts or a short sleeve shirt, she licks my legs or arms (which I stop her from doing), she licks my husband's head (yes, he's bald - and doesn't stop her, I do) and even when I get out of the shower she'll want to dry my legs off by licking them. I've almost resorted to putting tabasco sauce on myself! any other suggestions would be appreciated!

Cindy

Barrie,
I'm sorry for your loss. I know how precious those souls are, and please accept my sympathies. Regarding your collie, I have a hunch she is working on being the dominant one in the household. Dogs don't know grief, but they sense it is a weakness in the human. If the human is weak, then the dog will step up to the plate and be the leader. Cesar tells us that the dog lives in the moment. My suggestion would be to perhaps catch a few episodes of Dog Whisperer, get some ideas on where to start, then being consistent is key. I don't think it would take much to get her back into a calm submissive state once you are back in the saddle. There are several episodes where Cesar deals with dog aggressive behaviors and also with humans grieving their lossed pet. And again, one human to another, I share your grief. Good luck & God bless.

Hi Trianglears- I am so sorry to hear about your dog's condition, thats got to be hard on the both of you.

The best thing I can come up with, is playing "tug" with something light in weight.
I have big dogs, but I always found if I couldn't have them out long because of the weather, playing tug with them seemed to satisfy them and make them tired.
granted it's not the same as a walk or having them chase a ball, but it still expends some energy.

I'm not sure exactly how bad your dog is as far walking a short distance, but you can also mentally challenge her but teaching her to retrieve things for you, or even doing simple obedience exercises-it will challenge her mind and she won't be as wound up and anxious if she is mentally stimulated.

Hope this helped.

I've just recently discovered Cesar and the Dog Whisperer and I am blown away by the way Cesar can take any "problem" situation and cure it usually within minutes. Everything he does makes so much sense. I tried his techniques with my little 9 year old maltese mix dog and it has made all the difference in the world. He used to be nervous almost all the time... now after just two days of walking him the way Cesar prescribes, all his nervousness has disappeared! He is a different dog!

My question concerning the walk is, before, the main purpose of our walk was of course to get exercise but to also have him do his business... if not he is not allowed to sniff or pee, when does he do that? When DO I allow him to run free and have fun? We don't have dog parks and he's not the kind that "plays" in the yard... His only form of fun is to run and sniff on our walks... but if I don't allow him to do that, then what?

I have been trying to master the walk and it's failing miserably. I've got a 9 month old black lab-mix with lots of energy! It usually takes between 5-10 tries at the door before he will sit and wait for me to allow him to come to me outside. As soon as he's out the door- he's gone. I try to keep him at my side with my arm down and it's impossible. The leash has given me so many blisters from keeping the strain on him. I cannot get him to walk by my side. I do stop frequently and can only get him to sit when I push on his bottom. Then as soon as I start going again, it's a fight to see who will be in front. I've been so frustrated that I feel like I totally lose it and yell at him like a child- then I cry because I feel so bad. I know it's my fault that it's not working but I'm not sure what else I should be doing. Anyone out there with some advice?

Thanks
Angie

Hi Angie- I know the feeling, my 2 shepherds are bundles of 80 & 90 lb energy.
SInce I used to be into obedience training, I would suggest at some point you find a trainer and do basic obedience with your dog. Both of my girls are obedience trained, and believe me we practice going out doors and going up and down stairs the way I want it 100 times.
BuT we do not go until the listen and do what I want-whether or not it takes on the first time or the 1000th time.

Your frustration is transferring to your dog, you have to try to be patient, and calm and then assertive. The yelling or any kind of attention you give him re-enforces the bad behavior-you know how sometimes kids act out even to get bad attention from parents?

Play it cool, and unfotunately it make take a bunch of tries going through doors, up stairs etc. Just stick with the program.

I've been walking my two dogs for a week. A female lab who thinks she is the leader of the pack...a real challenge. AND a 5 month old male poodle. He has not been neutered yet, but will be next month. My little miniature poodle has been attacked twice by female dogs in the neighborhood. One of the attackers (a pit bull female) had to be euthanized because she bit me too when I tried to get the puppy out of her mouth. I've had to take the puppy to the vet for that episode, antibiotics, pain medication, soaks for the bites, etc. The second episode was a very close call....another female dog.

Does anybody understand why these dogs are attacking my puppy? I don't know how to protect myself or my young dog. I'm wondering if it's because he is a male and not yet neutered and they perceive him as a threat. He is a very LOW energy dog and not at all aggressive...actually a big wimp!

I'm hesitant to walk now for fear of my pup being attacked again. What to do? Mace? I talked to the owners of these dogs and am not really reassured.

Thank you for your insight.

joanne

Hi Joanne(post107)
The walk not only allows the dog to get excercise but shows leadership. Allowing the dog to relieve it's self and marking it's territory on every tree, post or what ever are two different things. Before you begin your walk let the dog relieve itself. Anytime after that is unnecissary. By showing or allowing the dog where to relieve itself shows the dog leadership. Make the dog work for his or her playtime. The dog will become balanced easier this way.

Angie, Your pup is sensing your frustration. I agree, that you need to let your dog run to get rid of that energy he has stored up. Do you jog or run? Do you ride a bicycle or roller blade? If you could do anything to get your dog's energy level topped off before the walk, that would help you tremendously. I've learned that when I'm not happy with what my German Shepherd does, it does not help for me to yell at him. He only perceives that as excitement, and it feeds his energy, and in addition, he sees it as a weakness in me and is doing what dogs do, someone has to be the leader. Perhaps, what you could do, is imagine yourself doing what makes you feel the calmest and most in control while you are walking. This energy will feed to your dog, and he will become calm. Hold your head up high, and puff your chest out, pull those shoulders back. Maybe, going through the door first will be the only thing you master today - and that's ok Angie. Don't go through the door until you feel calm and in control, and your dog is calm. It is a process, and you just do what you can today. Once you've mastered the door, move onto something new. Try not to be so hard on yourself, and just be persistent. We all make mistakes. That's the great thing about dogs - they live in the moment, and are very forgiving. It's we humans that live in the past and the future. You care enough to reach out for help, so I know that you can and will find balance with your pup too. Hang in there!

Same here! We have 4 dogs and walking them was always such a struggle. Well, I decided, I've watched enough episodes of the Dog Whisperer, let's see if this really works. I started with the cocker, who always pulls and strains then stops without warning to sniff and pee. He began his usual antics, but with only 2 quick corrections something clicked in that little cocker brain and he was by my side for the full 40 minute walk. I had to laugh because his little head was up, he was looking straight ahead and he was actually strutting along. We passed the house with the lab mix sleeping on the porch. Andy, the cocker, usually hunkers down here, but not this day. We just strutted on by and left that dog just silently watching us go by. We passed the house with the 5 barking dogs. This is where Andy always wants to pick up the pace and try to drag me home to get away from them, but not today. Andy didn't so much as look their way, he just kept right on strutting down the street. As we came up the driveway my husband was waiting and he had the biggest grin on his face and said "Well, look at that little guy goin along just like he is somebody" (a Southern expression LOL) It's so true, they want our leadership. Thank you, thank you, Cesar!
The boxers are another story, but are coming along, too, they just will take more work on our part which we are more than willing to do. YAHOO!!

The breed of the dog does not matter. any dog will bite if YOU LET HIM. I do not let them.I own 6 BOXERS & walk 1to 4 at a time if they are pulling you your not in the frame of mind of being the packleader.I do not approach my dogs till they become calm subm.Then we go for walk

I have two dogs that thanks to Cesar's teqniques have become very nice and manageble under most circumstances. I try to get them out for walks everyday, but since I have a newborn baby and a husband that is deployed with the navy, there are days that we don't get out. I generally walk for about 45 minutes. To intensify the workout I have started using backpacks on both dogs, wich works great! My problem, however, are other loose dogs around our neighborhood. My dogs walk right next to me, behind the jogging stoller, generally very well behaved, needing only a correction from the leash every once in a while. On several occasions loose dogs have come charging us. When this happens I loose control of everything, and generally end up trying to drag my dogs away from a dog fight. I have no idea how to fix this. My dogs seem to feed off of each others energy (and mine too I'm sure) as soon as a loose dog comes running towards us. They'll start growling and pulling on the leashes in different directions. Having the stoller, the timing of my corrections is off, and before I know it, I'm completely out of control. What am I supposed to do? How should I expect my dogs to react when another dog comes running towards us and the baby? Shuld I expect my dogs to just ignore it and move on? I have fixed so many problems with these dogs, changing the way that I act around them, but when it comes to this I'm at a loss. I'm not one to walk away from a problem, but this is one is making me very hesitant about walking my dogs. Any advice is appreciated.

Hi Angie- You are so welcome-just know it takes time and although it's very hard just be calm and exercise patience. My two girls are usually great at obeying commands but they get over excited when they know they are going to play frisbee or go for a walk.
On Saturday it took us about 40 times before they stopped trying to blow past me down the stairs (I take them out through our basement alot) I literally have to go down the steps backwards to make sure they aren't breaking command and following me.
Eventually they will get it, and yours will too.

My 5 year old daughter and I were walking one of our standard poodles today (our big male). All of a sudden a loose aussie shepherd came rocketing out of someone's garage. He wasn't barking or growling - just running out to sniff and get acquainted. For a change we didn't panic - in fact we didn't even react - we kept walking - when Andy tried to turn his head I gave him a quick correction and we just kept moving. Since I didn't turn and look I don't know what the shepherd was doing back there - I could hear him breathing for a few seconds... he probably managed a few good sniffs but Andy did not react after the first correction. I can tell you this is a completely different result than we used to get ...all because I used to panick and get upset. My daughter also followed the rules - she did not look, talk or touch the other dog - she just kept walking calmly ahead. Thank you Cesar!!! We love being the pack leaders!

how do you get your dog to follow? My dog is an extremely timid/submissive half collie/half blue-heeler. It is acutally my girlfriend's dog and is about 1 year old, and she never took him on walks. I have started to walk him, but I don't live there so I can't do it all the time. My question is what is the best way to correct him from walking in front of me? When he pulls I just stop and usually make him sit. Sometimes he does it on the first command and someitmes I have to push his butt down.I have tried using a short lead ( like 2 ft) but I don't think that is really what I should do I want him to walk like that without bieng forced to by an extremely short lead. How do you keep him interested in you and not everything else? Please help

Cindy:

I think that the best thing to do would be to get the crate right by the door-so that the crate opens straight outside. Start there. He will have to go and he will already be outside. I think another thing to do is to do it and picture in your mind that it's going to work. You're dog will sense it if you walk outside and think "oh dear God this is not going to work and I'm going to be frustrated" When he goes outside, reward him. Once he has that down, move the crate back a little (A LITTLE), if he starts to go in the house (between the crate and the door), don't freak out, just calmly pick him up and put him outside...when he goes outside, reward him. The better he gets, the futher you can move the crate. It's going to take patience, confidence and tolerating a crate in a weird place for awhile, but you can do it.

Hi Vicke(post123)
I would start off by walking one dog at a time. Two dogs will feed off each others aggression. To show leadership is the purpose of the walk. Work on them one on one to start off it will be alot easier. I'm not sure about what techniques you use to correct your dog but the simplest way is just the quick backward snaps. Make sure there is slack in the leash before the correction. A mistake people make is they hold constant pressure against the dog. I would be using a choker chain collar and make sure it's positioned right behind the ears and not at the base of the neck. Walk by the loose dogs and look for the first sign of aggression. Hair standing up, ears perk up or what ever and make that correction instantly and keep walking don't stop. If the other dog keeps his distance after he charges thats good I would keep walking by until your dog totally ignores him. But if the other dog charges and gets to close thats only normal for your dog to growl or get into an aggressive mode. Thats a dogs way of warning the other dog to back off. If a friendly dog that means no harm comes running up and barking your dogs gonna warn him and he'll keep his distance and there wont be a problem. These are the dogs you want to find to train your dogs around. Just remember that there are alot of aggressive wandering dogs out there and if approached by one and they don't keep there distance it's not a bad thing if your dog wants to protect you. If your on a walk and are approached by another dog and theres a fight it's totally the other dogs fault. A friendly dog always keeps his distance until the other dog welcomes him. Let me know how it goes.

I have a 10-month old male boxer. He is a very loving, sweet & smart dog. He has not been neutered. He gets walked at least 5-6 times a week. He really pulls me along when we go together and my questions is does anyone know if he's too young to really train in this way? He has learned to do many things but is still so excited about things (he's a puppy). He also has a real problem jumping on company over being excited when they come over. Any comments?

Speaking of retracktable leashes. HATE THEM!!!!!!
My sister, my neice and I started walking our dogs together this past week. My niece decided she liked the retracktable. Have been trying to impress upon her how important the correct walking position (Per Cesar) is.

Won't listen. Well last evening we're walking. She's
behind me with her dog (god love him). He's going all over the place. Steps in front of me and my dog. Not once, not twice, but three times. Now this is before we even get 25 yards away from the house. I stepped on my dog twice and tripped over her once. By this time I had had it. Needless to say I grabed her leash and informed her how irritated I was. I suggested what she could do with that leash and if she couldn't step up to the plate and become a responsible pet owner she could turn around and go back home. Well, we continue dwalking but she didn't talk to me the rest of the walk. Didn't come near us again either. We walked 1 mile. I knew I really made her mad then, because this girl NEVER shuts up. Oh well, she'll get over it.

We'll see what happens with our walk tonight. I'm such a mean Aunt.

Have a good weekend everyone!!!!

I've only seen the show a few times now, and it's very intriguing. What does Cesar think about walking dogs off leash entirely? Is that never OK by him? We always hike with our dogs in the woods, with them running up and down and sideways on the trails. They are trained to walk on leash without pulling when we are by a road or in a park with lots of people etc. Has he ever addressed this topic?

We recently adopted a Boxer. She is marvelous in the house, however more than a bit lazy... However, outside she turns into a wildwoman. She jumps and spins in an out of control matter when she sees the neighbor dog, a Mini Pinch who is very dog aggressive. I try to only go outside with my girl when the other dog is out of sight but often her owners just let her go all day while they are at work. I try all of Caesar's methods and she just does not listen or anything outside. Then, sometimes she will lay down and not get up. She is so stubborn. Has anyone else heard of stubborn behavior in Boxers?
Any help is greatly appreciated.

I rescued a four month old shepherd mix from the humane society and he will not let me take him on a walk. I think he would be much happier and healthier but he is very shy and cries and whines when he even sees the leash. If I do put the leash on him and gently pull he yelps and cries like I'm killing him. Please any suggestions??? I've never encountered this problem with any of the other dogs I've owned. carolg

I have a question more than a comment. I have two dogs a female labrador/dauschund mix and a male doberman/rottweiler mix. My male is only four months old and I cannot seem to get him to actually move on a leash without dragging him. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to get them into the mood to walk on a leash? I feel if I could just get him to begin walking on a leash I could train him to be calmer without one. He is very hyper which I have been told is not unusual for a puppy, but sometimes his excitement is aggravating to my female who does not like the rowdy attention he gives to her.

Thanks Ginny I'll try anything. I'm planning on letting him wear a leash in the house to get use to the feel before we go further. I plan on using the treats which seem to motivate him. I missed the episode with Cesar teaching a dog to walk on leash. Thanks again.

I have a 3 yr old Border Collie that had been left to fend for herself in the high desert region of Central Oregon. She had been on her own for several weeks before she allowed a lady to catch her. She learned to hunt for her food. We've had her for 2 years. She's been through two sessions of obedience training. I walk her and my other two dogs every day for about an hour and a half. I'm working earnestly at being a good pack leader. I would love to be able to walk her off lead, but I can't depend on her to stay with me. She will bolt after almost anything that moves. She will chase rabbits, deer, coyotes and anything else that comes along. On a good day, she is calm/submissive and a delight to have, but I can't trust her. I am concerned for her safety and well-being and it's very frustrating to me to have spent two years working on this problems and have not been able to find the solution. My husband is advocating the use of a shock collar, but I would rather find a different way of handling the problem. Does anyone have a solution to my problem. Since I cannot follow her through the sage brush and needless to say she is faster than me, I have to wait to correct her until she is returns to me. What and when are the proper corrections.

I have two dogs, a 3 1/2 year old Australian shepherd/cattle dog mix (Diabla) and a 4 year old Italian greyhound mix (Muneca.) Both are street dog rescues from Puerto Rico. Both have been to obedience class. Diabla went with my husband and bit a dog. She still graduated, but we were mortified. I took Muneca and we were banished to the back of the class because she was so afraid. Again, she graduated, but the trainer basically told me good luck because my dog's got "issues."

I have recently begun watching the show and realized that our girls definitely run our house. We have baby-ed them since we felt sorry for them because they've both had rough pasts. I also know that there is no consistency. I have always been the disciplinarian and my husband does not help on the follow-through. My husband will walk them for hours each day, but he lets them get away with everything. I cannot walk them both at the same time because I can't control them. I have tried taking them separately but when we get back the one who was left home won't let the other back in the house. The fur goes up and there's a fight. I gave up. The only way I walk them is if my husband is there to take one. Our shifts have changed recently and this is now possible every day.

I have started walking Muneca using Cesar's techniques. She used to be horrible to walk. She'd lunge ahead and then stop on a dime to smell something. I am extremely excited to report that after only two weeks, she's become a pleasure to walk. She walks behind me and now only needs a few corrections here and there. She wears a Sporn halter and though it's not worn up by the ears, she reacts to correction effectively in it. Last week we walked right past someone and their dog and she didn't even bat an eye. My husband, on the other hand, had Diabla and didn't have such a good time. She was on her hind legs, snarling and writhing. He was amazed with Muneca's behavior.

I DVR'd the show this week and we watched it together. I think he's resigned to becoming a pack leader. There's hope yet!

I do have a question: We have numerous large dogs in our neighborhood that have jumped fences and charged us. Calm assertive worked fine when we passed another dog (who was well-behaved) and I know I'm supposed to stay relaxed, but how do I keep slack in the leash when there are dogs trying to eat us? Both turn into all teeth when this happens. Diabla has bitten a German Shepherd in the face. I don't want anyone getting hurt.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Dear Ann,

Hi, I'm curious about what you are talking about with your "old school" comment too. That was a rather vague post that doesn't really explain anything.

wedfffffffAny cat fancier will tell you that their cat is cool. But when the temperature starts to rise, how do you keep your cat cool? How do you prevent heat stroke from occurring, and if it does occur, what do you do about it?
Unlike dogs, cats do not sweat by panting. They instead sweat through their paws. On a hot summer's day, you may notice your cat has taken to groom himself more than usual. This is how they cool down. By licking themselves, and leaving the saliva on their fur, when the saliva finally evaporates off the fur, the cat's temperature goes down.
Cats will seek cool places to lie down in when they get to hot. Common areas are; sinks, bathtubs, litter pans, potted houseplants, shady tile floors or parked in front of the fan or the air conditioner.
If your home reaches 90 degrees, your cat will begin panting. This is your cat's way of exchanging heat inside his body with the cooler air outside. Cats will also pant when they are frightened or scared.
Your cat's temperature should be 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The only accurate way to determine if your cat is running a fever is to take his temperature using a rectal thermometer, or one of the newer ear thermometers.
Recently, we asked the readership of our newsletter KittyBytes...Any cat fancier will tell you that their cat is cool. But when the temperature starts to rise, how do you keep your cat cool? How do you prevent heat stroke from occurring, and if it does occur, what do you do about it?
Unlike dogs, cats do not sweat by panting. They instead sweat through their paws. On a hot summer's day, you may notice your cat has taken to groom himself more than usual. This is how they cool down. By licking themselves, and leaving the saliva on their fur, when the saliva finally evaporates off the fur, the cat's temperature goes down.
Cats will seek cool places to lie down in when they get to hot. Common areas are; sinks, bathtubs, litter pans, potted houseplants, shady tile floors or parked in front of the fan or the air conditioner.
If your home reaches 90 degrees, your cat will begin panting. This is your cat's way of exchanging heat inside his body with the cooler air outside. Cats will also pant when they are frightened or scared.
Your cat's temperature should be 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The only accurate way to determine if your cat is running a fever is to take his temperature using a rectal thermometer, or one of the newer ear thermometers.
Recently, we asked the readership of our newsletter KittyBytes...

Any cat fancier will tell you that their cat is cool. But when the temperature starts to rise, how do you keep your cat cool? How do you prevent heat stroke from occurring, and if it does occur, what do you do about it?
Unlike dogs, cats do not sweat by panting. They instead sweat through their paws. On a hot summer's day, you may notice your cat has taken to groom himself more than usual. This is how they cool down. By licking themselves, and leaving the saliva on their fur, when the saliva finally evaporates off the fur, the cat's temperature goes down.
Cats will seek cool places to lie down in when they get to hot. Common areas are; sinks, bathtubs, litter pans, potted houseplants, shady tile floors or parked in front of the fan or the air conditioner.
If your home reaches 90 degrees, your cat will begin panting. This is your cat's way of exchanging heat inside his body with the cooler air outside. Cats will also pant when they are frightened or scared.
Your cat's temperature should be 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The only accurate way to determine if your cat is running a fever is to take his temperature using a rectal thermometer, or one of the newer ear thermometers.
Recently, we asked the readership of our newsletter KittyBytes...
Any cat fancier will tell you that their cat is cool. But when the temperature starts to rise, how do you keep your cat cool? How do you prevent heat stroke from occurring, and if it does occur, what do you do about it?
Unlike dogs, cats do not sweat by panting. They instead sweat through their paws. On a hot summer's day, you may notice your cat has taken to groom himself more than usual. This is how they cool down. By licking themselves, and leaving the saliva on their fur, when the saliva finally evaporates off the fur, the cat's temperature goes down.
Cats will seek cool places to lie down in when they get to hot. Common areas are; sinks, bathtubs, litter pans, potted houseplants, shady tile floors or parked in front of the fan or the air conditioner.
If your home reaches 90 degrees, your cat will begin panting. This is your cat's way of exchanging heat inside his body with the cooler air outside. Cats will also pant when they are frightened or scared.
Your cat's temperature should be 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The only accurate way to determine if your cat is running a fever is to take his temperature using a rectal thermometer, or one of the newer ear thermometers.
Recently, we asked the readership of our newsletter KittyBytes...
Any cat fancier will tell you that their cat is cool. But when the temperature starts to rise, how do you keep your cat cool? How do you prevent heat stroke from occurring, and if it does occur, what do you do about it?
Unlike dogs, cats do not sweat by panting. They instead sweat through their paws. On a hot summer's day, you may notice your cat has taken to groom himself more than usual. This is how they cool down. By licking themselves, and leaving the saliva on their fur, when the saliva finally evaporates off the fur, the cat's temperature goes down.
Cats will seek cool places to lie down in when they get to hot. Common areas are; sinks, bathtubs, litter pans, potted houseplants, shady tile floors or parked in front of the fan or the air conditioner.
If your home reaches 90 degrees, your cat will begin panting. This is your cat's way of exchanging heat inside his body with the cooler air outside. Cats will also pant when they are frightened or scared.
Your cat's temperature should be 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The only accurate way to determine if your cat is running a fever is to take his temperature using a rectal thermometer, or one of the newer ear thermometers.
Recently, we asked the readership of our newsletter KittyBytes...
Any cat fancier will tell you that their cat is cool. But when the temperature starts to rise, how do you keep your cat cool? How do you prevent heat stroke from occurring, and if it does occur, what do you do about it?
Unlike dogs, cats do not sweat by panting. They instead sweat through their paws. On a hot summer's day, you may notice your cat has taken to groom himself more than usual. This is how they cool down. By licking themselves, and leaving the saliva on their fur, when the saliva finally evaporates off the fur, the cat's temperature goes down.
Cats will seek cool places to lie down in when they get to hot. Common areas are; sinks, bathtubs, litter pans, potted houseplants, shady tile floors or parked in front of the fan or the air conditioner.
If your home reaches 90 degrees, your cat will begin panting. This is your cat's way of exchanging heat inside his body with the cooler air outside. Cats will also pant when they are frightened or scared.
Your cat's temperature should be 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The only accurate way to determine if your cat is running a fever is to take his temperature using a rectal thermometer, or one of the newer ear thermometers.
Recently, we asked the readership of our newsletter KittyBytes...
Any cat fancier will tell you that their cat is cool. But when the temperature starts to rise, how do you keep your cat cool? How do you prevent heat stroke from occurring, and if it does occur, what do you do about it?
Unlike dogs, cats do not sweat by panting. They instead sweat through their paws. On a hot summer's day, you may notice your cat has taken to groom himself more than usual. This is how they cool down. By licking themselves, and leaving the saliva on their fur, when the saliva finally evaporates off the fur, the cat's temperature goes down.
Cats will seek cool places to lie down in when they get to hot. Common areas are; sinks, bathtubs, litter pans, potted houseplants, shady tile floors or parked in front of the fan or the air conditioner.
If your home reaches 90 degrees, your cat will begin panting. This is your cat's way of exchanging heat inside his body with the cooler air outside. Cats will also pant when they are frightened or scared.
Your cat's temperature should be 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The only accurate way to determine if your cat is running a fever is to take his temperature using a rectal thermometer, or one of the newer ear thermometers.
Recently, we asked the readership of our newsletter KittyBytes...

Any cat fancier will tell you that their cat is cool. But when the temperature starts to rise, how do you keep your cat cool? How do you prevent heat stroke from occurring, and if it does occur, what do you do about it?
Unlike dogs, cats do not sweat by panting. They instead sweat through their paws. On a hot summer's day, you may notice your cat has taken to groom himself more than usual. This is how they cool down. By licking themselves, and leaving the saliva on their fur, when the saliva finally evaporates off the fur, the cat's temperature goes down.
Cats will seek cool places to lie down in when they get to hot. Common areas are; sinks, bathtubs, litter pans, potted houseplants, shady tile floors or parked in front of the fan or the air conditioner.
If your home reaches 90 degrees, your cat will begin panting. This is your cat's way of exchanging heat inside his body with the cooler air outside. Cats will also pant when they are frightened or scared.
Your cat's temperature should be 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The only accurate way to determine if your cat is running a fever is to take his temperature using a rectal thermometer, or one of the newer ear thermometers.
Recently, we asked the readership of our newsletter KittyBytes...

I got a problem with my two German Shepherds. Everytime I tried to walk them and they didn't want to go for a walk. All they do are jumping around, pull back on the leash and then lay down on their tummies. Anybody out there have a suggesttion? My email address is thunder_tx@hotmail.com. Thanks.

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