When is the right time to show your dog affection?

When the dog is submissive and acting calm. Holding his head low. Ears relaxed and slightly back. Dog might curl into a circle. Basically they are slinking themselves smaller telling you they do not wish to be boss. You can give your dog all the love and affection you wish at this time.

Not when he is excited, scared, nervous, anxious, nor when he is showing signs of dominance very perky and proud looking and asking you for attention. A dog who is asking to be pet is demanding that you do something for him. A demand from a dog is an alpha behavior. Carrying himself proud with a stance that makes them look bigger. Ears perked. When dogs carry themselves like this they look beautiful, but in the dog world it is a dog trying to puff themselves out for the role of the leader. Dogs should not be pet or sweet talked at this time.

When a dog is showing signs of dominance the dog should receive no affection until you are able to make them realize they are not boss and they accept it and begin to act submissive. The more submissive and stable minded the dog gets the more love you can give him. Dogs should not get any affection until the dominance is under control. Your affection will reinforce whatever mind frame (in human words "Mood") the dog is in.

Does my dog need drugs for OCD?

I was watching the news and it said if a dog chases its tail, runs in circles, bites at himself and/or in the air, and/or whining etc that it probably has OCD just like humans and needs medication such as Prozac or Zoloft. My dog tends to spaz out like this. Do you think I need to put him on medication?

No, absolutely not. Putting a dog who has OCD symptoms on medication is just covering up the problem rather than addressing the real issue. We need to look at the WHY. For the record, it is NOT genetic and certain dog breeds are NOT predisposed to it, however certain high energy dogs are more likely to be lacking what they need as a canine. We humans take these animals and live with them. A lot of us tend to treat them like humans, ignoring the fact that they are animals. We do not give them what they instinctually need and it literally drives them nuts. Dogs need clear leadership and direction. Their minds need to be challenged. They need daily consistent exercise where the dog is FOLLOWING the human, not the other way around, to satisfy their migration instinct. If you walk your dog every day but fail to make your dog heel, you are not getting the most out of your walk. To keep a dog inside our nice fenced yards day after day is like putting a human in a padded cell and feeding them, but not giving them any type of challenge, never letting them see the light of day. After a while, you guessed it, the human would begin to go coo coo. Before you go putting your dog on drugs try giving your dog what he is crying out for. Exercise, leadership and direction. Take your dog for a long daily walk where he is to walk beside or behind you. Never in front as the pack leader goes first. Set rules within your home and firmly stick to them. Be your dogs strong leader so he can feel secure within himself. Dogs look for direction and authority. They crave it. They need to migrate DAILY. It's in their blood. In addition if your dog is a working type challenge them with a game where they will use what they were bred for.

If your dog displays any behavior that could be considered an OCD symptom you are failing your dog as an owner. Treat your dog like a dog giving him what HE needs as the animal and you will start to see these OCD symptoms disappear.

Why do some dogs snap at people while they are eating?

A dog who snaps is a dog who is communicating to you that he is your leader and he simply wishes that you leave him alone while he eats (leader eats first... it's canine instinct). This is why it is so important to be 100% pack leader at all times consistently. When someone is not or is wishy, washy about it the dog becomes either unsure and test you, or they simply are convinced and become alpha. A dog communicates by growling, then snapping and biting. It happens because of the humans. It is the responsibility of the humans to understand this and be alpha 100% of the time or you will be tested by your dog. Dogs who are not 100% secure with their place are stressed dogs. Since we cannot allow a dog to be pack leader 100% of the time allowing the dog to make all the decisions, the dog becomes stressed and anxiety ridden. Sure your dog may look happy because he is always excited, however excitement in a canine animal is NOT happy. It is just that, excited. Most dogs in America are not stable, balanced dogs because most people do not understand this. Dogs also have an instinct to migrate and how many people do you know who own dogs? Now how many dogs do you see going for walks? How many dogs that you DO see walking are walking in front of the humans? Pack leader goes first. Whatever happened to a dog heeling?? So dogs are pack leader during their walks (in front), with what little walks they get in the first place and then they get home and their owners expect them to behave. To not guard their food. They expect them to listen to them, expect them to not bolt out the door, not bark obsessively, and to not chew things up, wondering why they are so hyper, etc... Wishy, washy about who is leader. A dog who does not get a daily walk develops mental stress because he has this instinct to migrate. Packs of dogs get up in the morning and walk, they hunt to find food. Nope, sorry a big yard and or big house does not cut it. It's just like a big cage to them. Most dogs are unstable, hence the reason we have so many dogs getting killed in the pounds. It's the humans fault and oh so very sad. We take these animals and we have them live with us, yet we only take what we need as humans and do not give the dog what HE needs as the canine animal. Then we kill the dog for being unstable and get a new puppy. Nice cycle huh... We can blame the pet over population problem on the breeders, however have you ever heard of supply and demand? If everyone were to keep their dog for life the demand for new pups would go down. Breeder does not sell pups, breeder does not breed as many...

My Chihuahua puppy growls at us. Did we pick the wrong breed? We have a female and she is thirteen weeks old. When I went to pick her up last night to put her in her crate for bedtime, she growled at me and turned her head like she wanted to bite. I have never had a dog this small before and have never encountered one with such a temper. She will growl if you go near her things too. We love this little one and really want to make this work, but now I'm starting to question if we got the right breed?! Can you help? Thank you!

I am not able to tell you if you chose the right breed because I never met you, but I can tell you why the dog is growling. It is very common for small dogs to be treated in a babyish manner with no leadership because they are so small. In the dog world there must be a leader. It's instinct for the dog to have a being that has a strong enough mind to keep their pack safe and secure. The strongest minded being will run the home. The leader is either going to be the humans or it's going to be the dog.

When your little dog growls at you she is communicating to you what SHE wants. She is trying to be your leader. She is telling YOU it is not time for her to be in her crate and she is telling you not to touch HER toys. Lower members of the pack do not own objects. All objects belong to the leader. One way dogs tell other beings that they own things is by growling and if that does not work they eventually bite.

Every time she growls at you and you do not correct her or you back away she gets mentally stronger. The more you allow this the stronger she will become and eventually she will be biting. Not because she is a bad dog, but because she is being YOUR pack leader. You need to turn this around now or it will get worse and that is not fare to the dog who is only reacting on instinct.

I recommend you tune into the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. If you do not get that channel there are DVD's for sale on Amazon.com. On the show Cesar shows over and over again how to correct dogs who are acting like your little Chihuahua.

My dog is very submissive most of the time but once in a while shows signs of dominance. Why is this?

Believe it or not most dogs don't want to be alpha. There are some that were born to be leaders but most will hand the position back to the owners in a heartbeat if they feel secure with the owners being strong minded enough to handle it. Dogs can flop back and forth between taking the role over and giving it back, especially those who do not really want it. Those dogs who do not have to flip flop because they are confident their humans can handle the roll are much, much happier.

Self feeders, are they ok?

I have a 6 year old Havanese that we just keep his food dish out and fill it up when it gets low, which is once ever two three days. We are now getting a Golden Retriever puppy. Now do to the different breeds and sizes they should be eating different type of food. Also with the Golden Retriever they are supposed to be fed only two or three times a day. How can we regulate the food with the two different dogs?

It is not recommended to leave food down for a dog for psychological reasons. Instinct tells a dog the pack leader decides when it is time to eat. Leaving the food down all of the time is allowing the dog to decide. If humans allow dogs to believe they are pack leader it causes various behavioral issues and sometimes it simply confuses the dog. A confused dog is not a happy dog. When a dog is not 100% clear about the order of the pack they do not feel secure. Therefore if you display leadership with something's and not with others the dog is never 100% sure.

Besides that however, I personally do not know another way to feed two different dogs two different types of food unless you make a scheduled feeding time. Big dog eats in this corner, little dog eats in that corner. Your Havanese may decide not to eat the first couple of meals because he is not used to a schedule, however when a dog gets hungry enough, he will eat.

A high strung dog, is it inherited?

Our 10 month old Cockapoo is still extremely excitable. She also tries to nibble you at every opportunity, and needs to have company virtually all the time. She whines when she is being ignored. Are these inherited genes, as poodles are very excitable? I heard Cocker Spaniels were also high-strung.

Being high-strung is never a breed "trait". It is by no means inherited. What a dog can inherit is a higher energy level, but any dog who does not receive the proper amount of exercise can become anxious and high-strung. When a dog is high-strung and extremely excitable it is a sure sign of a lack of mental and/or physical exercise. The whining is anxiety, from the lack of exercise and/or leadership. The more daily exercise you give your dog, where it not only makes him tired, but challenges his mind at the same time, the calmer your dog will be. Please keep in mind, exercise such as tossing a ball or a romp at the dog park is excited exercise and will keep your dog at a higher level of excitement, therefore, less calm. A pack walk is the perfect type of exercise to calm a dog. It not only physically makes them tired, but it mentally challenges them because they need to follow you and that takes concentration. It also reinforces the fact that you are pack leader, leading to respect and a better behaved dog.

Does my dog love me, or is he owning me?

I have a question about my aunt's 2 year old Miniature Pinscher. She lives with my aunt. We bought the dog when she was just a pup, and I have to say she has grown exceptionally fond of me. I believe the reason is that when we brought the dog in, she was terribly scared and nervous, and I was the one who mainly kept her on my lap, patting her and making her feel comfortable. I remember I could feel her shaking like crazy, but after a while she stopped and became very calm. From that moment on, she was totally in love with me: even if she only sees me about once every 1 or 2 weeks, she's always overjoyed when I get to my aunt's house. Even though she's a lively and adorable pet, she doesn't treat anyone else in the family with the impressive affection she has developed for me. The dog is generally well-behaved, but it's obvious that she doesn't see my aunt as a "leader" and doesn't really follow anything she says. She has never really been trained. We don't really have a big problem with that, the dog has a big house and yard, and it's ok if she does what she pleases, the only real issue is that she usually barks a lot and is very aggressive to strangers. Is it possible that the dog actually sees me as her "alpha", even if I see the dog once or twice a week? Even if she is a tad bit stubborn (due to lack of training), she gives a big importance to my reactions: if I scold her for something, she seems to get very sad and depressed, she stop being all lively and playful and goes into another room on her own, laying on the floor until I go back and "make peace". I absolutely don't abuse the dog in any way, and scolding her means only a big voice and a pat on her back. On the other hand when I play with her she's just incredibly happy, and truly doesn't look for that kind of love from anyone else in the family. So I would try to understand if she sees me as some kind of alpha or if I'm just her "play mate". I'd like to try and give her some proper training, but not being with her often makes it a bit difficult.

It actually sounds like the dog sees himself as alpha over both of you, especially you. If the dog is all over you and overjoyed when you walk in, that is not showing you respect, it is claiming you. Remember, dogs give pack leaders space and space is respect. This would make perfect sense, as when you met the dog he was in a weak state of mind, "terribly scared and nervous". You at that time gave the dog affection and the dog saw you as weaker than himself and he became your leader at that moment. When a dog is upset he needs a stronger minded being to bring him out of it, and if you share affection to a dog at that time the dog will read your energy as a weakness. Instead of being his leader, you empowered him to take over. This is where the issues all began, from day one, and this is why he gets aggressive towards strangers. He is empowered over humans. This aggression will lead to biting if you do not let the dog know you and all other humans are boss over him. You are actually sending the dog mixed signals. When you scold the dog and the dog walks away with his head down that is the dog respecting you as alpha. To a dog space, lowering his head and putting his ears slightly back as he slinks his head down giving you space (walking away) is submission and respect. However when you go back to the dog and "Make Peace" as you call it, you are, in the dogs eyes, submitting to HIM. That is very confusing to a dog. Only humans make peace as you describe. Dogs give space and respect. When a dog approaches with his ears perked standing very proud that is alpha. When a dog approaches a human slinked down making himself smaller with his head lowered that is submitting. From what you describe the dog would like you to be alpha because he gives in to you so easily. The dog does not want to be alpha. But if the dog senses weak humans around him he thinks he NEEDS to be alpha in order to "save his pack". To answer your question, yes, you can be alpha even if you only see him once in a while. I would be consistent however and try to get your aunt to be a pack leader as well as you communicating to the dog who is boss. It is very stressful for a dog to think he NEEDS to take care of all of the humans around him, or to be unsure where his place is. No way for a dog to live.

Is having a dog heel on the walk really such a big deal?

I have my dog trained to walk loose leash and he's very, very good about following me and not dragging me along. I prefer this heavily because he gets tangled in our legs, so he walks ahead of us out of necessity. Is this really such a big deal for his sense of superiority?

Yes it is. It's a huge deal. In the dog world the leader leads the way. I realize it is inconvenient for the humans however if we are going to live with dogs and expect them to behave as we wish then we need to understand how to communicate with them. Dogs developed behavior issues because we humans send all the wrong signals. A dog needs to be 100% sure the humans are able to take over the role as leader and keep their pack safe. By allowing the dog in front you are telling him that you wish him to be that leader. Read more about how to properly walk a dog so he does not get tangled up in your legs during the walk yet is still heeling on the lead.

How do I calm my dog when it's time to put on the leash? When my dog sees a leash in my hand she starts jumping around and will not let me put on the leash properly. How do I calm her? She is too excited to listen to 'Sit Down'.

You have to stand there and wait until she gets tired of jumping. Only reward her with the leash when she calms down. The first time you do this it may take a long time. Be prepared to wait patiently, calmly and quietly with the leash in your hand. Dogs only have so much energy and she will eventually stop jumping just because she is tired. When she is calmly waiting reward her with putting on the leash. If she should become hyper again when you start putting on the leash wait longer. If she is calm when you snap the leash on and then becomes hyper right after stand there and wait once again before proceeding. Do not reward her with the beginning of a walk while she is hyper. You must wait at each step until she learns that you only move forward when she is calm. After a while your dog will begin to realize that the leash only goes on when she is calm, the walk only happens when she is calm. The time you have to wait for her will become shorter and shorter and eventually she will be calm for you right from the beginning. In order to accomplish this you need to spend the time and be consistent. If you give in and put the leash on her when she is jumping and hyper she will never learn. If you put a leash on a hyper dog it is very hard to get them to walk correctly on an leash because their mind is set in hyper mode.

When do I start to walk my puppy? Right now she only sits when I try to walk her... We made it around the block one day but that was it! Help?

Now is the time to teach her to follow you. She might not be the easiest dog to walk because she is so small but bring treats and/or a favorite toy and make it a fun thing. You will be teaching her to follow and now is the best time to start. After you get the actual walking down and the pup will walk while on a lead, which you can do by walking backwards with food in your hand as she tries to eat it, slowly begin practicing the heeling on a lead. Teach her to not pass you (pack leader goes first). She should be following you. That will be the foundation of your relationship. Keep it positive and happy. Food always helps. For those slightly older energetic pups who insist on pulling from side to side and smelling everything, keep working at it, do not give up. The time you put into these younger years will be well rewarded when the dog is older and larger. Be aware of her energy level and what she can handle at this time. Meaning don't OVER walk her for miles and miles. Use your best judgment on the amount she can handle, but do walk her daily.

Is it okay to let my dog walk in front of me when he is peeing and pooping to find a place to go while on a lead?

Yes, if your goal at the moment is to allow him to go to the bathroom then you may give him lots of room and allow him to go where he wishes to do his thing. It's only during your actual 'walk' that the dog should heel. The person holding the lead should also go first through any entrance and exit ways, be it a gate or any doorway to your home or other building even if their is not an actual door to the threshold.

How do I stop my dog from barking at things while on the walk?

As soon as you see your dog perk up as if he is going to bark the correction needs to be made. You need to try and catch him a second before he goes into a heightened state. It is a timing thing. You need to watch for signs of interest in whatever your dog is going to bark at and catch him right before he starts. Once a dog starts barking it is harder to make him stop because he is at a high level of excitement. The way you are feeling at the time has a lot to do with your success. If you are upset or anxious in any way your dog will feed from that emotion and it will intensify the dog's reaction to what he is about to bark at. You want to remain calm but very enthusiastic/serious. The correction can be a tug on the lead, a touch to the neck, a backwards bop with the side of your foot to the butt of the dog, a verbal correction such as, "No", "Hey", "Aaatttt", whatever works for that particular dog. You may also walk in front of your dog blocking his view, lean forward and say, "No" and touch him in the neck if he continues to want to bark. Your intensity needs to match his without going too much over or you could intensify the dogs reaction, but on the other hand if your intensity is less than his you will not be effective and the dog will not listen. Each and every time you hear your dog growl or bark you need to correct it. The intensity of the correction vary's from dog to dog, situation to situation. For example a little Chihuahua may only need a two finger touch to the neck, where as a big Rottweiler may need a backwards boot to the butt with the side of your foot, where other dogs may only need a verbal command, others may need a combination. Keep your dog moving forward, keep walking. Learn more... The Proper Way to Walk a Dog.

Can I remain alpha if I walk my dog running free?

I wanted to thank you for your site. I have a beautiful red nosed Pit Bull. He's my baby. He's almost two years old, and he's been such a good boy. Lately he started growling at me and my girlfriend and I was getting worried I would have to get rid of him. After reading threw your site it only took a few hours to get my alpha spot back. Even took him for a walk tonight and it was the 1st time that he's walked beside me. I thank you so much for the information.

I have one question. Over the summer I take him out every weekend to a spot where we have lots of open land. I keep him on a leash until we get out away from the road. Then I let him off his leash to run threw the fields and the woods. He never goes too far from us and he is always checking to see if we are coming. If we change direction we just call him and he goes the way were going. He even had a deer jump up not to far from him, it took a couple of calls when he saw the deer but he stopped and came back. Is this ok to let him run and play out in the woods and fields?

You are very welcome! I am very happy to hear you are now alpha. Your dog will love and respect you for it. Yes, that is ok to allow him to run free like that, so long as you are making the calls, not him. Make sure he is calm, and in a submissive mind frame when you leash him up and when you take off the leash. If he is really excited when you are trying to take the lead off wait until he calms down. That is pretty important. You decide when he gets let off and you decide when he is to come back, and you decide what direction to go in. Change up on him often. So if he is ahead and he turns right, you turn left. If he will come without you even calling him and run back in your direction that is even better. Show's he is following you. So long as he comes back when called and you are making all the decisions in the run, and you still take him for leashed pack walks to reinforce who is alpha in your pack, it is all good. I feel dogs need this type of, "off lead run your heart out" time.

When hunters go out hunting they must be the pack leader, but they also in that situation while they are looking for the prey allow the dog to use their noses to find it, which means the dogs are walking where their nose leads, sometimes in front. It is a situation where the dog is working for the human and both dog and human know it, and they know the job at hand. When a lead is snapped onto a dog it is like you are connected. The dog at that point needs to heel. If you get to a gate that must be opened when walking off lead you need to pass through before the dog. The dog has an understanding that you are allowing him to go in front so they can run and use their noses. This only applies if you are able to call him back and he listens, and when the leash is snapped on he goes into heel mode, because that means he understands your agreement.

I take my dogs for off leash walks and she does great. She was trained to heel on a lead and did really well in classes but since we only do off lead walks she pulls like crazy at first when I do have to leash her up. Are our "free" walks doing harm, should I have her on a leash?

It's good to allow a dog to run free. However if that is all you do then the dog is not learning or practicing patients on a lead. I would not stop the free roam walks, they are great, but for those times when you do need to leash your dog it is important that you teach good manners. I would start leashing the dog up at least a few times a week for practice lead walking, or even put the dog on a lead for only part of your walk in the woods just for practice. The dog needs to be trained that when you are free, you are free, but as soon as that lead snaps on your are to follow me heeling and not pull. I take my Bruno out to the woods and he runs and chases rabbits etc... but as soon as I snap on the lead his entire demeanor changes and he knows it's time to follow.

You may want to bring the lead with you on your free walks. Put the lead on for a short time in the beginning and when the dog heels nicely for a bit make her sit and be calm, then take it off and allow her to go. Maybe even a few times during until she gets the idea. I use my foot to backwards side boot my dog in the butt below the tail if he starts to pull, but different things work for different dogs and owners.

Inside the house practice making the dog sit calmly while you snap on the lead. At the gateway to the door practice going out the doorway first with the dog following. If you are on your way to an area where you can do a free roam walk do not unsnap the dog's lead until she is heeling and walking nicely. Never unsnap her while she is pulling. You may have to take her out for some town walking for the socialization just so during those times she must be on a lead the dog is used to that type of environment. You need to convince her and condition her that when the lead is snapped on it means it's time to heel. It's going to take some time and a lot of work. But you can't give up or give in or the dog will learn to just keep pressing you in order to get her way.

What does it mean when a dog licks?

There are a few reasons why a dog licks.

A dog's saliva contains a healing agent and dogs often lick another's wounds in an attempt to heel them.

Dogs will also lick as a way to show submission. A submissive dog will hold himself very low, slinking himself down to try and make himself appear smaller. He will approach a human with his head lowered and his hears slightly back as if to say, you're my boss.

Some dogs will lick another in a dominant manner. For example mother dogs lick and groom their puppies and for the pups it is the mother displaying leadership. Mom says stay here and be groomed because she is alpha over them and she says so. Submissive licking and dominance licking have different body languages. A dominant dog will carry himself high and proud. He approaches things with an air of confidence. He may also be very persistent as to what he wants.

Sometimes dog's lick out of obsession. Dog's who lick others in an obsessive or dominant manner need to be corrected and the dog must be told not to lick.

Why does my dog hate it when I touch his food?

Your dog is not necessarily "hating it" when you touch his food. Nor is he being "mean". He is communicating with you. What he is saying is, "This is MY food. Leave me alone while I eat it." Is this a problem? You bet it is. It's a big problem. It means your dog is alpha over you. There are different levels of dominance and even if your dog has never bitten, always keep in mind that growling or the bearing of a dogs teeth eventually does lead to biting. It is time you reassess your human to dog communication skills and take the alpha position back away from your dog before it escalates into a larger problem.

What should an owner do if they are emotionally upset and their dog comes over and lays on top of them?

If you are having a bad day and are emotionally upset and your dog comes over and lays on top of you, be it your feet or lap what does it mean? To the human it is very comforting. We feel that our dogs care and are trying to make us feel better. That's the human side to the equation.

What does it mean to the dog? Dogs do feel human emotion and since they are pack oriented animals that need to know who the strongest being is so that being can run the pack, they see the weak as lower. It's instinct and there is nothing we can do to change that. A dog will pick up on a human's weakness and willl claim the person as their subordinate by laying on top of them, be it their feet or their lap. Sometimes a dog will lick the person. In the dog world the leader is on top. The leader will often cover up the lower member by standing over them.

It is not realistic to say a human who owns a dog can never get upset. But it is a fact that when they do the dog will feel the human as being weak. Different dogs will have different reactions. Some may become worried, stressed, anxious, and/or upset because his leader is now weak and/or become empowered and try and "Save the Pack" by taking over. If you are emotionally upset and a dog comes over and lays on top of you, send the dog away back to his dog bed (or other area). Do not allow the dog to get on top of you. Try and take deep breaths and do your best to not be upset anymore. But to say you can never get upset is not going to happen, so you just deal with it when it happens and not allow the dog to be "In your face" or standing over you during that time.

Is it ever ok for a dog to lay on a human?

It is not necessarily bad for a dog to be on top of a human if the HUMAN initiated it. For example, the human called the dog onto their lap. If it is the dog making the calls then it is the dog deciding and it can be the dog being dominant. A dog who decides is a dog who is being the leader. Being on top is a dominant position in a dog's mind, but making the decisions is also a dominant position in a dog's mind. Dogs see human upsetness as a weakness. Taking all of those facts you need to know your dog and what frame of mind he is in, what frame of mind you are in and remain the leader at all times.

I have a 3 year old American Straffordshire Terrier and she is above and beyond the most loyal and loving dog I have ever owned. I take her everywhere I go and she is great with my 3 children. My problem is that I have gone to local shelters to find her a companion from the same breed but she gets jealous and wants to fight the other dog. Any suggestions?

I suggest you tune into the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan on the National Geographic Channel (if you have not done so already). He shows over and over again how to get two dogs to get along. Deals with a lot of powerful breeds. What you do not want to do is just toss the dogs together face to face on the first meeting in a shelter enviorment where the dog you are adopting is most likely lacking in exercise and human discipline. Before you even consider a second dog you need to first master the walk with your first dog.

On the day of adoption take your first dog for a really long walk or jog so her energy is drained before she meets this second dog.

As for the second dog, that dog needs to be taken for a walk as well to drain her energy. Then you would have a second person with you at the time the dogs meet and pack walk the dogs at the same time. Do not just stick them face to face. Just walk and walk for a long time. Both dogs need to be heeling because if one dog is allowed to be in front that dog will instinctually feel he is the leader of the bunch and will try and dominate the pack. Correct any negative reactions the dogs may have towards one another. While walking you can allow the dogs to smell one another's rear ends if the dogs are acting civil. By the end of your walk the dogs will regard themselves as one pack and if you the humans were successful in convincing the dogs the humans are the leaders, the dogs will not feel the need to dominate or be leader. You will need to find a shelter that is willing to work with you on that method. Unfortunately too many shelters do not understand this concept and a lot of dogs are put down because of it.

I highly recommend you watch a good number of the Dog Whisperer shows before proceeding so you fully understand the basis behind this method.

I have a 4 month old puppy whos ears stand up. Whenever she comes around me she puts her ears down but her tail is wagging. She likes me very much and gives me kisses. Can you tell me why her ears go down around me?

I have not seen your dog around you, but going by what you say without observing I can tell you that it is not necessarily a bad thing. A dog who is submissive of another being will slink themselves smaller and put their ears back. A lot of people misread dogs when they see them puffed out, proud with their ears erect thinking it means the dog is happy, when in reality it is the way a dog who believes he is alpha reacts. If your puppy puts his ears back and lowers his head that is a sign of respect. The fact that his tail is wagging and not tucked up under leads me to believe this is the case. Your pup respects you and it is a good thing. Keep being the pack leader that you are. Lowering the head, ears back and curling into a circle are signs of submission. A dog wants to know who is boss so they can be secure. The pup is acting towards you the way he would act towards his canine mother. Make sure you stick with showing him the rules so he can keep looking at you as his leader. It makes for a happy dog.

Are there any breeds that can live in an apartment, yet make good jogging companions?

"Almost any dog can live in an apartment, IF... and this is a Big IF... they get enough exercise and the right kind of exercise. If you plan on jogging your dog, and as long as you can make the dog heel on the jog so the dog is not worrying about being your leader but rather relaxing as he is following you, you have a very wide range of dogs to choose from. Most dogs in the shelters are there because their owners.... ONE did not provide proper leadership and TWO did not exercise them properly. A big back yard is not going to cut it. So those people who live in an apartment who actually walk their dogs (assuming they make them heel on the lead) are often better off then those who are simply only let out into the fenced back yard for exercise. Dog park exercise is excited exercise and it is not recommended as the only source of exercise a dog receives. It keeps the dog in an excited state of mind. "

"There are SO MANY great jogging companions in shelters. If you plan to jog every day then you would even qualify for a higher energy dog even though you are in an apartment. But if you plan on only jogging 2 or 3 times a week and plan to only walk the dog the remaining days, I would go with a medium energy dog."

"The thing to remember is, it is not necessarily the breed you are looking for but the energy level of that particular dog. There are pups born within every litter who are higher energy then other pups within the same litter. Dogs within the same breed who are higher energy then others. That is why some folks will for example get a Lab as a pet and think it is wonderful and when that dog passes away they get another Lab and find the next one to be a nightmare. Their first Lab was low energy and low dominancy and the second one is high and high. Sure a Pointer is going to always be higher then a Clumber Spaniel, but they will still vary from dog to dog within the same breed."

Breeds which are considered to be good jogging companions. (Note: There are many more then what are on this list)

Can a dog be left alone in an apartment for 8 hours while we are at work without causing damage and barking too much?

If you are 100% the pack leader so your dog is secure when you leave him and you take him for long walks that tire him out before you leave and another walk when you get back, your chances are good that your dog will be fine. In nature dogs get up in the morning and walk to find food. So you if you simulate that by pack walking your dog for a long time before you leave to tire him out and then feed him he will go into rest mode and should be ok until you return. It is important that you pack walk him and not allow him to walk you. If you concentrate on exercise and leadership matching the needs of the dog, the dog should be fine. The higher energy the dog the longer walk or even jog/run/bike ride the dog will need to go on. Placeing a back pack on a higher energy dog helps to tire him out and give him a sense of a job that must be done. A tired dog is a good dog. A dog with pent up energy and who does not know his place in his pack generally are the dogs that act out. It is important that the dog heels on the lead so he sees you as his leader.

If your dog is restless when you leave and causes a commotion it means he has energy to burn and or he is not secure with you being away from him. Here is more info about the concept. See Separation Anxiety in Dogs for more info.

Should I not get a dog if I cannot control my emotions, or is it okay for the dog to comfort me if 'I' call him to me?

It is ok for you to get a dog if you are getting the dog so 'YOU' can care for 'THE DOG', and while you are caring for 'THE DOG', it will comfort you naturally as taking care of something else gives one a sense of accomplishment and may make you stronger. However it may not be ok if you get a dog for the sole purpose of 'THE DOG' being there to comfort 'YOU' when you have anxiety. The dog will instinctually see you as weak and will "Claim" you as his own. When dogs are allowed to claim humans it is dominancy and negative issues almost always arise. Read The Human Dog to find out more.

How do I earn trust with my newly rescued, skittish Min Pin?

I adopted a 2 1/2 yr old female min pin, a week ago. I am alone with her. She is still skitish. I will call her to come to me So I can take her out to go potty, and she hides under my throw pillows, or under the covers and if I approach her she runs away from me. Continuously trying to throw herself out of my arms, or tries getting tangled up in her leash. I am afraid I am going to hurt her. To me she acts as if her previous owners just continued to beat on her. What Can I do to get her to trust me and cooperate. I am even afraid to scold her when she goes to the bathroom in my house on the carpet for the way she acts so scared. Any suggestions on what I can do to enjoy her more. She does follow me all over the house and will lay next to me on my bed or couch. I know she loves me but I just can't win my grounds when it comes to redirecting her.

You being afraid to hurt her and feeling sorry for her past life is most likely freaking her out. Please read The Human Dog to understand why. For now I recommend you stop trying to give her comfort and affection and instead give her gentle, calm, but firm leadership. Start taking her for pack walks so she can become comfortable with her pack order and release her mental energy as well as physical. Do not look at her like a fragile little dog. Be strong for her and allow her to pull from your strength as her leader. Recognize any signs of dominance and put a stop to it if need be (without yelling, no hitting), a firm "no", sometimes with a touch to the neck if you need to... will do.

The poor dog sounds very insecure and the only way to make her secure is for her to see you as a strong, calm but confident leader. One she can count on. Dogs do not need affection. They enjoy it, but it's not instinctual. What they do need is to be secure and know who to follow and who is boss. If you can convince her that you are that firm, trustworthy, confident leader that she can follow she will come out of her shell. At that point you can give her all the affection you wish and she will most likely enjoy it.

What breed of dog is known not to bark (or at least not much) when left alone?

It has more to do with the owners then it does the breed of dog. If you fulfill the dog's instincts the dog, no matter the breed, will be less likely to bark. I know there are some breeds that may have a tendency to bark more then others, but it really has more to do with the human behind the dog. A restless dog is more likely to bark more. A dog who is well exercised, tired and secure is going to bark less.

How should I approach a dog I do not know? For example: you go for a visit and meet a dog that seems to be alfa in the house?

It is best not to approach the dog at all, but rather ignore them and allow them to approach you. Don't touch them, don't bend down with your hand extended, don't talk to them, and don't make eye contact. If the dog walks over and smells you it does not mean the dog wishes to be pet. Dogs get a lot of information about someone by smelling them and because a dog is smelling you does not mean they want you in their space touching them. Remain confident and strong minded. If you are nervous, anxious or scared etc... the dog will read your emotions as a weakness and will be more likely to react in a dominant manner. If the dog jumps on you, the dog needs to be corrected by you. A jumping dog is a dog who is stepping into your private space, which is disrespect in the dog world. How to stop a jumping dog.

Is there hope for my dominant rescue dog to get along with my other dogs? We have a rescued Akita who believes she is the alpha female. Her problem is with other dogs. She can't be near one without knocking it down and standing over and not letting them up. No blood yet, from either, just lots of noise. She is great around little people, adults and even cats. Just other dogs. Any chance of trying to socialize her now? Would really like to see her with our other dogs.

Yes there his hope, but she has to see all humans as WAY above her so she respects you enough to listen when you disagree with her dominating another dog. Daily pack walks with the dogs she does not get along with, where all dogs are made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead will greatly help the situation. After reading the, 'How to properly walk a dog' page scroll down to the other articles at the bottom. They should all give you insight on how to communicate with her that you are above her and do not approve of her domination towards any other being. I also recommend you tune into the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel to learn how to make the corrections. If you do not get that channel he has DVD's for sale. There is hope for her for sure, however all humans in the family need to show her they are boss over her and make her respect them enough to listen when you tell her you do not approve.

What is the key to getting my dog to stop fighting with other dogs?

The key to getting a dog to stop fighting with other dogs is proper communication. The dogs need to see the humans as 100% pack leader and the communication needs to be that the humans do not approve of them fighting with other dogs. I have a Boxer who would attack other dogs. She did this for years. When she was about 6 years old I started watching the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan and from there started studying more dog psychology. I learned how to communicate with her in a way that she could understand. I told her that I was her leader and I did not wish for her to fight. It took a while for me to learn her body language, but when I did I was able to read her and correct her at the right moments. It's been years and she no longer goes after other dogs. Once in a while I see the look in her eyes and I simply have to give a verbal command at the right moment and she responds. The key is to learn how to read the dog, how to correct them at the right moments and how to communicate with them in dog language that you are pack leader over them 100%. Tell them that fighting is against the rules. When they are convinced and so long as they are getting enough mental and physical stimulation to keep them from getting bottled up frustration, they will change and no longer pick fights. The humans need to be confident and strong minded in order to convince the dog.