Expert Dog Trainer Cindy Rhodes

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August 2, 2025
If I allow my 8 month old dog to sniff on walks I'm afraid she won't want to focus on me during training sessions. Can you help?

Hi Cindy, I have an 8 month old working line GSD that I would like to do agility with. We are working on loose leash walking and engagement games. And she is smart as a whip! I would like to take her for longline sniffs walks but am afraid she will not want to focus on me if I allow her to just do her own thing on the longline. I have numerous dvd's from Leerburg so if the answer is in a dvd would you point me in the right direction? I should also add that I am 76 years old and have al...

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August 1, 2025
My 3 month old puppy pulls very hard on a harness, is it time for a prong collar?

I have a 3-month-old, 30 pound Doberman with whom we have used a harness and 6 foot drag line except when he is in his crate sleeping for the night (he also has a pen for daytime use when we are not directly training or playing with him). Over the past 10 days, have noticed that he will pull hard against the 6-foot line when I'm with him outdoors (as well as jump on my legs and try to bite) but not when I'm using the 20 foot drag line. Wonder if the amount of pressure exerted by the line makes...

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July 23, 2025
My 15 month old dog is no longer interested in training, would there be a benefit in taking a break from structured activities for a couple of weeks?

15 months, Aussie, intact male. Hard Natured, stoic but sensitive. training since 9 weeks. In our training my dog no longer is as interested or driven to work with anyone, he still has a desire and seeks things to do but has no interest in the training and his body language is flat. I get some motivation but he will disengage and seems to act begrudgingly. I included more game-based but still seems bored. Trained with +reinforcement and limited corrections, herding weekly, trick and obe...

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Popular Q&As

November 20, 2012
My mom’s GSD has a lot of behavioral issues and is teetering on the edge of needing a new home. I’m frustrated with her, can you suggest some specific DVDs?

Hello Ed & Cindy, I'm writing today regarding my mother's year old spayed female GSD. She was purchased by my 18 year old brother who didn't do groundwork before leaving for college. She is loving & intelligent, but extremely stubborn and dominant. I've never had a dog this frustrating to train. She is teetering on the edge of needing to find a new home because of her behavioral issues. I'm hoping that you can suggest specific DVDs and articles that are most fitting for her issues. We'...

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October 25, 2016
When we drop (our dog) off at daycare, he is showing separation anxiety. He tries doing these little nips at the staff when they put him in the runs in the beginning of the day. Should we nix daycare?

We have an almost 7mth Malinois who when we drop off at daycare, is showing separation anxiety. He tries doing these little nips at the staff when they put him in the runs in the beginning of the day. They said the rest of the day, he is perfect; it's just right after drop off happens. He starts crying when we pull up to the clinic not wanting to go but then they say he does excellent all day long! We don't get it. Just want to address the nipping issues because some techs are starting to get a ...

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November 18, 2014
What's the shipping stress on a new puppy? I'm getting an 8 week old German Shepherd by air.

What is the shipping stress on puppies? I will be getting an 8 week old German Shepherd by air. The flight should only be one to one and a half hours.

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Recommended Q&As

July 23, 2025
My 14 month old mixed breed dog is suddenly afraid of objects he's been exposed to in the past, advice would be appreciated!

Hi Cindy, I have a 14-month-old intact male mix breed dog who recently developed a fear of overhead objects like signs, statues, and awnings. All day to day things he been exposed to before. He’s well exercised with 2–3 off-leash walks daily, plays tug, is e-collar trained, and walks politely on leash. This started after a desensitizing session outside the dog park. He’s very social and excitable (no aggression), and I was applying negative pressure with a slip lead when I saw signs...

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June 7, 2025
I'm working with a 160 lb dog at an animal shelter and he's extremely reactive to other dogs. He had a neck surgery and can't wear a collar, do you have any tips on how to handle a lunging 160 pound dog on a harness?

Hi Cindy, I work at an animal shelter and we have a very large Dane mix (160 pounds) with us at the moment. He's an unneutered male, just over 2 years old. He grew up without boundaries and pulled his previous owners off their feet several times, even broke their leg and shoulder. We trained him to walk nicely on the leash without distractions, but he is very reactive to other dogs (sex doesn't matter, so I assume it's not a testosterone issue). When he sees dogs he lunges like crazy, gro...

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June 1, 2025
Our 7 month old Cane Corso is like a shark, he rips our clothes and leaves bruises on us with his jumping and nipping. Help!

Hi! We have a 7 month old male Corso pup that we got when he was about 15 weeks old from a good breeder. I don’t think a lot of training was done prior and we’ve been constantly working with the dog thru the crazy puppy phase. We can’t seem to break him of this jumping and nipping that he does to me, my husband, and teen son. It seems to come out of nowhere and once he starts it’s hard to redirect without blurring the lines of rewarding bad behavior or redirecting. He’s good driven so ...

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