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My new rescue is 15 months old and entire. He is quite randy around other dogs and, although very friendly with most dogs, he is a little confrontational with entire dogs when he first meets them. I am going to get him neutered and have read that some people recommend leaving them entire until...

I would get excited about the act of opening the door. A bell is a good idea. If you can encourage the excited behaviour around the door before it gets opened your pup may offer it when he needs the door to be opened.

Your puppy will learn to avoid the greyhounds paws :)

Training is all about motivation and you may need to improve the rewards for this difficult time. Remember that once he knows what to do you need to make the rewards random. Sometimes he gets one and sometimes he doesn't. This is much more exciting than treating you like a vending machine.

Do make sure he is warm. Whippets are notorious for feeling the cold and can not settle if they feel chilly.

You are right not to punish. Do not show any signs of exasperation either :) . If he likes his crate could you use it to confine him when you know he needs to wee or when you cannot watch him? This will give you control over his toileting. Take him straight out, from the crate, to wee. If he...

You may well need a professional behaviourist from either COAPE or APBC to help you. There is a lot that can be done. It may be that he has started to associate you with the noises and is avoiding you. A friend's dog would refuse to leave the house if she was going, but would go out with her...

Just seen this. So sorry to hear it. Pat

It sounds to me as though you have good control of her herding behaviour. If you can stop her and send her and bring her back then she is not obsessed by the ball to the exclusion of you. The training of collies has changed in recent years. We always used to say that they were best kept really...

Perhaps a radio on low would help him settle too? You could try an Adaptil diffuser as they comfort dogs. Is it possible that he has learned that he gets attention for barking? I boarded a dog that did this. I crated her in a fully darkened room with a radio on low and she settled really well...

You need to be more interesting than the environment! Use really tasty treats and put them right on her nose. If she follows you for a few steps then release the treat. Repeat until she understands that following your hand is the way to get the treat. You will get chronic back ache at first...

Dogs Trust are brilliant at working with behaviour problems. See if you can get her into a Dogs Trust kennel. I know it seems awful to do that but they really are good at finding the right home. Shouldn't say this but it is easier to get them in if they show no signs of aggression. I would tell...

I agree with all the above. Choose your puppy classes with care. The ones run by vet nurses are not always the best in terms of socialisation. Try to find one run my a member of the APDT. Their motto is "Kind, Fair and Effective". The absolute best thing you could do is book a visit from an...

The Kennel Club website has a search facility to help you choose a breed. They run a Discover Dogs section at Crufts where you can meet all the various breeds and talk to breeders about their breed. Do be aware that breeders all think that their breed is wonderful! Why not consider registering...

Much as I, like you, hate to think of a Whippet, or any dog, in rescue, I think, too, that this might not be a match made in heaven. If you could find a family to have him while you are on shift that might solve the domestic problem. The other, major in my opinion, thing is that Whippets have a...

I agree that the puppy will come to no harm with the happenings going on around him. One of the most balanced GSD's I ever saw had, through no fault of his own, been in four homes in the first few months of his life. Each home had been a good one and he learned a new set of skills in each one...

The best behaviourists are members of either COAPE or APBC. Look for one in your area. They will require a vet referral so might be worth while just getting her checked over at the vet's to make sure there is no underlying conditions. Vets do not "do" behaviour but will be happy to refer you to...

Don't forget to go outside with him when he toilets and reward him for choosing the right place. Dogs learn to hold on in order to get the, high value, treat that is available when they toilet outside. Reward based training also increases a dog's confidence :)

Just keep visiting the rescue centres until the "right" dog makes itself know to you. Don't rule out an oldie either. We took on a nine year old crossbreed once. He lived until he was thirteen and we completely retrained him out of his little ways that did not suit our family. Most rescue...

There are so many puppies looking for homes. Could you not find a new puppy from a breeder? Breeding puppies may look easy but, believe me, is not for the faint hearted. All sorts of things can go wrong with the pregnancy and during the birth of the puppies. Veterinary attention would then be...