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Member Questions 11-22-25

Robert CabralIACP Hall of Fame trainer2 min readNovember 22, 2025

Chris J

We got our 10 wk. old GSD male puppy on Monday. His diet continues to be the same as with the breeder. He has gone from small confined space to our large, rural fenced yard. He has insistently been swallowing small rocks and gravel, which come out with his poop. Is a muzzle the best option?

Rod K

I have a 5 month old female Vizsla that we have been working on loose leash walking for over 5 weeks using a long line as per your video lessons. She is doing fine with it except she seems to default to about 2 to 3 feet ahead of me. I have used all of the tips in your video, and my question is : am I expecting to much to fast (I want her to my side not necessarily at heel position, but on my side. I plan on competing in AKC, and UKC obedience.

Ilana

Hi Robert and Janet: So I think I did something wrong, my Mal is always pulling until calm so I thought to get her a pulling harness so we could run and she could pull me safely.

But She just pulled with the collar  and leash on with the harness she just doesn’t pull like the best trained dogs ever. How to teach to do it with the right one? She does know how to walk not pulling  it’s just at the start of the walking track that she pulls so I thought I was to slow and bought the belt and track harness but now she doesn’t pull. 

Lamprini

Hello Mr Cabral, my 6m malinois puppy has started to guard her crate as my other 3 dogs pass by. She barks and it is getting worse everyday. I m telling her “off” and if she doesn’t stop then I throw a blanket and cover up. When she calms down I uncover it until she barks again. The 2nd way I deal with this is that when she is in her crate I give treats to all my dogs calling their names for 3-4min. I don’t have another spot to move her crate. The other dogs pass by her crate to go to their beds. The same happens either she has a kong/bone or not. The other 3dogs don’t give her any attention.

Robert Cabral with a shelter dog
About the author

Robert Cabral

Robert Cabral has been training dogs professionally for over 20 years. He started in shelters, working with dogs nobody else wanted, and was inducted into the IACP International Hall of Fame for his work in shelter advocacy and canine rehabilitation.

20+Years training
351KYouTube subscribers
2025IACP Hall of Fame

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