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I’ve been thinking about stress and how we deal with it. Consider your dog and any challenges you might have in your training. Those challenges could be creating anxiety for you, and your dog will pick up on your emotions. You are not alone if you find yourself stressing about your dog.
In the episode you'll hear:
• What happened with my dog Shelby when I locked my keys in the car. • Why I check in with myself when I feel stressed. • How I look for every day with my dogs to be a great day. • An update on my puppy’s resource guarding. • The science of our dogs taking on our emotions. • About thinking of the future rather than the past. • What we can do for our dogs by being curious. • How we are all in the same place with our dog training and why to do one thing. • The reason I end all of my blog posts with gratitude. • All about the exercise of behaving gratitudinaeously and the dog you love.
In a multi-dog household, it’s important that all dogs have confidence and be comfortable. I’m sharing my biggest tips for intentional household harmony.
In the episode you'll hear:
When I realized that comfort and confidence for all dogs is vital.
How to be present to what your dogs are telling you.
The CSI of a multi-dog home.
How I prevent resource guarding before it starts.
The guidelines and house rules that set everyone up for success.
In episode 229, I shared the story about finding joy with a “mighty dog” in my life, a Jack Russell Terrier mix named DeCaff. In Part 2, I admit a painful lesson around frustration, shame and struggle between two of my Terriers; as well as the last six lessons my agility champion taught me about conditioning positive emotional responses, arousal states in dog training, seeing behavior as communication, the canine gut-brain axis, and most importantly: forgiveness of self and others.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• DeCaff’s Story, Part Two: A painful admission about my world champion agility dog. • Lesson 1: A dog shutting down during training is feedback to you. • About DeCaff’s slow weave pole times. • Lesson 2: A dog’s behavior is a critique of your training plan, skills and execution. • How I used time outs in the past. • About DeCaff’s aggression redirection. • Lesson 3: Never sidestep the lesson the dog is trying to share with you. • About my a-ha moment with the “Smack Da Baby” tug game. • How I doubled my agility dog’s weave pole times with positive conditioning. • Lesson 4: You can’t truly help a dog you’ve labelled or compared. • How to acknowledge a dog’s limitations but focus on their joy and strengths. • Lesson 5: Release guilt, shame and angst we have about our dogs. • When DeCaff jumped my sick senior dog. • My struggles training DeCaff after the death of my other dog, Twister. • About forgiveness for mistakes made with your dog. • Lesson 6: Focus on you and your dog’s improvements. • About the lessons dogs bring to our lives. • About the link between gut health, a dog’s reactive behavior and their neuroses.
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Harnessing the power of permission in dog training is the secret of my success. It’s how I can train dogs to the highest levels without the use of intimidation or physical punishment. Sometimes is anytime for a dog, and permissions make the anytime work for us. And it’s not just for training our dogs. We all want our relationships to have equity and trust.
In the episode you'll hear:
The where, why, and what of permission in dog training.
What teenagers driving a Lamborghini around a racetrack as to do with your relationship with your dog.
Why sometimes is anytime.
How to start using permission with one easy and fun game.
Have you ever watched a really well-trained dog, like a police dog, world champion agility dog, or service dog, and noticed that they seem to be working without getting any food or toy reward from their handler? You might have tried the same with your dog, but your dog said, “no reward, no thanks!”. We’re looking at why some dogs appear to work brilliantly with no reinforcement.
In the episode you'll hear:
• The confusion out there about how reinforcement works. • How elite dog trainers use reinforcement. • Why the work can become massively valuable for dogs. • About stacking reinforcement. • The 5 categories of reinforcement that I use. • How attention can be a reward. • About the obvious reinforcers like food or toys. • Why the cues your dog knows can be powerful reinforcers. • How activities can be reinforcing. • Why rewarding activities need to have permission. • What a transactional relationship is and how it relates to dogs. • Why we want a partnership with our dogs. • The inadvertent reinforcement you might be giving your dog. • How all dogs have a hierarchy of reinforcement. • Why a partnership with us becomes intrinsically reinforcing for dogs.
Sometimes people think training dogs with positive reinforcement requires a huge time investment. It’s a myth. My students play quick training games to build skills fast with layers. But don’t take it from me. Meet Natalia Nizker, a full-time elementary school teacher and non-profit rescue volunteer with three young boys, two young dogs (a German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois), and one husband. Natalia is also a trick dog trainer in her spare time! Natalia has tips on fitting dog training time into a busy life and how understanding layered learning leads to well-behaved dogs. Enjoy this extract from our livestream celebrating 200 episodes of Shaped by Dog.
In the episode you'll hear:
• That training with positive reinforcement can fit into daily life. • How dog training games are perfect for busy lives and happy dogs. • Hacks for fitting dog training into full schedules. • How training with layered shaping becomes part of daily life. • About introducing a new puppy with household harmony in mind. • How trick training can boost a dog’s confidence and deepen your bond. • Why all dog training is essentially trick training. • How to choose games to play with your dog in stressful environments.
Catch the 200 Episodes Celebration Replay and After Party Opportunities Click Here for the Livestream Replay, PDF Downloads and Special Online Program Opportunities - https://dogsthat.com/sbd-celebrate-episode-200/
Help! How do I get my dog to focus on me and pay attention? Today I’m sharing the positive reinforcement “secrets” that make your dog prioritize you over environmental distractions. If you feel non-existent to your dog around other dogs, squirrels, cats, people, bicycles, etc. – but you’ve been taught to collar pop and say things like “leave it!” – I’m going to teach you to combine two of my proven, science-based games to inspire your dog to focus on you without you demanding it. No physical or verbal corrections needed.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• How to create desire in your dog to choose you over distractions. • The tools to train canine attention. • About one rescue dog’s complete transformation. • How to get your dog to pay attention to you. • What “old school” dog trainers teach about distractions. • That focus is a reflection of priorities. • How sustained focus happens. • That strongly desired outcomes create laser focus; e.g. dog chasing squirrel. • That nagging doesn’t create drive in humans or dogs. • How to become your dog’s priority with engaging games. • How to journal all of your dog’s priorities. • Why recalling my puppy off bunnies is easy. • Why we don’t bribe dog behavior but reinforce good choices. • The importance of erasing habits that reward your dog away from you. • That good focus habits begin with dog training games. • The difference between inspired focus and forced focus. • That good relationships require daily investment. • The two games to play so your dog chooses you. • How and when to combine Hand Targets and ItsYerChoice to overcome distractions.
Imagine there's a secret booster button we could press, and our dog would suddenly turn into a superhero, and we'd have dog training superpowers. Guess what? I've got that booster button for you, and am sharing how to activate it. It all starts with being present to our presence, hacking for our self talk, and knowing a simple exercise to instantly shift our emotional state. Each of us has a mind capable of brilliance! And with a few little tweaks, we can all unleash that mindset power to make dog training better.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• How to activate your inner booster button. • What my friend, Simon Bowen means by “Being present to your presence.” • The importance of understanding belief loops. • An easy exercise for mindset shifts leading to better results. • How Self Talk and Pup Talk influence your dog training. • Why words elevate your training sessions and strengthen your bond with your dog. • The connection between emotional regulation and successful training. • How following mentors and role models can grow your skills. • Techniques to overcome self-doubt and maintain confidence in your training. • The three biggest gifts you can give your dog. • Steps to take action to get what you want with your dog. • “Do the Thing” with inspiration from a poem.
If you were to google for help for an anxious, stressed, or reactive dog, you’d get many suggestions, many of which are good! But there are critical elements that are essential for you to know. We’re covering the 10 things that are vital for you to help your dog get into the confidence zone.
In the episode you'll hear:
• Why training should be about reinforcement rather than isolating what you don't like. • The reason not to put your dog or yourself in a position where there will be judgment. • About choosing a dog training program that will protect your dog's confidence. • Why to know your dog's number one highest value reward. • The difference between perception triggers and fear triggers. • That triggers don't stay static and get lower or grow in intensity. • Why to know your dog's Confidence Zone and how to grow it in stages. • About Matching Law and how that applies to what you do with your dog. • How creating good active and calm triggers will help you help your dog. • Why it's important to condition a love for any tools you will be using. • That some dogs need behavioral medication, and it can make training easier.
If you have ever wanted to ask a professional dog trainer questions about puppy training or living with puppies, then this episode is for you! We’re covering the topics that you want to know about to help your puppy.
In the episode you'll hear answers to questions about:
• When to spay or neuter a puppy. • Recalling a distracted puppy. • Dealing with puppies who like to hump. • How to combat the Puppy Blues. • How to tell if a puppy growl in play is excitement or frustration. • If it is okay for your puppy to sit on you with toys or chews. • How much exercise a puppy needs. • How to help your puppy be comfortable in a crate or ex-pen. • How old a puppy should be before they start weave pole training for agility.
Over the years I’ve asked my students to describe the connection with their dog in different environments. How is it different inside your house versus your front yard? What about the park? Or, around other dogs or children? Often the response describes the emotional connection “to” their dog; not the two-way connection “with” their dog. We’re covering what that difference is between the connection to versus connection with our dogs, why it's super important to understand, and how growing one can also grow the other.
In the episode you'll hear:
• How connection TO a dog differs from connection WITH a dog. • What weakens and strengthens the relationship we have with dogs. • Common words used about dogs that signal a connection crisis. • The reasons understanding and empathy will grow your relationship. • How the sport of dog agility, or any dog sport, is like an amplifier of connection. • Why it's essential to protect your dog's confidence when beginning agility. • How one of my agility students, Jenny, went from overwhelmed to elite competitor with her Siberian Huskies. • The story of Cait's Shiba Inu, Moshi, a pandemic puppy, and how their connection evolved. • That game by game, layer and layer, you can see the connection with your dog blossom.
Dog training games deepen the bond we have with our dogs, grow trust, build confidence and give our dogs beneficial skills for daily life. A life skill that is important for all dogs is wearing a muzzle. We want to create a positive conditioned emotional response to a muzzle for our dog. Fun games will help your dog LOVE wearing a muzzle and give you confidence if your dog should ever need one.
In the episode you'll hear:
• Why a dog might need to wear a muzzle, including at the Vet. • How emotions are an unconscious response and dogs might react if scared or in pain. • About consent in dog training and that we want our dogs to trust us. • What to look for when selecting a muzzle for your dog. • How a bowl and a canning funnel are great for muzzle training. • The training steps with games so that your dog loves putting a muzzle on. • How to create a positive CER for your dog wearing a muzzle. • What to look for in your dog’s body language for an excellent TEMP. • The reason you want a cue for your dog to muzzle up. • Why I use “Hey, Can You?!” for my dogs to run to get a muzzle on. • How to grow the Double D of duration and distractions for the muzzle.
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22 Mar 2023
Can Dog Training Be Effective, Efficient AND Compassionate? #201
We get a lot of great comments on our videos, and sometimes I come across one that inspires a podcast episode like this one. I’m answering a very thoughtful question that many people might have. Should you abandon one training philosophy for another when results appear elusive? And should you pick a dog training lane and stay in that lane? Professional dog trainers often forget what it’s like to be starting out. That can lead to learning overwhelm and students feeling less confident about the education they’re getting and giving their dogs, so it’s important for everyone to know the direction they are heading.
In the episode you'll hear:
• A listener question about abandoning a dog training method when results could be around the corner. • Why compassionate, efficient, and effective dog training is the trifecta of my methodology. • The difference between finding behaviors to praise vs. behaviors to punish. • False assumptions that some balanced dog trainers make about positive reinforcement. • That with enough time, any dog training method will work, but there are other considerations. • Questions to ask yourself when your dog doesn’t behave as you expected. • How my mentor Bob Bailey defines the difference between a good trainer and a great trainer. • What “behavior is a function of consequence” means with dog training as an example. • Why I believe the use of aversives to change behavior in dog training are antiquated. • The two factors of mechanics and the other 23 hours of the day in dog training progress.
We’ve got another ask me anything episode, because your questions are so good! I’m sharing answers on topics like training contacts in dog agility, daily training routines for puppies, overcoming fears in dogs, training in multiple sports, feeding schedules for dogs, exercise for dogs, dealing with reactivity between dogs, zoomies in the agility ring and more. Have a question I’ve not covered? Jump over to YouTube and let me know what it is in the comments.
In this episode, I’m answering your great questions:
• What age do you start training contacts in dog agility? When do you do full courses, and what foundations do the puppies need to have? • I'm curious how many hours you spend training Prophet each day? • Can you share the exact protocol you used for This! to get her out of her fear? • Are there any disadvantages or severe downside to having a dog trained in multiple sports? • What's on your secret Santa wish list? • Do you plan on competing in the UKI US Open in 2024? • What would you identify as three to five natural abilities or qualities of any agility dog? • How to teach my dog not to destroy toys? My dog, when left alone with a mascot, turns it inside out. • If a dog is not actively training or lounging with you, do you always have them in a crate or a pen? • When to add the verbal cue? Is it right before they do the desired action or right when they do it? • Will you ever do public training again? • Can you tell us a fun fact about Swagger? • How does one get into the agility world? • Do you use crates when traveling in a car? If so, what kind? • Do you feel equally connected to all of your dogs, past and present, or are some extra special? • How do you stop the zoomies in the agility ring? • How do you train your pups to bring toys to your hand? • Dealing with reactivity between dogs in the same household, usually after potty. • What was the science or motivation to switch to once a day feeding? • I love your agility programs. Do you plan on doing any flyball programs? • How can I exercise my dog while we are still learning loose leash walking and recalls. • How do you make sure your elderly dogs still feel valued and loved? • How do you decide where to start? There's so many behaviors I'd like to improve. I'm feeling really overwhelmed. • Who do you think you will mate? This! with? Prophet when it's the right time? • How do you know when it's time to let go of a dog? either age or sickness. • How do you deal with discouragement? If you had a previous job before, how did you make the big jump to the dog world job only?
If you own a dog, there is a very good chance that at some point in your dog’s life, your dog could get jumped or possibly attacked by another dog. It’s vital to know that your reaction could actually exacerbate the emotional damage to your dog or puppy. This episode has my top tips for helping your dog and how you can take control of the uncontrollable and your responses. My puppy, This!, was jumped by an older pup, so it’s a topic fresh in my mind.
In the episode you'll hear:
• About being a helicopter parent, the opposite, and what I learned about being a dolphin parent. • Why the ability to recover is so important for our dogs. • The aftermath of our dogs being jumped and what we can do. • About negative conditioned responses and single event learning. • What happened with my puppy This! and what I did to help her. • The importance of changing a dog’s physiological state. • What I learned from a book about preventing PTSD with pattern-matching games. • How “play, don’t’ replay” works. • Why our first responses might not the best responses for our dog. • How to avoid adding emotional fire for your dog to events you cannot control. • Why to practice responding to things you can’t control. • What I do if my dog gets jumped and strategies you can put into action. • How to make the absolute best out of a bad situation. • What to look for in a good organised and structured puppy playgroup.
In dog training, there’s really only one reason we feel frustration, and that is when the outcome does not meet our expectations. But what happens when we get frustrated? Recently I experienced frustration when training a side pass with my puppy, This!, and I’m sharing with you the process I used for troubleshooting.
In the episode you'll hear:
• About the motivation for this episode from a post by one of my students. • Identifying the words you use when you are frustrated. • The lesson I recently learned regarding frustration and how it hurt my heart. • Why to take a break. • My 5-step evaluation for when dog training does not go to plan. • Why to look at where your dog is in the training progression chart. • How to evaluate your training with PEP. • The psychological, environmental, and physical considerations for dog training. • Why and when to tip with twenties. • How we leap too far ahead with training and the question to ask ourselves. • The importance of remembering to “train the dog in front of you”.
When we train dogs with layered shaping, we train with out of the box thinking. In this episode, I’m giving a glimpse of what that looks like and how it relates to the transfer of value. It starts with knowing what a dog loves most of all. I’m also covering a case study on how we used the transfer of reinforcement value for a German Shepherd so that they could learn to retrieve without a force fetch.
In the episode you'll hear:
• What we need our dog to understand about reinforcement and what we need to understand. • A review of the reinforcement process in our dog training. • Why your dog's age, the location you are training, and what you are training matter. • The importance of your placement and delivery of reinforcement. • How we found something that a German Shepherd loved and used it for training. • The process of transferring the value from bubbles to food with a target stick. • Why we need to change a dog’s physiology for training. • How ping-ponging reinforcements help with the transfer of value. • That there’s not a linear path for all dogs, so we think outside the box. • About our brand new free DoggyFlix video streaming adventure for dog people.
Many dog owners wonder, “does my dog love me?”. We’d all like to think our dogs love us, but how can we tell? It could all come down to the relationship you have with your dog and how that impacts the way you train your dog and communicate. There are three different sorts of relationships, and our interactions might have elements of each. It’s not dissimilar to the relationship a child has with a parent or relationships in the workplace. We can demand, dominate, and control, or bribe, cajole and cater, or give choices and reinforcement that grow trust and autonomy.
In the episode you'll hear:
• What happens with blame when rules are broken and why to check our ego. • Why control creates resistance, opposition, rebellion and can result in sneaky behavior. • About what really happens if you just want your dog to be a dog. • What a transactional relationship based on bribing and luring does to our dogs. • The ways your relationship with your dog can be exhausting for you. • How each type of relationship can impact something like training a retrieve. • Why we aim for autonomy in relationships with our dogs and what it means. • About choice based training and how that creates a dopamine release. • How our dog training decisions can create trust. • Why I ask my dogs questions and what the answers tell me. • How our relationships can help us all flourish, including our dogs.
Are you ready to take your dog training to the next level? Whether you're just starting, have been at it a while, or are an experienced dog trainer, I've got hacks to fast track success and take you and your dog to a completely different level of understanding. I'm diving into shaping behavior and why it's the key to unlocking rapid learning for you and your dog. Shaping is not a training method but how all animals learn, and I've got simple yet powerful tips for shaping success, plus you’ll learn how to start training the paws up trick.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• The power of shaping in dog training, regardless of skill level. • My journey from using lures to exclusively shaping with my dog Buzz. • Differentiating between "navel gazing" shaping and linear shaping vs. outside-the-box shaping. • My recent experiment with luring and targeting with my puppy Prophet. • The importance of shaping in bringing understanding to dogs. • Reasons why many trainers still prefer luring over shaping. • Why shaping is a natural learning process for all animals, not just dogs. • The game Tater plays when my dogs are chewing bones. • Understanding the ABCs of shaping: antecedent, behavior, consequence. • Importance of reinforcement hierarchy and classical conditioning in shaping. • Why we need to split behaviors into smaller pieces for effective shaping. • How to shape dogs to do the Paws Up trick. • How creating antecedent arrangements guides the dog's behavior. • The cheat code for successful shaping sessions. • About DASH: Desire, Accuracy, Speed, Habitat. • Creating success with a plan and lighthearted approach.
How do you decide when to use a clicker and what to use it for in dog training? That’s a question recently asked on my Instagram and what we’re covering in this episode. Is a clicker a good choice for your dog, or you as a trainer, or for the behavior you want to train?
In the episode you'll hear:
• About using clickers, markers and what conditioned reinforcers are. • The four things you can do when using reinforcement in your training. • The verbal markers I like to use and why I changed from “yes” to a short “good”. • Why we use a clicker and how it can reduce stress. • About the clicker's precision and how a precise tool helps our training. • Why a clicker is like a laser for training to isolate exact moments for your dog. • About knowing what your dog thinks you clicked, not what you think you clicked. • What I learned about getting what I click in the nineties when training a go out. • When I use a clicker. • The reasons to use reward throwing or food chucking in dog training. • What to do if you are luring to fade the lure as soon as you can. • How I inadvertently trained by dog Buzz to stop at the first weave pole. • The difference between gross behaviors, behaviors of motion, and precise moments in time. • Easy games to help improve your timing and skills with a clicker.
Trying to work with multiple dogs at once can be a struggle, especially when one dog consistently interferes. Even if you only have one dog, the information offered in this episode is important as you want your dog to be able to relax when there are other dogs or distractions around. I’m covering the criteria and strategy for training in a multi-dog household or when things in the environment are exciting for dogs.
In the episode you'll hear:
• That learning to ignore distractions and relax is important for dogs of all ages. • Why dogs really want in on the action when you are training with fun. • That dogs give us a critique of how we’ve taught them to wait turns. • All the training steps starting with Crate Games then growing to Hot Zone. • Why to listen to your dog’s feedback about their understanding. • What makes a great Hot Zone when your dog is learning to wait their turn. • Why dogs need a brilliant understanding of their release cue. • That it’s up to you to decide your criteria for your waiting dog. • A test you can do with multiple dogs so they can show you what they understand. • How to add other dogs to training when your waiting dog has strong foundations.
For every puppy owner using a socialization strategy that grows confidence and connection, there’s a thousand who don’t do it at all or do it terribly wrong. I’m sharing exactly how I socialize my puppies, including my current five-month-old, Prophet, so that everyone can do the same thing to get the best start to a life of joy with their dog.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• The exact things I do to socialize my own puppies. • Common misconceptions in puppy socialization. • Why puppy daycare and dog parks are potential disasters. • Top 3 reasons why we should train our dog. • How to grow a puppy’s confidence in different environments. • What puppy socialization looks like to Susan Garrett. • How I train my five-month-old puppy, Prophet. • How to turn distractions into white noise. • Why growing connections is important for puppies. • How to grow positive CER’s in context with husbandries. • What distractions really mean for our puppies. • How I train in the form of games. • 3 groups of games and when to use each. • How “Crate Games” minimizes distractions for our puppies. • Why an overstimulated dog is not ideal for socialization. • That most dogs don't need doggy friends.
Training Tips From Susan: Catch Your Runaway Dog! Stop Chasing And Do This In An Emergency
00:04:18
Message From Susan
Hey everyone, it’s Susan, and you’re about to hear one of my training tips and tidbits. These are quick, actionable strategies to help you and your dog in everyday life or for dog sport. Often our short videos with tips are created from your most popular segments of podcast episodes. So, let’s dive in!
Training Tips from Susan: Catch Your Runaway Dog! Stop Chasing And Do This In An Emergency
If your dog slips their collar or gets away from you, use this tip to get your dog back!
Stop chasing. Pop off a whistle or noise to get your dog's attention. Roll in the other direction keeping an eye on your dog. Repeat. When you and your dog meet, take their collar.
If you want your dog to come when called every time, check out our Recallers program - https://recallers.com/
If someone says to you that they are a reinforcement-based dog trainer, what does that really mean? There are a lot of ways of training dogs with food or toys. Even though they fall under the reinforcement grouping, the different types of training are all dramatically different. We’re covering what I tried in the past, what I suggest you avoid, and the most effective way to shape your dog.
In the episode you'll hear:
• About training dogs by luring and using food or toys as a lure. • What's termed observational learning or social learning, or sometimes modelling. • About Stella the Kelpie and Bunny the Sheepadoodle using buttons to communicate. • Some of the words that dogs understand and words that excite my dogs. • What capturing behavior means and how to get a captured behavior like a stretch or talking. • About shaping, and the critical difference between two styles used to shape a behavior. • The reason I don't free shape these days and prefer layered shaping. • How to make the correct choice for the dog the obvious choice. • Why splitting behaviours down creates confidence for dogs and give you a strong foundation.
Today’s podcast topic comes from you! One of the questions I’m often asked is “how do I get my puppy to stop waking me up?”. Another is “how do I stop my dog waking me earlier and earlier?”. These are common problems, and there are three main reasons it happens, with the most likely being that you have been ‘shaped by dog’. I’ve got tips to help you. There are four things that you can put into action right now to ensure you get some sleep.
In the episode you'll hear:
The main reasons a puppy or dog will wake you up in the middle of the night.
How you could be contributing to being woken by your dog.
About inappropriate reinforcement that you may not realize is happening.
The impact of routine and your dog predicting patterns of reinforcement.
How you can turn things around to ensure you get sleep.
Why what happens during the day can determine what happens at night!
Easy observations you can make teach your puppy or dog the “forget it to get it” rule.
The four things you need to know that will make a massive difference.
Why your puppy being on leash to potty will improve your life together.
How I teach my puppies and dogs “Don’t Wake Da Mama”.
I recently asked ChatGPT to list the top 10 frustrations people experience with dogs and am covering how to break down dog behavior problems to help make things better for everyone. Making things better is the key no matter what challenge you have, and it will give you relief from frustration and allow you and your dog to experience two-sided joy.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• Top 10 frustrations of dog owners worldwide according to ChatGPT. • Strategies to address these frustrations and make life better for you and your dog. • Importance of reframing language and expectations in dog training. • Using the concept of "making it better" rather than aiming for perfection. • Why working on the periphery of challenges is better than diving into the fire. • About using the 4E’s - Enrichment, Engagement, Education, Exercise • How to take quick intentional daily action. • My special opportunity to join Home School the Dog for deeper assistance in addition to my YouTube resources. • Why to focus on progress rather than aiming for instant fixes. • My experience with my puppy Prophet’s fear of men and intentional action to make things better.
If you are here, chances are you have an interest in how to train a dog without punishment or blame. When you are moving away from training with physical corrections, intimidation, or verbal corrections, you can fall into what I call “the gap”. If your dog is digging in the garden, has paws on the counter, has jumped in the pond or is chasing a cat, you freeze. The old lessons come to your head telling you to “stop the dog and punish”. You want to leave that behind and fall into “the gap” because you don’t know what to do.
In the episode you'll hear:
• How our dogs are doing the best they can with the education we have given them in the environment that we are asking them to work in. • About Do-Land where no babies cry, all the birds sing, and there are unicorns and rainbows. • When I became aware of “the gap” through my friend Lynda Orton-Hill and her Golden Retriever, Spirit. • How to move on from blame and judgement. • Why “positive is not permissive” and how training with positive reinforcement does not mean we have no guidelines. • The 2 things you can do when you are in “the gap”. • How I learned to “bang head here” from my mentors Bob and Marian Bailey. • Why my training structure for dogs to be amazing family pets creates excellence in my dogs for world level agility competition. • How Do-Land is possible for everyone!
How good are you at manipulation? Stick with me, because after this episode, you’re going to embrace and love the idea of manipulation. When we hear the word “manipulation” we immediately think of deception, but in dog training, it’s a skill that is going to create a relationship of confidence and trust with your dog and set your dog up to have an amazing life with you.
In the episode you'll hear:
Where confidence fits into dog training.
How to best manipulate your dog's environment.
Where the bunny farm fits into distraction training.
We all have vivid childhood memories, and one of mine involving my friend’s dog Chuka had a lasting impact. In all my dog training, I look to grow confidence and capability for dogs in any environment. I do that using the model of my 5C Pyramid. Now, you might already be familiar with the 5C Pyramid for Success, but I’ve got a couple of tweaks to the layers you’ll want to hear.
It all starts with our connection with our dogs and knowing the questions to ask, so we can be sure that our dog can meet our expectations. And for everyone who had queries from Episode 19 about what “sit” really means for a dog, I’m using that behaviour today as an example. We’re covering all the layers for confidence in anything you want to train your dog to do.
In the episode you'll hear:
• About my memory of Chuka, how the same thing happens to many dogs, and how it can be avoided. • What my 5C model is and tweaks to the pyramid layers. • Why the first layer of connection is the most vital of all. • What engagement with your dog looks like. • Why your dog can experiment and how that allows you to evaluate. • What splitting a behaviour down really means. • The three forms of challenges with distance, duration, and distractions. • What is too much pressure for your dog and for you. • How you can use the same model for your confidence! • Important questions to ask before you take off your dog’s leash.
What if I were to tell you that your dog’s worst behaviour could very likely be there because you have been unintentionally reinforcing it? It might be your dog jumping on guests, barking, getting on the furniture, counter surfing, not wanting to leave the park, lunging, not bringing back a ball. All of these frustrations and many others are things you could be accidentally rewarding your dog for doing. How does this happen? It’s got everything to do with behaviour chains.
In the episode you'll hear:
• How to recognize a behaviour chain and how they work. • About the reinforcement of social attention for dogs. • How your words can be associated with rewards. • About your dog and patterns of reinforcement. • How your dog learns “gotta be bad to be good”. • Why your dog doesn't want to leave the park. • The ways to fix your inadvertent behaviour chains. • How important reinforcement is and why treats are just one form. • The example of a simple behavior being turned into a chain with repeated cues. • How to set up your dog for success. • About rehearsing the correct end of a behavior chain.
Why do dogs eat poop? It’s known as coprophagia and how to stop it is a popular question. Poop eating in dogs is more common than you might think. When your dog eats their own poop or another dog's poop, it can be distressing, and if it's out in public, downright embarrassing! I'm walking you through the three main reasons behind coprophagia, what worked to stop my puppy Prophet from eating poop, and why I think my dog Encore started when she was six years old and the resolve. None of us want our dogs to snack on poop, and understanding is the first step in helping them.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• Why dogs might eat poop, also known as coprophagia, and what it means. • The three main reasons behind this behavior: curiosity, health issues, and behavior. • My personal experience with my own dogs and the impact of gut health on poop eating. • Effective probiotic products that helped stop puppy Prophet from eating poop. • Practical steps to manage and stop poop eating, including dietary adjustments and gut biome testing. • How to approach coprophagia to help dogs without adding more stress or punishment. • The importance of understanding your dog's behavior as feedback to improve their well-being.
Looking for fast and easy dog training solutions? A quick fix won’t get the dog behavior you really want long term, so I’m covering what to do instead! Whether you have a new puppy or are working through challenges with an older dog, reinforcement and management are key to creating a successful solution for a well-behaved dog in a way that aligns with your heart.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
• Why “fast and easy” in dog training often fails and what actually works. • How to bridge the training gap and set your dog up for success. • A special lesson from my father beyond dog training. • The difference between behavior challenges and emotional challenges. • The role of reinforcement and management in success. • How reinforcement shapes your dog’s choices every day. • The power of management and why it’s the key to long-term success. • My approach to growing confidence before introducing big challenges. • Why finding the right trainer matters and how to know who to trust. • A special opportunity to join Wag Nation and Home School the Dog!
Ever set goals for your dog but struggled to make progress? I’m doing a deep dive on how to change that! Whether you're a new puppy owner, facing challenges with your dog or want to excel in dog sports, achieving your training goals is possible! Discover the power of setting goals and celebrating achievable milestones to transform your dog training and create success.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• Where you are in your goals for dog training. • The importance of breaking down your goals. • How to have the most amazing family pet. • Why knowing what your goal is and what it looks like creates clarity. • That milestones are a roadmap to achieving your goals. • The value of listing down skills needed to achieve milestones. • How hitting monthly and weekly milestones gets you closer to your goals. • The power of your dog progressing.
There is one difference between very successful dog trainers and the average pet owner in the way they feed their dogs. That one thing is responsible for a better relationship with your dog and the dog being easier to train, having a long life, and fewer health problems. That one thing is easily achievable by everyone and will also help with a dog’s picky eating.
In the episode you'll hear:
• The ways people feed their dogs. • What free choice feeding or graze feeding looks like for dogs. • The problems that can be created for dogs with free feeding. • Why regular meals help with potty training. • How free choice feeding could result in a dog being a picky eater. • The health benefits of regular meals for dogs. • About the issue of obesity in dogs. • Why free choice feeding makes training difficult. • How to use your dog's meals as a training opportunity. • The risks of missing health issues with free feeding. • How planning your dog's exercise is easier with regular meals. • Why to know what your dog should weigh. • How I feed a high percentage of my dog's meal in training. • A plan to help dogs who are picky eaters. • When to check with your Veterinarian.
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
03 Aug 2022
Reduce Your Dog's Stress And Anxiety In Training #167
Inadvertent stress is something we want to minimize when training our dogs, as excessive stress has the same impact on dogs as it does on us. Now, stress is everywhere, but we don’t want to create it unintentionally and don’t want our dogs to endure anxiety if we can avoid it. We’re looking at how we can set up our training to prevent our dogs from stressing out.
In the episode you'll hear:
• How dogs can stress low or high and what that stress looks like. • That our human mechanics can reduce anxiety for dogs. • About practicing without your dog and how that will help minimize stress. • Why videoing will improve your training sessions and help your dog. • How I set up my training area and include stations. • That transitions are the gaps between the training, and we want them seamless. • What an efficient training session is and how to minimize your dog's repetitions. • About the importance of using Balance Breaks in your training sessions. • An answer to a listener's question about using food when training heeling.
Have you ever been in a dog training situation and felt you are in the wrong place as your dog is not responding like other dogs? Or have you ever thought that your dog is not like other dogs? It could be in a dog training class, a workshop or an online course, and you see other people training and think your dog doesn’t compare. You are not alone, and it’s why I often say to my students, “train the dog in front of you” and “meet your dog where they’re at” so that you and your dog can be a confident team.
In the episode you'll hear:
• What I witnessed happen to a Jack Russell Terrier in group stays at a dog obedience class. • Why we need to believe what our dogs are telling us. • How to use the 5C Pyramid to protect and grow confidence for you and your dog. • Tips on how to know if a dog is ready for challenge. • That your dog not doing what other dogs do does not make your dog bad or you less of a trainer. • Why our dog’s issues are opportunities to grow a deeper connection with them. • How to understand what the dog in front of you needs right now. • What I did with my dog Buzz at agility class when he was young and overexcited. • Why we can set goals, but our dogs set the pace of their training.
I was recently asked, "Do you think there's a way we could instantly make our dog's life better?" and I thought about it and decided it would be a great topic for an episode of Shaped by Dog. The way I narrowed down my list to 7 things might surprise you. The good news is that putting these proven tips into action will not really cost you any more money and will improve life and happiness for all dogs and people.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• The importance of learning a dog's form of communication. • How to know what a dog loves, including favorite foods, toys, and activities. • The value of granting dogs the power of choice. • How to create variety in a dog's life. • About being open to the lessons/feedback dogs provide daily. • Why we should practice compassion in all interactions with dogs. • The significance of providing dogs with a variety of comfortable beds.
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
27 Oct 2023
Halloween Prep For Dogs: Tricks To Make Celebrations A Treat For Everyone #241
Trick or Treat! It’s almost Halloween and although not every country celebrates it, I want to suggest a dog training plan-a-palooza to prep for holidays and celebrations no matter where you live. Halloween and similar events can be scary and dangerous for dogs! I’m sharing common but deadly candy ingredients your dog must avoid, why you shouldn’t take most dogs trick-or-treating and how to prevent reactivity and anxiety when spooky, costumed strangers knock and ding at your door.
• My Halloween dog training plan challenge. • Candy ingredients that are deadly to dogs. • Why we shouldn’t take dogs trick-or-treating (not including service dogs). • How costumed people appear to dogs. • Tips to reduce anxiety for your dog during Halloween. • Why you should never take puppies trick or treating. • Why Halloween is a great time to dog train if they enjoy participating. • How to condition your dog to Halloween costumes and decorations. • Why ItsYerChoice is great to stop dogs from stealing candy. • Why playing Crate Games creates a strong Hot Zone behavior. • How Hot Zone allows your dog to join in Halloween safely. • About Halloween costumes for dogs. • Tricks for your dog to entertain guests from the Hot Zone.
What if I told you that you could dramatically improve the outcome of your dog training sessions in 60 seconds? Using just 1 minute to train and evaluate helps me be far more efficient and create success for my dogs quickly. It’s been part of my dog training for at least 20 years and it’s something everyone can do. This one thing can totally skyrocket your confidence and bring clarity, confidence and calm thinking to dogs.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• All the details of using 60 seconds to your dog training advantage. • What makes a good dog training session. • Key factors for evaluation: environment, criteria, reinforcement, tools, and markers. • Why we should gauge our dog's emotional state before training. • What to avoid in your 1 minute evaluation. • Tips to prevent dogs predicting the timer ends their fun. • How to adjust training plans based on your evaluation insights.
How do you know if a breeder is truly reputable? How do I fit a new puppy into my daily routine? Why do some vets say raw food is dangerous for dogs? How do I calm a leash-lunging dog? What’s the best way to cure puppy separation anxiety? How do I help my hyper dog relax? These are just a few of your questions I’m answering in today’s Ask Me Anything about raising and training brilliant, healthy, joyful puppies and dogs using positive reinforcement.
In this episode I’m asked:
• How to teach self-control to a hyper dog. • How to protect a dog’s confidence and your connection when training games fail. • Does training with treats encourage dogs to follow you instead of settling down? • How do I calm a leash-lunging, reactive dog? • Do I make my own raw dog food? • How to train a puppy with separation anxiety? • Can reinforcement-based dog training really be as effective as balanced? • How many times a week do you recommend practicing agility? • What is overtraining in dog agility? • How many different marker words do you use for one dog? • Why do you name dog behavior rewards differently? • Are there dogs that can’t learn agility no matter your effort? • How did I bring Prophet to Canada from Switzerland. • Why ‘slap’ and ‘push’ dogs when playing tug? • How to help a Border Collie pup who lunges at and chases cars. • How do I balance puppy training and a hectic life? • Do you prefer male or female dogs? • When to reduce treat rewards in dog training? • Are breeders registered with the AKC CKC de facto reputable? • What’s your take? My vet said feeding raw food is dangerous due to disease risk from infected animals. • What’s a good course recommendation for a first-time dog owner who wants to do agility?
If you are trying to train a dog who is fussy about food, or if you know someone who is in that situation, you may think, "this dog training is never going to work." And you know, you're probably right! Training will be a challenge unless you have something of great value for the dog. We’re continuing our focus on how to create food drive with a look at how to structure your dog training to get a transfer of value from things your dog loves to any treat.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• Essential strategies for boosting your dog's food drive. • The importance of exercise beyond a simple walk for your dog's overall well-being. • How restraint recalls can change your dog's physiology and attitude towards nutrition. • Tips for identifying high-value treats that will excite your dog's taste buds and enhance training. • Strategies for experimenting with various types of treats for your dog. • That patience and playing the long game are assets to boost your dog's food drive. • An introduction to the Premack Principle and how it can be applied to training treats. • Why to celebrate success and avoid cheerleading your dog. • The reason to borrow from the way rabbits behave around a dog.
Training Tips From Susan: Reactive Dog Training: Help Dogs Move From Dysregulation To Self-Regulation Case Study
00:06:18
Message From Susan
Hey everyone, it’s Susan, and you’re about to hear one of my training tips and tidbits. These are quick, actionable strategies to help you and your dog in everyday life or for dog sport. Often our short videos with tips are created from your most popular segments of podcast episodes. So, let’s dive in!
Training Tips from Susan: Reactive Dog Training: Help Dogs Move from Dysregulation to Self-Regulation Case Study
If you are training a reactive dog, there’s so much you can do to help them move from dysregulation in the face of triggers to self-regulation. I’ve got a case study of my previously reactive, dysregulated dog This!, covering the steps I took and how strategic co-regulation grew her confidence. Drawing from a game I created for my dog Buzz in the 1990s, a big help to This! was to have her look at what could trigger her and then for her to look back to me. The game is in my book, Shaping Success. For This!, I used a chin target so she was not taken by surprise. There’s more in the video!
03 Nov 2023
Training My New Puppy, What He Knows So Far: Susan Garrett's Plan And Puppy Schedule #243
My puppy, Prophet, turned four months old this week! At this point, the Prophet knows nothing. What!? Now, my definition of ‘know’ is different. Although he doesn’t “know” much, Prophet recognizes many behaviors and several markers, and that’s the start of true understanding. I’m sharing exactly what my daily routine and puppy-training plan looks like and my top priorities for raising a confident, joyful dog.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• What goes into raising confident, joyful puppies. • My definition of a dog truly knowing a behavior. • The difference between a puppy recognizing cues vs. knowing cues. • That when a dog knows the cue, they perform the behavior. • My top priorities when raising a puppy. • About teaching a dog or puppy to want what you want. • My goal is environmental neutrality for my puppy. • A day in the life of Susan Garrett and Prophet the Puppy. • Two reasons to not walk puppies often. • How I create a successful puppy training environment. • About conditioning, shaping and target training for puppies. • The importance of verbal override training for puppies. • Why I always take a puppy to relieve themselves on leash.
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
24 Feb 2022
Average Or Better Dog Training Question: What Did You Just Reward? #141
Imagine if you and your best friend both got puppies who are littermates. And you both train your puppies the same about of time every week, use the same training rewards and follow the same training plan. Then after six months, your friend’s puppy is amazingly well trained, but your puppy does not seem to know much at all. You might think that you got the puppy who was not too bright, but that is not the case. It could all come down to what you are rewarding! We’re talking about why rewarding dogs for “average or better” will fast-track your training success and grow your dog’s skills.
In the episode you'll hear:
• How reinforcement builds behaviour and how the responses we reward will grow. • Why we need to have clear criteria to help our dogs understand what we want. • The reason to ask yourself, “what did that cookie, toy or permission just reinforce?”. • About knowing what average is for your dog’s behaviors. • How your dog is aware of your criteria even if you are not. • About using “average or better” when training a sit. • What a good sit looks like and what you’d not want to see your dog do. • Why to be aware of cheap behaviors that might get built into what you are training. • How average or better will change depending on where you are. • A little test you can do so that you can know your dog’s average or better for sit. • How our dogs can only perform as consistently as our criterion dictates. • That your dog will tell you exactly what your criteria is for what you are training. • About removing Pez dispensing from your training. • What to do for responses by your dog that are below average. • How to set your dog up for success so you can reward average or better.
How would you rate your last three dog training sessions on a scale of 1 to 10? Today I’m sharing my training checklist and how I plan for success in dog training. If you want to train your dog, it’s worth training the best you can. A training plan for your puppy or dog will improve your sessions, increase success, and see your training progress faster.
In the episode you'll hear:
• Why to know if your training is skills, behaviour, manners, sport or fitness. • About your time and the length of training sessions. • The reasons to know the behaviors you will be training. • Why to mix in training something fun, your domino and something new. • How to record keep your training session. • Why to know what training equipment you will use, including rewards. • How I always warm up before a training session. • About knowing what success is and your criteria. • The reason environmental manipulation creates faster success.
Have you heard of the term “anchor dog”? It’s a term I coined for a dog who helps other dogs become more confident. In ancient times, the symbol of an anchor represented safety. Dogs pick up the emotions of people and also of other dogs. If you have a dog who is not confident, an anchor dog can assist you by reducing overwhelm in overcoming challenges.
In the episode you'll hear:
• How I am helping my puppy This! with an anchor dog. • Why different can be alarming for some dogs. • The reason an anchor dog works best if your dog's fear comes from lack of experience. • What makes a great anchor dog. • Why to be aware that confidence is situational. • That you can grow confidence on your own. • Why I like to set up situations so that outcomes can be positive. • What matters when you are using an anchor dog. • The reason to choose an area where you and your dog can get away. • How it starts with the anchor dog out in front. • Why your words about your dog help to set up success. • The reason working through challenges is a process.
Have you ever thought to yourself, “I can’t wait until this dog calms down!”? Or maybe you are embarrassed by your dog’s behavior when you are walking, or your dog gets so over excited they can’t listen? Perhaps your dog barks, lunges, spins, nips, or ignores you near distractions? You might have an over aroused dog! We’re covering what that means and what you can do about your hyper dog to reduce anxiety for both of you and help your dog relax.
In the episode you'll hear:
• How to recognize over excitement in dogs and why any dog or puppy can appear to be out of control. • About your dog’s emotions, physiology and adrenaline rush. • How more exercise or no exercise might not be the answer to help your dog. • The four responses to frustration that we all experience, including our dogs, and how we can change. • How genetics, diet, age, experience, early training, type of training, and frustration response can create over the top dogs. • The reason to lower the perceived excitement value in any situation for your dog. • How we need to raise our dog’s responsiveness when excited, starting at home. • About recognizing your dog’s round holes if they are a square peg and being fair. • 10 steps you can take right now to help your hyper dog, including recognizing triggers. • Why your role to help your dog means that you need to be calm and how to create anchors to achieve that. • The reason to build yourself into your dog’s exercise, so it’s intentional, not mindless. • Why clarity will create confidence and confidence will create calm for your dog.
There's a very good chance that you, like me, want to train your dog with reinforcement. It aligns with the kind of person you want to be both for your dog and for the world. To get really good behaviors with dogs as a positive reinforcement trainer, you have to get masterful at all that is reinforcing. That's the topic of this episode, and I'm including case studies of two of my dogs, Buzz and Belief and the layers of learning with reinforcement that create amazing skills.
In the episode you'll hear:
• A video review and breakdown of retrieve training with my dog, Buzz, from the 90's. • How you troubleshoot dog sports competition training using positive reinforcement. • Examples of popular, but bad, training advice I received that's still taught today. • How my puppy recalls from play brilliantly because of incremental layers of learning. • Why positive reinforcement is new and revolutionizing centuries of dog training. • How I pioneered positive reinforcement in dog agility training, even when told it would not work. • Why dog training using positive reinforcement is more reliable for recalls and more. • Why consent and cooperation create trust for nail trimming, etc. • The importance of knowing and growing what your dog values in different environments. • How dogs learn to earn reinforcement and how the value transfers to you. • Why teaching dogs "do" works better than teaching "don't." • The truth that you're one good strategy away from a better life with your dog.
There are five words commonly used when training a dog. I bet you can immediately think of dog training commands that are in use frequently! Are cues like sit, down, stay, come and okay on your list? One of these words I would never ever use, and I’m sharing why. I believe our dogs put our words into five categories, and I’m covering each cue category and how it relates to what we say to our dog.
In the episode you'll hear:
• How many words dogs can respond to and understand. • What words our dogs will ignore and how that can be inadvertent. • Why there are words that can be confusing for our dogs. • How words can make our dogs happy. • The importance of the tone of our verbal cues. • About the words that can create stress and fear for dogs. • Why sit means sit and importance of a release word. • The one word I never use. • Why some words are ignored or confusing for our dog. • My best advice on selecting cues for your dog. • How some dogs only have micro-seconds to respond to a cue. • About the release cue “break” that I use and one I don’t recommend. • How you can easily change a word to one that will bring your dog clarity.
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
21 Apr 2021
How to Train a Rescue Dog with Behavior Problems #78
When you bring a rescue dog into your family, you want your dog to settle in and be home for life. There are five key things you can do to set your new rescue dog up for success. These tips apply to all dogs! Often rescue dogs might have behavior issues, but you can help with good training and by creating clarity and structure for the new member of your family.
In the episode you'll hear:
• The biggest mistake you can make with a rescue dog. • Why we want to change patterns of behavior rescue dogs might have. • About the honeymoon period when a new dog enters your family and settles in. • What our rescue dog Tater Salad was like when he came home. • The 5 keys to having success when you rescue a dog. • Why to give your rescue dog a new name for a new life. • How to prepare for your dog arriving home and what you need. • About having a daily schedule for your rescue dog. • Why not to take anything at face value until you get to know your dog. • How to keep a journal for your rescue dog. • Why to get real and get honest and to believe your dog. • About creating daily clarity for an amazing life for a rescue dogs. • Why playing ItsYerChoice (IYC) will lift a weight from your dog. • About the importance of focusing on the awesome!
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
28 Jul 2021
Dog Training: The Most Important Lesson I Can Share #100
After 30 years as a professional dog trainer, I’ve learned a lot of things. The most important thing makes dog training far less frustrating. Setting our dogs up for success can set us up for success in many areas of our lives.
In the episode you'll hear:
• How our dog’s behaviours give us all the information we need. • Why I think who we become when we train a dog is as important as who our dog becomes. • What my husband John noticed about me when I was teaching workshops. • The five elements of the belief loop. • How confirmation bias kicks into dog training. • Examples of parenting in the 50’s compared to today. • Why being curious and trying new things is a learning opportunity. • Why I love my dogs to let their light shine. • The reason I want my dogs to confidently makes choices. • About reinforcement and setting dogs up for success. • Why our thoughts influence how we relate to and train our dog. • About asking ourselves important questions. • How you train your dog will change you and the roads you could take. • Why I embrace beliefs that bring out the best in my dogs.
Have you ever wondered how to fix your dog’s unwanted behavior when you want to train with positive reinforcement? In episode 256, I covered the magic question, "What was that cookie for?" that helps us all understand how we may be contributing to the behaviors of our dogs that we want to change. So, I’m following up with my top tips on turning things around. The very good news is that the formula I use to get everything back on track is easy to apply to any inadvertent behavior problem you'd like to change.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• How unintentional reinforcement contributes to unwanted behaviors. • Why our awareness is the start of fixing unwanted behaviors. • That permission, access and what your dog loves are powerful reinforcements. • Real life examples showing what the cookie was for! • Why to check with your Vet before assuming a behavioral problem. • Three ways dogs get educated. • How using the ‘Training Triage’ keeps dogs safe and what to do next. • The formula for triaging your dog's behavior. • The effectiveness of games in dog training. • The role of play in speeding up the learning process. • Challenges associated with low intentional learning and high unintentional reinforcement. • Addressing the belief that reinforcement-based training doesn't work. • How to join Recallers at a discounted rate.
Recallers: Write to us at wag@dogsthat.com with the subject line “FUD/ Fun University for Dogs” for a very special opportunity to join us in Recallers.
There are two types of dogs when it comes to water and going for a swim. Some dogs LOVE water and swimming, and others don’t want anything to do with it. How we teach swimming applies to both kinds of dogs and is different from what you might see others do. Dogs who naturally love to swim can be a challenge, as can dogs who hate water. Help is at hand with my 5 steps for water success for both types of dogs.
In the episode you'll hear:
• Why a dog loving water and swimming can be problematic for you and your dog. • The reason control is essential for swimming and your dog’s safety. • How helping your dog like water is helping them be comfortable with life skills. • That the chance to go for a swim can be a high value reinforcer to use to your advantage. • Why I like my dogs to actually be swim when they are in the water. • Reasons some dogs don’t like going in the water, including being “John Wayned” aka flooded. • How you can easily start with an empty kiddie pool for both types of dogs. • The steps to put going into the water on stimulus control for your dog. • How your dog knowing sit, down and spin helps with water and swimming. • The breakdown of all the elements for water loving or water hating dogs.
Have you ever felt behind in your dog training? Have you ever wondered if you will ever catch up? Have you ever wondered if it was just too late to train your dog, or if your puppy was just too much, and they would never be able to learn? You are not alone! All of us have challenges with our dogs, including me. The more experience we have, the more our confidence grows. And I want you to know it’s never too late to take action, and you are never behind.
In the episode you'll hear:
• How it does not matter what you have now; you can make changes. • That people and dogs of any age can learn. • The strategies that I use to take daily measured action towards a goal. • How the little steps grow to make a difference for you and your dog. • Why it might seem like you have a big gap between what you have and what you want. • The four categories of emotional challenges, behavioural challenges, functional training and fun training. • Why to not put limits on your dog or let anyone else to put limits on your dog. • About having a good proven plan that aligns with the relationship you want to have with your dog. • How you need to create a framework so you and puppy or dog have success. • That you can make the ending better than you ever expected by starting today.
If you were to get 100 of the world’s best dog trainers in a room, there would be a lot of disagreements. However, if you asked, “what’s the number one training mistake people make with their new puppy?” 99 of those dog trainers would give you the same answer. If you were to google, how do I get my puppy to stop, search results like stop peeing in the house, stop barking, and stop putting everything in their mouth, will be returned. These puppy behavior problems are related to the number one mistake dog trainers agree about: giving a puppy too much freedom.
In the episode you'll hear:
• Why puppies can’t have too much freedom without something bad happening. • How puppy zones prevent the rehearsal of undesired behaviours. • About the stages of puppy development related to giving freedom. • How I utilize crates, ex-pens and baby gates for puppy zones and safety. • The reason not to use a doggy door with your puppy. • Why I want my puppies to learn alone time, pottying on leash, and listening indoors and outdoors. • About sleep time, potty time, training time, eating time, exercise time and chill time for a puppy. • Tips for structuring your morning schedule with a puppy to create success.
Imagine a dog or puppy so overwhelmed by everything they see, hear or feel that it causes anxiety and crushes their confidence. Before transforming into a world agility champion, this was my Jack Russell Terrier mix, DeCaff. In part one of this two-part series I’m sharing six lessons DeCaff taught me as well as reflections on how I uniquely approached some of my toughest dog training challenges. DeCaff ultimately blossomed into a brilliant agility dog– as well as a loving, calm family pet – who inspired many of the renowned Recallers online dog training games being played worldwide today.
In this episode you’ll hear:
● DeCaff’s Story: From anxious, over-aroused Jack Russell Terrier mix to world champion agility dog. ● Six lessons, reflections and a few regrets when training DeCaff. ● How DeCaff came into my life by accident. ● When DeCaff first attacked another puppy at 9 weeks old. ● DeCaff’s sensitivity to tactile stimulation and new textures could be overwhelming for agility training. ● Lesson 1: Puppy selection for sport dogs. ● About a dog training seminar trip gone awry. ● How DeCaff’s breed mix made her physiology perfect for canine sports. ● Lesson 2: Importance of arousal state when training dogs. ● About The Yerkes-Dodson arousal curve for peak performance dog training. ● Why to increase your dog’s joy for training in distracting environments. ● Lesson 3: Create a positive environment for yourself and your dog. ● How I discovered my dog’s best reinforcer - the fly swatter. ● Lesson 4: Be sure never to force what you think is important on the dog when you’re picking their best reinforcer. ● Lesson 5: Transfer of value in dog training. ● How DeCaff and I won the ESPN Great Outdoor Games - and $10K. ● Lesson 6: Take the challenge out of your training. ● Reflections on my 3 toughest dogs to train.
The science of Matching Law is vital for everyone with a dog to understand for dog training and daily life so you can get consistent behavior without needing to use punishment. It’s something we can all use to our advantage as positive reinforcement based trainers! Knowing about Matching Law and its relationship to reinforcement value and your dog’s natural drives will help you get great behaviors and give you a strategy to turn not-so-great behavior around.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• What Matching Law is and how it impacts your dog’s behavior. • About reinforcement value and recency. • How different parts of the predatory cycle influence a dog’s behavior. • Real-world examples of how reinforcement works. • Insights into training protection dogs and for bitey sports without punishment (training the out - with reference to my friend Matt Folsom of Modern Malinois). • The importance of understanding your dog’s natural drives. • Practical tips to use Matching Law to your advantage. • About Matching Law in day to day life and dog behavior. • How to use your dog's favorite reinforcements to your advantage.
Choosing the best dog toy for any activity will lead to success. The toy you choose needs to be safe and suit the purpose. Before I was a professional dog trainer, I never gave any thought to toy selection apart from if a toy appealed to me. Since those days, I’ve created systems and processes for toy selection to benefit my dogs. Picking the wrong toy can set your training back and could be dangerous. Picking the right toy will set you and your dog up for success.
In the episode you'll hear:
• The six categories that toys can fit into and the best toys for each. • About looking at what’s on the end of a tug toy. • What toys are best, and what toys never to choose for retrieving. • Why never to play fetch with sticks and not let your dog carry a stick. • My thoughts on tennis balls that you might not want to hear! • Toys you can use to exercise your dog. • How toys for training help educate our dogs. • Why to consider where you will reward your dog for toy selection. • What to know about toys that deliver food to your dog and where to use them. • About toys that are entertainment for dogs. • How to use toys for enrichment and what to consider about your dog’s safety. • The toys you can make at home that won’t cost you anything.
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
11 Nov 2022
Proofing Vs Generalizing In Dog Training To Grow Skills And Confidence #184
When I first started dog training 30 or so years ago, I was studying the sport of dog obedience because I wanted to compete. We were taught to lure our dog to do what we wanted and then move to the proofing stage. When proofing, we were looking for errors to test how well the dog understood what we’d taught them. And if our dog failed, we were instructed to give them a correction. What if we changed our mindset from proofing to building confidence? We’re covering how to help our dogs clearly understand what we want in any location and situation.
In the episode you'll hear:
• How you can have a well-trained dog without using corrections and intimidation. • What proofing in dog training is and why it can create unrealistic expectations. • About the acquisition and fluency stages of training a dog. • How we can look at any behavior we are training as just one trick. • That fluency will let you know what your dog really understands. • How to generalize behavior, so your dog has the confidence to perform anywhere. • Why generalizing leads to environmental neutrality for dogs. • Bob Bailey’s 80% rule and using Jean Donaldson’s ““Push, Stick or Drop” to determine that 80%.
Answering your top questions on reactivity, dog behavior, agility, frustration, sports dogs, neutering and more! You'll hear tips on training multiple dogs, strategies for improving focus, impulse control, and drive, and how to handle things like lunging, growling, nipping and jumping up. If you have any other questions I didn’t cover, jump over to YouTube and let me know in the comments. Your questions are always so insightful!
In this episode, I’m answering your great questions:
• Do dogs benefit from being in a multi-dog household or are they happy with human company? • I'm struggling with drive to show my dog that agility is fun. • I suspect my dog is having early takeoff at agility. Can I still do the sport? Is it selfish to want to continue? • Over arousal in the agility ring. • How often a sport dog should see specialists and which ones? • Neutering. When or when do I not neuter? Also, how to handle high sexual arousal for intact dogs. • I feel like crap when I lose my patience. • How do I train more than one dog at a time? • Reactivity, reactive dogs. Reactivity, if you don't have the ability to keep a dog away from all the triggers. • I need help practicing greeting people on leash when my dog shows leash reactivity, lunging, growling, jumping. • How do I set my dog up for even more success if he gets easily frustrated? • How do I use play to reinforce a cue? Can play replace food as a reinforcer? • Herding, nipping when overexcited and herding breeds.
"Just stop watching!" coming from Susan Garrett might surprise you, but I've got tips for mastering active learning when viewing dog training videos! Turn any training video into a powerful tool for success and discover how to get more out of dog training online with effective strategies to accelerate success for both you and your dog.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• How to watch dog training videos with a clear purpose to boost your success. • The difference between recognition and recalling information, and why it matters for dog training. • Tips for breaking down training videos into actionable steps. • 3 steps I use for intentional learning. • Why focusing on one skill at a time can make a huge difference in your dog's progress. • What to watch for to make your training sessions more effective.
Recently, dog training advocate Zak George asked me about crossover dog trainers, and framed the question in such a different way that it inspired replying with a podcast episode. When I crossed over from balanced training to reinforcement based training in 1996, many people asked me why and told me it would not work. I'm sharing my start in dog training, pivotal moments, people and dogs that led me to change my approach, what I learned about myself along the way, and the reasons I never went back.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
• About my transition to becoming a crossover dog trainer. • The question from Zak George that inspired this episode. • When I decided to leave balanced training behind. • What I learned from my terrier puppy, Shelby. • The book that changed my thinking - Don’t Shoot the Dog! by Karen Pryor. • When I first saw true autonomy in dog training and how choice transformed my approach. • About my "Shaping Badly" era. • How learning from Bob and Marian Bailey helped me refine my training with clarity and intention. • The shift to shaping with success. • Why judgment holds trainers back. • That change is possible. • Reasons trainers resist crossing over to a positive reinforcement approach. • A special offer for podcast listeners who want to be coached by me and my team.
We’re talking about trick training for dogs; it’s fun and easy! Can you remember the very first thing you trained a dog to do and how you went about training it? The first thing I trained a dog to do was to dance. It was when I was a kid with our family dog, Tina the Poodle. Training tricks with our dogs is something I consider important, and there are three favourite tricks that I think all dogs should learn.
In the episode you'll hear:
• About our feelings when we are training tricks. • What I noticed about my Border Collie, Stoni, in the Obedience Ring. • Why everything can be a trick to bring joy to us and our dogs. • My progression as a dog trainer and transitioning to shaping behaviors. • How trick training provides a model for clarity for our dogs. • Why trick training teaches our dogs never to give up. • About the elements of strength, flexibility and proprioception when choosing tricks. • How to train your dog to hand target. • About the ways to shape your dog to pivot on a perch. • The steps for training your dog to wave.
Links Disclosure: Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
16 Sep 2020
Understanding and Preventing Reactivity and Aggression in Your Dog #29
Today’s topic covers the serious issue of reactivity and aggression in dogs. If you have a challenge with your dog, I strongly advise that you seek out the help of a Certified Veterinary Behaviorist who is equipped to deal with these issues in a reinforcement-based program. Seek the help of a qualified professional who will, where needed, use pharmaceutical intervention to help create a different reality for your dog, so your dog does not go through life feeling the need to react.
I’m sharing how what is “different” can lead to reactivity or aggression, and how a lot of aggression is learned. It’s not that there is something wrong with the dog. You can help your dog to catalogue experiences in a way that is appropriate for their well being and yours.
In the episode you'll hear:
• Insights into why aggression can be a learned behavior. • How you and your dog can have better outcomes. • What stimulus is, and what’s good, innocuous and not good for your dog. • Understanding stimuli from your dog’s perspective. • Why “different” creates a response in your dog. • How your dog’s curiosity could lead to reactivity. • What a dog’s cautious curiosity can look like. • The importance of what happens during and after our dog displaying curiosity for something that is different. • The two strategies you need for changing a trigger and minimizing the stress of an experience for your dog. • Why you should believe what your dog is telling you. • What you can do to help your dog.
Did you know that there are four ways to train a dog? That's what we're talking about in this episode, and how science plays a part in successfully shaping behaviour. We'll also look at the best way to get your floor swept! It's got everything to do with behaviour. After this episode, you'll be able to tell if you are the shaper or shapee. Step outside the box and into learning about creating lasting behaviours.
In the episode you'll hear:
What is shaping and how you can use it.
The four ways to train a dog.
All about "hope" training.
How you can easily alter behaviour.
Where "outside the box" thinking fits into dog training.
I’ve done several episodes on puppy biting, but my new Border Collie, Prophet, is one of the bitiest I’ve ever owned. Today I’m expanding on how to save your feet and hands from puppy teeth with the top ten reasons puppies bite, the biggest mistakes we make during puppy biting, and a preventative action plan for puppy biting I’ve never shared before. Plus, a great new Plan B game for when the puppy is actively biting you. Remember that most biting and nipping is natural as puppies explore new environments with their mouths, so have realistic expectations for your new family member.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• Why puppies bite and games to get you through this phase. • The 10 reasons puppies bite. • How to manage your puppy biting expectations. • Tips to build your puppy’s brain, body and connection with you. • Mistakes puppy owners make that increase puppy biting. • My Puppy Biting Prevention Protocol. • How to play the Consent & Console Game to mitigate puppy biting.
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
In this episode, we’re looking at how Hollywood has made life incredibly difficult for dogs. Because life is not like the movies. The truth about dogs is if Timmy fell down that well, he’s very likely going to stay there.
In the episode you'll hear:
What would really happen if Timmy fell down the well.
How movies create unrealistic expectations for dogs.
Who our heart dogs are.
How to create an environment of success for a dog.
How a great relationship with a dog is made in real life.
The importance for our dogs of living a life of clarity.
Do you know anybody who is thinking about getting a new puppy or a dog? Maybe it’s you! There are things to know before you add a canine family. Every dog deserves a great life, and every human being deserves a life with a great dog in it.
In the episode you'll hear:
Things to know before you get a puppy or dog.
Where you can save money and where you should never cut costs.
The high-grade stainless-steel bowls Susan uses are from Basis Pet. Click here for Basis Pet Dog Bowls on Amazon with all the details - https://geni.us/StainlessBowls
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
18 Dec 2024
Do 99% Of Dogs Really Have Behavior Problems? Unpacking The Truth Behind Claims And What You Can Do #292
Do over 99% of dogs really have behavior problems? For claims like this we should be unpacking the truth and looking behind the headlines! We all want our dogs to reach their full potential, so I’m doing a deep dive into the study that sparked the “99%” headline and exploring the dog behavior problems cited like aggression, separation anxiety, and fear. When we understand our dog’s behavior we can help them live their best life and shine.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
• About the claim that over 99% of dogs have moderate to severe behavior issues. • 3 key reasons a dog might be off kilter and the role of nutrition, pain, and illness. • That there are no naturally good dogs. • Why we need to embrace curiosity and seek solutions when facing behavior struggles. • My personal experiences with behavior challenges in my dog, This! • What’s behind the “99%” headline. • Why it’s important to dig deeper into your dog’s challenges to help them.
Why is it important to walk your dog daily? Besides the obvious health benefits of exercise, we’re looking at the advantages of daily dog walking that many people don’t realize. Sometimes people can give a list of reasons not to walk their dog, so we’re covering why to start and what defines appropriate exercise for dogs.
In the episode you'll hear:
• That our dog Tater Salad does not particularly like walking at certain times. • About the health benefits of walking for dogs. • What my friends Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib say about canine exercise. • Why leaving your dog out in the backyard is not exercise. • That dogs benefit from a change of scenery and it can reduce stress and behavior issues. • How taking your dog for a walk presents great training opportunities. • The reason to find opportunities for your dog to go for a run off leash. • About walks being relationship building and special adventure time for you and your dog. • That walks have benefits for us and how I make a habit of gratitude when walking. • What types of dogs should not be walked and what you can do instead. • The common denominator in dogs with long life spans.
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
12 Mar 2025
Why In 2025 We Still Have Dog Trainers Who Believe “Reinforcement Dog Training Doesn’t Work“ #297
Have you heard the news that positive reinforcement doesn't work? The truth about the dog training success enjoyed by positive reinforcement-based dog trainers comes down to application, and I'm sharing examples that will be familiar to everyone with a dog. Whether you're dealing with a reactive dog, struggling with agility training, or want to improve your training skills, I've got practical insights based on real-world scenarios to help everyone with a dog succeed.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
• Why some trainers claim positive reinforcement-based dog training doesn’t work (and why they’re wrong). • The biggest mistakes people make with dog training that lead to frustration. • The importance of Desentisation, Counterconditioning and Operant Conditioning to ensure positive reinforcement-based training works for any dog. • Real world examples of using positive reinforcement-based training to help dogs with motion sensitivity, reactivity, distractions, and engagement for working with you. • Why masking emotions with food or toys won’t work and what to do instead. • What Reverse Conditioning and why to avoid it. • About the downfall of cookie-stuffing and what to do instead.
Has your dog ever done something suddenly and without warning? A growl, snap, bite, or behaving in a way that is of character? Sudden behavior change could be the result of trigger stacking. Stacking triggers is your dog accumulating stress. All the small stressors become a big thing, and that last trigger in the stack is the equivalent of the straw that broke the camel’s back. We’re looking at stress reduction and trigger stacking prevention to help dogs have a long and happy life.
In the episode you'll hear:
• How different triggers have different intensities for dogs. • That we also experience trigger stacking. • The way dogs can express trigger stacking. • Examples of triggers getting stacked for your dog. • About adrenaline, cortisol and over threshold dogs. • What to look for in your dog’s body language. • The things that could create trigger stacking. • How our dogs take on our emotions. • What to do when you see your dog is stressed. • About stress recovery and your dog’s cortisol level. • How the way we train reduces stress in dogs. • About generalizing positive conditioned emotional responses. • Why to counter condition and desensitize to remove triggers. • That stress reduction helps dogs have a long and happy life.
Together, we’re overcoming emotional barriers so you can stop letting self-doubt and fear of criticism hold you back from becoming a better dog trainer. One of the most powerful tools I recommend for dog training is videoing your sessions, but it’s a big block for many people. I’m sharing tips on overcoming negative emotions, getting unstuck, and how to watch your video while silencing your inner critic. It’s time to give yourself grace and stop letting fear get in the way so you and your dog can start growing together!
In this episode, you’ll hear:
• What everyone needs to know about helping their dog grow. • How emotional barriers like perfectionism and self-criticism hold us back. • Ways to reframe negative emotions to embrace vulnerability and progress. • Why videoing your dog training is a game-changer for growth. • How negative thoughts keep us stuck and what to do to break free. • The importance of intentional training for building your dog’s drive and focus. • How I still find room to improve after nearly 40 years of dog training. • Tips for focusing on the positives in your videos to enhance your mechanics. • Why videoing reflects your dog’s experience with you and helps you grow together. • Opportunity to join Home School The Dog at 83% off. • How giving yourself grace can strengthen your connection with your dog.
Special Chance to Join Home School The Dog at 83% Off Write to us at wag@dogsthat.com with the subject line “Self-Love” for a special opportunity to join Home School the Dog.
Do you ever wish your dog could really stay when you ask? Like when you're eating dinner, and you ask your dog to go on their mat, or maybe you put them in their bed so you can answer the door. There are many times in life when we want our dogs to wait with duration. Training your dog to stay no matter what, starts with them knowing what to do and when it’s over.
In the episode you'll hear:
• The different ways of dog training a stay. • Why lizard brain freeze is different to a dog understanding stay. • How I start training duration behaviours like sit, down and stand. • The layers dogs need from introducing a behaviour, so they can be an elite expert. • How to start stay training easily with a puppy. • Why I reward the pause to start understanding of stay. • About knowing what you are rewarding and how permission is a reinforcer. • How the Collar Grab Game, Tug, ItsYerChoice, and Crate Games help you. • Why Crate Games, along with Hot Zone, grows your dog’s clarity for release cues. • How to use ABCD so that your dog understands how to wait.
It's not uncommon to know you should be training your dog, but you just don't feel like it. You can't motivate yourself. And you might look at your dog and can tell that your motivation carries over. If you have ever found yourself unmotivated and in need of inspiration, you are going to love this episode. It does not matter what you are working on, or what challenge you want to overcome; you can find success leaves clues.
In the episode you'll hear:
• About checking in with yourself to see how you feel. • What Lou Holtz says about the “why” and purpose following passion. • About your feelings for your dog and how they can give you focus. • The difference being busy and being purposeful. • About your dog’s motivation. • How to use D.A.S.H. for you and your dog. • Reasons cheerleading is not what you want to do. • The inadvertent behavior chain that cheering can create. • Why short sessions will help low drive dogs and high drive dogs. • About using food rewards to help your high drive dog with focus.
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
12 Oct 2022
The Game Within The Game: How To Multiply Your Dog’s Reinforcements #182
To the uninitiated, reinforcement based dog training looks as if you have to walk around with a boatload of cookies or else you are not going to get your dog to do what you want. That’s just not true. But if you are carrying cookies everywhere, I’m covering how we go about reinforcement based training differently so that you can transfer the value of those cookies to you with games within games.
In the episode you'll hear:
• What I learned about games in a summer job on a dairy farm. • The definition of primary and secondary reinforcers. • An example of a game-within-a-game to teach a dog to easily line up at your side. • The steps to using a hand target for your dog to line up to your side. • What the Karate Kid has to do with dog training. • How the transfer of value works with games within games. • About a game I played at Chicken Camp with Bob and Marian Bailey. • How the transfer of value from games creates connection, focus and drive. • All the reasons my dogs sit at doors, and it’s not about being a control freak. • That all of life is a game-within-a-game creating a deep connection with our dogs.
The inspiration for this episode comes from a walk with my dogs. My puppy, This!, was on leash, and my adult dogs were milling about freely. All of a sudden, a large bunny crossed our path 5 meters ahead. My adult dogs did not really notice the rabbit as it was the equivalent of white noise for them. For my puppy, it was a LOUD noise, a siren, she for sure noticed! Is it that my puppy just does not get my training, or is it that she has just started her education?
In the episode you'll hear:
• My checklist of 5 items to include in your training to ensure your dog gets it. • The layers of learning that I put into my dog training and for my students. • What our layers of learning are from Kindergarten through to University and beyond. • Why our dogs need a structured educational program. • The reason we don’t control our dog but look at the environment. • What I do instead of saying “Leave It!” to my dogs. • All the things that I teach my dogs to help dim the loud noises like bunnies or cats. • Why to progress your dog’s decision making, so decisions become bigger and better. • What I do that is different to old-school dog training programs. • The importance of congruency and consistency. • Reasons why some dogs just don’t get it, including fear and a dog’s purpose. • How structured building blocks create transformation and confidence. • Why we want an engaged, safe environment that encourages learning. • About balancing success with challenges and the relationship with dopamine. • Why rehearsals of success lead to successful performances.
If you’ve ever trained your dog in public or put a video on social media, chances are somebody has offered you unsolicited training advice. Likely it’s advice you don’t need, don’t want, and most certainly didn’t request. How to deal with it is a question we see frequently, so if you have ever received unsolicited dog training advice, this episode is for you!
In the episode you'll hear:
• That our job is always to protect and grow confidence for our dog and ourselves. • How the advice you receive might be coming from a good place with helpful intent. • The chances of a random stranger having any credentials in dog training is very low. • How your internal dialogue is the most important thing, followed by your external response. • What you can do to be proactive and why to think about your recovery response. • That you can deflect to me if needed, and that advice might be like an offer to change a tire. • How to handle online interactions and that when you feel furious, it’s time to get curious. • What to do about unsolicited advice or dog training when it’s from visitors in your home. • About dealing with unsolicited advice when it comes from an authority like your Vet. • Why to never hand your dog over to anyone to “deal with” without asking questions.
Dog training by nature is quite nuanced. Now, there are behaviors that everyone can get at some level with their dogs, like sit and down and fetch, but to get really brilliant behaviors, we need to understand the nuances. The really good news is that even if you’ve never trained a dog before, you can get this dialed in, and I’m covering what to look for with Hot Zone training as an example and have practical tips for you to try right away.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• Why understanding dog training nuances is important. • About the nuances in the release process of duration behaviors for dogs. • A recent scenario involving the Hot Zone and the nuance I found missing. • Why dogs relaxing in their Hot Zone is important. • Tips to try when playing the Hot Zone game with your dog. • Why to notice everything that reinforces your dog, including cues. • What to do when your dog leaves the Hot Zone without a release. • Nuances you could be missing and how to build your dog’s understanding.
In 2012, my dog Encore almost died. I’m sharing her story with you, and the six incredibly valuable lessons learned from Encore’s near-death experience and recovery.
In the episode you'll hear:
• Why Encore became my puppy and her early life with me. • The signs we started noticing from when she was around 5 years old. • When her neurological symptoms became more apparent. • About Encore’s seizure, and the night she almost died. • Knowing your critical care solution for your dog. • Why talk to your dog every day. • The reason you need a baseline of skills for your dog. • What happened with Encore’s immune system. • About looking to alternative modalities. • The importance of appreciating each and every day. • My initial thoughts on the longevity of dogs.
This episode could save your dog's life. It could save a child. It could prevent someone from getting a serious injury from a dog. A dog has many ways to communicate how he is feeling and what his intention is. The challenge is that we sometimes misread or misunderstand what a dog is telling us.
Have you ever felt stuck when you are training your dog? Or wondered what to do when things aren't working? I’m sharing how to troubleshoot, adjust, and turn things around with a fix for common mistakes. We’re looking at why training might not be working, what to do about it, essential foundations that make all training easier, and strategies to put on the brakes when things are going in a direction you don’t want.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
• Why dog training sometimes doesn’t go as planned and what to do when your dog just isn’t getting it. • What should be included in your strategic protocol (Relationship, Recall, Retrieve and Reinforcement Zone) and how they impact training success. • About the key training games and exercises: ItsYerChoice, Crate Games, Relaxation Protocol, Tug Games, Hot Zone and Perch Work. • How to join the ItsYerChoice Summit, 100% free. • Why “Criteria is Joy.” • Why having a dedicated Training Den helps build confidence. • The importance of establishing and transferring value. • How to create clarity in training so your dog understands exactly what you want. • About recognizing signs of frustration in your dog and taking their feedback. • The key to adding distractions, duration, and distance without overwhelming your dog. • How to adjust your training plan so your dog succeeds. • My best tip: Take a Paws (pause!) when things aren’t going right - small changes can make a big difference!
The first day with your new puppy is a critical start your relationship. When a puppy comes into your home, they are fully capable of learning the moment they arrive. It’s super important to be intentional about how your puppy goes about life from the moment they join your family.
In the episode you'll hear:
• The essential things to do during your puppy’s first 24 hours at home. • What to avoid doing with puppies in the first few days. • Why to talk to your puppy’s breeder or rescue organization. • What to know about what your puppy has been eating, their potty training experience and if they have had any crate training. • What I feed my puppies and how to select dog food. • Why to plan to be home for a few days when your puppy arrives. • About the importance of protecting your puppy’s mental and physical health and how to create positive associations with you. • How puppies explore with their mouths and five ways to set your pup up for success. • Where to create puppy zones and what they are. • About the importance of creating a schedule for a puppy to thrive and the schedule I use for a pup. • How to make your puppy’s first week one of comfort and confidence. • The games to play with puppies and the toys I use. • Why your puppy needs to know who is safe and about socializing with people and dogs. • What not to do with your puppy. • Why to write to us wag@dogsthat.com with the subject line “I am committed”.
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
08 Mar 2023
Solve Your Dog's Separation Anxiety With FRIDA: Expanding Calm With Functional Relaxation #200
If you've ever owned or seen a dog who suffers from separation anxiety, you know how heartbreaking that can be. I'm sharing a 10-step protocol that will turn the dog training world on its head because it's like nothing that is out there for separation anxiety help. It's the FRIDA Protocol created by two of my European students, who are amazing dog trainers, Nadine Hehli and Simone Fasel, to help their rescue dog Frida with her extreme separation anxiety. The protocol is now helping many more dogs, and I'm bringing you the steps to overcoming canine separation anxiety for our special 200th episode of Shaped by Dog.
In the episode you'll hear:
• A case study of Nadine and Simone's rescue dog, Frida, who overcame severe separation anxiety. • Why typical approaches to separation anxiety don't work for extreme cases. • The 10 steps of the FRIDA Protocol to help dogs with separation anxiety. • What equipment you'll need to get started, including a snuffle mat and remote feeder. • The foundations for success with the FRIDA Protocol. • Why functional relaxation to create calm for dogs is a critical component. • Reminders about the body language of calm dogs vs. anxious dogs. • When and how to introduce remote feeders and WiFi cameras to work through separation anxiety. • How to begin fading in barriers that allow the dog freedom of movement in their "Fortress of Calm". • When to introduce "Hidden Treasures" for your dog. • Why remote feeders aren't babysitters. • When and how to leave your dog home alone for the first time. • How to create calm relaxation for your dog in other places like the car.
Separation Anxiety Online Program: Register your interest in having Nadine and Simone’s Online Program for Separation Anxiety in English - https://dogsthat.com/separation-anxiety/
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
08 Mar 2024
Shaping Tips For Timid, Shy, Softer Or Fearful Dogs To Create Enthusiastic Learners #264
Have you tried shaping a timid, shy, softer or fearful dog and found your dog could not offer behaviors or engage in dog training sessions? The challenge is real! Recently, we looked at shaping high-drive dogs, but what about dogs on the other side of the spectrum who seem unmotivated? Help is at hand, and we’re covering how to shape more reserved dogs to grow their confidence, unlock their full potential, and rapidly increase their joy and enthusiasm for training with you.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• Shaping confidence for reserved, timid, shy, or fearful dogs. • The importance of training the dog in front of you. • About learning from my less confident dog, Decaff. • A review of the confidence triangle for dogs. • Why mindset is everything in training your dog. • Common assumptions about shaping less motivated dogs. • Why you need clarity over complexity for better results. • All about the Yerkes-Dodson's curve and its role in understanding arousal levels in dogs. • The importance of planning training environments strategically to optimize learning. • How to manage frustration effectively. • How to implement location-specific markers like “Cook” and “Search” to enhance training engagement. • Learning the “Flirt Pole" game to build confidence and drive. • Innovative games like “Hand Targets with a Twist” for engagement. • Empower your dog's choice through the ItsYerChoice Summit for better training outcomes. • How confidence grows with Crate Games and other tricks to keep training fun and rewarding.
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
What you are about to hear could well be a paradigm shift. In dog training lingo, we call the rules we have for our dogs “criteria”. For a dog to have an amazing life there needs to be some training, and your understanding of criteria is going help your dog find joy in all that you do together.
In the episode you'll hear:
• How your dog’s behaviour impacts his life. • The breakdown of the criteria you need for your dog’s understanding of “sit”. • What WACC is and how it defines four elements of joy in criteria for your dog. • The reasons your criteria should change in different settings. • Why what you are asking needs to be worth your dog’s while. • About criteria from your dog’s point of view. • The difference between “want to” and “have to”. • Another of my pet peeves about dog training. • What happens when different people in the same home have different rules. • The importance of consistency and how sometimes is anytime for your dog. • Why I googled “how do I get my dog to..” • The three approaches of ignore, manage, or train.
If you hear dog training advice based on the Dominance Theory, it’s time to rethink that approach. I’m diving deep into what you need to know about dog trainer red flags and choosing a method to prevent harmful mistakes that lead to lasting success for you and your dog. I’m sharing why these outdated, force-based beliefs can damage your relationship with your dog. Plus, what everyone needs to know to choose dog training built on trust, empathy, and kindness, which creates a deep, lasting bond with dogs and effective training results.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• Why dominance theory is outdated and harmful to dogs. • How belief systems create confirmation bias in dog training. • The Fight, Flight, Freeze, Please responses in dogs facing conflict. • Whether problem behaviors are solved or just masked in training. • How to recognize red flags when choosing a dog trainer. • Steps to recognize and address emotional issues in dogs before beginning training. • Strategies for teaching incompatible behaviors to overcome challenges like jumping or chasing. • The importance of understanding your dog’s body language for better communication. • How to create a kinder, more compassionate bond with your dog. • More about what kind of relationship you want with your dog. • Why dogs learn to live by your rules, even if it is unfair. • Why dogs don’t understand “stop” and what to do instead. • Steps to create value for the behaviors you want. • Why dog training is a conversation between two friends. • About my special opportunity to join Home School the Dog.
Home School the Dog Opportunity: Write to us at wag@dogsthat.com with the subject line “New Outcome”
Have you ever wondered what the best gift is for a dog owner or someone about to become a dog or puppy owner? We can probably all agree that the surprise gift of an actual puppy or dog is the worst idea because life is not like TV or the movies! I might have a little bit of an obsession with dog beds, toys and leashes, but I don’t believe they are the best gift for a dog lover. So, what will see someone respond to your thoughtfulness with “this is the BEST GIFT EVER!”?
In the episode you'll hear:
• Why education is the ideal gift for anyone with a puppy or dog. • The reason people benefit from learning before getting a dog. • What is taught in traditional dog training classes. • How we don’t have remote control dogs. • That education should be functional is integrative as dogs are part of our lives. • About the progressive layers of choice to empower you and your dog. • How dogs can show us they are amazing with the right education. • The absolute best time to learn how dogs communicate with us. • Why the gift of knowledge can change lives. • How the best teaching for dogs and people creates teamwork and a relationship of joy. • About believing in all that is possible for dogs and the people who love them.
Resource:
• https://shapedbydog.com/gift - learn about our dog training programs and how to gift someone special in your life. - https://shapedbydog.com/gift • Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/8-KTRX7unzs
15 Dec 2021
Puppy Socialization: Playtime For Puppies And Permissions #127
If you have a puppy, you’ve probably heard that your pup needs to socialize with other puppies and dogs. But what does that mean exactly? How much play is enough or too much for your puppy? Does it mean playing with all other puppies and dogs? We’re looking at critical guidelines and tips for success with puppy playtime, so it’s safe, builds confidence and grows your relationship.
In the episode you'll hear:
• How socialization through play helps puppies with life skills. • The non-verbal communication that pups need to learn. • The reason we don't want puppies playing on slippery floors. • How to make sure the environment is safe for puppies. • Why we want our dog's playmates to give great communication signals. • About keeping playtime short for puppies. • How to be involved in puppy playtime. • The ways you can break off a puppy play session. • That safe play between puppies or dogs involves consent. • How to use "go play" to associate the fun with you. • Why permission to play will grow your puppy's focus for you. • About making sure your puppy gets enough sleep.
Puppies pee for one of three reasons; they might have a bladder infection, their bladder is full and they need to relieve themselves, or they pee because they are excited or a little bit afraid and don’t even realize they are doing it! Often puppies pee when they greet people, and it’s not a conscious choice on their part. It’s not a housebreaking issue and has nothing to do with potty training. We’re talking about overexcited peeing and submissive urination and what you can do to help your puppy or dog.
In the episode you'll hear:
• That excited or submissive urination comes from emotions and your puppy is not aware they are peeing. • Why your dog peeing in excitement or fear has nothing to do with house training. • How helping your puppy starts with building their confidence. • The factors contributing to submissive urination including tone of voice, eye contact and body movement. • How it could happen when you force your puppy to do something when they are not ready. • The seven ways you can prepare for excited or submissive urination and what not to do. • Why to practice calm greetings with your puppy or dog. • About the two different approaches to take to fix your puppy’s unconscious elimination. • How to change your puppy’s focus with a quick fix and toys or treats at your door. • About the empowering fix to grow your puppy’s confidence. • Why to create a new trigger for your puppy and how your visitors can help with calm greetings. • The reason to practice my greet and re-greet protocol to rehearse success.
**Disclosure: Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You can check out our full Affiliate Disclosure here . Thank you!
20 Nov 2020
Don't Wanna, Don't Hafta: What To Do When Your Dog Refuses To Obey #47
If you have a dog, there will come a time when your dog will say to you “Don’t Wanna, Don’t Hafta”. That is the moment when you ask your dog to do something, and he ignores you. The question is, what do you do when this happens? I’m sharing what I do when my dog says “no” and the questions we need to ask ourselves. In the resources below, I’m referencing a number of previous podcast episodes that I strongly encourage you to check out with the context of what I say here in mind.
In the episode you'll hear:
• Why it’s important to value compassion more than ambition. • Your right to have expectations about how your dog behaves. • About your dog’s competing values. • Why considering your dog’s stage of learning is vital. • The importance of asking yourself if your dog is saying no due to fear. • What I noticed with my puppy This! in class recently with a golf cart. • My 5 keys for working through “Don’t Wanna, Don’t Hafta”. • How to rehearse your dog doing what you ask, when you ask, with fun games. • What it means to be the keeper of the joy. • About hard-wired behaviours and “Don’t Wanna, Don’t Hafta”.
How do you pick a puppy? Even if you are not selecting a puppy, a lot of these concepts apply to a rescue dog. I’ve just raised a litter of puppies, and one will stay with me as my next dog, so I’m covering my tips, plus how my puppy chose me!
In the episode you'll hear:
• How our rescue dog Tater feels about living in a family of Border Collies. • The considerations about what sort of dog is best for you. • How Tina the Poodle came into our family when I was a kid. • Why to set an intention about your next dog. • The three areas I look at when picking my puppy. • What to consider about structure and temperament. • What you need to know about puppies and temperament tests. • About what your heart tells you and why I’m big on the woo. • Why to trust the breeder of your puppy if you have done your research. • The reason to not second guess yourself. • About the adventures that led me to my new puppy. • Who my next dog is and her name!
Spoiler Alert Puppy Names: Moira Rose - Say Yes to Inspired Moments - Dream Alexis - Say Yes to Playing for the Moment - Swish David - Say Yes to Making the Moments Count - Mission Stevie - Say Yes to Being in the Moment - This!
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
Hey everybody! I've been wanting to do a podcast for a long time. There's a lot of planning, and lot of things to learn. But, I woke up one morning and decided that "done is better than perfect", and here we have it, our very first episode of my "Shaped By Dog" podcast.
In the episode you'll hear:
Why "done is better than perfect" in life and dog training.
I use a simple dog training rule with all my dogs and teach that same rule to my students. The rule is easy to implement and will exponentially improve your dog training success, help your dog learn faster and grow your dog’s confidence. It has everything to do with the rate of reinforcement and how to reward your dog to build good behavior. Only 2 in 30 people follow this rule, but we can get that number much higher after this episode!
In the episode you'll hear:
• About the data I collected around success habits in dog training. • How dogs respond if the dog training is confusing for them. • The ratio of 2 of 30 people who create success with mindfulness. • Why to reduce the use of non-reward markers in dog training. • The reason to interrupt your dog when they get something right! • Why to believe your dog when they answer your dog training questions. • How to reward your dog in a behavior chain using fetch as an example. • An example of being 2 of 30 when you are training in dog agility. • Why a high rate of reinforcement increases your dog’s success and confidence. • How to ask your dog training questions and take action on the answers. • About Screw Up Cookies for dog training and why to use them. • How and when to reward your dog for what you love.
When is the right time to start agility training with your puppy? That's a popular question I receive, and I'm sure other world champions also get asked! So, to answer, I’m covering everything you need to know about starting agility with a puppy, including the most important factor, and when and how I begin training. Even if you don't do agility, what I'm sharing can apply to a wide range of activities we enjoy with dogs, including being amazing members of our family.
• When to consider starting agility training with your puppy, beyond growth plates. • The factors I consider before starting a puppy in agility. • How to create success, safely and fun for agility puppies. • About the physical and mental readiness needed for agility obstacles. • The four R’s - Relationship, Recalls, Retrieve, Reinforcement Zone. • What’s important about agility handling, verbal cues and discriminations. • How to use jump grids and fitness exercises to prepare your puppy. • My personal experiences with my own agility dogs as puppies. • Why I love forest fitness for a puppy's development. • How to manage the intensity and frequency of agility training for puppies.
Holiday celebrations are a great time for all of us, but they can be very stressful for our dogs. There are many things you can do to help reduce the stress for your dog when you have visitors or are visiting someone else. We’re covering important tips that will keep your dog safe, children safe and help everyone experience happy holidays.
In the episode you'll hear:
• Why holidays can be overwhelming for dogs. • What you can do to prepare for the safety of your dog. • The reason your dog needs a safe space to relax. • How playing games will help your dog and are fun for everyone. • Why to make sure your dog exercises before you have guests. • About trigger stacking and keeping your dog under threshold. • How to prepare your guests for interaction with your dog. • Why people need to know how dogs say “no, thank you.” • About being the best advocate for your dog. • What to pack for your dog if you travel to celebrate. • How to set your dog up for success if you visit someone else.
PDF Download: Click here for your coloring download for dog safety. - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/128
Reinforcement based dog training almost sounds too good to be true. Being able to have the dog of your dreams without ever physically correcting your dog or yelling or telling your dog “NO” sounds amazing. But what happens when your reinforcement does not work, and you end up living with what appears to be a four-legged monster?
In the episode:
• About one of my student’s dogs, Riko, who seems to be out of control. • Why I believe our dogs are doing the best they can with the education we have given them. • How reinforcement-based dog training has a bad rap in a lot of circles. • About “positive not permissive”, something I’ve been talking about since 1996. • How dogs need clarity and why clear is kind. • The way to set up your ex-pen and why to use a crate. • Why I love to see dogs have joy in their life. • About the significance of what happens with dogs in the morning. • Why to know what you are really reinforcing. • What a pause is and why we need to create that pause for our dogs. • About my morning routine with my puppies and extending the pause. • How to start getting a pause with enterichement and then intentionally growing it. • Why dogs need to learn we won’t always be in the room.
I use shaping rather than luring with food or toys in my dog training. In the 80s, I was taught to food lure and correct, learned to do it well, and luring brought me a lot of success in obedience and agility. Luring can have benefits, but I decided to change. When I say I don't lure, it always gets a lot of comments and questions on social media, so in this episode, I'm covering the top ten reasons I prefer shaping.
In the episode you'll hear:
• The advantages of luring, how it can be easy to teach people, and its popularity. • What I heard from my mentors Bob and Marian Bailey about luring. • How my dog Shelby gave me my first “ah ha” about luring. • About a class I took at University and what I learned about backwards conditioning. • A review of Pavlov’s experiment with bells, food, and dogs. • What happens in dog agility and other sports with luring and dogs who love to chase. • How luring can turn into bribing the dog, and that dopamine kicks in at choice points. • What I noticed about motivation and treat bags when I was teaching dog trainers in Japan. • About pattern training and its relation to luring dogs. • How the value dogs have for the food can override everything. • The reason to know what you are reinforcing when your dog sees the cookie. • That shaping gives us layers to create complex behaviors. • Why I think shaping can become part of our whole life.
In episode 236 I detailed 10 reasons why dogs might show fear. In today’s part two, I’m giving you a strategic plan to help fearful, anxious dogs grow into calm, confident family pets. My uncommon approach is a game changer for dogs that are constantly afraid, anxious, over-reactive, or extremely excitable. Be sure you’ve listened to Part 1 first so you can identify the triggers that might be contributing to your dog’s fear. Leave me any questions below and here’s to helping you and your dog create a joyful life together!
In this episode you’ll hear:
• Susan Garrett’s strategy for overcoming fear in dogs. • When to seek help from an applied veterinary behaviorist. • The science behind Susan Garrett’s dog training methodologies. • Myths about reinforcement-based dog training. • How to observe your dog’s body language. • The steps to identifying triggers and good environments to train. • About Classical Conditioning aka Pavlovian Conditioning for fearful dogs. • Why I use both Classical and Operant Conditioning for helping fearful dogs. • Published research on Classical plus Operant Conditioning for overcoming fear in rats. • How dogs habituate and generalize fear triggers into white noise. • The Triangle of Growing Confidence for dogs. • The transfer of value into games your dog loves to play. • Two categories of valuable games. • The Yerkes-Dodson Curve of Arousal in animals. • Examples of compound games for dogs. • Valuable calm games for dogs. • How to play the games at the place and time your dog is most comfortable. • How to create a distraction-free training den. • How to use the hierarchy of reinforcement for rewards. • My Success Story: Triangle of Confidence for my scared dog, This! • That counter-conditioning fear takes more than treats. • How to get all the dog training games with coaching support
Join Home School the Dog or Recallers Email us at wag@dogsthat.com with the subject line: “I’m ready to invest in my dog.”
Do you take your dog on vacation or for road trips? It will help make your holiday great if you plan ahead and prepare your dog for car rides, consider safety for your trip, know where to take breaks along the way, and where to stay when travelling by car with your dog.
In the episode you'll hear:
• About planning so that your vacation is enjoyable for you and your dog. • Why to consider what your days will be filled with when you are away. • How to prepare your dog for your trip away. • About the car crates that are safe for travelling and the options of canine seat belts. • How playing games on your trip helps makes the experience fun for your dog. • That including ItsYerChoice in your games is important for your dog’s safety. • Why you really want your dog to pee and poop when on leash. • About enrichment for your dog when you are relaxing. • What to pack for your dog when travelling with them. • Where to stop with your dog along the way to your destination. • How to make your stops and stays safe, interesting, and comfortable for your dog.
*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
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