Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett The Thing You THINK Calms Your Puppy... #320
Dec 10, 2025
Discover the magic of lick mats and how they can provide calm for anxious puppies. Uncover the 'thing before the thing,' where anticipation can lead to excitement rather than peace. Learn effective strategies like using exercise and enrichment before introducing lick mats. Explore different stages of using lick mats, from simply distracting anxious pups to conditioning calm behaviors. Finally, understand the importance of using these tools intentionally, rather than as a long-term crutch.
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Anticipation Amplifies Puppy Behavior
- Puppies often escalate whining/circling because preparing a reward (like a lick mat) becomes a cue that predicts the reward.
- Susan Garrett explains that this anticipation amplifies behavior until the puppy screams for the lick mat.
Doodle Visit And The Terriers' Kitchen Antics
- Susan Garrett recounts visiting a friend whose doodle became calmer immediately with a lick mat in an X-pen.
- She uses a terrier story to illustrate how food prep cues produce circling, whining, and jumping.
Give Mental And Physical Stimulation First
- Before giving a lick mat, stimulate the puppy with training or a walk to reduce baseline restlessness.
- Use off-leash sniffing and recall practice for mental and physical fulfillment when possible.