How To Train A Dog From Day One: Avoid Common Puppy Mistakes Through Games & Enrichment #308
Jul 23, 2025
Discover essential strategies for training puppies and rescue dogs right from day one. Uncover the importance of understanding canine communication and how every behavior sends a message. Learn why positive reinforcement doesn't mean permissiveness and how structured games can transform your puppy into an eager learner. Delve into the pitfalls of hoping for good behavior rather than planning for success. Explore the role of enrichment and how mindful training investments shape lifelong outcomes. Real-life examples illustrate the impact of reinforcement on behavior.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Intentional Raising Produces Excellence
Susan Garrett raised 11 once-in-a-lifetime dogs through intentional methods.
Each dog became phenomenal and avoided common puppy problems.
insights INSIGHT
Hope Isn't Enough for Puppies
Relying on hope for a "good" puppy leads to frustration and challenges.
Every puppy can become great with intentional training and structure.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Prevent Unwanted Behavior Rehearsal
Prevent the rehearsal of unwanted behaviors in puppies to avoid future challenges.
Use structured game-based training to set puppies up for success from the start.
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Wondering how to train a puppy or dog from day one or avoid the most common mistakes? It’s easy to hope things will just work out, but that approach often leads to frustration and unwanted behaviors. I’m sharing how games, enrichment, and simple structure can help you raise a confident, connected dog right from the start. The big thing to remember is that all behavior is communication, and whether you have a brand-new puppy, a rescue dog or even dealing with unwanted behavior from your current dog, you’ll get clear, actionable strategies to set them up for lifelong success.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
• Why “positive is not permissive” in dog training. • How all behavior is communication and how to understand what your puppy is telling you. • How to prevent rehearsals of unwanted behaviors. • What happens when you hope for “a good one” instead of planning for success. • How games turn curious puppies into eager learners. • The role of enrichment and why letting dogs choose their own can backfire. • What to do when your puppy rehearses something unwanted. • What being “the gatekeeper” is and how it helps with recall, greetings, and impulse control. • How small time investments now shape your puppy’s future. • Real-life examples of how access to reinforcement shapes behavior. • How small early investments in training lead to massive long-term results.
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Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett