

Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett
Susan Garrett
Susan Garrett, world-renowned dog trainer, multi-time champion of dog agility, and leading educator on all things canine shares everything related to dogs! Susan understands dog behaviour and wants you and your dog to have the best life together possible.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 26, 2025 • 6min
Training Tips From Susan: Listening To Your Dog's "No" And Building A Better "Yes" Together
Discover the importance of listening to your dog's 'no' as a signal for necessary training adjustments. Learn how to minimize distractions and create a stress-free environment for your dog. Explore counterconditioning techniques to address fear and discomfort. Find out when to take a pause for pain recovery and how to slowly reintroduce training. Finally, engage your dog with fun games that enhance consent and build a stronger bond, ensuring training is both rewarding and enjoyable.

4 snips
Sep 24, 2025 • 8min
Training Tips From Susan: How To Use Everyday Reinforcement To Grow Lasting Skills
Unlocking your dog's potential is easier than you think! Discover how to make food their favorite motivation and turn it into a tool for brilliant behaviors. Learn to play games that teach your dog to work for rewards rather than expect them. Ignoring demanding behavior can help create a more respectful dynamic. Want longer-lasting skills? Stretch those intervals between rewards! Plus, find out how to chain behaviors through strategic play for reliable results and deeper connections with your furry friend.

Sep 19, 2025 • 3min
Training Tips From Susan: Mini Q&A With Susan: Cue Clarity And Start-Line Focus For Agility Success
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! Mini Q&A With Susan: Cue Clarity And Start-Line Focus For Agility Success In this mini Q&A, I'm diving into cue clarity and start-line focus for agility success, sharing how I track and rehearse my cues so they become second nature, and how I help dogs bring calm, confident focus to the start line. Watch the full video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RITzOlo6uw8

Sep 17, 2025 • 5min
Training Tips From Susan: Why Consent Matters: Building Trust And Choice In Dog Training
Discover why consent is crucial in dog training! Learn about expressed versus implied consent, and how giving dogs choice fosters trust and confidence. Susan emphasizes the importance of being attentive to your dog's signals, whether it's during play or health care activities like nail trims. She also warns against using tactics that manipulate consent and explains how clear communication can enhance your dog's participation and joy in training!

5 snips
Sep 12, 2025 • 3min
Training Tips From Susan: Mini Q&A With Susan: Body Awareness Exercises And My Warm-Up For Dog Agility
Delve into essential body awareness exercises tailored for dogs across all life stages. Discover the significance of warming up and cooling down routines to enhance strength and mobility. Learn techniques like sit, down, stand, and sidestepping that are crucial for agility training. This discussion provides actionable insights for preparing your dog for success both in sports and everyday activities.

8 snips
Sep 10, 2025 • 5min
Training Tips From Susan: How I Create A Relationship Where My Dog Wants To Work With Me (And How You Can Too)
Dive into the world of dog training with insights on creating a strong bond between you and your furry friend. Discover how engaging through play enhances learning and cooperation. Learn the importance of understanding your dog's values for effective teamwork. Training doesn’t have to feel like a chore—it's all about building trust and connection. These quick, actionable strategies ensure your dog will want to work with you, making every session a joy for both of you!

Sep 5, 2025 • 5min
Training Tips From Susan: Mini Q&A With Susan: How To Keep Connection Strong And Motivation High In Dog Agility
Discover effective strategies to strengthen your connection with your dog during agility training. Learn about the importance of clear communication and consistent handling to enhance motivation. Dive into actionable tips that ensure both you and your furry friend enjoy the agility course together. These insights promise to elevate your training experience and deepen your bond!

Sep 3, 2025 • 11min
Training Tips From Susan: The Step-by-Step Plan That Turns Hesitant Dogs Into Happy Swimmers
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! The Step-by-Step Plan That Turns Hesitant Dogs Into Happy Swimmers I'm sharing my step-by-step plan that turns hesitant dogs into happy swimmers by building confidence one stage at a time. You'll learn how to create positive associations with water, keep the process fun, and set your dog up for success every step of the way. Watch the full video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oexSF-V3ELg

Sep 3, 2025 • 6min
Training Tips From Susan: How Dopamine Drives Your Dog's Motivation And Training Success
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! How Dopamine Drives Your Dog's Motivation And Training Success I'm sharing how dopamine drives your dog's motivation and training success, and why finding the right balance is the key to making training more rewarding and addictive for your dog in the best possible way. Watch the full video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMzI6VzIU_w

Aug 29, 2025 • 15min
Dog Agility Foundations: Train World Champion Skills Right In Your Living Room! #311
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Ever wonder how world champion agility dogs are made? I'm sharing how to build dog agility foundations and train skills right in your living room! From simple daily games to fun exercises, discover the secrets that helped all 11 of my dogs reach the top, while creating a confident and focused dog that makes brilliant choices. Whether you're new to agility or already competing, you'll discover practical ways to bring out the best in your dog while having fun together. In this episode, you'll hear: • How all 11 of my dogs achieved top-level success in agility. • My early beginnings in the sport and my experiences. • Why so-called "naughty" dogs can shine in agility. • The common myths about what makes a good agility dog. • How to build value for multiple reinforcers: food, toys, and most importantly, YOU. • Why "learning how to learn" is an important skill for dogs. • About the role of recall and Reinforcement Zone in developing focus. • How to build attention even in distracting environments. • Why "Spotlights" (location-specific reinforcement markers) create clarity and confidence. • How simple choice games like "This or That" accelerate learning. Free ItsYerChoice Summit Learn How to Play ItsYerChoice - https://recallers.com/iycsummit-join/ Resources: 1. Podcast Episode 177: Dog Training Outside The Box: Transfer Of Value Case Study - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/177/ 2. Nina Ottosson's Puzzle Toys - https://www.nina-ottosson.com/products/all-products/ 3. Podcast Episode 302: The Recall Myth: Why Your Off Leash Dog Isn't Coming When Called And How To Fix It - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/302/ 4. Podcast Episode 242: Help! Why Won't My Dog Pay Attention? (Secrets Of Focus) - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/242/ 5. YouTube Video: Understanding Your Dog's Reinforcement Zone (RZ) with Susan Garrett - https://youtu.be/OaUAScgaFAg 6. Blog Post: How to Use the Distraction Intensity Index to Help Your Dog - https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2020/09/distraction-intensity-index/ 7. Podcast Episode 6: The Art of Manipulation - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/6/ 8. Podcast Episode 151: How Location Specific Reinforcement Markers Will Improve Your Dog Training! - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/151/ 9. Podcast Episode 32: 20 Easy Ways to Exercise Your Dog at Home - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/32/ 10. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/gLiRTY9iNrc


