Visit us at shapedbydog.com    Have you ever watched those of us who have dogs on the same wavelength as us, and we ask them to do something, and they do it immediately? The dogs are excited and engaged, keen to listen, and can't wait for the next thing we ask them to do. Now, you might look at your dog’s behavior and think, "that's not possible for me!" but I believe it is possible for you, and I believe the possibility is closer than you may think.   In the episode you'll hear:   • How having a dog enthused to work with you is easier than you think. • The three possible relationships we have with dogs and why I want harmony. • Why being curious about outcomes creates success. • A reminder that progress is not linear but a journey of peaks and valleys that teach us. • How to create value for yourself in your dog's eyes • Tips for transfer of value with a puppy or rescue dog. • Why playing games creates confidence and joy in your dog. • How the layers of learning stack so your dog can be brilliant and engaged. • That behavior is information about what a dog needs and their communication. • Why giving dogs a choice makes them enthusiastic about engaging with us. • About considering ego or soul in your relationship with your dog. Crate Games and ItsYerChoice Get Crate Games Online: https://get.crategames.com/ Learn how to play ItsYerChoice: https://recallers.com/iycsummit-join/   Resources:   1. Podcast Episode 189: All The Things That Influence Your Dog’s Behavior And What Behavior Tells You - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/189/ 2. Podcast Episode 177: Dog Training Outside The Box: Transfer Of Value Case Study - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/177/ 3. YouTube Playlist: Puppy Essentials with Susan Garrett Dog Training - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2hywpv3Md3HbWWPPbVF8W5 4. Podcast Episode 78: How to Train a Rescue Dog with Behavior Problems - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/78/ 5. YouTube Playlist: How to Train a Dog to Sit and Stay: Step-by-Step Guide with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2Hq4zfUmUf5VKNGAn3gwsD 6. Podcast Episode 145: 10 Ways To Teach A Dog To Lay Down And How To Shape It Without Luring - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/145/ 7. YouTube Playlist: Reinforcement, Permissions and Transfer of Value in Dog Training with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy1IUj_4P54q2PIuLNtnXjFO 8. YouTube Video: Puppy's First Training with Susan Garrett: Shaping, Targeting and Collar Conditioning - https://youtu.be/ticB_1Twx6E 9. Podcast Episode 40: Using A Head Halter On A Dog, Why My Approach Is So Different - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/40/ 10. Podcast Episode 153: Dog Muzzles: Everything You Need To Know And How To Muzzle Train Dogs - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/153/ 11. YouTube Playlist: Dog Training Games with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2TzttCtZVFwzwMGayAsaYe 12. Home School the Dog - https://dogsthat.com/hstd-joinnow/ 13. Recallers - https://recallers.com/ 14. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/SdCQuzXcm2M

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    Somebody has likely told you that not all dogs can be trained the same way and that different methods are needed for different dogs. Is there truth behind this? I'm covering how different dogs might need different training approaches, but the word philosophy should replace method. Plus, I'm sharing why the dog training philosophy I choose aligns with my heart and an invitation to everyone to consider trying something different.   In the episode you'll hear:   • How any dog can be trained using kindness, clarity and choice-based games. • Why my philosophy doesn't involve the use of positive punishment. • That the expectations of ourselves should be higher than those we put on our dogs. • The difference between dog training philosophies and dog training techniques. • How my training approach will differ for dogs as individuals. • About the dark history of dog training and its slow evolution. • How my training method was mocked decades ago but is now widely adopted. • My invitation to open-minded dog trainers who use positive punishment. • How confirmation bias subtly influences our worldviews. • Why I choose to train with kindness, choice, clarity, and positive reinforcement. • Different ways I change my training technique based on what a dog needs.   Resources   1. Podcast Episode 150: Adding Mindset To Your Dog Training Tools: Who Do You Become? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/150/ 2. Podcast Episode 146: Balanced Dog Training: Does It Really Exist? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/146/ 3. Podcast Episode 33: How Do I Stop My Dog Counter Surfing?! - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/33/ 4. Podcast Episode 189: All The Things That Influence Your Dog’s Behavior And What Behavior Tells You - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/189/ 5. Podcast Episode 176: Why Your Dog’s Emotions Are A Critical Element Of Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/176/ 6. Podcast Episode 46: Is Your Dog Trying to Dominate You and What You Can Do About It - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/46/ 7. Podcast Episode 187: When To Listen To Your Heart In Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/187/ 8. Podcast Episode 175: Food Luring VS Shaping In Dog Training: How Science Changed How I Teach Dogs - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/175/ 9. Podcast Episode 8: Get Your Dog in the Belief Loop of Awesome - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/8/ 10. YouTube Playlist: Susan Garrett's Dog Training Philosophy and Training Processes - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2An5_3KqDPqFVV6J6dYsYx 11. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH1JqN34Sr0&feature=youtu.be

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    This episode is brought to you by YOU! I’m answering questions submitted on the DogsThat socials on wide ranging aspects of life with dogs – including how human personality types impact training and dog choice, perseverance when progress stalls, fixing broken recall words, over-aroused dogs, barking in hounds, my fitness regimen, living with littermates, ignoring wildlife, weave poles, handling the unexpected, and so much more.   In the episode you'll hear:   • Answers to your popular questions about dogs. • Does an owner’s personality influence their dog training? • How to persevere in the midst of a dog training struggle. • How to fix a broken recall word and when to replace it. • What are dog instincts and over-arousal, and can they be inhibited or leveraged? • How do you get hounds to stop barking? • How do you physically train yourself? • Advice for training littermates - multiple dogs that are siblings with separation anxiety. • How to become an accredited reinforcement-based dog trainer in an unregulated industry. • When to start weave poles for agility dogs? • Thoughts on office dog behavior and training requirements? • Best car travel safety tips and products for dogs of all sizes? • What to do when another dog attacks yours? • How to react during sudden scares on walks and loud noises. • Is there any breed unfit for first-time dog owners? • Coping with cliques in dog sports. • How do you train a dog to ignore wildlife? Recallers Discover more and join our waitlist: https://recallers.com/   Resources   1. DogsThat on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/susangarrettdogsthat/ 2. DogsThat on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/susangarrettdogagility 3. YouTube Playlist: Dog Won't Listen or Ignores You? - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy0HiauCoyVrDAWr1VeAWPES 4. Podcast Episode 191: Get Your Dog To Calm Down With This Common Sense Protocol For Relaxation - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/191/ 5. Functional Patterns - https://functionalpatterns.com/pages/find-a-practitioner 6. Podcast Episode 181: Training Multiple Dogs to Wait Turns and Relax - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/181/ 7. Podcast Episode 37: Dog Training As a Career - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/37/ 8. The Academy for Dog Trainers (Jean Donaldson) - https://www.academyfordogtrainers.com/ 9. IAABC - https://m.iaabc.org/ 10. Karen Pryor Academy - https://karenpryoracademy.com/ 11. Susan Garrett’s Playlists on our DogsThat YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DogsThat/playlists 12. Podcast Episode 164: The Danger Of Car Travel For Dogs: Evaluating Your Risk - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/164/ 13. Podcast Episode 45: My Dog Just Got Jumped, Now What? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/45/ 14. YouTube Video: Should My Dog Be Off Leash Right Now? - https://youtu.be/CiygnLThS6Y 15. Podcast Episode 24: Help for Dogs who Chase Chipmunks, Bicycles, and Neighbor’s Cats (Distraction IntensityIndex) - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/24/ 16. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/12oI1_gKwMs

Discover how to create a calming protocol for your dog that can be beneficial in high-stress situations like vet visits and travel. Learn about effective triggers for relaxation and intentional techniques to help anxious pups settle down. Uncover the power of breathing exercises to reduce stress and the importance of positive conditioning for relaxation cues. Embrace fun games like ItsYerChoice to encourage a chill state, and explore tips on assessing your dog's emotional well-being for a happier, calmer companion.

Discover the effectiveness of daily quickies in dog training, growing and maintaining behaviors, acclimating dogs to grooming, teaching manners and skills, training techniques like targeting and loose leash walking, building a comfortable relationship with your dog, and creating a positive reinforcement environment.

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    Recently I came across an envelope containing all my report cards from kindergarten through university. Reading over my teachers' comments was an enlightening study of behavior and how I adapted in the face of challenges. I'm sharing what I noticed with you as there's a parallel with dog behavior and why they do the things they do. Behavior can fall into seven distinct categories, and understanding the influence of each category is massively beneficial for us to know what dogs are communicating.   In the episode you'll hear:   • An overview of my school report cards and what they show about my behavior changing. • How my teachers’ observations reflected the adaptations I made due to dyslexia. • Why labels, absolutes and assumptions about a dog can limit their learning. • That dog training is never a linear path, and we are always relationship building. • About the 7 categories of Genetics, Health, Education, Exercise, Sleep, Environment and Nutrition and how each can influence a dog’s behavior. • That our dog’s behavior is information and gives us great feedback to help them. • Why the question “what else might be true” is vital to ask yourself. • That unconditional love means allowing your dog to communicate through behavior.   Resources:   1. Podcast Episode 50: Can Your Worst Challenge Make You a Better Dog Trainer? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/50/ 2. Podcast Episode 71: Pro Dog Trainer’s Secret to Help Your Naughty Dog - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/71/ 3. Podcast Episode 186: 2 Types Of Connection With Dogs: Dog Agility And Daily Life Case Studies - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/186/ 4. YouTube Video: Normalizing Imperfection in Dog Training - https://youtu.be/X_f1hm_XhJM 5. Podcast Episode 188: Why You Should Change Your Strategy Rather Than Your Criteria When Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/188/ 6. Podcast Episode 74: Yes, Susan Garrett’s Dogs Sniff On Walks - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/74/ 7. YouTube Playlist: Puppy Essentials with Susan Garrett Dog Training - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2hywpv3Md3HbWWPPbVF8W5 8. YouTube Playlist: Fearful Dogs Help with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy0KAsqgnkMWv0v-5JGjNQG_ 9. YouTube Playlist: Exercising Your Dog's Body and Mind: Tips and Games with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy1ISzbaoCNh0NyLg3qgDG58 10. Podcast Episode 120: The Rhythm Of Life With Puppies And Dogs - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/120/ 11. Podcast Episode 62: 12 Keys to Helping My Dogs Live a Long and Happy Life - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/62/ 12. YouTube Playlist: Susan Garrett's Dog Training Philosophy and Training Processes - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2An5_3KqDPqFVV6J6dYsYx 13. Podcast Episode 46: Is Your Dog Trying to Dominate You and What You Can Do About It - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/46/ 14. Podcast Episode 150: Adding Mindset To Your Dog Training Tools: Who Do You Become? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/150/ 15. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/Tce597xfqA4

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    As a professional dog trainer, I regularly see a lot of people working with their dogs. A common error people make when things don’t go well is changing criteria in the middle of training to help their dogs be successful. At first glance, this might make sense, but today we’re talking about why it’s a huge mistake, where it could lead you, and what you can do instead.   In the episode you'll hear:   • Why criteria will help your dog and reduce frustration. • The reason changing your strategy is better than changing the goal. • How consistently reinforcing the behavior you want creates clarity. • Why to remember that ‘sometimes’ is ‘anytime’ for dogs. • How to create calm confidence and set training up for your dog’s success. • About splitting things down to grow correct behaviors without changing criteria. • Examples of changing strategy with weaving and targeting in agility and trick training backing up.   Resources:   1. Podcast Episode 155: 10 Ways To Teach A Sit WITHOUT A Food Lure! Unreal Results For Puppies And Dogs Of All Ages - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/155/ 2. Podcast Episode 172: How To Teach Your Dog Anything With My Training Plan - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/172/ 3. Podcast Episode 114: Dog Agility Training: 3 Big Mistakes All Dog Owners Should Avoid - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/114/ 4. Podcast Episode 141: Average Or Better Dog Training Question: What Did You Just Reward? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/141/ 5. Podcast Episode 27: Do Dogs Need Rules? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/27/ 6. YouTube Playlist: Loose Leash Walking with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy1mGMfdVKXq_hiJ27Ej1shW 7. Crate Games Online - https://get.crategames.com/ 8. Podcast Episode 110: Is Your Over-Aroused Dog Just Over-Faced In Training? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/110/ 9. Podcast Episode 139: Remove Confusion And Build Your Dog’s Confidence With One Simple Dog Training Habit - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/139/ 10. YouTube Playlist: Target Training for Dogs with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy3ylCyQ2bJQSCwo_ERiVHj3 11. Podcast Episode 87: Canine Fitness: Why ALL Dogs Need It And 3 Easy Exercises To Start - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/87/ 12. Podcast Episode 32: 20 Easy Ways to Exercise Your Dog at Home (Includes Back Up) - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/32/ 13. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbpocBiKbfM

Visit us at shapedbydog.com   I’ve met a lot of people at the crossroads of their dog training and looking to go in a more reinforcement-based direction, but they’re worried it won’t work due to old beliefs and habits. Unless you were one of the lucky few to learn nothing but reinforcement-based dog training, leaving behind the familiar for something new naturally creates fear and vulnerability, especially when surrounded by so-called ‘experts’ and naysayers when you encounter challenges. We’re covering how to recognize belief loops that could be holding you back.   In the episode you'll hear:   • That safety for everyone is your first priority in dog training. • Why to choose your experts carefully for your sake and your dog’s well-being. • The reasons dog training knowledge should always be growing and evolving. • How belief loops and confirmation bias impact your dog training and decisions. • Why it’s not necessary to be your dog’s dominant leader. • About protecting yourself from naysayers and uninformed opinions. • Why giving dogs opportunities to earn high value reinforcement creates deep connection.   Resources:   1. Podcast Episode 112: Stressed Dog? How Trigger Stacking Might Be Putting Your Dog Over Threshold - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/112/ 2. Podcast Episode 58: How to Create Kid Friendly Dogs and Dog Friendly Kids - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/58/ 3. YouTube Playlist: Dog Bite Prevention with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2Cvc3386SVYrHSEgh5Pl0b 4. YouTube Playlist: Dog Body Language, Communication Signals, and How to Read Dogs with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2IwzRwAWcG0yK8oez1nPU0 5. YouTube Playlist: Reactive or Aggressive Dogs: Key Insights with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy0Tbd6ZybIXgJk3mtpBLLk7 6. YouTube Playlist: Susan Garrett's Dog Training Philosophy and Training Processes - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2An5_3KqDPqFVV6J6dYsYx 7. Podcast Episode 46: Is Your Dog Trying to Dominate You and What You Can Do About It - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/46/ 8. Podcast Episode 8: Get Your Dog in the Belief Loop of Awesome - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/8/ 9. Podcast Episode 100: Dog Training: The Most Important Lesson I Can Share - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/100/ 10. YouTube Playlist: Reinforcement, Permissions and Transfer of Value in Dog Training with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy1IUj_4P54q2PIuLNtnXjFO 11. Podcast Episode 24: Help for Dogs who Chase Chipmunks, Bicycles, and Neighbor’s Cats (Distraction Intensity Index) - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/24/ 12. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/lb6sGuqE6mk

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    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.   Connected Dog Video Series Click Here To View The Videos And Play The Games (https://dogsthat.com/cybercentral/)   Resources:   1. Hear From Jenny Kerwick About Her Amazing Agility Transformation - https://youtu.be/UbJhz6pbYtg 2. Watch The Story of Moshi the Shia Inu And Growing Connection With Cait - https://youtu.be/G7kz051u7uU 3. Podcast Episode 36: Puppy Selection: How I Do It and Why I Didn’t This! Time - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/36/ 4. YouTube Video: Normalizing Imperfection in Dog Training - https://youtu.be/X_f1hm_XhJM 5. Podcast Episode 122: Being Present With Empathy In Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/122/ 6. Podcast Episode 114: Dog Agility Training: 3 Big Mistakes All Dog Owners Should Avoid - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/114/ 7. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/2xDj32Ff0Ng

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    As a professional dog trainer, I can assure you there are six words that your dog training coach never wants to hear. You might think those words are "but he does it at home," and that's close, but they are actually "tried that and it didn't work". We're covering what's going on with those words for you, your dog, and your coach and how to turn it around. Considering alternative dialogues promotes critical thinking and keeps communications open.   In the episode you'll hear:   • What to consider when your dog doesn't respond to training methods. • Why anyone can call themselves a professional dog trainer. • What Bob Bailey says about anyone being able to train anything given enough time. • That when you say, "it didn't work," you might be shaping your coach. • A better strategy that you can use to get great feedback. • That none of us know what our dogs are thinking. • Why you want a conversation based on intentionally clear statements and questions. • What tactics help if you are the coach hearing "it doesn't work". • Why dog trainers should consider their role and goal with students. • That we need to be more intentional about the action we are taking.   Resources:   1. Podcast Episode 142: Giving And Receiving Constructive Feedback About Your Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/142/ 2. Podcast Episode 184: Proofing Vs Generalizing In Dog Training To Grow Skills And Confidence - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/184/ 3. Podcast Episode 157: Dog Body Language: Understanding Canine Communication Signals And Emotions - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/157/ 4. Podcast Episode 182: The Game Within The Game: How To Multiply Your Dog’s Reinforcements - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/182/ 5. Podcast Episode 133: Become Your Own Dog Training Coach With This Video Strategy - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/133/ 6. Podcast Episode 83: The Dog Training You Do When You’re Not Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/83/ 7. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/2Y8lomnqt7Y