Visit us at shapedbydog.com    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%.   Resources:   1. Podcast Episode 172: How To Teach Your Dog Anything With My Training Plan – 5C - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/172/ 2. Podcast Episode 24: Help for Dogs who Chase Chipmunks, Bicycles, and Neighbor’s Cats (Distraction Intensity Index) - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/24/ 3. Blog Post: Head Games - https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2009/10/head-games/ 4. YouTube Video: Susan Garrett Riffs on Transfer of Value in Dog Training (and water loving Labradors) - https://youtu.be/clFlutZ0mls 5. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/FKUo3NWXhLE

Visit us at shapedbydog.com     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.   Resources:   1. Podcast Episode 172: How To Teach Your Dog Anything With My Training Plan – 5C - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/172/ 2. Podcast Episode 138: Frantic Dog? Are You Training Both The Hold And The Do? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/138/ 3. Podcast Episode 29: Understanding and Preventing Reactivity and Aggression in Your Dog - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/29/ 4. Podcast Episode 168: Creating Confidence For Anxious, Stressed Or Reactive Dogs Part 1 - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/168/ 5. Podcast Episode 169: Dog Training A Stressed, Anxious Or Reactive Dog Part 2 - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/169/ 6. YouTube Video: Susan Garrett’s Perch Work Dog Tricks (Pivots and Spins) – Hot Zone - https://youtu.be/O6sj6fTJnFc 7. Crate Games Online - https://get.crategames.com/ 8. YouTube Playlist: Target Training for Dogs with Susan Garrett - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy3ylCyQ2bJQSCwo_ERiVHj3 9. YouTube Playlist: Dog Body Language, Communication Signals, and How to Read Dogs with Susan Garrett - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2IwzRwAWcG0yK8oez1nPU0 10. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/wORARsMN85Y

Visit us at shapedbydog.com     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.   Resources:   1. YouTube Playlist: Susan Garrett's Dog Training Philosophy and Training Processes - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2An5_3KqDPqFVV6J6dYsYx 2. Podcast Episode 68: 3 Easy Tricks Every Dog Should Know - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/68/ 3. Podcast Episode 5: What is Shaping And How Can Dogs Shape Us - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/5/ 4. Podcast Episode 147: Teach Your Dog To Listen Off Leash And Far Away - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/147/ 5. Podcast Episode 172: How To Teach Your Dog Anything With My Training Plan - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/172/ 6. Crate Games Online - https://get.crategames.com/ 7. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/PzFKfs90VXA

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    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.   Resources:   1. Crate Games Online - https://get.crategames.com/ 2. Podcast Episode 134: How To Teach A Dog Stay WITHOUT Luring, Collar Pops Or Using The Word “Stay” - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/134/ 3. YouTube Video: Susan Garrett’s Perch Work Dog Tricks (Pivots and Spins) - https://youtu.be/O6sj6fTJnFc 4. Learn ItsYerChoice - https://recallers.com/iycsummit-join/ 5. Podcast Episode 137: Is Your Dog Hyper At Home? How To Teach Relaxation - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/137/ 6. Podcast Episode 172: How To Teach Your Dog Anything With My Training Plan - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/172/ 7. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/u4L-ra0fwc8

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    When you have a new puppy, safe socializing is important. Something to consider is taking a pup to outdoor cafes or restaurants. When you do it right, there are many benefits. But if done badly, your puppy could end up overwhelmed or having a bad experience and becoming fearful. I’m covering all the steps to grow your puppy’s confidence when dining out at a pet-friendly venue so you can enjoy a coffee or meal with family and friends.   In the episode you'll hear:   • All the benefits of taking your puppy to an outdoor café, restaurant, or similar. • That planning and preparing starts with knowing your puppy. • How growing confidence in new environments is crucial. • Why to have a backup plan and what that could be. • The three games that prepare puppies to relax in new spaces. • What to bring (and not bring) to the restaurant. • Tips on what to practice at home before going to new locations. • How to be intentional about picking the right table in the right location. • The training plan I use when I have my puppies out at cafes or restaurants. • All the steps to making dining out with you a positive experience for your puppy.   ItsYerChoice Summit: Learn how to play ItsYerChoice: https://recallers.com/iycsummit-join/   Resources:   1. Blog Post: Have You Tried A “Puppy Adventure Trip?” - https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2015/05/have-you-tried-a-puppy-adventure-trip/ 2. Podcast Episode 130: Conditioned Responses: The Magic Every New Puppy (And Dog) Owner Must Know About - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/130/ 3. Crate Games Online - https://get.crategames.com/ 4. Podcast Episode 32: 20 Easy Ways to Exercise Your Dog at Home (Hot Zone) - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/32/ 5. Podcast Episode 134: How To Teach A Dog Stay WITHOUT Luring, Collar Pops Or Using The Word “Stay” - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/134/ 6. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/hJnyW7mROxI

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    My dog won’t take treats outside! Is that something you’ve ever said or heard? We’re looking at the challenge of a dog refusing treats as a case study, as training will be so much easier if your dog loves food, especially if you are working on things like loose leash walking or helping your dog with reactivity. I’ve got an outside the box training plan for you to get your dog loving treats no matter where you are.   In the episode you'll hear:   • The physical reasons a dog might be refusing to take food treats and why to rule them out. • How not taking food could be a habit for a dog and related to their emotional state. • Why reinforcers lose or gain value in different environments. • That getting a bigger meatball is not always the answer. • Why feeding dogs should be an event and what to notice about your dog’s weight. • About rating all of the treats that you can give your dog and different foods to try. • The steps for testing treat values in different rooms and times of the day. • About creating positive triggers for your dog that are exciting. • How to transition using treats from indoors to the outdoors incrementally. • What your dog’s physiology has to do with treats and how you can change it. • What you need to do before you can start counterconditioning anything. • Why training isn’t about work but building deeper bonds with dogs.   Resources:   1. YouTube Playlist: Reactive or Aggressive Dogs: Key Insights with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy0Tbd6ZybIXgJk3mtpBLLk7 2. Podcast Episode 59: Why Your Treats Aren’t Working for Your Dog - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/59/ 3. Podcast Episode 92: Avoid This Big Mistake When Feeding Your Dog - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/92/ 4. Tasty Treats eBook - https://dogsthat.com/tastytreats/ 5. Podcast Episode 107: Pedicure Please: 3 Steps To Dog Nail Trimming Or Grooming Success At Home! - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/107/ 6. Blog Post: Identifying And Using Positive Triggers For Your Dog - https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2019/01/positive-triggers/ 7. YouTube Playlist: Loose Leash Walking with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy1mGMfdVKXq_hiJ27Ej1shW 8. Podcast Episode 68: 3 Easy Tricks Every Dog Should Know - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/68/ 9. Podcast Episode 112: Stressed Dog? How Trigger Stacking Might Be Putting Your Dog Over Threshold - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/112/ 10. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/lSoSuz2hV3g

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    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.   Resources:   1.*Book: Forever Dog by Rodney Habib and Dr Karen Becker - https://geni.us/forever-dog 2. YouTube Playlist: Loose Leash Walking with Susan Garrett - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy1mGMfdVKXq_hiJ27Ej1shW 3. Sniff Spot - https://www.sniffspot.com/ 4. Podcast Episode 174: Dopamine In Dog Training: Anticipation, Rewards, And The Transfer Of Value - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/174/ 5. YouTube Video: Puppy's First Training with Susan Garrett: Shaping, Targeting and Collar Conditioning - https://youtu.be/ticB_1Twx6E 6. YouTube Playlist: Exercising Your Dog's Body and Mind: Tips and Games with Susan Garrett - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy1ISzbaoCNh0NyLg3qgDG58 7. YouTube Playlist: Reactive or Aggressive Dogs: Key Insights with Susan Garrett - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy0Tbd6ZybIXgJk3mtpBLLk7 8. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/GtGKc2CGWw0   *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!

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    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.   DoggyFlix Waiting List: Click here to get on our DoggyFlix Waiting List    Resources:   1. YouTube Playlist: Susan Garrett's Dog Training Philosophy and Training Processes - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2An5_3KqDPqFVV6J6dYsYx 2. Podcast Episode 175: Food Luring VS Shaping In Dog Training: How Science Changed How I Teach Dogs - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/175/ 3. Podcast Episode 174: Dopamine In Dog Training: Anticipation, Rewards, And The Transfer Of Value - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/174/ 4. Podcast Episode 151: How Location Specific Reinforcement Markers Will Improve Your Dog Training! - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/151/ 5. Podcast Episode 31: 5 Simple Hacks to Help Your Dog Learn Faster (Reinforcement Process) - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/31/ 6. Podcast Episode 176: Why Your Dog’s Emotions Are A Critical Element Of Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/176/ 7. YouTube Playlist: Target Training for Dogs with Susan Garrett - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy3ylCyQ2bJQSCwo_ERiVHj3 8. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/MRohT2ioMUE

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    Having coached thousands of people in dog training, I’ve observed that their dogs seem to fall into three categories. The dogs who seem to hate training sessions, the dogs who are so over the top about the training they are frantic, and the dogs who are driven and focused and absolutely love it. It’s not the breed of dog or their personality that determines the category, and it’s not the trainer or trainer’s experience; it’s about understanding you’re not only training a behavior but also an emotion.   In the episode you'll hear:   • That your dog’s emotions get built into what you are training. • What “Pavlov is Always on Your Shoulder” means. • What compulsion trainers get wrong about a dog's emotions. • How to gauge your dog's emotional state for training. • My top 7 tips to help your dog love training with you. • Observations on why dogs leave work or get distracted easily. • The reason to know competing reinforcements in your dog's environment. • Why not to keep going at half speed because half speed is an emotion. • About keeping dog training sessions very short and using balance breaks. • About getting “buy in” from your dog before training begins. • That your dog is also teaching you, so believe them.   Resources:   1. YouTube Playlist: The Emotional State of Dogs with Susan Garrett - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy29pv3_9b7DZdMFJL9ZJPMy 2. Podcast Episode 146: Balanced Dog Training: Does It Really Exist? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/146/ 3. Podcast Episode 106: Consent In Dog Training: The Misuse, Misunderstanding And Misapplication - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/106/ 4. Podcast Episode 107: Pedicure Please: 3 Steps To Dog Nail Trimming Or Grooming Success At Home! - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/107/ 5. YouTube Video: Vet Visits For Dogs: How To Create A Positive Experience For Everyone - https://youtu.be/VJc42BfNre4 6. Podcast Episode 132: All The Things Your Dog Hates And How To Fix Them - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/132/ 7. Podcast Episode 174: Dopamine In Dog Training: Anticipation, Rewards, And The Transfer Of Value - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/174/ 8. Podcast Episode 167: Reduce Your Dog’s Stress And Anxiety In Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/167/ 9. Podcast Episode 175: Food Luring VS Shaping In Dog Training: How Science Changed How I Teach Dogs - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/175/ 10. YouTube Playlist: Loose Leash Walking with Susan Garrett - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy1mGMfdVKXq_hiJ27Ej1shW 11. Recallers - https://recallers.com/ 12. Podcast Episode 57: Why Balance Breaks Fast Track Your Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/57/ 13. Crate Games - https://get.crategames.com/ 14. Podcast Episode 86: How to Train Unmotivated or Overexcited Dogs - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/86/ 15. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/zT1mzPhmGdo

Visit us at shapedbydog.com     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.   Resources:   1. Podcast Episode 171: Dog Training With Layered Shaping: Why Classical Conditioning Must Come First - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/171/ 2. Podcast Episode 174: Dopamine In Dog Training: Anticipation, Rewards, And The Transfer Of Value - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/174/ 3. Podcast Episode 145: 10 Ways To Teach A Dog To Lay Down And How To Shape It Without Luring - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/145/ 4. Podcast Episode 173: Target Training For Dogs: How, Why, And When To Fade Targets - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/173/ 5. Podcast Episode 172: How To Teach Your Dog Anything With My Training Plan - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/172/ 6. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/FxAeS2BNvKY