Visit us at shapedbydog.com   I got my reputation as a professional dog trainer primarily through excelling in the sport of dog agility. I’ve been teaching and competing in agility for over 30 years and have achieved over 30 National and World Championships. There are three big mistakes that I see people make when training for dog agility and these are the same three things that make it difficult or easy to train for any sport or to have the most amazing family pet possible!   In the episode you'll hear:   • Why a joyful, engaged relationship with your dog is vital for any sport. • That Recall, Retrieve and Reinforcement Zone are what I get in place first. • The top 3 mistakes that are common in the sport of dog agility. • What dog agility and a wild mustang have in common. • About the foundations you need for agility. • How slow is smooth and smooth is fast and why not to rush to the obstacles. • That 50% of dog agility happens between obstacles and is flatwork. • Why it’s all about keeping dogs safe and dogs and handlers having fun. • The reason it’s essential to listen to the feedback from your dog. • The 15 ways your dog will communicate with you.   Resources:   • Join our Free Online Dog Agility Masterclass - https://www.handling360.com/ • Learn About Home School the Dog - https://dogsthat.com/hstd-joinnow/ • Blog with Video: RZ For Dog Sports (Don’t Leave Home Without It) - https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2020/02/rz-for-dog-sports/ • Podcast Episode 112: Stressed Dog? How Trigger Stacking Might Be Putting Your Dog Over Threshold - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/112/ • Podcast Episode 35: Pro Dog Training Tip To Improve Your Dog’s Focus - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/35/ • Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube -https://youtu.be/vAkL3UVoOBs

Discover the power of physical cues for effective dog training, especially for those with hearing challenges. Learn how to avoid common mistakes and enhance your communication with your furry friend. Delve into why physical cues can outshine verbal commands and how to train your dog to respond to specific signals. Explore the process of generalizing behaviors before introducing cues, and pick up tips on using unique prompts like finger points. Plus, uncover creative verbal cues and techniques for reinforcing desired actions!

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    Has your dog ever done something suddenly and without warning? A growl, snap, bite, or behaving in a way that is of character? Sudden behavior change could be the result of trigger stacking. Stacking triggers is your dog accumulating stress. All the small stressors become a big thing, and that last trigger in the stack is the equivalent of the straw that broke the camel’s back. We’re looking at stress reduction and trigger stacking prevention to help dogs have a long and happy life.   In the episode you'll hear:   • How different triggers have different intensities for dogs. • That we also experience trigger stacking. • The way dogs can express trigger stacking. • Examples of triggers getting stacked for your dog. • About adrenaline, cortisol and over threshold dogs. • What to look for in your dog’s body language. • The things that could create trigger stacking. • How our dogs take on our emotions. • What to do when you see your dog is stressed. • About stress recovery and your dog’s cortisol level. • How the way we train reduces stress in dogs. • About generalizing positive conditioned emotional responses. • Why to counter condition and desensitize to remove triggers. • That stress reduction helps dogs have a long and happy life.   Resources:   • Wag Nation: Special Opportunity to Join - https://dogsthat.com/wagnation-hstd/ • Podcast Episode 111: How An Anchor Dog Can Help Overcome Your Dog’s Anxiety Or Reactivity - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/111/ • Podcast Episode 4: T.E.M.P. (Tail, Eyes/Ears, Mouth, Posture) - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/4/ • Podcast Episode 107: Pedicure Please: 3 Steps To Dog Nail Trimming Or Grooming Success At Home! - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/107/ • Podcast Episode 75: Stop Motion Sickness: Helping Your Puppy or Dog Love the Car - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/75/ • Podcast Episode 103: Excited Or Suspicious Dog? Dealing With Your Dog’s Emotions - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/103/ • Podcast Episode 25: Why All Dogs Can Bite and How to Reduce the Risk with R.E.A.D. - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/25/ • Podcast Episode 66: Resource Guarding: Dog vs Dog Aggression - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/66/ • Podcast Episode 71: Pro Dog Trainer’s Secret to Help Your Naughty Dog - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/71/ • Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Vxp2rQC8VMY

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    Have you heard of the term “anchor dog”? It’s a term I coined for a dog who helps other dogs become more confident. In ancient times, the symbol of an anchor represented safety. Dogs pick up the emotions of people and also of other dogs. If you have a dog who is not confident, an anchor dog can assist you by reducing overwhelm in overcoming challenges.   In the episode you'll hear:   • How I am helping my puppy This! with an anchor dog. • Why different can be alarming for some dogs. • The reason an anchor dog works best if your dog's fear comes from lack of experience. • What makes a great anchor dog. • Why to be aware that confidence is situational. • That you can grow confidence on your own. • Why I like to set up situations so that outcomes can be positive. • What matters when you are using an anchor dog. • The reason to choose an area where you and your dog can get away. • How it starts with the anchor dog out in front. • Why your words about your dog help to set up success. • The reason working through challenges is a process.   Resources:   • Podcast Episode 29: Understanding and Preventing Reactivity and Aggression in Your Dog - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/29/ • Podcast Episode 79: Reduce Anxiety and Grow Your Dog’s Confidence with These Pro Dog Training Tips -https://dogsthat.com/podcast/79/ • Podcast Episode 8: Get Your Dog in the Belief Loop of Awesome - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/8/ • YouTube Video: Normalizing Imperfection in Dog Training - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_f1hm_XhJM • YouTube Video: Should My Dog Be Off Leash Right Now? - https://youtu.be/CiygnLThS6Y • Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/F7iol9dRZjY

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    High drive dogs are the most misunderstood group of dogs on the planet. High drive dogs are often intentionally bred for work like protection or herding, and they are motivated and focused. In many instances, high drive dogs are created, and the label of “over-aroused” is applied to a dog who is over-faced and misunderstood.   In the episode you'll hear:   • How I have misunderstood high drive dogs. • Why we can’t change who our dogs are, but we can help them. • Why our training mechanics impact highly driven dogs and increase frustration. • How the dog’s frustration can spiral to redlining. • What I videoed to show you how I created over-arousal in my dog, Momentum. • 10 ways you can make life better for you and your high drive dog. • Why maintaining criteria and creating clarity are vital. • The most important question you can ask about your dog.   Resources to Visit Now:   • YouTube Video: Susan Garrett’s Perch Work Dog Tricks (Pivots and Spins) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6sj6fTJnFc • Video Blog: Positive Dog Training and the Difference in Shaping - https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2018/11/the-difference-in-shaping/ • PDF Download: Stages of Learning Progressions Chart - https://dogsthat.com/susan-garretts-stages-of-learning-progressions-chart/   Resources to Review:   • Podcast Episode 35: Pro Dog Training Tip To Improve Your Dog’s Focus - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/35/ • Podcast Episode 103: Excited Or Suspicious Dog? Dealing With Your Dog’s Emotions - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/103/ • Podcast Episode 106: Consent In Dog Training: The Misuse, Misunderstanding And Misapplication - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/106/ • Blog Post: Post: Got D.A.S.H. (Desire, Accuracy, Speed and Habitat)? - https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2017/01/dash/ • Book: Shaping Success by Susan Garrett - https://dogsthat.com/product/shaping-success-2/ • Podcast Episode 5: What is Shaping And How Can Dogs Shape Us - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/5/ • Podcast Episode 06: The Art of Manipulation - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/6/ • Podcast Episode 69: Clicker Training: Will It Work For Every Dog? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/69/ • Podcast Episode 52: The Five Most Common Words in Dog Training and Which Ones I Never Use - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/52/ • Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/kc3-r2aYarE

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    Does your dog greet you, or anyone at your door, over enthusiastically? Does it seem like your dog might have excessive greeting disorder? You might love your dog’s exuberance but wish it would only show when appropriate. Help is at hand for you, your visitors, and your dog to create calm greetings.   In the episode you'll hear:   • About your daily routine, when it's dog time and when it's not. • How dogs pick up patterns of reinforcement quickly. • My routines and the reactions of my dogs. • What your dog notices about what you do in daily life. • Why dogs anticipate and how that creates excitement. • The predictions your dog makes that create over enthusiastic greetings. • About being intentional with the triggers you have for "dog time". • Why we want calm arrivals and departures for our dog. • An easy way to help your guests help your dog with greetings.   Resources:   • Download Your Door Sign: PDF Poster for Project Calm Dog - https://dogsthat.com/project-calm-dog/ • Podcast Episode 16: The Thing Before Your Dog’s Thing - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/16/ • Podcast Episode 103: Excited Or Suspicious Dog? Dealing With Your Dog’s Emotions - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/103/ • Podcast Episode 98: Puppy Home Alone: Are You Creating Chaos or Calm? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/98/ • Podcast Episode 26: Pro Dog Training Tips to Get Your Puppy to Sleep All Night - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/26/ • Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/WcoiwhupjGA

Visit us at shapedbydog.com     Everything I train dogs to do, I do in the form of a game. We have a mantra around here that “work = play and play = work.” You can minimize the time you need for dog training by keeping this mantra in mind and noticing what your dog loves!   In the episode you'll hear:   • About Tater’s love of watermelon and being in the sun. • What my Terrier Twister would do on a chair. • How dogs do what is reinforcing and show us where the value is for them. • What Tater does going out the door and why he might not go for a morning walk. • About substitute consent and our dogs best interests. • What competing values are for us and how that applies to dogs. • How This! showed me her competing value when we are outside. • What to do about your dog’s competing values. • Why food, toys, activities, permission and our attention can all be reinforcing. • The things dogs do that make me laugh. • What Feature does at the built-in crates when it’s feeding time. • How I have rules so my dogs can have the best life ever.   Resources:   • Podcast Episode 2: Reinforcement - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/2/ • Podcast Episode 94: How the Best Professional Dog Trainers Use Reinforcement - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/94/ • Blog Post: TOP Say Yes Training Reminders - https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2018/09/top-say-yes-training-reminders/ • Blog Post: Who’s Shaping Me? - https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2009/09/whos-shaping-me/ • Podcast Episode 106: Consent In Dog Training: The Misuse, Misunderstanding And Misapplication - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/106/ • Video Blog: Built In Dog Crates For Home Decor - https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2020/02/built-in-dog-crates/ • Podcast Episode 11: The Power of Permission in Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/11/ • Crate Games Online - https://get.crategames.com/ • Podcast Episode 27: Do Dogs Need Rules? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/27/ • Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/95ENqvxLLxI

Visit us at shapedbydog.com     Trying to cut a dog’s nails can be one of the most difficult jobs for many dog owners. When I asked who was interested in the topic of consent in dog training for nail trimming on my last podcast episode, there were many comments from people wanting help. So, we’re going through the steps to help everyone clip their dog’s toenails so that all dogs can enjoy a pedicure.   In the episode you'll hear:   • The 5 categories of feelings dogs can have about nail trimming, from terrified through to love. • About the importance of trimmed nails for our dog’s health and longevity. • What my friend Dr. Leslie Woodcock shared about toenails and posture, and wellbeing for geriatric dogs. • How I used to cut nails and what my dog Twister experienced. • Why I developed Your Dog’s Pedicure Please Program. • The three stages of cutting your dog’s nails: CER, Game On, and Trimming. • About creating a positive conditioned emotional response for clipping nails. • How to condition positive emotions to the sight and sound of nail clippers, Dremel or another pet nail grinder. • Why you want a “game on” position and “game off” indicator so your dog shows you consent. • How to keep your dog’s nails short while you are working on them saying “yes!” to a pedicure.   Resources:   • Get Your Dog’s Pedicure Please Program - https://dogsthat.com/product/pedicure-please/ • Podcast Episode 106: Consent In Dog Training: The Misuse, Misunderstanding And Misapplication - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/106/ • Video Blog with Dr. Leslie Woodcock: Cutting Your Dog’s Nails: How Important Is It Really? - https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2013/08/cutting-your-dogs-nails-how-important-is-it-really/ • Susan’s Favorite Dremel and Nail Clipping Equipment - https://dogsthat.com/favs/#tve-jump-17b7f042a43 • Susan on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/susangarrettdogsthat/ • YouTube Video: Target Stick Training Part One - https://youtu.be/MzePo7RSQu4 • YouTube Video: Target Stick Training Part Two - https://youtu.be/TqsEEWCXze0 • Learn the ItsYerChoice Game - https://recallers.com/iycsummit-join/ • Video Blog: Help! My Dog Hates His Nails Cut … What Do I Do? - https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2020/01/my-dog-hates-his-nails-cut/ • Video Blog: Proactive Conditioning for Dog Nail Trimming Success - https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2020/11/proactive-conditioning-dog-nail-trimming/ • Video Blog: This! One is About Conditioning the Dremel for Puppy Nails - https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2020/11/conditioning-the-dremel/ • Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/JIPxgReFk58

Consent in dog training is a vital yet often misunderstood concept. The discussion highlights the difference between various types of consent and how dogs communicate their willingness or refusal. There’s a focus on the importance of cooperative care and understanding a dog's emotions. The podcast also explores how to recognize implied consent and the role of T.E.M.P. in gauging a dog's comfort. Listening to our dogs and learning to turn refusals into agreements is essential for positive training experiences.

Answering your dog sport questions! Even if you don’t do dog sports, many of the questions relate to dog training in general. My voice is a bit raspy as we’re just wrapped up a first ever global four day agility camp entirely through Zoom. In the episode you'll hear answers covering: • Connecting with your dog better when running an entire agility course. • Giving motivation a boost when competing. • How often my dogs do fitness training. • Preventing arthritis in sports dogs. • Building value for what I want my dogs to do. • My use of different cues for turns on tunnels and the dog walk. • Working your way up to championship level in agility. • When to retire a dog from competition. • Keeping track of verbal cues. • Why to pay attention to your dog’s emotions at the agility start line. • The importance of focus forward. • Warm up and cool down routines. • Starting puppies in dog sports. • My top five body awareness exercise and why the list depends on age. • The same thing I do on every lead out to connect with my dog. Resources: • Join Agility Nation (Use the Discount Code: SUSANSAID) - https://dogsthat.com/product/agility-nation/ • Susan’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/SusanGarrettdogsthat/ • Handling360 - https://connect.handling360.com/ • Podcast Episode 5: What is Shaping And How Can Dogs Shape Us - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/5/ • Podcast Episode 90: Premack, Dog Training and Transfer of Value - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/90/ • Vlog: Toning Up On Cue Clarity (Hearing The Sirens) - https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2019/01/toning-up-on-cue-clarity-hearing-the-sirens/ Episodes Covering Your Dog’s Emotions: • Episode 35: Pro Dog Training Tip To Improve Your Dog’s Focus - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/35/ • Episode 86: How to Train Unmotivated or Overexcited Dogs - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/86/ • Episode 103: Excited Or Suspicious Dog? Dealing With Your Dog’s Emotions - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/103/ • Episode 21: The 5 Critical Dog Training Layers for Confidence with Anything - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/21/ • Episode 38: 3 Keys to a Confident Dog - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/38/ • Episode 7: You, Your Dog, Maslow and Lizard Brain - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/7/ • Podcast Episode 79: Reduce Anxiety and Grow Your Dog’s Confidence with These Pro Dog Training Tips - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/79/ • Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on Youtube - https://youtu.be/RITzOlo6uw8