Training Tips From Susan: The Best Way To Talk To Your Dog Trainer When Things Aren’t Working

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

4 Tammi 202317min

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

30 Marras 202216min

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

23 Marras 202214min

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

18 Marras 202214min

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

11 Marras 202217min

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

9 Marras 202213min

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

12 Loka 202216min

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

5 Loka 202219min