Training Tips From Susan: From Overwhelm To Confidence: How To Create The Dog Of Your Dreams With Strategic Reinforcement

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

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

23 Syys 202218min

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

21 Syys 202217min