
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


By Susan Garrett
4.8
662662 ratings
The podcast currently has 415 episodes available.
The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Message From Susan Hey everyone, it's Susan, and you're about to hear one of my training tips and tidbits. These are quick, actionable strategies to help you and your dog in everyday life or for dog sport. Often our short videos with tips are created from your most popular segments of podcast episodes. So, let's dive in! Why I Don't Use The Word "No" With My Dogs And What I Teach Instead I'm sharing why I don't use the word "no" in dog training and what I teach instead to create understanding and connection. Through clear communication and thoughtful reinforcement, we can help our dogs feel confident and know exactly what we DO want. Watch the full video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj5AeXdO4-4

Visit us at shapedbydog.com Is dog training about to change? In this episode, I'm sharing why a recent conversation about reinforcement-based dog training gave me something I haven't felt in a long time: hope. Looking back at an agility discussion from the mid-1990s, I reflect on how dog training shifts happen, why curiosity creates more clarity than blame or punishment, and why great results are not reserved for "special" trainers. We're talking about reinforcement, intrinsic motivation, meaningful change, and why dogs are always doing the best they can with the information we've given them in the environment we're asking them to work in In this episode, you'll hear: • About a conversation that gave me a glimmer of hope for dog training. • Why I've been feeling discouraged about the direction of dog training. • A mid-1990s agility story about weave poles, punishment, and clarity. • My thoughts on hearing "That might work for Susan Garrett, but not for the rest of us." • What I noticed listening to a balanced dog training podcast where my training was discussed. • The subtle shift happening in reinforcement-based dog training conversations. • Why ideas no longer being dismissed is a meaningful sign of change. • Karen Pryor's stages of change and how progress begins. • Why amazing results are possible for everyday dog owners. • Why great dog training is built through clear systems, not "special" trainers. • My reflections on asking myself: "Is it possible that I'm wrong?" as a dog trainer. • Why love in dog training means clarity, fairness, and understanding. • The difference between building understanding and building pressure. • Why clarity creates confidence while pressure creates compliance. • Why dogs are doing the best they can with what they understand. • How to replace blame with curiosity and better questions for our dogs. Resources: 1. Podcast Episode 313: Are You Learning Or Looping: What To Do When Training Your Dog Stops Being Fun - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/313/ 2. Podcast Episode 146: Balanced Dog Training: Does It Really Exist? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/146/ 3. Podcast Episode 114: Dog Agility Training: 3 Big Mistakes All Dog Owners Should Avoid - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/114/ 4. Podcast Episode 78: How to Train a Rescue Dog with Behavior Problems - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/78/ 5. Podcast Episode 94: How the Best Professional Dog Trainers Use Reinforcement - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/94/ 6. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/-YyJwfvyyhM

Visit us at shapedbydog.com How to shape your dog for training success starts with understanding that shaping isn't about waiting and hoping, it's about designing success from the start. In this episode, I'm sharing the ultimate guide to shaping, including the three phases I use to design, execute, and reflect on shaping sessions so they're clear, efficient, and confidence-building for our dogs. We'll look at how to define clear criteria, split behaviors into achievable pieces, choose reinforcement with intention, and recognize "cheap behaviors" before they become habits. When you shift from hoping to intentional planning and data collection, shaping becomes predictable, your dog learns faster, and your sessions become more effective and enjoyable. In this episode, you'll hear: • Why shaping can feel frustrating when there's no clear plan. • The difference between shaping and simply hoping your dog figures it out. • The three phases I use to plan every shaping session: Designing the Learning, Game Day Execution, and Reflections. • Why splitting behaviors into smaller pieces creates clarity. • How your dog's emotional state impacts the learning process. • What "cheap behaviors" are and how to prevent them. • What to consider when choosing reinforcement, including value, delivery, and placement. • How your setup, environment, and body position influences your dog's responses. • How I use Push, Stick, Drop method to guide decisions during training. • How to use evaluation sessions to quickly adjust your plan and increase success. • Why you should only train one criterion at a time for clarity and speed. • When to add cues and why adding them too early creates confusion. • How reviewing your sessions helps improve your timing, mechanics, and decisions. • How to get my FREE shaping checklist to plan your next session with confidence. Download Your Free Shaping Checklist: Click HERE to get your Complete Checklist to Shaping Behavior - https://dogsthat.com/shaping-checklist Resources: 1. YouTube Playlist: Shaping Success in Dog Training with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy3O-_a1dHX3DDwsYKu9osB8 &si=kcsMUKfY7SZ1a39t 2. Podcast Episode 245: Make Dog Training Easy! Quick Guide To Antecedent Arrangements - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/245/ 3. Shaped by Dog Podcast - https://dogsthat.com/podcasts/ 4. Podcast Episode 327: Beyond "Yes" And "Good": Why Your Dog Needs "Spotlights" - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/327/ 5. Podcast Episode 196: Why Mastering Reinforcement Is The Linchpin To Reinforcement Based Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/196/ 6. Podcast Episode 89: Why Dogs Should Not Tug: The Truth Revealed - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/89/ 7. Podcast Episode 133: Become Your Own Dog Training Coach With This Video Strategy - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/133/ 8. Podcast Episode 184: Proofing Vs Generalizing In Dog Training To Grow Skills And Confidence - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/184/ 9. Podcast Episode 227: My Foolproof Strategy To Overcoming Dog Training Challenges - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/227/ 10. Podcast Episode 266: Hot Zone And Stays – How One Dog Training Nuance Can Fix Anxiety And Duration - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/266/ 11. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/XDuAWmlx9Fg

Visit us at shapedbydog.com Moving beyond general marker words like "yes" and "good" can bring much more clarity to your dog's training, and in this episode, I share why your dog needs what I call "Spotlights." Spotlights are Location Specific Reinforcement Markers that tell your dog what reward is coming and where it will be delivered. When dogs understand where success lives, they can make better choices and feel more confident in their training. I'll walk you through the Spotlights I use with my own dogs, how they function as both markers and cues, and how introducing just a few can help your dog stay in position when needed, make confident choices, and bring more understanding and joy to your training. In this episode, you'll hear: • Why general marker words like "yes" and "good" can lose their meaning over time. • About Spotlights (also known as Location Specific Reinforcement Markers) and how they bring greater clarity to your dog's training. • The three things a Spotlight tells your dog about reinforcement. • How dogs are such powerful predictors of reinforcement. • How Spotlights function as both markers and cues. • The three types of reinforcement you can use in training: food rewards, toy rewards, and activities your dog loves. • Examples of food Spotlights I use: "goooooood," "cook," "search," "chow," and "treat." • Examples of toy Spotlights I use: "strike," "bring," "chase," and "pit." • How activity cues like "swim" can also become Spotlights. • Why Spotlights help dogs stay in position instead of leaving early for a reward. • Why clarity about reinforcement helps reduce hesitation and frustration in training. • How the ItsYerChoice game helps dogs build the understanding needed to work around rewards with confidence. • How you can join our ItsYerChoice Summit, 100% free. ItsYerChoice Summit: Learn How to Play ItsYerChoice - https://dogsthat.com/iycsummit-join/ Resources: Podcast Episode 151: How Location Specific Reinforcement Markers Will Improve Your Dog Training! - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/151/ 2. Podcast Episode 176: Why Your Dog's Emotions Are A Critical Element Of Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/176/ 3. Podcast Episode 107: Pedicure Please: 3 Steps To Dog Nail Trimming Or Grooming Success At Home! - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/107/ 4. Podcast Episode 89: Why Dogs Should Not Tug: The Truth Revealed - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/89/ 5. Podcast Episode 205: The Hidden World Of Reinforcement For Dogs And Why You Need To Know - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/205/ 6. Podcast Episode 191: Get Your Dog To Calm Down With This Common Sense Protocol For Relaxation - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/191/ 7. Podcast Episode 266: Hot Zone And Stays – How One Dog Training Nuance Can Fix Anxiety And Duration - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/266/ 8. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/pWMf2hyIEBU

Visit us at shapedbydog.com The first two weeks with your puppy are when what you grow is what you get. In these early days, everyday choices shape how your puppy learns, rests, and stays engaged long before cues are added. In this episode, I share a real-life puppy story to show how well-intended decisions can accidentally grow behaviors you weren't aiming to teach, and why raising a puppy with the future in mind supports clarity, confidence, and the relationship you're building as your puppy develops. In this episode, you'll hear: • How small, everyday choices can accidentally grow puppy behaviors you don't want to see. • A real-life puppy story that highlights common early choices. • Two critical lessons for new puppy owners. • Why management is proactive, not restrictive. • What early crate, sleep, and management choices are really teaching. • Why positive training is not permissive training. • What good leadership looks like with a puppy. • How off-leash freedom too soon can lead to disengagement. • Why a puppy's name should be protected and meaningful. • Why naming behaviors too early can create confusion. • Why behaviors should be conditioned before cues are added. • How cues lose clarity when used as praise. • What it means to raise a puppy using a long-term lens. • How Recallers games support focus, engagement, and early learning. Make Good Decisions Today With The Future In Mind, Start Playing The Recaller Games Join Recallers - https://recallers.com/special-opportunity/ Get Crate Games Online: Crate Games Online - https://get.crategames.com/ Resources: 1. Shaped by Dog Podcast - https://dogsthat.com/podcasts/ 2. Podcast Episode 166: Puppy Freedom: How Much Is Too Much? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/166/ 3. Podcast Episode 30: Why Dog Crates Are Not Dog Cages - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/30/ 4. Podcast Episode 98: Puppy Home Alone: Are You Creating Chaos or Calm? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/98/ 5. Podcast Episode 48: Potty Train Your Puppy in a Week (Easy 3 Step Process) - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/48/ 6. YouTube Video: Understanding Your Dog's Reinforcement Zone (RZ) with Susan Garrett - https://youtu.be/OaUAScgaFAg 7. Podcast Episode 302: The Recall Myth: Why Your Off Leash Dog Isn't Coming When Called And How To Fix It - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/302/ 8. Podcast Episode 58: How to Create Kid Friendly Dogs and Dog Friendly Kids - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/58/ 9. Podcast Episode 113: Your Dog's Verbal Cues And Hand Signals: How To Effectively Train Both - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/113/ 10. Podcast Episode 16: The Thing Before Your Dog's Thing - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/16/ 11. 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/ 12. YouTube Playlist: Puppy Training with Susan Garrett - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2SggplHx3uEWAjXOL9hI21 13. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/j93tOUhvrrg
The podcast currently has 415 episodes available.

2,576 Listeners

12,897 Listeners

3,563 Listeners

3,329 Listeners

11,815 Listeners

3,074 Listeners

317 Listeners

238 Listeners

3,800 Listeners

41,409 Listeners

45 Listeners

586 Listeners

431 Listeners

225 Listeners

219 Listeners