Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett

By Susan Garrett

Susan Garrett, world-renowned dog trainer, multi-time champion of dog agility, and leading educator on all things canine shares everything related to dogs! Susan understands dog behaviour and wants yo... more

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The podcast currently has 415 episodes available.

Best of Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: How To Shape Your Dog: The Ultimate Guide To Training Success #328
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
March 25, 202630min
Number 2: Senior Dogs, Best Lives: The Four Pillars To Longevity #316
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Helping senior dogs live their best lives starts with simple, intentional choices that nurture their body, mind, and heart. In this episode, I'm sharing the four pillars that lead to longevity and how they can help your senior dog stay active, confident, and connected as the years go by. You'll discover how small daily habits can support lasting wellness and create a joyful, purpose-filled life for your dog, one where every stage of aging is celebrated and full of possibility. In this episode, you'll hear: • Why living with a senior dog is a privilege and how mindset shapes what's possible. • The truth about what defines a senior dog and why age is more than just a number. • How the four pillars (Physical Wellness, Nutrition, Emotional Connection and Joy, Cognitive Functioning) help senior dogs live longer, happier lives. • Why "motion is lotion" applies to senior dogs just as much as it does to us. • How maintaining a healthy weight can add years to your dog's life. • Simple ways to boost your senior dog's energy and cognition through nutrition. • How emotional connection and daily joy impact your dog's well-being. • The importance of consent and respecting your senior dog's deep rest. • Enrichment ideas to keep senior dogs mentally sharp and engaged. • An opportunity to join Home School The Dog & Wag Nation. • A special challenge to bring more purpose and fulfillment to your senior dog's life. Join Wag Nation + Home School the Dog: Write to us at [email protected] with the subject line "Connecting with my senior" for a very special opportunity to join us in Wag Nation and Home School the Dog. Resources: 1. Dogs That YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DogsThat 2. YouTube Playlist: Feeding Dogs, Training Treats, Dog Food, Nutrition and Canine Behavior, Raw Diets with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy0ylVCv0BiSj27AeIdObb_q&si=QOwhqPDzbQs4ygUw 3. Podcast Episode 62: 12 Keys to Helping My Dogs Live a Long and Happy Life - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/62/ 4. Podcast Episode 106: Consent In Dog Training: The Misuse, Misunderstanding And Misapplication - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/106/ 5. Podcast Episode 314: Dog Enrichment Secrets Part 1: Using Your Dog's Natural Instincts To Build Variety And Engagement - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/314/ 6. Podcast Episode 315: Dog Enrichment Secrets Part 2: 30 Day Enrichment Challenge + Free Planner PDF Shaped by Dog Podcast - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/315/ 7. Shaped by Dog Podcast - https://dogsthat.com/podcasts/ 8. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/518D-BzMFaQ
November 12, 202517min
Number 3: Training Tips From Susan: Why I Don't Use The Word "No" With My Dogs And What I Teach Instead
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
November 07, 20256min
Number 4: Training Tips From Susan: Shaping Q&A: Non-Reward Markers, Reinforcement Strategies, And Making Training Work For Every Dog
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! Shaping Q&A: Non-Reward Markers, Reinforcement Strategies, And Making Training Work For Every Dog In this mini Shaping Q&A, I'm diving into your top questions about non-reward markers, reinforcement strategies, how to make training work for every dog, and more! You'll discover how to set your sessions up for success, keep motivation high, and make shaping easier and more enjoyable for both you and your dog. Watch the full video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOT8z4B81eg
October 31, 20255min
Number 5: Why Dogs "Ignore" Commands #323
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Why dogs "ignore" commands has less to do with defiance and more to do with education. When a dog doesn't respond, it's easy to label it as disobedience, but what that moment actually offers is feedback on what the dog has learned. In this episode, I'm breaking down the difference between commands and cues, how Antecedent, Behavior, and Consequence shape understanding, and why dogs respond to pictures rather than words alone. When cues are taught with intention, reliability grows naturally, and responses become confident, joyful, and consistent, wherever you are. In this episode, you'll hear: • The difference between giving a command and cueing a behavior. • Why a dog not responding isn't disobedience, but feedback on their education. • How Antecedent, Behavior, and Consequence work together in training. • Why dogs think in pictures and not in words. • What causes cues to fall apart in new situations. • How food can unintentionally become the focus instead of the behavior. • A real-world "sit" example with Kim's dog, Belief. • Why reinforcement isn't about eliminating rewards, but about evolving what is reinforcing for the dog. • What well-taught cues have in common under distraction and distance. Resources: 1. Podcast Episode 245: Make Dog Training Easy! Quick Guide To Antecedent Arrangements - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/245/ 2. Podcast Episode 177: Dog Training Outside The Box: Transfer Of Value Case Study - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/177/ 3. Podcast Episode 135: Test Your Dog's Sit Stay Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/135/ 4. Podcast Episode 205: The Hidden World Of Reinforcement For Dogs And Why You Need To Know - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/205/ 5. Podcast Episode 144: Teach Your Dog To Listen No Matter What… Even If You Think They Are Stubborn - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/144/ 6. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/uI5YtGIriRg
January 16, 202613min