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 you and your dog to have the best life together possible.
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Visit us at shapedbydog.com Do you know how your dog or puppy self-regulates or dysregulates? Or how your dog self-soothes? Most dog owners don't, and it could be the root of behavioral challenges around your home. Dogs show dysregulation or self-regulation much like humans. Your dog's responses aren't the same as choosing right from wrong but a reflection of emotional regulation. Today I'm breaking down what healthy self-regulation looks like and how to recognize and help your dog's coping mech...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Have you ever had a friend or relative ask if you could look after their dog for the weekend or a short time while they are away? I'm sharing my top 10 tips for dog sitting in your home to help everyone have a good time. And if someone is going to be a pet sitter for you, the tips will also help! Very recently, I had the good fortune to look after a friend's dog and my brother's dog, and my tips focus on creating success and safety for everyone. In the episode you'll ...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Life with dogs is not always easy, especially when they misbehave, blow you off, ignore you, embarrass you in public and generally create frustration. Some days, you might even wonder if you should have a dog or if your dog would be better off with someone else. You are not alone, and I'm going to tell you a story on how finding a different pathway can open the door to amazing grace for your dog and, most importantly, for you. In the episode you'll hear: • That we get...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com England has banned using remote electric shock collars on dogs starting from February 2024. Why do I find this sad if shock collars aren't tools I use or advocate? And why is the term "shock collar" offensive to some who use them? I'm covering both questions, why many people will be upset with me about my thoughts on the e-collar ban and alternate solutions for people and dogs. In the episode you'll hear: • The pros and cons of England's ban on e-collars. • Why the te...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Emily Larlham, aka Kikopup, has forged the path for dog trainers on social media, spreading the word about progressive reinforcement training. 17 years ago, Emily's first YouTube video was released, and she has been creating a positive change for dogs and people the world over ever since. Emily graciously joined me for a chat about how Kikopup started and her background in animal rescue, conservation and working with shelter dogs. Enjoy this extract from our livestrea...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com The legendary Laurie C. Williams, our one and only Canine Diva, joins me for a chat on what it really takes to be in the business of training dogs. Laurie and I are kindred spirits and started dog training way back when compulsion was standard for any dog training class. We have forged paths to bring positive reinforcement to the forefront and inspire up-and-coming dog trainers to make a career in helping dog owners have the best relationship possible with the dogs in...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Social media sensation and protection dog trainer Matt Folsom of Modern Malinois, joins me to chat about dog training. Matt is a skilled trainer dedicated to continual growth and uses luring to achieve brilliant results. Although we approach dog training with different methods for different reasons, including how our minds work, we have mutual respect and a lot in common in the way we create a great relationship with dogs and use the things individual dogs love as rei...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Sometimes people think training dogs with positive reinforcement requires a huge time investment. It's a myth. My students play quick training games to build skills fast with layers. But don't take it from me. Meet Natalia Nizker, a full-time elementary school teacher and non-profit rescue volunteer with three young boys, two young dogs (a German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois), and one husband. Natalia is also a trick dog trainer in her spare time! Natalia has tips on...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com We're talking dogs with my friend, UK's Kamal Fernandez, elite dog sports coach and competitor, international seminar presenter, author, featured dog trainer on TV shows 'Dogs Might Fly' and 'The Dog Academy' and one of my long-time online students. We're chatting about the essential things anyone with a dog needs to know. The tips are the same for companion dogs through to those wanting to train for world-level dog sports competitions. Enjoy this extract from our liv...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Accomplished psychotherapist Elliott Connie of Solution Focused Brief Therapy graciously joined me for a conversation that turned into 10 minutes of inspiration and motivation for dog training and life in general. If you've ever had days when you doubt your dog training, you are not alone, and Elliott's insights will carry you through when things are not going to plan. It starts with knowing you are awesome and that your brilliance is far more noticeable and far more ...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Meet the brilliant minds behind the groundbreaking FRIDA Protocol for dog separation anxiety, Nadine Hehli and Simone Fasel, rising stars of positive reinforcement training in Europe. Nadine and Simone have a depth of experience in training rescue dogs, the challenges a rehomed dog might present, and overcoming problems so that rescue dogs can live their best life, and that's the topic of our conversation. This episode is an extract of our live stream celebrating 200 ...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com In episodes 203 and 204, I shared a two-part deep dive on the metabolic and performance struggles overcome by This!, my 2.5 year-old Border Collie. After a road to recovery with dotted with setbacks, I entered This! in the World Team Tryouts for dog agility. In this episode, I'm sharing my plan, my goal, how I achieved it, and how it could impact your dog training, even if you don't do dog sports. In the episode you'll hear: • My strategy to maximize joy for dog sport...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com To become great at reinforcement-based dog training, you have to get great at the use of reinforcement. I'm covering the hidden world of reinforcers for dogs and why to know the what, when, where and who of reinforcement. It goes well beyond the use of training treats and toy rewards. Awareness of everything reinforcing gives exponential ways to multiply the value of reinforcement in your dog training and to understand your dog's behavior. In the episode you'll hear: ...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com In episode 203, I told the story of the behavior struggles I've had with my two-and-a-half-year-old Border Collie This! and the timeline of our challenges that were beyond dog training. And this episode is part two, covering how we began making changes to her diet, the practitioners who helped me help This!, and what I am doing now to ensure that This! has a life of joy. I also want to add a disclaimer that I am not a Veterinarian or Nutritionist. I just want to let y...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Over the past couple of years, I've documented many challenges my dog This! and I have overcome, like reactivity, fear, resource guarding, and car sickness, to name a few behavior issues. And then, at an agility seminar here at my facility, This! fell apart. Now it's time to put everything together. I have a two-part series outlining a timeline of This!'s struggles and what I've discovered to help her and any other dogs. In the episode you'll hear: • How This! falling...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com "Susan, how do I get what you get with your dogs?" is frequently asked, and the answer is the topic of this episode. We're looking at 8 zones in your dog's life, how you can use those zones to your advantage, and what the habits of success look like to get a well behaved dog. The scientific term for setting environments and situations up for your dog's success is 'antecedent arrangements', and understanding how it works will bring you and your dog a life of joy togeth...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com We get a lot of great comments on our videos, and sometimes I come across one that inspires a podcast episode like this one. I'm answering a very thoughtful question that many people might have. Should you abandon one training philosophy for another when results appear elusive? And should you pick a dog training lane and stay in that lane? Professional dog trainers often forget what it's like to be starting out. That can lead to learning overwhelm and students feeling...
This 200th episode unveils the FRIDA Protocol, a revolutionary 10-step system by Nadine Hehli and Simone Fasel for severe canine separation anxiety. It contrasts this calm-focused approach with ineffective traditional methods, detailing required equipment like remote feeders and Wi-Fi cameras. The protocol guides owners through foundational steps, including exercise and nutrition, and practical application to build a "fortress of calm" for their dogs, ultimately fostering lasting independence.
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Most puppies go through a 'Fear Period' stage, which can include fear of objects, adults, children, and other dogs. Unfortunately, many popular strategies taught to counter puppy fear are the absolute worst things possible. I'm covering three things you should never do when your puppy or rescue dog displays fear of people and what to do instead to create confident and empowered dogs. In the episode you'll hear: • The bad advice given when puppies show fear of people. ...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com The way we train with positive reinforcement might seem a little out there as we put our dog's emotions first, and if our dog does not do what we want them to do, we don't punish or correct. It might even make you wonder what sort of anarchy we have in our lives with our dogs! But it's not like that at all because one of the guiding principles I've been talking about since the 90s is that positive is not permissive. In the episode you'll hear: • What "positive not per...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com The expression about Vegas casinos that "the house always wins" is like the one about dog training: The environment always wins. But it doesn't have to be true when you learn to use the environment to your advantage. Mastering reinforcement means understanding what your dog values most, and there are many things dogs value. Once you know where the reinforcement is for your dog, you can build yourself into that reinforcement so that it is you, not the environment, winn...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com There's a very good chance that you, like me, want to train your dog with reinforcement. It aligns with the kind of person you want to be both for your dog and for the world. To get really good behaviors with dogs as a positive reinforcement trainer, you have to get masterful at all that is reinforcing. That's the topic of this episode, and I'm including case studies of two of my dogs, Buzz and Belief and the layers of learning with reinforcement that create amazing s...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Why would a dog training program work or not work for some people? I had the chance to approach dog training from a place of curiosity on social media recently and learned a lot. There was also a comment that got me thinking about approaches to dog training, especially our mind's approach. How our mind matters for dog training success is the topic of this episode, plus I have some bonus book recommendations and a Wag Nation special enrollment surprise. In the episode ...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Have you ever watched those of us who have dogs on the same wavelength as us, and we ask them to do something, and they do it immediately? The dogs are excited and engaged, keen to listen, and can't wait for the next thing we ask them to do. Now, you might look at your dog's behavior and think, "that's not possible for me!" but I believe it is possible for you, and I believe the possibility is closer than you may think. In the episode you'll hear: • How having a dog e...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Somebody has likely told you that not all dogs can be trained the same way and that different methods are needed for different dogs. Is there truth behind this? I'm covering how different dogs might need different training approaches, but the word philosophy should replace method. Plus, I'm sharing why the dog training philosophy I choose aligns with my heart and an invitation to everyone to consider trying something different. In the episode you'll hear: • How any do...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com This episode is brought to you by YOU! I'm answering questions submitted on the DogsThat socials on wide ranging aspects of life with dogs – including how human personality types impact training and dog choice, perseverance when progress stalls, fixing broken recall words, over-aroused dogs, barking in hounds, my fitness regimen, living with littermates, ignoring wildlife, weave poles, handling the unexpected, and so much more. In the episode you'll hear: • Answers to...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Imagine having a way to trigger your dog to relax. Consider the benefits and applications in everyday life like vet visits, the groomers or travel. It's not hypnosis. It's a protocol involving conditioning, capturing and shaping your dog's behavior to create calm in key moments. The ability to cue relaxation is valuable for ALL dogs, not just those who are hyper or anxious. In fact, we all have personal relaxation protocols, and in this episode, I'm sharing what I fre...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com In August 2021, I released a special video about my dog, This!, titled "Normalizing Imperfection in Dog Training", covering our challenges so that everyone with a dog knows that struggling at some point in life together is completely normal. In that video, I encouraged everyone to take daily action to make tomorrow better than today for you and your dog. It doesn't mean blocking out big chunks of time. Dog training with "Daily Quickies" is how I get so much accomplish...
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Recently I came across an envelope containing all my report cards from kindergarten through university. Reading over my teachers' comments was an enlightening study of behavior and how I adapted in the face of challenges. I'm sharing what I noticed with you as there's a parallel with dog behavior and why they do the things they do. Behavior can fall into seven distinct categories, and understanding the influence of each category is massively beneficial for us to know ...
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 ch...
