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!

Training Tips from Susan: Susan Garrett's Tip for Training Frantic Dogs: Stimulus Control

Does your dog get frantic, throwing all sorts of behaviors at you one after another when you want to train or teach a new trick? Helping your dog with stimulus control is the key to success. Stimulus control is when your dog does something until you give a release word or a new cue.

Visit us at shapedbydog.com

I set out to do a podcast episode explaining why I choose not to use an electric collar with my dogs and with my students' dogs. It sent me down a spiral of research and careful consideration. So, after nearly 40 hours reviewing videos from trainers who use e-collars, I'm sharing observations about the wide spectrum of electric collar use in the training world. From excellent conditioning protocols to concerning misuse, what I discovered may surprise both those who use shock collars and those who don't.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• About hours spent watching videos of training with electric collars.
• The types of electric devices available for dog training.
• About the growing e-collar market in North America.
• My thoughts about bans on dog training tools.
• About the possibilities of learning from each other.
• My observations on the use of shock collars.
• The question of dopamine and what’s really being reinforced for the trainer.
• Why all dogs need solid training foundations and layered learning.
• How reducing the divide in dog training helps us all.

Resources:

1. Podcast Episode 202: Getting A Happy Well Behaved Dog With The ABCs Of Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/202/
2. Podcast Episode 214: England Banned Shock Collars, Here’s Why That Could Be Sad News - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/214/
3. Podcast Episode 234: How To Stop Puppy Biting: Avoid Mistakes With Susan Garrett’s Backup Plan - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/234/
4. Podcast Episode 232: Canine Predatory Motor Sequence: Understand Your Dog’s Prey Drive To Enrich Your Life Together - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/232/
5. Podcast Episode 40: Using A Head Halter On A Dog, Why My Approach Is So Different - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/40/
6. Podcast Episode 106: Consent In Dog Training: The Misuse, Misunderstanding And Misapplication - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/106/
7. Podcast Episode 145: 10 Ways To Teach A Dog To Lay Down And How To Shape It Without Luring - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/145/
8. Podcast Episode 21: The 5 Critical Dog Training Layers for Confidence with Anything - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/21/
9. DogsThat YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DogsThat
10. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/ZRodYnFKMEA

Visit us at shapedbydog.com

How long should it take to train my dog? That’s a popular question I get, so I’m covering how to set realistic expectations for every age and stage of a dog’s life. Dogs are lifelong learners and learn with all their senses, so we’re looking at how to create success with intention rather than letting things around your dog train them, so you can avoid the frustration of needing to untrain anything.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why age and stage play such an important role in dog training success.
• Why dogs are lifelong learners and how that affects your training expectations.
• What the "honeymoon period" is in dog training.
• What to do when the honeymoon phase ends and distractions become a challenge.
• How to handle the 8-18 month phase when hormones take over.
• Why dogs can’t learn “don’t,” only what we want them to do.
• How the first 8 months of a puppy's life are the bulk of the training work.
• Why ongoing maintenance of your dog’s education is crucial for long-term success.

Resources:

1. Podcast Episode 197: Outsmarting Distractions: How To Use Environmental Reinforcement in Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/197/
2. Podcast Episode 24: Distraction Intensity Index: Help For Dogs Who Chase Chipmunks, Bicycles, And Neighbor’s Cats - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/24/
3. Podcast Episode 218: Puppy Development Stages And Your Dog’s Behavior - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/218/
4. Podcast Episode 255: Rescue Dog Training: Priorities For Your First Week Together - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/255/
5. Shaped by Dog Podcast - https://shapedbydog.com/
6. Article: Early Spay/Neuter, Desexing Risks by Dr. Karen Becker - https://drkarenbecker.com/spay-neuter-and-desexing-for-dogs-veterinarian/
7. YouTube Playlist: Reactive or Aggressive Dogs: Key Insights with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy0Tbd6ZybIXgJk3mtpBLLk7&si=FR2taAxKQiMZZj-5
8. Podcast Episode 62: 12 Keys to Helping My Dogs Live a Long and Happy Life - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/62/
9. Podcast Episode 48: Potty Train Your Puppy in a Week (Easy 3 Step Process) - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/48/
10. Podcast Episode 254: Why Your Older Puppy Or Dog Is Not House Trained And What To Do About It - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/254/
11. Podcast Episode 109: Project Calm Dog: Prevent Over Enthusiastic Greetings - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/109/
12. YouTube Playlist: Puppy Biting Help with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy03hWZgAQfG1t5Q6YzGPi7z&si=aWLdw6Xfpd6kaegl
13. Podcast Episode 293: MRI: A Simple 3 Part Dog Training Formula To Fix Problems Like Counter Surfing, Reactivity And More - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/293/
14. YouTube Video: Susan Garrett’s 5 Games for Puppies - https://youtu.be/Hxd1sVEQp2Y
15. 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/
16. YouTube Playlist: Loose Leash Walking with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy1mGMfdVKXq_hiJ27Ej1shW&si=BmL3AN6YON62PhSM
17. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/mNnvP8QtMLA