Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett

Visit us at shapedbydog.com     All dogs deserve toys, and all people with dogs deserve to know as much as possible about toys. I'm covering my favorite dog toys, how I used them, and why to avoid the two most popular for dogs. My house is a treasure trove of toys, and I'm sharing who they are for and when. Plus, we're looking at toy selection to protect you and your dog from harm and tips for pla...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com     Dog training has its fads and one you might have heard is never feeding your dog from a bowl. This trend of feeding dogs exclusively by hand can get people into trouble. I believe that dogs should not have to earn the right to get fed. Today I'm explaining why at least part of your dog's meals should come from a bowl, alternative feeding methods to enrich your dog,...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com     Before my recent episode on latency in dog training, we took a social media poll on cue response times. 62% of people thought their dogs responded too slow. So, to help, this episode covers all the elements that create fluent behavior and what's truly behind a dog's response time to a cue. One of the most significant elements can be what we believe to be true about...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    I'm answering your questions on dog agility training, helping anxious, aggressive, and fearful dogs, crate training, dog ears, junior handlers, my daily routine, managing canine pain, socializing puppies, and so much more. Hear how I got my start in professional dog training and what's most essential for me in my relationship with my dogs.   In this episode I'm asked...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com     When you cue your dog to perform a behavior, do they respond with lightning speed or a leisurely pace? The lag time between your cue and your dog's response is called latency. When I design a training plan for my dogs, latency is built in, because I want super fast responses to cues. We're covering how why dogs might respond slowly and what you can do to fix it.   I...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com     I've just returned home from a trip to Houston, where I competed at an agility trial with my young dog This!, and we had an epically amazing weekend. Many of you know of the struggles This! and I have experienced, which is the inspiration for this episode. What mindset do people need to either work through extreme dog training challenges or support somebody in the m...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com     I'm sharing four case studies of dogs that overcame incredibly undesirable behaviors: a humper, a home wrecker, a screamer, and a dog-reactive dog. How did they go from out-of-control to completely calm? From emotional dysregulation to habituation, I'm showing you my strategy for turning behavior problems around. One of these dogs was rehomed because he was so dysre...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com     Have you ever wondered why some dogs can walk down a path with their owner, encountering many dogs, but remain completely unfazed? Yet, other dogs see one single dog off in the distance and absolutely lose it. We're talking about why this happens, the ability of dogs to regulate their emotions, and how we can help them. Plus, what you need to know about habituation...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com     Dogs experience seven developmental periods, from puppyhood to adulthood, and it's important we understand each. I'm covering the stages, what they mean for our dog's emotional growth and how we can build skills and confidence for the dogs in our lives. Knowing your puppy's or dog's current stage helps overcome behavior difficulties and guides your training choices....

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 br...

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...

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...

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 peop...

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 backgr...

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...

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 c...

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 Belgia...

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 thro...

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 pl...

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,...

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,...

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 o...

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 o...

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...

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 'a...