Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett

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
 
Sometimes what we need most in dog training is a simple 30-second reset, because our dogs know far more about our emotional state than we realize. In this episode, I'm sharing why your emotional resilience and nervous system can have a greater influence on your dog's behavior than any training plan, treat, or technique. Our dogs are incredibly sensitive to our emotional state, and when frustration, anxiety, or disappointment creeps in, they feel it long before we realize it. I also share a personal story about training through grief after losing my dog Twister and the simple three-step strategy I use to reset when strong emotions show up so we can move forward with clarity and connection.
 
In this episode, you'll hear:
 
• Why emotional resilience may be the most powerful antecedent in dog training.
• How your nervous system influences your dog more than you might realize.
• My personal story of training through grief after losing my dog, Twister.
• A real example of anxiety showing up before competition and my 3-step strategy to regulate emotions in the moment.
• Why behavior should be viewed as data rather than judgment and how to turn that data into a thoughtful training plan.
• Why emotional resilience is a skill that strengthens with practice.
• How giving yourself grace can transform both your training and your relationship with your dog.
 

Resources:
 
1. Podcast Episode 245: Make Dog Training Easy! Quick Guide To Antecedent Arrangements - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/245/
2. Podcast Episode 230: Finding Joy Amidst Frustration And Shame In Dog Training – DeCaff's Story Part 2 - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/230/
3. Podcast Episode 287: The Power Of Perception: Reframing Dog Training Setbacks Into Successes - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/287/
4. Podcast Episode 266: Hot Zone And Stays – How One Dog Training Nuance Can Fix Anxiety And Duration - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/266/
5. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/b0o2d-QLrQM

Visit us at shapedbydog.com
 
If your dog has ever "known" a verbal cue but didn't respond the first time you asked, it may be that your cue has been poisoned. In this episode, you'll discover why that happens, the most common reasons cues lose their power, and how to set your dog up for success before you ever add a word. I'm sharing the system I use to build consistent, confident behavior first, so when you finally add the cue, it simply reflects a rich history of reinforcement. The result is powerful, clean, and effective verbal cues your dog responds to anywhere with clarity and confidence.
 
In this episode, you'll hear:
 
• Why a cue doesn't create the behavior but rather reveals the training that came before it.
• The reasons cues lose their power and become "poisoned."
• The ideal timing for adding a verbal cue (and when not to add one).
• The four ways behavior is created.
• How antecedent arrangements create success before a cue is ever added.
• Why using cues as praise weakens their effectiveness.
• The danger of repeating cues or pairing them with your dog's name.
• How to rebrand a cue if you've added it too early.
• How clean cues create confident dogs who listen anywhere.
 
Get Crate Games Online:
Crate Games Online - https://get.crategames.com/
 

Resources:
 
1. Podcast Episode 245: Make Dog Training Easy! Quick Guide To Antecedent Arrangements - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/245/
2. Podcast Episode 170: 5 Popular Ways To Train Your Dog With Food - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/170/
3. Podcast Episode 261: Common Misconceptions Around Shaping: Why You May Find Dog Training Frustrating - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/261/
4. Podcast Episode 322: Loose Leash Walking Starts Without A Leash - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/322/
5. YouTube Playlist: Target Training for Dogs with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy3ylCyQ2bJQSCwo_ERiVHj3&si=G-eNxXPtElfK1y0Z
6. YouTube Video: Understanding Your Dog's Reinforcement Zone (RZ) with Susan Garrett - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaUAScgaFAg
7. YouTube Video: Susan Garrett's Perch Work Dog Tricks (Pivots and Spins) - https://youtu.be/O6sj6fTJnFc?si=KvaVdO7pIZzFVCcc
8. Podcast Episode 175: Food Luring VS Shaping In Dog Training: How Science Changed How I Teach Dogs - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/175/
9. 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/
10. Podcast Episode 184: Proofing Vs Generalizing In Dog Training To Grow Skills And Confidence - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/184/
11. Podcast Episode 173: Target Training For Dogs: How, Why, And When To Fade Targets - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/173/
12. Podcast Episode 6: The Art of Manipulation - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/6/
13. Podcast Episode 295: Fear Of Criticism? Why Facing The Camera Is The First Step To Becoming A Better Dog Trainer - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/295/
14. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/es-wh4CVqTE

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