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