My biggest 'ah-ha' moment has gotta be the 'choice' discussion. I have played lots of your games, Susan, but never really embodied choice in the way I should have been, and still feel like this is something I need to work on. When it's choice-focused, truth be told, it shows all the holes in your own handling like an old tapestry, and that is super confronting! You go from 'I can get the dog to do anything' to questioning 'okay, but if the dog had the choice, would they still want to do it?', which is far more impressive, and creates a dog who wants to work with you rather than one you have to convince to work with you or punish to work with you. I have been working with dogs for two years now, and recently took the plunge to become a trainer and study to become a registered clinical canine behaviourist. It is easy to watch you and your knowledge and get the oh-crap-what-was-I-thinking-I'm-never-gonna-be-good-enough feeling, but I know that knowledge didn't occur out of nowhere, you kept going, made lots of mistakes and asked questions, to yourself and others. A part of me wishes I could speak to 24 year-old Susan to see if she feels like 24 year-old me! I know I'll get there, I'm excited to get there! Thank you!!
I love your content. Sometimes I get choked up thinking about the mistakes I've made with my first dog, but at least I won't repeat them with my next dog. You're the best!
Hi Susan, my biggest a-ha! moment from this video is when you said "For many dogs, they are reacting because the bond isn't there, because the trust isn't there, because you've set them up to fail so many times; they have to go out and keep the people and the dogs away from them because they don't have the confidence that you will protect them." Fantastic message! I will be quoting you now every time I hear someone complain about their reactive dog. So many people, myself included until just now, do not understand that their dog is just trying to protect themselves and voice their emotions and discomfort in the only way they know how to. "My puppy is doing the best he can with the very limited education he has so far in the environment that I've currently put him in." Thank you, Susan!!
I have made so many mistakes in my journey with learning to be a better trainer for my dog. Tomorrow is a new day for us, and I will work at building the connection with the proper layers and the freedom of choice, but with the manipulation of the environment to set them up for success not failure for positive growth for us both.
I really understand your concept, dogs need love and compassion from us. If they are doing things we don’t like we need to help them understand what we want from them. It has taken time for me to understand this and I find it really hard to explain this theory to my sons who have sent their dogs away for 2 weeks to a boot camp and they were all great when they came back but they need to have those horrible e collars on. makes me so upset that they have to use them to get the results they want. Sometimes all they have to do it pick up the remote and they just stop what they are doing. But I tell them that is not the dogs choice your being a bully. Thank you for everything you do. I am 100 percent on board to train my 11mo. Old puppy the right way.
@Susan Garrett, thanks for the shoutout, I always admired your tuggies and I can't wait to get mine 🤣 As always, so many learnings, but I really liked how you explain dog reactivity - it's such a sensitive topic that many people take as bold behaviour. About time someone sheds some light on this and explains things as they are. On my way to sign up for Recallers 🤩
Hi @danamatei5862 congratulations on winning a tug toy, please contact us a wag@dogsthat.com so we can get your info and can get your tug toy to you! (Rachel - DogsThat Team) 💜
Thanks to Susan and Recallers, my boy can also stop chasing his frisbee. I would wager he is more frisbee loving than the German Prince. 😅 Just or context, I joined Recallers for my dog who used to be reactive. He also once ran across a road to jump in the river - he loves swimming as much as frisbee. I can now have a fantastic walk along the canal, where he can sniff and enjoy himself and occasionally swim. Recallers is life changing and that's not being dramatic, it's just a fact. 😊
Question: I have a heeler/border collie mix (heeler, border collie, kelpie, McNab) that is scared of people and we have been working for a long time on building her confidence around them. She used to bark and lunge at people who were 100+ feet away because they were too scary. She can now take treats out of strangers hands sometimes, go into stores with me without panicking, and has lots of new skills (her favorite is scentwork (finding the article such as a glove that I hid in one of the aisles at the store),but the day I see her comfortable enough to actually sniff a bag of dog food or try to grab a treat at the pet store it will be a major victory. The one time she will still sometimes bark at people is when they approach her or try to talk to her. We are beginning to work on people approaching her. Do you have any game suggestions to play with her at home and outside that will help with approaches?
@CassandraHaverkamp Susan has a wonderful TH-cam Playlist all about barking that you will find some tips & fun games to work together on the barking concern when someone approaches her --> th-cam.com/video/hT3hrn0QZyE/w-d-xo.html&pp=gAQBiAQB (Julie - DogsThat Team)
Hi @lorrainepinkava5628, awesome question! Recallers includes a shorter version of Crate Games. But there's great value for you and your doing in doing the whole Crate Games plan as it's laid out in the DVD or online access. Happy training! (Elena ~ DogsThat Team)
Hi @genemorton6895 , that's a great question! Susan did a podcast on this very topic a while back, we're leaving the link here for you: th-cam.com/video/QLcnSeRmL-U/w-d-xo.html Happy training! (Elena ~ DogsThat Team)
Hi @lorrainepinkava5628, love that you're looking to improve your dog's experience during nail trims! That's part of Pedicure Please, here's a podcast episode where Susan talks about it: th-cam.com/video/JIPxgReFk58/w-d-xo.html Happy training! (Elena ~ DogsThat Team)
My biggest 'ah-ha' moment has gotta be the 'choice' discussion. I have played lots of your games, Susan, but never really embodied choice in the way I should have been, and still feel like this is something I need to work on. When it's choice-focused, truth be told, it shows all the holes in your own handling like an old tapestry, and that is super confronting! You go from 'I can get the dog to do anything' to questioning 'okay, but if the dog had the choice, would they still want to do it?', which is far more impressive, and creates a dog who wants to work with you rather than one you have to convince to work with you or punish to work with you.
I have been working with dogs for two years now, and recently took the plunge to become a trainer and study to become a registered clinical canine behaviourist. It is easy to watch you and your knowledge and get the oh-crap-what-was-I-thinking-I'm-never-gonna-be-good-enough feeling, but I know that knowledge didn't occur out of nowhere, you kept going, made lots of mistakes and asked questions, to yourself and others. A part of me wishes I could speak to 24 year-old Susan to see if she feels like 24 year-old me! I know I'll get there, I'm excited to get there! Thank you!!
I love your content. Sometimes I get choked up thinking about the mistakes I've made with my first dog, but at least I won't repeat them with my next dog. You're the best!
@gardendesigntips4945 Thank you for your kind words - we’re glad you’re finding the videos helpful! 😊 (Julie - DogsThat Team)
Hi Susan, my biggest a-ha! moment from this video is when you said "For many dogs, they are reacting because the bond isn't there, because the trust isn't there, because you've set them up to fail so many times; they have to go out and keep the people and the dogs away from them because they don't have the confidence that you will protect them." Fantastic message! I will be quoting you now every time I hear someone complain about their reactive dog. So many people, myself included until just now, do not understand that their dog is just trying to protect themselves and voice their emotions and discomfort in the only way they know how to. "My puppy is doing the best he can with the very limited education he has so far in the environment that I've currently put him in." Thank you, Susan!!
I have made so many mistakes in my journey with learning to be a better trainer for my dog.
Tomorrow is a new day for us, and I will work at building the connection with the proper layers and the freedom of choice, but with the manipulation of the environment to set them up for success not failure for positive growth for us both.
@JenniferWeal That is an amazing mindset to have, and we are confident you will see amazing progress with your dog! (Julie - DogsThat Team)
The gem of all gems: please put yourself in a position to change your dog's life
I really understand your concept, dogs need love and compassion from us. If they are doing things we don’t like we need to help them understand what we want from them. It has taken time for me to understand this and I find it really hard to explain this theory to my sons who have sent their dogs away for 2 weeks to a boot camp and they were all great when they came back but they need to have those horrible e collars on. makes me so upset that they have to use them to get the results they want. Sometimes all they have to do it pick up the remote and they just stop what they are doing. But I tell them that is not the dogs choice your being a bully. Thank you for everything you do. I am 100 percent on board to train my 11mo. Old puppy the right way.
Shared on Facebook
Shared on my Facebook ❤ Watching the replay, I love Susans podcasts ❤
@Susan Garrett, thanks for the shoutout, I always admired your tuggies and I can't wait to get mine 🤣 As always, so many learnings, but I really liked how you explain dog reactivity - it's such a sensitive topic that many people take as bold behaviour. About time someone sheds some light on this and explains things as they are.
On my way to sign up for Recallers 🤩
Hi @danamatei5862 congratulations on winning a tug toy, please contact us a wag@dogsthat.com so we can get your info and can get your tug toy to you! (Rachel - DogsThat Team) 💜
Shared to Facebook on replay 2 December ☺️
Watching in Derbyshire (I live in France). Thanks
Thanks to Susan and Recallers, my boy can also stop chasing his frisbee. I would wager he is more frisbee loving than the German Prince. 😅
Just or context, I joined Recallers for my dog who used to be reactive. He also once ran across a road to jump in the river - he loves swimming as much as frisbee. I can now have a fantastic walk along the canal, where he can sniff and enjoy himself and occasionally swim.
Recallers is life changing and that's not being dramatic, it's just a fact. 😊
Thanks for this awesome note, Marie! We love to see your progress with Susan's games ❤ (Elena ~ DogsThat Team)
Shared
Positive reinforcement
I‘m in Pennsylvania, USA. We do sheep herding, trick training and are just starting scentwork.
I’m in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire UK ❤
Question: I have a heeler/border collie mix (heeler, border collie, kelpie, McNab) that is scared of people and we have been working for a long time on building her confidence around them. She used to bark and lunge at people who were 100+ feet away because they were too scary. She can now take treats out of strangers hands sometimes, go into stores with me without panicking, and has lots of new skills (her favorite is scentwork (finding the article such as a glove that I hid in one of the aisles at the store),but the day I see her comfortable enough to actually sniff a bag of dog food or try to grab a treat at the pet store it will be a major victory. The one time she will still sometimes bark at people is when they approach her or try to talk to her. We are beginning to work on people approaching her. Do you have any game suggestions to play with her at home and outside that will help with approaches?
@CassandraHaverkamp Susan has a wonderful TH-cam Playlist all about barking that you will find some tips & fun games to work together on the barking concern when someone approaches her --> th-cam.com/video/hT3hrn0QZyE/w-d-xo.html&pp=gAQBiAQB (Julie - DogsThat Team)
hi from New Zealand
Albuquerque, New Mexico Agility and Barn Hunt
Foundation skills. House manners, potty trying, recall, leash walking..
Utah
Do you have crate games in recallers?
Hi @lorrainepinkava5628, awesome question! Recallers includes a shorter version of Crate Games. But there's great value for you and your doing in doing the whole Crate Games plan as it's laid out in the DVD or online access.
Happy training! (Elena ~ DogsThat Team)
Fun
Do you feed your dog in a bowl ir only feed when training
Hi @genemorton6895 , that's a great question! Susan did a podcast on this very topic a while back, we're leaving the link here for you: th-cam.com/video/QLcnSeRmL-U/w-d-xo.html
Happy training! (Elena ~ DogsThat Team)
I am a foundation junkie lol.
I would like to have my dog target his side for a pedicure. Where would i find that training?
Hi @lorrainepinkava5628, love that you're looking to improve your dog's experience during nail trims! That's part of Pedicure Please, here's a podcast episode where Susan talks about it: th-cam.com/video/JIPxgReFk58/w-d-xo.html
Happy training! (Elena ~ DogsThat Team)
Consistency
no dogs sports yet -new 12 week old pup- want the foundation video
from Powell River BC-