I will add to the request for calming triggers, which you might already have produced. In that case, the link(s) for it/them. Regarding Tip #10, I feel vindicated. We had a little female JRT who would get suddenly so stressed out that she would start spinning and biting her nubbin of a tail drawing blood. This reaction was always stimulated by over-arousal. We finally resorted to meds, which helped immensely, After needing these when she was pretty young, under 5, we were able to wean her off of them in about 2 years and she was able to live the rest of her 15 yrs, 7 months without them.
I would love a deep dive on number 7.....or rather condition a phrase or trigger promote more calmness or lower arousal. That would be so interesting. I understand things better, when you explain things....you obviously teach on my wave length and I'm very thankful for that. ❤️ you Susan.
Found the "doing their/my best" thing so helpful- I think it was in video 1. I know my dog is scared of other dogs and it's not their fault or mine but it instantly centres me back into empathy rather than frustration at the difficult reactions when I think about it or even say it out loud if needed
I would LOVE a deep dive on triggers! I'd love to learn how to approach both perception triggers and fear triggers. If there are different approaches for when a dog stresses high and when a dog stresses low...maybe even a video for each! :-) and/or, if it makes sense, maybe even one specifically about socializing puppies under 16ish weeks!! :-)
HI Susan, I dont currently have a dog but I wish to thank you for your podcasts. They have caused me to look inwardly at myself and the relationships I have with people not just dogs. I know that hindsight is 20/20 but I know the mistakes I have made with my last dog, who was very reactive. When training her she would do brilliant things away from distractions ie return from a front sit directly to my side with a pivot or on a different queue go around my body move sideways with me to the left or right and many more of the basic things. Saying this i can now see some of the things I was doing were re-enforcing the unwanted behaviour and clearly I hadnt created enough value for the re- enforcement zone. She was attacked as a puppy by an adult dog in a club environment twice at about 16 weeks and I didnt get the help I needed at the time (No excuse) lol sorry a bit of a long way to get to my point but I love the way you train because when I would go to obedience class etc I always had a feeling that "This is wrong" and until I saw your podcasts I didnt know why, I think as it turns out I was looking for a trainer that aligned with my way of thinking but no one at the time would listen. So to you I say thank you for your help even post dog and I appreciate the love you have for these beautiful animals. Thank you again sincerely. Rod.
Thank you for talking about meds that can help dogs calm enough to learn! I have had so much better success with training advancement since giving my dog medication. It has helped my dog transfer skills we know from the inside to outdoors and new places. It also has given us more successes with training that I want to try new places and situations with my dog. This has grown confidence for both of us and the successes keep coming!
Excellent teaching! So true… Tried ALL those “quick fixes” but never got to the root of things or a permanent “fix”Until I changed my approach to training and took your advice and programs!!!!! Thank You!
I found out about you in Ivan's posdcast and you are the only positive reinforcement trainer that actually got me to understand how positive reinforcement training works and got me more interested.
Dear Susan, thank you so much for this video (and all your other videos!). I am working through stress and anxiety with my 2 yo hyper arousal border collie. I would love to see a video about the calming triggers from you! My dog is the sweetest, but we've been having troubles with some reactiveness lately and have gone to a vet specialized in behaviour to see if there are any underlying medical issues. So this and the previous video really hit home for me. Thank you so much for normalizing the use of behavioural medication and giving people out there the confidence to work through their issues without guilt, shame and regret ❤
Hi Stip! Susan talks about creating calming triggers in her Relaxation Protocol episode, here's the link for you: th-cam.com/video/FRmLd4k5qGk/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much for replying! We have indeed trained this from the video. I would be very interested to see/learn more on the go calming triggers while walking outside or how to effectively train a calming word. I would like to help refocus my dog before he becomes reactive, but have been unsuccesful untill now. Though his reactions are becoming less longlasting, so that's something :) Thank you again for your good work! It is so valuable and appreciated to have access to these videos. Keep it up ❤
Great two-part series! Would love more on the Matching Law ... It's something that I sort of know intuitively and now, would enjoy that deeper dive. 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
Yes. The "Matching Law". Great to see it mentioned here. I've got a whole entire video about it and how it applies to dog training on my channel. Great content as always. Thank you.
Another great podcast. I'd like more information on Matching Law. There was a short discussion about rate of reinforcement on FB and I found it very interesting. But I felt that there must be some criteria set about the rate of reinforcement that would be important to avoid over or under rewarding, and the fading out, if any, of the higher rate of reinforcement. I find that rewarding a lot during LLW/RZ has helped Win to stay focused on me and my side during our training. But, I'd like more information so I can grow this skill and reduce the amount of reinforcement. Thank you.
Hi Susan, could you please tell me what's the calming game that you're using at approx 15.30 in this video where you're covering the dog's eyes with your hand for a moment before giving it the treat? Thank you ❤️
@outbuy Susan’s playing the It’s Yer Choice game! By covering the dog’s eyes, she’s teaching impulse control-waiting patiently leads to rewards. It’s a great way to build focus! (Julie- DogsThat Team)
@DogsThat Oh brilliant, thank you so much Julie! We already play It's Yer Choice and we love it, but never knew about the option of covering their eyes as part of it - we're going to up our game now! Thank you so much 🥰
A deeper dive into dogs seeing monsters, so I can be training my young dog 2yrs (H360) it’s going great & then she will see something & go of huffing & puffing, after she’s back training with total focus…..I remember you saying This! went through similar, are there any videos please?
Looking to train calming triggers, one of my dogs gets so aroused/excited around other people and dogs I get left out of the equation lol. He isn't fearful the exact opposite you would think he was 4 months old rather than being 4 years, he is very obedient otherwise.
Hi Leonard, it's awesome you want to help him. For dogs who get really excited about people and dogs, here are four resources to start with that are pieces of the puzzle. Calmer greetings - covers jumping up but even if that is not the challenge, the "greet and re-greet" protocol is super helpful: th-cam.com/video/Iy4KUSCc3cw/w-d-xo.html Tips on getting one behavior great to be able to use it for these situations: th-cam.com/video/c6dWgRafNVQ/w-d-xo.html Tips on puppy playtime that apply for dogs of all ages: th-cam.com/video/b5po2aC9mAg/w-d-xo.html Helping dogs with a calmer state: th-cam.com/video/FRmLd4k5qGk/w-d-xo.html
Hi Pat, the podcast episodes mentioned are always linked in the video description for you (the little box under the video). But if you want to go to any one you could insert this in your browser: www.shapedbydog.com/ followed by the episode number, then hit enter :)
Hi Susan! You mentioned in one of the podcasts about the time when you were training for rally obedience and your dog started panting. You thought the training was too long for her and cut it out. Then the next time, she began panting much earlier than the last time, and the time gets shorter and shorter. I don't think you told what you did to overcome that problem, but I am curious to know because my dog started doing the same thing recently (May be he did it before but I did not understand dogs' body language then. I am not sure).
Hi, I asked this question, but I am guessing the answer has to do with "balance break". I have just listened to the podcast #57, and realised I had not been using balance break effectively, which may have contributed to my dog's lack of drive. I plan now and we will start over!
There is no such thing as 'fear aggression.' These dogs are dominant dogs who are being territorial, defensive or protective. 'Fearful' dogs will go straight down on their paws to submit and project they are not a threat, or they run away, looking where they are going. If the dog is holding its ground and moves forward, it is a confident dominant dog. If the dog holds its ground and then moves away while maintaining eye contact, they are a low level dominant dog or an insecure high level dominant dog. Insecurity and fear are two completely different things. Fear is an emotion. Insecurity is a way of being, the underlying base of your state of mind. A dog who cowers or moves away when someone tires to pet them on the head is not fearful. They are a low level or insecure dominant dog who is just saying, 'Why are you trying to dominante me? Leave me alone." A dog who moves forward and snaps, mouths, nips or bites when you pet their head, or are touched in any way the dog doesn't like, is a confident dominant dog. They are not fearful. Saying these dogs are fearful is like saying a top boxer or MMA fighter is fearful entering the ring. Doninant dogs were born to hunt for and protect the pack. The submissive dogs, 70% of all dogs and all breeds, are the pack who need to be hunted for and protected because they can't do it themselves. There are Pit Bulls who will concede and be respectful to every human they meet, and there are Chihuahuas who will bite every person they meet. One is a submissive dog acting out of respect, and one is an Alpha dominant dog acting out of pure confidence, not fear. A dog who immediately goes straight down on all 4 paws when you approach them and flinches intensely when touched has been abused or dominated with unbalanced human dominance to force control, instead of balanced, assertive, respectful Canine dominance to earn respect. How would you feel if a stranger walked up to you and tried to touch your head? Some people would freeze or run away in fear and some people will punch them, with different variations of reactions in between. Dogs DO NOT pet each other on the head, or hug each other as a greeting or to show affection. When a dog puts its paw on or over another dog, it is done out of dominance, even in play. Dominant dogs see both of these actions, especially trying to pet them on the head, as dominance. When you try to pet a dominant dog you don't know, or a dominant dog you do know who does not trust and respect you, you are dominating the dog. These dogs have not been abused. They act the same way when another dog tries to touch their head with its paw or go over them. They are not fearful of these other dogs, they are correcting the other dog for trying to dominate them. They snap at, mouth, nip or bite you to correct you the same way they correct the other dog. Fear is the most misunderstood emotion in dogs because trainers and experts across the board do not understand dominance, corrections, discipline, teaching and Dog Behaviour in the dog world because they all look at it through the human, and their own, experience. The relationship between dogs is NOT based on dominance, it is based on trust and respect. Dominance is only used to establish and maintain a dog's position in the pack, the family. Personal space is the most important thing to a dog, even more important than food. If I am above you in the pack, you can not touch me, ever, without my permission or acceptance. I can enter your personal space when I need to to correct you, teach you, protect you or to give you affection and I don't need your permission or acceptance to do so. A parent can touch a child in certain ways to care for them, teach them, discipline them, etc, but the child can not touch the parent in the same way. The dog's higher than you in a pack are your Mother, Alpha male or teacher, and you are to respect them as such. NEVER try to pet a dog you are meeting on the head. Hold your hand out palm up, lean forward or turn sideways and squat down so your hand is below the dogs muzzle, let the dog smell your hand, and wait for the dog to touch your hand. If the dog does not touch you, DO NOT touch them and ignore the dog. When the dog touches your hand, bring your hand in under their head and bring your fingers in behind the curvature of the jaw, and then use your fingertips to gently and slowly lick their neck to simulate how their Mother licked their neck to show them physical affection. The dog version of the human hug. You don't pet their head, you lick their neck. Cheers ✌️
Hi Duke! Thanks for sharing your point of view. Here's a podcast Susan did a while back on "dominance": th-cam.com/video/wBs5froI2a4/w-d-xo.html And another one on "personal space" or "the bubble of pressure": th-cam.com/video/E8nSFiqTalM/w-d-xo.html Happy training! 🐾
Hi @nancy sopata, we have a video all about fear of fireworks and the same strategies can help with thunder, here's the link for you - th-cam.com/video/nHGzCFB6I6Y/w-d-xo.html
Watch Part 1 here on TH-cam - th-cam.com/video/N_XO0jqxvBg/w-d-xo.html
I would like to see a video on how to create calming triggers…and a BIG thank you for your #10 tip. I needed to hear that. 👍
Yes I would be interested in calming triggers as well
Me too :)
Me too!
I will add to the request for calming triggers, which you might already have produced. In that case, the link(s) for it/them.
Regarding Tip #10, I feel vindicated. We had a little female JRT who would get suddenly so stressed out that she would start spinning and biting her nubbin of a tail drawing blood. This reaction was always stimulated by over-arousal. We finally resorted to meds, which helped immensely, After needing these when she was pretty young, under 5, we were able to wean her off of them in about 2 years and she was able to live the rest of her 15 yrs, 7 months without them.
I would love a deep dive on number 7.....or rather condition a phrase or trigger promote more calmness or lower arousal. That would be so interesting. I understand things better, when you explain things....you obviously teach on my wave length and I'm very thankful for that. ❤️ you Susan.
Found the "doing their/my best" thing so helpful- I think it was in video 1. I know my dog is scared of other dogs and it's not their fault or mine but it instantly centres me back into empathy rather than frustration at the difficult reactions when I think about it or even say it out loud if needed
I would LOVE a deep dive on triggers! I'd love to learn how to approach both perception triggers and fear triggers. If there are different approaches for when a dog stresses high and when a dog stresses low...maybe even a video for each! :-) and/or, if it makes sense, maybe even one specifically about socializing puppies under 16ish weeks!! :-)
I am REALLY enjoying and learning a ton from your videos, Susan. Thank you!! BTW you look amazing!
HI Susan, I dont currently have a dog but I wish to thank you for your podcasts. They have caused me to look inwardly at myself and the relationships I have with people not just dogs. I know that hindsight is 20/20 but I know the mistakes I have made with my last dog, who was very reactive. When training her she would do brilliant things away from distractions ie return from a front sit directly to my side with a pivot or on a different queue go around my body move sideways with me to the left or right and many more of the basic things. Saying this i can now see some of the things I was doing were re-enforcing the unwanted behaviour and clearly I hadnt created enough value for the re- enforcement zone. She was attacked as a puppy by an adult dog in a club environment twice at about 16 weeks and I didnt get the help I needed at the time (No excuse) lol sorry a bit of a long way to get to my point but I love the way you train because when I would go to obedience class etc I always had a feeling that "This is wrong" and until I saw your podcasts I didnt know why, I think as it turns out I was looking for a trainer that aligned with my way of thinking but no one at the time would listen. So to you I say thank you for your help even post dog and I appreciate the love you have for these beautiful animals. Thank you again sincerely.
Rod.
Hi @Rod Phillips, thank you for such a beautiful comment, we're so glad that you are here!
Thank you for talking about meds that can help dogs calm enough to learn! I have had so much better success with training advancement since giving my dog medication. It has helped my dog transfer skills we know from the inside to outdoors and new places. It also has given us more successes with training that I want to try new places and situations with my dog. This has grown confidence for both of us and the successes keep coming!
I99
I'd like some ideas for calming triggers as well.
Excellent teaching!
So true… Tried ALL those “quick fixes” but never got to the root of things or a permanent “fix”Until I changed my approach to training and took your advice and programs!!!!! Thank You!
I found out about you in Ivan's posdcast and you are the only positive reinforcement trainer that actually
got me to understand how positive reinforcement training works and got me more interested.
Frank, we appreciate you tuning in and are grateful for your kindness in commenting.
Dear Susan, thank you so much for this video (and all your other videos!). I am working through stress and anxiety with my 2 yo hyper arousal border collie. I would love to see a video about the calming triggers from you! My dog is the sweetest, but we've been having troubles with some reactiveness lately and have gone to a vet specialized in behaviour to see if there are any underlying medical issues. So this and the previous video really hit home for me. Thank you so much for normalizing the use of behavioural medication and giving people out there the confidence to work through their issues without guilt, shame and regret ❤
Hi Stip! Susan talks about creating calming triggers in her Relaxation Protocol episode, here's the link for you: th-cam.com/video/FRmLd4k5qGk/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much for replying! We have indeed trained this from the video. I would be very interested to see/learn more on the go calming triggers while walking outside or how to effectively train a calming word. I would like to help refocus my dog before he becomes reactive, but have been unsuccesful untill now. Though his reactions are becoming less longlasting, so that's something :)
Thank you again for your good work! It is so valuable and appreciated to have access to these videos. Keep it up ❤
Great two-part series! Would love more on the Matching Law ... It's something that I sort of know intuitively and now, would enjoy that deeper dive. 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
Same here Carolyn.
Yes. The "Matching Law". Great to see it mentioned here. I've got a whole entire video about it and how it applies to dog training on my channel. Great content as always. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge Susan, it’s greatly appreciated 💖💖💖
Another great podcast. I'd like more information on Matching Law. There was a short discussion about rate of reinforcement on FB and I found it very interesting. But I felt that there must be some criteria set about the rate of reinforcement that would be important to avoid over or under rewarding, and the fading out, if any, of the higher rate of reinforcement. I find that rewarding a lot during LLW/RZ has helped Win to stay focused on me and my side during our training. But, I'd like more information so I can grow this skill and reduce the amount of reinforcement. Thank you.
Hi Susan, could you please tell me what's the calming game that you're using at approx 15.30 in this video where you're covering the dog's eyes with your hand for a moment before giving it the treat? Thank you ❤️
@outbuy Susan’s playing the It’s Yer Choice game! By covering the dog’s eyes, she’s teaching impulse control-waiting patiently leads to rewards. It’s a great way to build focus! (Julie- DogsThat Team)
@DogsThat
Oh brilliant, thank you so much Julie! We already play It's Yer Choice and we love it, but never knew about the option of covering their eyes as part of it - we're going to up our game now! Thank you so much 🥰
How do I differentiate an over aroused dog vs anxiety?
I would like a deep dive on the Nr 10 tip. Which pharmaceuticals do you advise for an anxious, fearful dog?
Hi Charlie, that would be best discussed with a veterinary behaviorist for each particular case ❤️
Would love to learn more about Matching Law/Active Triggers/Calming
A deeper dive into dogs seeing monsters, so I can be training my young dog 2yrs (H360) it’s going great & then she will see something & go of huffing & puffing, after she’s back training with total focus…..I remember you saying This! went through similar, are there any videos please?
Please explain in detail triggers for dogs that become over aroused. Currently dealing with a dog who gets over aroused around people,dogs,etc.
Hi Leonard, we have a video on triggers that might be what you are looking for - th-cam.com/video/Vxp2rQC8VMY/w-d-xo.html
Looking to train calming triggers, one of my dogs gets so aroused/excited around other people and dogs I get left out of the equation lol. He isn't fearful the exact opposite you would think he was 4 months old rather than being 4 years, he is very obedient otherwise.
Hi Leonard, it's awesome you want to help him. For dogs who get really excited about people and dogs, here are four resources to start with that are pieces of the puzzle.
Calmer greetings - covers jumping up but even if that is not the challenge, the "greet and re-greet" protocol is super helpful:
th-cam.com/video/Iy4KUSCc3cw/w-d-xo.html
Tips on getting one behavior great to be able to use it for these situations:
th-cam.com/video/c6dWgRafNVQ/w-d-xo.html
Tips on puppy playtime that apply for dogs of all ages:
th-cam.com/video/b5po2aC9mAg/w-d-xo.html
Helping dogs with a calmer state:
th-cam.com/video/FRmLd4k5qGk/w-d-xo.html
Hi Susan! By any chance would you be able to cover the topic of picky eating and what can we do to overcome the issue please? Thank you!!
Hi @Timothy Huang, we have a video to help, here's where you can watch - th-cam.com/video/vENpu_2_y20/w-d-xo.html
What is the difference between a reinforcement and a lure?
Hello! Where can I find the videos where you are using Tater as an anchor dog please?
Hi Alex, here's the video - th-cam.com/video/F7iol9dRZjY/w-d-xo.html
How do I select a podcast number?
Hi Pat, the podcast episodes mentioned are always linked in the video description for you (the little box under the video). But if you want to go to any one you could insert this in your browser: www.shapedbydog.com/ followed by the episode number, then hit enter :)
Podcast input… Specific examples of which games to start in each space you mentioned. Games inside and outside too please.
I love the couch Tater salad 😍
Can a person be a reinforcement?
Hi Susan! You mentioned in one of the podcasts about the time when you were training for rally obedience and your dog started panting. You thought the training was too long for her and cut it out. Then the next time, she began panting much earlier than the last time, and the time gets shorter and shorter. I don't think you told what you did to overcome that problem, but I am curious to know because my dog started doing the same thing recently (May be he did it before but I did not understand dogs' body language then. I am not sure).
Hi, I asked this question, but I am guessing the answer has to do with "balance break". I have just listened to the podcast #57, and realised I had not been using balance break effectively, which may have contributed to my dog's lack of drive. I plan now and we will start over!
There is no such thing as 'fear aggression.' These dogs are dominant dogs who are being territorial, defensive or protective. 'Fearful' dogs will go straight down on their paws to submit and project they are not a threat, or they run away, looking where they are going. If the dog is holding its ground and moves forward, it is a confident dominant dog. If the dog holds its ground and then moves away while maintaining eye contact, they are a low level dominant dog or an insecure high level dominant dog. Insecurity and fear are two completely different things. Fear is an emotion. Insecurity is a way of being, the underlying base of your state of mind.
A dog who cowers or moves away when someone tires to pet them on the head is not fearful. They are a low level or insecure dominant dog who is just saying, 'Why are you trying to dominante me? Leave me alone." A dog who moves forward and snaps, mouths, nips or bites when you pet their head, or are touched in any way the dog doesn't like, is a confident dominant dog. They are not fearful. Saying these dogs are fearful is like saying a top boxer or MMA fighter is fearful entering the ring. Doninant dogs were born to hunt for and protect the pack. The submissive dogs, 70% of all dogs and all breeds, are the pack who need to be hunted for and protected because they can't do it themselves. There are Pit Bulls who will concede and be respectful to every human they meet, and there are Chihuahuas who will bite every person they meet. One is a submissive dog acting out of respect, and one is an Alpha dominant dog acting out of pure confidence, not fear.
A dog who immediately goes straight down on all 4 paws when you approach them and flinches intensely when touched has been abused or dominated with unbalanced human dominance to force control, instead of balanced, assertive, respectful Canine dominance to earn respect.
How would you feel if a stranger walked up to you and tried to touch your head? Some people would freeze or run away in fear and some people will punch them, with different variations of reactions in between. Dogs DO NOT pet each other on the head, or hug each other as a greeting or to show affection. When a dog puts its paw on or over another dog, it is done out of dominance, even in play. Dominant dogs see both of these actions, especially trying to pet them on the head, as dominance. When you try to pet a dominant dog you don't know, or a dominant dog you do know who does not trust and respect you, you are dominating the dog. These dogs have not been abused. They act the same way when another dog tries to touch their head with its paw or go over them. They are not fearful of these other dogs, they are correcting the other dog for trying to dominate them. They snap at, mouth, nip or bite you to correct you the same way they correct the other dog.
Fear is the most misunderstood emotion in dogs because trainers and experts across the board do not understand dominance, corrections, discipline, teaching and Dog Behaviour in the dog world because they all look at it through the human, and their own, experience. The relationship between dogs is NOT based on dominance, it is based on trust and respect. Dominance is only used to establish and maintain a dog's position in the pack, the family.
Personal space is the most important thing to a dog, even more important than food. If I am above you in the pack, you can not touch me, ever, without my permission or acceptance. I can enter your personal space when I need to to correct you, teach you, protect you or to give you affection and I don't need your permission or acceptance to do so. A parent can touch a child in certain ways to care for them, teach them, discipline them, etc, but the child can not touch the parent in the same way. The dog's higher than you in a pack are your Mother, Alpha male or teacher, and you are to respect them as such.
NEVER try to pet a dog you are meeting on the head. Hold your hand out palm up, lean forward or turn sideways and squat down so your hand is below the dogs muzzle, let the dog smell your hand, and wait for the dog to touch your hand. If the dog does not touch you, DO NOT touch them and ignore the dog. When the dog touches your hand, bring your hand in under their head and bring your fingers in behind the curvature of the jaw, and then use your fingertips to gently and slowly lick their neck to simulate how their Mother licked their neck to show them physical affection. The dog version of the human hug. You don't pet their head, you lick their neck.
Cheers ✌️
Hi Duke! Thanks for sharing your point of view. Here's a podcast Susan did a while back on "dominance": th-cam.com/video/wBs5froI2a4/w-d-xo.html
And another one on "personal space" or "the bubble of pressure": th-cam.com/video/E8nSFiqTalM/w-d-xo.html
Happy training! 🐾
How to help a dog with a fear of thunder.
Hi @nancy sopata, we have a video all about fear of fireworks and the same strategies can help with thunder, here's the link for you - th-cam.com/video/nHGzCFB6I6Y/w-d-xo.html