Can Your Worst Challenge Make You a Better Dog Trainer? #50
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ย. 2024
- When I was 12 years old, I experienced the most humiliating event of my young life with a doctor who was trying to be helpful. That event changed who I was and how I processed information and led me to become the dog trainer that I am today. What if the things that we look at as our greatest challenges are actually our biggest blessings? And how could that help our dogs?
In the episode you'll hear:
• About my family and my introduction to riding a bike.
• Why my brothers talked about my determination as if I were an alien.
• My love of Nancy Drew books as a child.
• How an ophthalmologist changed my young life forever.
• Why I thought I was weird and how I just tried to figure things out.
• My experience at University in an English course and why I stopped reading.
• The years I spent with undiagnosed dyslexia and how that shaped me.
• What I want you to know about answers existing.
• About not giving anyone the power to make you feel less than.
• How there are dogs out there who need us.
Resources:
Blog Post: “Each of us is Somebody’s Weirdo” -
susangarrettdo...
Book: Shaping Success by Susan Garrett -
dogsthat.com/p...
P.S. Subscribe to our TH-cam Channel so you get notifications of new videos!
- - - - - - -
Dogs That is brought to you by Susan Garrett and the Say Yes Dog Training Team.
Susan Garrett’s interest in animal behaviour started at the University of Guelph where she earned a Bachelor of Science majoring in Animal Science. Since then she has developed into a preeminent dog trainer and canine sports instructor and competitor. Susan is one of the most successful agility competitors of the last three decades. She has won multiple Gold Medals at National or World Championship events with every dog she has ever owned over the past 30 years.
A natural teacher and an entertaining speaker, Susan is world renowned as a leading educator of dog trainers. Her understanding of how to apply science-based learning principles to both competitive and family pet dog training has been pivotal in changing how dogs are trained.
Susan is now helping many thousands of dog owners in 82 countries have the best relationship possible with their dogs. The real joy for her comes from bringing confidence to dogs and their owner through playful interactions and relationship building games that are grounded firmly in the science of how animals learn.
- - - - - - -
Our Website: dogsthat.com
Facebook: / susangarrettdogagility
Instagram: / susangarrettdogsthat
TikTok: / dogsthat
LinkedIn: / dogsthat
Pinterest: pinterest.ca/d...
Twitter: / susangarrett
There’s always something new happening at Dogs That, so if you’d like to be the first to know, visit our website, register to receive updates, and we'll keep you in the loop.
dogsthat.com
I'm sending you a HUGE hug from Vancouver, Washington, USA (the other Vancouver). Doctors and teachers are supposed to be helpers and not breakers of human spirit. They had no right to speak to you like they did. You did not deserve their treatment. The life that shaped you has given you amazing gifts that I'm so grateful you've decided to share with anyone who's willing to listen. Many hearts to you.
❤ Uniquely you ❤
The ultimate badge of courage is embracing who you are particularly given the cadre of people who have other ideas about that.
Wow Susan. You are such a positive force in the lives of dogs and their people! Thank you for all the wisdom you share! ❤
How did I miss this podcast?
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ Hugs to you Susan!
Thanks be to God that he gave you perseverance and the determination to keep going and forge ahead! To not settle for that ceiling placed on you by others. How you have used your challenges in a positive way to not only grow, but to encourage others and to help them! What a blessing you are to all of us! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
The podcast hit me so hard. I grew up in special education, went to college with those same struggle and because a special education teacher. I know this topic from both sides. Today, as 52 year old I am finally being treated for ADHD. It is wonderful to be weird and I love all the weird people out there. This is quote to epitomizes my relationship with my husband: “We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.”
― Dr. Seuss
Susan Garrett helps change lives 🙌🙏💜
Love it! I don't deal with dyslexia, but I can relate. Good for you to adapt so very well, Susan!
That was a 5-tissue podcast, but the tears are still flowing. You touched my heart for all of us who have had our experiences discounted by someone in authority. You should share this on a FB site for dyslexia, it's so powerful. It could be a TED Talk too. Thank you for opening your heart to us.
Thank you so much for this episode, this is so important! ❤️
I have AD(H)D, but I was 30 when I found out. For so many years I felt like I had to be lazy or stupid, even though I didn't feel lazy or stupid. I've felt a lot of shame and depression, and was misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder for about 6 years, until I finally got diagnosed with ADD.
I was NOT lazy and stupid. I was NOT just weak and unmotivated. Far from! I have been fighting all my life, and I have accomplished SO much considering the constant struggles I've had.
My challenges has taught me so much, that I am very grateful for, but it IS devastating to look "normal" but feel like a misfit.
So again, THANK YOU Susan! I am sure this is very helpful to others who feel a little misplaced in this world! ❤️
Susan I love you. I love how transparent you are and the way you share. We have a 4 months old puppy and you are the one that has gotten us through these 1st 2 month with success. My 10 yr old and I love watching and learning from you. Keep making more. 💗
Inspiring, heart-wrenching and beautiful - thank you for sharing your story!
Wow!! Just ......WOW!! I love that you are a lot of people's "weirdo"!! Without your method of training Mindi would have not enjoyed her life as much as she did!! Because of you I was able to harness Mindi's energy and train her and love everything about her!! Thank you so much Susan!!
Wow Susan,. What an inspiring story about overcoming life's challenges. I taught high school students with special needs who experienced learning difficulties for 27 years. I too used the colored clear plastic pages for a student that helped change her reading abilities 10 fold. It was such a joy to see her blossom after that. I'm so thrilled that your story has a happy ending and the dog training community has a genius in you to learn from. A million thanks for sharing 💕
Susan this podcast was a game changer for me. Having raised the "perfect" dog and now having adopted a challenging rescue dog I get waves of guilt for bringing her into the family. I started with a prong collar and e collar on the advice of a local trainer but it hurt my heart to see how aloof and worried she became. That was not what either of us wanted or needed. As a child who was bullied and labelled weird I knew the importance of unconditional acceptance and reassurance. I look at her through a different lenses now and I can tell she feels it. Our relationship has blossomed and her understanding of the behaviour I want grows everyday. Your podcasts have become like sermons to me about kindness and letting go of the urge to control and dominate her or anyone else. We are part of HS the Dog and now Wag Nation. So helpful! Thank you thank you for sharing your knowledge and life experience so generously.
Awesome podcast ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow that was an amazing podcast. You are teaching us such great life lessons through love for dogs. Thank you!!!!
🥰❤️🥰❤️🥰
I have Irlen and dyslexia too. I was called stupid, sent to ed psychologist and for IQ tests. I was then ignored when that came back as high. I was finally diagnosesd at 35! Thank you for sharing your story. Not just a dog training podcast! I life training podcast.
You are such a wonderful advocate for those who are different. You are one of a kind and we are so lucky to have you!
I am constantly sharing your videos with all of my clients or new puppy owners sometimes before I've even met them . You're brilliant and have changed my way of training.
I was diagnosed with a learning disability and through elementary I was told that I was just lazy. That because I could articulate the answers verbally better than 90%of the kids in my class I just "wouldn't" put my answer on paper. It fueled me. I love this story. And if you ever have a mentor program please pick me. Would be a dream to train directly under you. Please never stop these podcast. ❤️
When I was 12 years old in 1980 I was diagnosed with dyslexia. Life was pretty rough for kids with learning disabilities in the 70’s and 80’s. Thanks for sharing your story
I love your thinking Susan and you have a beautiful heart ❤️ so inspiring. Thank you !
I won’t go into the events like this that resulted in my feeling “less than,” but suffice it to say that I give a thumbs up to this podcast! Wish I’d heard it when I was in my 20’s versus my 70’s:))). The one thing I do know is that I never say “die” and always look for answers. I figure that challenges are simply agility hurdles meant to make us champions!
Wow I needed that! I’m the mother to 12 and three of my children are special needs and I am always looked at as a “weirdo” not to mention I have 9 dogs so I’m the crazy dog lady too!!!
I have loved each and every podcast that you have shared, but I think this has been my favorite. It made me think back about the different things in my life both positive and negative that have shaped the person that I am. Thank you for sharing your life-changing events.
❤❤❤ what a WONDERFUL podcast, Susan! As soon as you described what was happening to you at 12 I knew. My mother and i are dyslexic (never officially "declared" though.... We were just considered "slow") and my sister and daughter are also dyslexic (fortunately it was discovered early and they got/get the support they need).
I'm an English teacher now (going on 25 years) and I hope I am as positive an influence to my students as you are to your community. xxx
Susan Garrett, I have dyslexia too, and quite severe. Learned by talking computer and had books recorded on tapes. I belonged to a honor society in college, not bad for being told by Doctors and teachers telling me, I was retarded. Love your show and my puppy is learning from your method. Thank you.
I love you. Thank you for this message.
Love this and love This! haha :-). Thank you for this Susan, so important!
Thank you for sharing this personal story and motivate to be different!
Wow. Now I wasn’t expecting that podcast. Holy guacamole. I listened to every word you said and I can tell you that a similar event , well more than a single one happened to me. I was hyper , active, chatty, full of beans and daydreamed a lot. There was more but this covers the majority of what others would say to me and about me. The feeling of having the air sucked out of your lungs and being labelled as being a challenge, made me shut down and try to change who I was. Decades later it was confirmed I had ADHD . I wasn’t strange, I wasn’t weird I was me . I come from a family of 10 and no one else was like me . Go figure. I am more kind to others, am a people watcher and love learning. Dogs have always been my thing and having the knack to see what’s not working is built into my backbone of how I train dogs and my relationship with them. Thank you Susan for being you . PS. That was nice of you to do a shout out to listeners of your channel. And yeah, the name is pretty hard to pronounce. You did ok. Lol. Just think I had to learn to pronounce it as it’s my husband’s last name. Lol
Wow! We have much in common! I also come from a family of 9 kids.( I am 5 of 9) 😝 I only learned to read because of my 2nd grade teacher who realized I was having trouble focusing on the sentence I was trying to read. She taught me how to cover the page with a paper, only revealing one word at a time. What a difference! By the time I was in 6th grade I was reading at a 12th grade level. Reading music however is a different story. The notes seem to float up and down and I can’t seem to tell which lines they are on! I’ve taken piano lesson. I hear the music and play it easily. When it comes time for review with an unheard song, to the bewilderment of my instructor I fail every time. At 32 I was diagnosed with ADD. I also experienced the “you are lying or cheating thing in school. Especially with math. I couldn’t show my work. I didn’t even know how I arrived at the answer. I just knew it! So I can relate. So I say weirdos unite! Let us fly our freak flags high and proud! And let us enjoy the many talents that we have been blessed with, not in spite of our so called disabilities, but because of them!!!! Keep up the good work! I am loving your channel!
I'm going to share this on my Facebook page! What a powerful message!
This is why I love you and tell everyone I know who has dogs about your podcast. Thanks, Susan - really, heartfelt thanks!
Wow! Thank you Susan for sharing your personal story. Every time I listen to you I think that you are a person with a great empathy to others and a massive passion, not only for dogs but for life. Every time I listen to you I feel better! You give me energy and love to go through life, which sometimes could be challenging. Thank you!
Amen Totally agree ❤❤❤❤
This brought me to tears and gives me hope for having a great relationship with my dog. Thank you Susan!!!❤
Thank you Suzanne, you totally can! 💕
I had a puppy 3 days ago, 8 weeks old
Thank you for the perfect training tips, you are great
I am totally engaged in the Recallers online program since October/22 yet I still refer to your podcasts a few times a week as reference and confirmation. I found myself emotional, smiling and totally engrossed in this particular podcast. I absolutely love that you shared this story of life experiences and growth: to find out more about you and that your moment of discovery about your 'dislexia', Irlen syndrome or whatever the label was. You have such intergrity and enthusiasm for your work....this method I love so much, so I had unknowingly wanted to hear some of your background. Thank you from one weirdo to another. (I have another form of dislexia). I now know how important it is to hit that LIKE button too! I want dog lovers everywhere to know about Dogs That!
What a wonderful message so many need to hear. This brought me to tears. I am going to replay this for both my children. An important message for all.
I have 3 children with a mix of learning issues, sensory processing issues, ADHD & visual processing issues (1 dx with Irlens). Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your story!
Listening to your podcasts is like diving into a really good book. Totally absorbing and entertaining as you listen /read and then as you think about it in the hours and days that follow you reflect back and watch for instances of what you have been talking about play out in real life. You have completely embraced the idea that helping dogs means helping owners - and that owners need their learning to be fun as much as the dogs do! This particular episode touched me greatly. I have high frequency deafness and work hard to deal with the challenges this poses. Its actually made me a better listener and like you with your coping strategies for dyslexia I ask a ton of questions to check that I properly understand what I'm being taught!
I have followed your career and advice for about 20 years watching many videos and achieving enough success to have really enjoyed my training. This pod cast however is your best, most inspiring and intimate. Thank you Dave
Thank you, Dave! ❤️
I had a defining moment when I was 9. I was a happy child until then, but everything changed. I was accused of something I didn't do in school, my parents believed the teacher, not me, and and that point things began to spiral. I lost trust, became an introvert and never felt heard. I'm now in my 60's. I have been 'weird' my entire life, an 'out of the box' thinker. Most in my life have always tried to put this round peg in a square hole...in fact they still do. I train dogs for a living, and as you, am working to overturn old school training methods for those of kindness and understanding. I question everything and love to learn...it drives those who know me crazy. I'm OK with it all now. My daughter use to say, 'oh mom, you're such a freak'. I wear that badge proudly now, tho I still struggle inside at times. Thank you so much for sharing. It is good to know I'm not as weird as I was conditioned to believe (or maybe I'm weirder, lol). I like being what I am; I'm interesting! Thank you.
This is such an inspiring podcast, thank you for sharing and being so open. It’s something sorely needed these days. 🥰
Thank you Marie, we're grateful to have in you in this wonderful and kind community 💕
This podcast is highly motivating!
I do believe our greatest challenges are blessing in disguise.
I love the way you share positivity. (Even your goal for a percentage of watchers hitting the like button.) I'm not great about goal setting because I dont like the pressure of possibly not meeting a goal. Thanks for talking about real life that we can apply to our dog training too!
Wow! Just Wow! what a great attitude. I don't know if I would have been that resilient. Another inspirational podcast. Thank you Susan! Attitude is Everything.
I swear I can listen to you all day! Another great podcast.
Wow really enjoyed this episode, lots to take away for everyday life.
Thank you
I've been listening to your podcast (audio version) on my commute and was inspired to come here to say thank you. As I drive back and forth to work, your podcast is a bright spot in my day and has made this difficult year more bearable. I was in kind of a low spot in my life in August- I was going in to work at the hospital facing a busy schedule with stress of COVID exposure daily- my kids were stuck at home with no camp, few activities- my husband was grumbling about having to manage more things at home due to his being able to work mostly remotely- my dogs got two walks a day and some fetch but it felt joyless - and I felt like I was letting everyone down in all spheres of my life! I found you on Facebook and took your free master class. I remember you asking "Do you believe YOU can be the one to teach your dog? What do you tell yourself about who you are?" My answer was that I had very little faith in myself (it somehow didn't matter that I had trained and taken one of my dogs to agility trials. etc. I only saw my faults!). But MasterClass was FUN! I then discovered your podcast and decided to join Recallers. Hearing you share your stories from your heart and your encouragement to stay true to yourself, not lose faith in who you are, and to bring your full self to what you are doing has been inspiring to me. Learning the games in Recallers has instilled a new joy and playfulness with my time with my dogs. That in turn reminds me to bring joy and kindness in what I do- with my dogs, but also with my kids, my coworkers- all my relationships. I think the pandemic is a challenge which has taught me something- I hope that it has shown me to embrace more kindness and joy in my life. THANKS for sharing your self and your knowledge and wisdom.
I'm honored to be part of the same Weirdo category. Thanks for sharing your story. There's always a silver lining 😍⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ And thanks for the shout out, so great to be part of this community.
❤ Thanks for supporting weirdos!!! ❤️
I’ve been listening to your podcasts while on long drives, I LOVE all of them! But this one brought tears to my eyes (not cool while driving!😂). I had to jump on here in YTube and thank you for being the brilliant genius weirdo you are ♥️ Thank you for sharing your knowledge and wonderful outlook, you’ve changed my life.
Wow, that was a powerful episode!
❤️
When I was 17yo, I went to the doctor, because my ears were ringing and I had weird dizzy spells. I didn't know what it was, but I knew something was wrong. I was told I was a hypochondriac. There was nothing wrong with me... However, since then I've been diagnosed with autism and the physical symptoms I had at 17 were emotional responses to a stressful event. I've not always been very good with emotions, but I'm good at noticing physical things and noticing the details.
Thank you for sharing your personal story! I had no clue. You're an inspiration and I love the attitude of never giving up and always pushing through your challenges to continue moving forward.
Amazing Podcast that truly brought tears to my eyes. I have admired you, your life skills and knowledge of dog training for a few years. This has shown your strength and determination and humbles me with the problems I have struggled with. Thank you for sharing and I will continue to spread your knowledge. ♥️ ♥️ ♥️
Love all your podcasts 💕
Love this!
Thank you for sharing. I have been having trouble training because I don't and never have had good reaction times. I was never good at sports or anything competitive and laughed at. I found a sport/exercise I like to do that is not competitive and I can work at until it becomes natural without disappointing a teammate. I even teach it now. I guess I have to keep at it like I did with my sport until it becomes natural.
Great podcast! I have always admired that you worked through life's challenges and are so willing to share your knowledge with others.
Hi I am working my way through all podcasts! Started watching in March… I got new pup the end of April 2023….I can’t get enough! I love your podcasts❣️videos❣️and everything Susan Garrett🫶🏻 My 6 month old pup and I are in Recallers…even though I’m slow going in program..we are training 24/7 . I found out I had OCD from 60 minutes when I was 25ish 1986….first time I had any idea why I was so weird…wasn’t treated til age 35…and still struggle at age 61 which is why I am so stuck in Recallers…I haven’t done video of my training or quizzes because of that thing in my head saying can’t move forward,,,I will get there….every teacher I had in high school would say I have never seen anyone move their average grade so quickly during second half of any quarter of the school year…lagged 1st half kicked butt and did extra credit 2nd half…lol I was a straight A student…I am still a procrastinator….so I hope to show you how I can get way better with time! thank you for sharing 😊kim
"I was watching television, avoiding studying, as you do in University" 14:16. Times have changed Susan. I'm watching your TH-cam video and avoiding studying. 😂 You have mentioned the Dyslexia and how you had avoided reading for a period of time. I was definitely curious how you had over come that. Amazing story. Thank you for sharing.
WOWZAH. This is so relatable! I felt much the same as a child growing up with undiagnosed ADHD (inattentive type) and Autism too (the so called "high functioning" degree of challenges) and some amount of dyslexia - mostly relating to looking at letters and flipping them all the time (b and d and sometimes also p I was constantly writing wrong). In elementary school I had so many ineffective and partially effective "interventions" that I received the message loud and clear that I was "dumb" , "special needs", etc but inside I knew I was quite clever. I just wasn't the sort of learner most of the other kids were, back then (80s/90s).
Now I embrace my weirdness and wouldn't have it any other way! Self described "crazy dog lady", foster dog mom and horse rescuer too! ;)
High five to all us "weirdos"! ^_^ We rock!
Thx for UR honesty! My daughter has had Irlen eye testing and when the right color of lenses were put on her eyes, she looked up at me and said “Mommy the lines in the carpet stopped moving!”. She had always struggled with gait and balance as a young child and with the Irlen glasses on she had WAY better gait, balance and proprioception. Without glasses she said patterns on carpets would move and she’s have to take big steps up and over the patterns.
Thank you for your message!
You brought me to tears. I read Nancy Drew as well, but did not have dyslexia. Thank you for changing my world for the better with your podcasts and online dog training! ❤️🐾
You are a True Inspiration and not a weird. Strange at times but so am I all the time and proud of it 😜😜❤❤❤❤ Never truly knew what Dylexia was and my husband had a different problem with his eyes. His one eye would see a 100 feet while the other saw 200 feet at same time and wasn't until 2nd year of college it was found and corrected and his daughters had same problem but treated earlier. Also Thanks for the shout out for me. Big fan and in all your programs for Love how you think out of the box and wish I could. You are Wonderfully Made and a God sent so please don't ever change for we need more like you in the world ❤❤❤❤❤⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you for such heart felt honesty and inspiration Susan, here's to all of us misfits and wierdos out there!
I was recently diagnosed with severe ADHD at the age of 40 and have struggled throughout life (despite some amazing careers, partners, friends, etc) never really being able to make it work: finish a degree, hold a long term job, etc. I lost count of the amount of times I was told I didn't want it badly enough, couldn't get it together, couldn't stay the course. Despite the knocks and falls, the journey shapes in you an understanding and empathy towards others that can only come through seeing the world through different eyes.
It really hit home to me training my first dog, a loving yet highly aroused Parson Russell terrier who is easily overwhelmed by his evnironment . My own condition is so often one of over stimulation, struggling with a full technicolour of emotions all at one time, and I could really feel for the wee fella and what that might feel like when it all gets too much and we just can't focus or concentrate.
Thank you for being such a wonderful inspiration, helping me to not only be a better dog trainer, but learning to be kind to myself and open to the lessons that my four legged companion is here to teach me! Best wishes, Gavin & Marty :)
❤️❤️❤️ Thanks so much for sharing this reflection ❤️❤️❤️ Sending lots of love your way ❤️❤️❤️
From one dyslexic dog trainer to another, Susan that was a wonderful podcast! Although my words never grew on the page, I could not learn from oral explanations or from textbooks. And my spelling was atrocious because letters and words would flip around into some weird order. In college I didn’t have time to read textbooks. All I could learn from was my class notes, which I became very good at taking. I could memorize them Page by page and flip through the pages in my mind during the exams. Although I spent more time studying my notes than my fellow students spent reading and studying, in the end I was able to finish a PhD in genetics and become a genetics professor at a major university as my career. And as you mentioned for yourself, this experience gave me a special skill in paying attention to detail. I can study an agility run on a video and pick up the most subtle mistakes I have made. I’m glad that we and others have learned to compensate and have had success, probably partially due to this “weirdness"! But thank goodness that spellcheck came around and typewriters were replaced with digital typing! Thanks again! Christie
R-E-S-P-E-C-T !💙🙂
I would like to let you know Susan, I recently discovered you and have watched every podcast from #1 to this one. #50 (Even though I don’t have a dog currently, but antiparticle the arrival of one in August) I’m in love with your style of teaching. (Being a retired elementary teacher I. Can relate.) Today for no particular reason after listening to this episode I feel so sad for every dog who is misunderstood or handled inappropriately or even abandoned by humans. It made me question the humanity of us all. Why do humans believe we share no commonality with animals entrusted to our watch?. Whether it’s a dog, cat, cow or chicken we would be ten times better people if we observed and learned a thing or two from the animals on our planet. (Have no idea where this is coming from. Just in the moment)
1 to 50 in a row is awesome going!
Don't ever worry, Susan! However weird you might think you are, I've got you beat by a factor of 10!
Ask anyone who has known me very long! Ask me about my theory that trailer parks actually CAUSE tornadoes!
You are awesome, and you've changed so many dog and human lives for the better!
That’s such a great story and message, Susan.
Thank you so much for telling it.
I wonder what caused that condition?
❤️❤️❤️
I seem to be stumbling over my words more and more lately! My brain goes faster than my mouth. Just the other day I was mentioning how a training video for grooming alpacas was so cool and great, and I told my kids ‘Isn’t it so crate?’ And my puppy looked at me like ‘but there is no crate!’ 😂
Is that dyslexia? I so often mash my words together, or swap things like instead of saying sunflower seeds I once said Sunfleed Sowers. 🥴
I finally found something that calls this Spoonerism! I do all the things they are mentioning in this article! 😮
OMG....
Tru dat😢
😮
😐😔
😞
Hey - Maybe put a link on your page for people to "Watch on TH-cam" - or am I just being dense that it doesn't already exist?
So moved by your talk. Thank you my weirdness was lefthandedness in convent schools in 50s. Just unacceptable