One of my most favorite things to talk about is mindset because, to me, it’s everything in life. Mindset is nothing to do with dog training, yet it has everything to do with how successful you will be. Dog training is an unregulated industry, and people can say or do whatever they want. There are many ways to train dogs, and dogs will learn despite what’s being done. Each method of training a dog will impact us personally, so we need to consider who we will become.
In the episode you'll hear:
- That we all have goals and choices in reaching those goals.
- How a dog learning will reinforce our training choices.
- Why to consider what you trade off in dog training, your time or relationship.
- That you need to give yourself grace when learning.
- How our dog training choices carry over into other areas of our life.
- What we get when you achieve a goal is not nearly as important as who we become.
- That our relationship with our dogs is defined when we are frustrated.
- How ethical training can be effective, but that it’s you who defines what is ethical.
- About my history in dog training and how I’ve changed.
- Why dog sports should be a team experience with our dog.
- That dog training can be different and help us become who we want to be.
Resources:
- Podcast Episode 44: Using Coincidences and Positive Associations in Dog Training
- Podcast Episode 102: Transitioning Your Dog Training: From All That Is Wrong To That Which Is Right
- IQ Zoo - History of Animal Behavior Enterprises - Bailey's and Breland's
- Podcast Episode 84: Disappointment in Dog Sports: Mindset With Olympian Greg Louganis
- Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube
What a great episode to have on my birthday! I’ve been listening to these podcasts in order along with Homeschool the Dog and Recallers. My too small dogs have benefitted greatly, but I’ve benefitted more. Thank you Susan, for all you do.
Thank you so much for your knowledge and insight! All of my dogs have only ever been educated using reward-based methods but you have opened my eyes to even more effective training methods. I started training dogs professionally in 2005 using lure/reward and occasionally negative punishment. The main consequence was I became very dependent on the lure and fading that took extensive periods. When I enrolled my newest dog Mini in Crate Games and now Home School, learning shaping made a huge difference in how she learned and gave me a better understanding in how dogs learn. My older dogs are also going through HS now and they love the games. Thank you again for making me a better trainer and having improved relationships with my dogs.
Congratulations on episode 150. Thank you for making this content so relevant to life in general.
“What can WE do to help that dog be better”, is such a wonderful philosophy.
I just started using your programs to help train dogs locally. I love the concept and just want to share it. Dog owners lover it, they love knowing that fun can be had by all in the name of dog training. I really feel as I’m in my element when training. It surprises me how well I’m doing working with owners and their dogs, daily. Thank you Susan for having such wonderful programs affordable for all. I give out your business cards all the time! Thanks for that template that’s the best thing ever!
Thank you, thank you, thank you Susan.
Diane
Thank you Susan, this was what I need to hear today. I have dogs through all my life , did not train them much , taking them occasionally to some classes, looking for other people successfully complete obedience trials, me fail most of them . Blaming the dogs being too lazy, too hyper, too shy, I did not see me in the picture, maybe thinking that I’m not good trainer , this was all. Today I have a new dog , and I try to fallow your advice, seeing what teaching my dog to achieve better outcome . Thank you Susan.
With each new dog, I get better. Better at training, better at relationships, and better as a person. Thank you, Susan, for the gift of great dog training. I am forever shaped by dog
Although I am 75 and only statred to become a dog person 10 years ago I can see how important dogs are to increasing my life span and my attitud eabou life and those around us. I now have three dogs Afemale lab, queen of the house, a 6 yo male Aussie, who tries to be the boss (and fails, there is the lab, and a 10mponth old Aussie , ( enough said). I do agility with al of them, It is a wild ride . All four of us love it. But, I love them more because they keep me going, boy do they eve.
Thank you Susan! I want to be the best ,most loving person I can possibly be for my dog and myself. I want to bring out the best in both of us and be a role model for others. You always remind us to have a positive perspective especially when things are not so perfect!