Susan Garrett, world-renowned dog trainer, multi-time champion of dog agility, and leading educator on all things canine shares everything related to dogs! Susan understands dog behaviour and wants you and your dog to have the best life together possible.
https://shapedbydog.com
episode 229: Transforming An Overwhelmed And Anxious Dog Into A World Champion - DeCaff’s Story Part 1, #229
Visit us at shapedbydog.com - https://shapedbydog.com
Imagine a dog or puppy so overwhelmed by everything they see, hear or feel that it causes anxiety and crushes their confidence. Before transforming into a world agility champion, this was my Jack Russell Terrier mix, DeCaff. In part one of this two-part series I’m sharing six lessons DeCaff taught me as well as reflections on how I uniquely approached some of my toughest dog training challenges. DeCaff ultimately blossomed into a brilliant agility dog– as well as a loving, calm family pet – who inspired many of the renowned Recallers online dog training games being played worldwide today.
In this episode you’ll hear:
● DeCaff’s Story: From anxious, over-aroused Jack Russell Terrier mix to world champion agility dog.
● Six lessons, reflections and a few regrets when training DeCaff.
● How DeCaff came into my life by accident.
● When DeCaff first attacked another puppy at 9 weeks old.
● DeCaff’s sensitivity to tactile stimulation and new textures could be overwhelming for agility training.
● Lesson 1: Puppy selection for sport dogs.
● About a dog training seminar trip gone awry.
● How DeCaff’s breed mix made her physiology perfect for canine sports.
● Lesson 2: Importance of arousal state when training dogs.
● About The Yerkes-Dodson arousal curve for peak performance dog training.
● Why to increase your dog’s joy for training in distracting environments.
● Lesson 3: Create a positive environment for yourself and your dog.
● How I discovered my dog’s best reinforcer - the fly swatter.
● Lesson 4: Be sure never to force what you think is important on the dog when you’re picking their best reinforcer.
● Lesson 5: Transfer of value in dog training.
● How DeCaff and I won the ESPN Great Outdoor Games - and $10K.
● Lesson 6: Take the challenge out of your training.
● Reflections on my 3 toughest dogs to train.
Resources:
1. Podcast Episode 168: Creating Confidence For Anxious, Stressed Or Reactive Dogs Part 1 - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/168/
2. Podcast Episode 95: How Playing with Your Dog Like a Puppy Can Reduce Fear - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/95/
3. Podcast Episode 159: Help! My Puppy Is A Bully And Plays Too Rough - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/159/
4. Podcast Episode 180: Taking Your Puppy To A Café Or Restaurant: Socialization Success - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/180/
5. Podcast Episode 16: The Thing Before Your Dog’s Thing - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/16/
6. Podcast Episode 36: Puppy Selection: How I Do It and Why I Didn’t This! Time - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/36/
7. Book: Shaping Success by Susan Garrett - https://dogsthat.com/product/shaping-success-2/
8. Podcast Episode 13: Naming Your Puppy or Dog - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/13/
9. Podcast Episode 78: How to Train a Rescue Dog with Behavior Problems - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/78/
10. Podcast Episode 221: Mindshifting Dog Behavior Problems To Overcome Extreme Training Challenges - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/221/
11. Podcast Episode 197: Outsmarting Distractions: How To Use Environmental Reinforcement in Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/197/
12. Podcast Episode 86: How to Train Unmotivated or Overexcited Dogs - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/86/
13. Podcast Episode 206: First Dog Agility Competition: Creating Joy For This! By Maximizing Reinforcement - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/206/
14. Podcast Episode 228: Navigating Failure In Dog Training: What’s Your Plan B? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/228/
15. Podcast Episode 220: Help Humping, Barking, Destructive, Reactive Dogs Overcome Dysregulation: 4 Case Studies - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/220/
16. Podcast Episode 208: Brilliance, Resilience And Gratitude: Inspiration And Motivation With Elliott Connie - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/208/
17. Podcast Episode 25: Why All Dogs Can Bite and How to Reduce the Risk with R.E.A.D.- https://dogsthat.com/podcast/25/
18. Podcast Episode 205: The Hidden World Of Reinforcement For Dogs And Why You Need To Know - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/205/
19. Podcast Episode 226: Safe Toys For Dogs And Why To Avoid Tennis Balls And Sticks - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/226/
20. Podcast Episode 31: 5 Simple Hacks to Help Your Dog Learn Faster (Reinforcement Process) - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/31/
21. Podcast Episode 177: Dog Training Outside The Box: Transfer Of Value Case Study - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/177/
22. Podcast Episode 203: Reactive, Unmotivated and Fearful: Finding Resiliency For This! Beyond Dog Training Part 1 - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/203/
23. Podcast Episode 150: Adding Mindset To Your Dog Training Tools: Who Do You Become? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/150/
24. Podcast Episode 34: Time Outs for Dogs: Does Your Dog Need One? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/34/
25. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/BCV7t3MiKGg