Visit us at shapedbydog.com    Harnessing excitement in dog training and understanding arousal lets you create better focus from your dog! Whether your dog gets over the top or seems super laid back, knowing their emotional pathway and what you can do to help them get in the optimal zone will make a world of difference to your training and life with your dog.   In this episode you’ll hear:   • How understanding arousal levels can improve your dog’s performance in training. • The impact...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    Answering your top questions on reactivity, dog behavior, agility, frustration, sports dogs, neutering and more! You'll hear tips on training multiple dogs, strategies for improving focus, impulse control, and drive, and how to handle things like lunging, growling, nipping and jumping up. If you have any other questions I didn’t cover, jump over to YouTube and let me know in the comments. Your questions are always so insightful!   In this episode, I’m...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    "How do I walk multiple dogs?' is a popular question. I'm sharing my tips and step-by-step guide to walking more than one dog at once so walks are stress-free and enjoyable for everyone. The process I've got for you is how I teach my dogs to walk together calmly and happily, no matter what distraction is nearby.   In this episode you’ll hear:   • The most important skill before walking multiple dogs. • All about the cues I use, such as “with me,” “side,”...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    Want an easy, fun way to boost your dog's skills, strengthen your bond, and lay the foundation for advanced training while having fun? Look no further than Vito's Thinking Game! I'm sharing how to play and why it has so much power. Whether you're a seasoned dog trainer or a first-time puppy or rescue dog owner, this game is perfect for dogs of all ages and skill levels.    In this episode you’ll hear:   • How Vito’s Game builds your dog’s focus and...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    Imagine there's a secret booster button we could press, and our dog would suddenly turn into a superhero, and we'd have dog training superpowers. Guess what? I've got that booster button for you, and am sharing how to activate it. It all starts with being present to our presence, hacking for our self talk, and knowing a simple exercise to instantly shift our emotional state. Each of us has a mind capable of brilliance! And with a few little tweaks, we can all...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    Why do dogs eat poop? It’s known as coprophagia and how to stop it is a popular question. Poop eating in dogs is more common than you might think. When your dog eats their own poop or another dog's poop, it can be distressing, and if it's out in public, downright embarrassing! I'm walking you through the three main reasons behind coprophagia, what worked to stop my puppy Prophet from eating poop, and why I think my dog Encore started when she was six years old...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com   I love giving dogs food puzzles and have a step-by-step plan that I believe will build confidence, end frustration and grow resilience for puppies and dogs of all ages. Strategic use of food puzzles creates essential coping skills, provides enrichment, and helps dogs work through failure in training, which we all need because we are human and will make mistakes.  I’m covering how to use food puzzles effectively with tips on what to do and what to avoid.    In...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    When is the right time to start agility training with your puppy? That's a popular question I receive, and I'm sure other world champions also get asked!  So, to answer, I’m covering everything you need to know about starting agility with a puppy, including the most important factor, and when and how I begin training. Even if you don't do agility, what I'm sharing can apply to a wide range of activities we enjoy with dogs, including being amazing members of...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    The best place to train a puppy or rescue dog might be the best-kept dog training secret you need to know! It's something no one ever tells you, and it will create success with dog training so your dog can be an amazing companion. You don't need to be on a downward spiral of frustration and disappointment, and I've three critical dog training strategies that are easy to implement so you and your dog can live your best life ever.   Free Goodies for You and...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    One of the most frequent questions we see is how to get dogs to stop barking, but this week, a Shaped by Dog listener asked the opposite. They want to help their dog start barking. I teach this as a parlor trick, and have the training steps for you. I’m also sharing expert insights from my good friend, Matt Folsom of Modern Malinois fame because for many working dogs, barking is a vital skill, and it’s a very nuanced and detailed behavior.    In this episode...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    What if I told you that you could dramatically improve the outcome of your dog training sessions in 60 seconds? Using just 1 minute to train and evaluate helps me be far more efficient and create success for my dogs quickly.  It’s been part of my dog training for at least 20 years and it’s something everyone can do. This one thing can totally skyrocket your confidence and bring clarity, confidence and calm thinking to dogs.   In this episode you’ll hear:   ...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    Do you have a dog who's really fussy about the treats that you give them? I'm going to show you how to get your dog grabbing treats no matter what you put in front of them. Previously, I shared games of chase that dogs love to play. Now we're amplifying the chase element for dogs by adding restraint, and I've got 6 new fun games for picky eaters that all dogs will enjoy.   In this episode you’ll hear:   • About overcoming picky eating in dogs so they value...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    I'm sharing 10 fun and engaging games of chase to play with dogs to increase food drive for picky eaters. Now, you might have a dog who loves treats, but they will still have a great time playing the games with you, so give them a try! The games are quick to play and are a great way to connect with your dog. Playing will give you treats your dog values that you can use to your training advantage, and you'll also gain a treat delivery system that engages your...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com   If you are trying to train a dog who is fussy about food, or if you know someone who is in that situation, you may think, "this dog training is never going to work." And you know, you're probably right! Training will be a challenge unless you have something of great value for the dog. We’re continuing our focus on how to create food drive with a look at how to structure your dog training to get a transfer of value from things your dog loves to any treat.   In...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    This episode is all about my girl This! with reflections on this year's Canadian Dog Agility World Team Tryouts. You are all part of Team This! and I'm sharing my goals, challenges, and joys. These same things can relate to whatever you're going through with your own dog. Never give up. At 20 months of age This! didn't even want to wrap a cone or do a tunnel. We've come a long way, and the story continues.   In this episode you’ll hear:   • An update on my...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    How can I train my dog if they're not interested in food? That's a question I'm often asked, and before we get to the how, we need to look at the why! A dog not really wanting to take food is something I've experienced from time to time. I'm covering the top ten reasons why a dog might have low food drive and not be motivated by training treats as a reinforcer.    In this episode you’ll hear:   • About my experiences with dogs not interested in food. •...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    How many thresholds does your dog cross a day? It could be a physical or emotional threshold. Training thresholds are important to understand, and thresholds can explain why some dogs seem anxious and refuse to budge, and others get way overexcited. I’ve got tips to help dogs with balancing emotions to cross any type of threshold with calm, thoughtful focus. You’ll also get a peek at what I discovered about my puppy Prophet’s excitement with a see-saw and how...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    What if I told you that the secret to unlocking your dog's success lies within the walls of your own home? I've been using a training den for many years, and so have my students. I’m covering how to use a training den to fast track your dog’s success and confidence, what I keep in my training den, and why it creates a bond with dogs and helps them love training. The good feelings you create for your dog in your training den transfer to the training, which...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    Dog training by nature is quite nuanced. Now, there are behaviors that everyone can get at some level with their dogs, like sit and down and fetch, but to get really brilliant behaviors, we need to understand the nuances. The really good news is that even if you’ve never trained a dog before, you can get this dialed in, and I’m covering what to look for with Hot Zone training as an example and have practical tips for you to try right away.   In this episode...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    Have you ever been triggered by social media dramas about dog training methods? It's likely something we all experience. There was a recent incident at Crufts that flowed into the social channels this week that had a lot of thoughts flooding into my brain, including the question of how can we, as a community of dog loving reinforcement-based trainers, show up as our best selves when we get triggered by things out of our control? I'd love to open a dialogue on...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com    Have you tried shaping a timid, shy, softer or fearful dog and found your dog could not offer behaviors or engage in dog training sessions? The challenge is real! Recently, we looked at shaping high-drive dogs, but what about dogs on the other side of the spectrum who seem unmotivated? Help is at hand, and we’re covering how to shape more reserved dogs to grow their confidence, unlock their full potential, and rapidly increase their joy and enthusiasm for...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com   I recently asked ChatGPT to list the top 10 frustrations people experience with dogs and am covering how to break down dog behavior problems to help make things better for everyone.  Making things better is the key no matter what challenge you have, and it will give you relief from frustration and allow you and your dog to experience two-sided joy.    In this episode you’ll hear:   • Top 10 frustrations of dog owners worldwide according to ChatGPT. •...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com   High drive, frantic, hyper dogs can be overwhelming! I’ve got shaping tips to help you end dog training frustration. High drive dogs can also be a lot of fun to train once you’ve made a few tweaks and the step by step I’m sharing I’ve learned from my very driven dogs. There are a lot of myths about dogs who seem to get frantic quickly, so we’re covering what’s really going on, why decompression for dogs is important, and what you can do so that your dog can...

Visit us at shapedbydog.com     Recently, I asked for your questions about using shaping in dog training, and wow, did you deliver! I’m covering misconceptions about shaping, where shaping went wrong for me in the 90s with my dogs and a wall, what you need to know about successive approximations, and how behavioral blocks set dogs up for success. Plus, I’m answering some of your most popular questions and sharing the steps so you can shape your dog to close a cupboard door.   In this...