Learn more about how to help your dog get into the zone > kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jtt9eMuU3LO2lmw.html

Hey! I've got an epiphany! Sometimes a dog says, don't wanna. And it's not a failure to say, "okay, so which of my list of acceptable things would you like to do? Nap? Play ball?" sort of like going on a date with the dog, accepting where the dog is at, listening and responding to that rather than trying to change that is being a good friend.

Your comparison with sports and competitions were spot on! I'm a dancer, and I've definitely gotten overly excited right before doing the combination, and BAM, my brain goes blank and I look lost at an important audition despite years of training. I had never thought this is what's happening with my dog when he gets to go outside. Thanks, Susan!

Oh wow! This explanation was everything! The last week I have met my dog in the door when he comes home from work, with my husband. By this time he's usually heading for the red side, so Ive been meeting him with a container of his food that Im throwing out in the garden. When he's done we start the rest of our day. Now I understand why we have had the best week, I think EVER!

Wow, this was perfect timing! I woke up this morning and was laying in bed thinking about quitting agility with my 18 month old boy as he doesn't seem that interested and rewarding him is challenging (not tug motivated, over focuses on food, runs away with thrown toys). He is much more interested in what the birds are doing. Then I got in the car and this was the next episode in the podcast queue. Gives me some new ideas and some hope to carry on. Thanks Susan!

Great podcast. Explains perfectly what your coach really means when giving the instruction to "Warm-up your dog" before training

Wow! Learned so much. I have a super excitable friendly 8 month old lab-dachshund mix who gets lost in a scent or oh-my-gosh-there's-another-dog-to-play-with or a person-I-can-meet, and has been pulling my arm off in those moments. She is totally oblivious to me, and as she gets bigger it becomes harder and harder to manage. I've been trying to get her to sit in those circumstances, and then get exasperated when she won't, or sits for nano second before jumping up and doing it again. Understanding her arousal curve now makes a lot of sense, and with this new understanding I will structure my training differently. Thanks so much Susan; I stumbled on your you-tubes, the best stumble of my dog-owning life!

Interesting! I have a bullterrier-rescue who's very unmotivated and one rescue-mix who's motivated with high stress and fears. This episode made me think a bit further. I also did like the episode about rescuedogs. Thank you ✨🙏🏻

Definitely an aha moment! I’ve been so focused on preventing over arousal that I’ve been trying to train around point 2 on the curve. Thank you for the clarity and direction you’ve given me today! ❤️

Loved this. Definitely need to work on not jumping right into training. And rehearsals of success. Lots to take in here.

Thank you for breaking this down!

Thanks so much, as always BRILLIANT. Can i ask if there are more videos on how to calm when in that red zone? We have a wonderful old rescue and a new rescue who goes into it so easily. We are doing the training but any gems we can watch? Many many thanks ❤

Don't train recalls when they're in a comfortable/calm state, where you call them and they're sort of coming to you, sniffing around, sort of getting there, you don't want that kind of rehearsal! omg *mind blown

Such a positive message! Clarity and confidence!

This is great. I have an 11 week old puppy and went to my first private training session. So now I realised I’ve been pushing her a bit too much as when I’m trying to get her to drop the toy she’s playing with I’m over exerting her and she’s not listening anymore.

My recall in a class situation is really slow. She is still a puppy and curious about things, her attention span is on me with certain words but 'Casey come' is not that exciting to her. I am going to try and engage with her more (at class) by taking her little tuggie for a fun time. Luckily our training is willing to work with us bring out the best in this really shy puppy. I will let you know how we get on :D

Clear criteria that you can repeat! We always do a little play time before training. Have to get them engaged, engaged means focus, focus means success!

I was almost ready to givew up on my 4 year old adopted Doxie and her barking. This gives me hope.

Rehearsal and clarity get results For understanding both for humans & our pets

Really enjoying this! Makes complete sense!

Hmm, so my young dog is a nose to the ground 6-7, can't think, breathing like a freight train, on walks. If I let her off leash, she is at a dead run with her nose to the ground. Her nose has clearly overridden her front brain. On the flip side I'm impressed at how well she's doing with It's Yer Choice. So in more controlled surroundings using treat toss (a game she knows) might re-engage her thinking side? worth a shot, I'll try it tomorrow.

This totally makes sense. I need to engage more with my dog, as in playing games before training to get his attention. Normally I let him sniff where ever we are for 10-15 minutes to lower his excitement (of a new area) Not tail wagging happy excitement, but this is a new place excitement. Has to check the pee mail at every stop. I'll watch this video again, take notes, and apply these tips with my dog. Sometimes I can have his attention for 3 minutes, then Jacksons off in his own little world again. I train in short sessions, give him a break, then train again as he is 15 months old, adolescence stage.

Epiphany at 13:24... I have been in Recallers for almost 7 months now, and used to think my puppy red-lined at just about everything! Now, after months of recording our training sessions, I realize he was probably thinking something more along the lines of 'YAY, I'M SO EXCITED... BUT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU, BYE!' because I wasn't being clear and he would seek out other reinforcement in the environment. Now we are able to better channel that excitement into positive things :)

Border collie owner here. Binge watching your videos that I just discovered! Hoping to find some help for my über smart not-at-all food motivated dog@

Another great one Susan! as I am having a bit of a problem with my pup leaving "work" from time to time. Re-watched my training session and I could see when things went the wrong way, sometime too long sometime I am too boring. Really need to watch out for these signs. My gem will be what Greg said: ' Fear is excitement without a breath!

I love your you tube videos. When I need an upbeat motivation, I watch one of your episodes! It helps to keep me on track and my emotional state!

Yup. Light bulb replacement needed. I know to engage my dog first before training, but I like to jump right in. Im going to start with focus games again before starting training. I did this yesterday and was able to get great performance compared to other days. Lately she is obsessing over the pee mail.

💡💡💡I love that you have explained the theory behind this as well as the practical advice on how to do things. I can be a far better dog trainer if I understand what’s going on rather than just doing an exercise. Wish I had seen this when I first signed up for recallers rather than as my year is coming to an end but It will help from now on. 😃

This is so interesting because I feel like my puppy is very easily over aroused and I can't seem to find that 'sweet spot' to train (though I'm always looking for opportunities during the day to reinforce behaviours I like). I definitely recognise the food refusal and snatching. It's I frustrating cos he's such a sweet, loving pup when he's under threshold (also incredibly placid when it comes to co-operative care like handling ears and paws) but very challenging once he's gone over the top.

lol - yet again another impeccable timed podcast of yours. I just started Karen Overall's take a breath protocol today to help counteract my dog's over arousal.

My epiphany was to ask “ who’s a brave girl then trying hand touching when my dog gets reactive over people walking by in front of our house

Didn't realize the tug game was to help the dog focus so we could start training. I have been avoiding tug because my young (but large) dog won't give up the toy.

My standard Scnauzer , 6 months old , knows when he’s had enough training , he actually pushes away the treats with his nose and turns his head away .

Great podcast! Thanks Susan. I realized my 17 months old pup gets too high too fast, and the clarity has not been my forte… I have been rewarding every offering from my dog not matter if it was what I asked for… he is fo fast and eager to offer behaviours that can do down, stand, bow, pretty in a split second and never do the sit that I asked for and since he did so many behaviours, I reworded him trying… I guess this not good for clarity… how to fix that now… 😟🤨

How do you prevent or stop redlining?

My excited dog occasionally nips me when accepting treats when training. Now I know why. How do you bring an over- aroused dog back into the "sweet spot?" Thanks, great podcast. 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪

Great podcast as always and wrote down how to motivate them for I do try to train when they were resting so now will do when they are playing with me and if they are resting will tug or have them chase me to get them motivated. Thanks again ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Just Retired so can train more and maybe train Larry the cockatiel too❤️❤️

My dog's at 2-3 everywhere, when we get to the vet or to training he jumps straight up between 5, basically 6 for several hours without a single moment where he can relax, and I don't know how to bring his extreme (EXTREME, for real) arousal down. No nipping, he just doesn't think his actions through and offers random behaviours in response to me asking for a simple front sit.

My toy puddle is fearful outside. We live on a busy street with high car and foot traffic. He was refusing treats and freezing refusing to walk. I would pick him up and take him to the side of our building which was better but he still reacted to noises. I’m seeing improvements now. Look at me has distracted him and he will take a treat if the anxiety isn’t too high otherwise he will pull and head for the door of our building. Your comment on building his confidence was my ah ha moment. Keeping him close , a short leash has helped. Lately the biggest improvement has come from my husband and I taking him for a walk instead of our trying to make him walk with just one of us. He likes his family together. Thanks for your help.

Any tips for getting a dog out of the "choke zone" (number 6)? I have always wondered how my dog could bounce between super excited and completely low and withdrawn at a show. I now realize she is not on opposite sides of the curve, she is going from "woah, there's so much going on!" to "oh boy, there is TOO much going on". I'm not sure what to do to to bring her back up the curve. Is tug a good choice, or do I need to use food? Thank you!

Where can I buy bungee cord tug toys? The ones I’ve found so far are too short.

"BUNNY ALERT" hahaha...a good "Leave It" can be practiced. My dog would freeze instead of chase, but has caught and killed squirrels in the yard. On leash freeze is the required response.

Really interesting since just yesterday we experienced "redlining" on a walk! Dog wouldn't take food, look my way or take her eyes off a dog in the distance - fortunately she was on leash and did keep her "sit". I even gently redirected her head direction with the head halter but she whipped her head back as soon as I let go. What else can I do to refocus on me, calm down,- basically "breath"? Thank you in advance

Or how do I find all Susan episodes so can watch in order thank you.

My dog self harms himself every time his alone so me and my husband don't really get to do much because we can leave him for a second and we've tried everything 🤦🏽‍♀️

Hi please can someone tell me how I find the list of Susan’s podcast thank you xx

Is it possible that giving food to change breathing could be misunderstood as reinforcement for the anxiety the dog is feel?

LOL! Yes, when nothing is going on you can hear everything!!!! Lip lick, paw lick, scratch, pacing around.... Go to sleep, crazy dog!

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