How To Train A Dog From Day One: Avoid Common Puppy Mistakes Through Games & Enrichment #308
Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett
DogsThat
4.8 • 679 Ratings
🗓️ 23 July 2025
⏱️ 16 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Visit us at shapedbydog.com
Wondering how to train a puppy or dog from day one or avoid the most common mistakes? It's easy to hope things will just work out, but that approach often leads to frustration and unwanted behaviors. I'm sharing how games, enrichment, and simple structure can help you raise a confident, connected dog right from the start. The big thing to remember is that all behavior is communication, and whether you have a brand-new puppy, a rescue dog or even dealing with unwanted behavior from your current dog, you'll get clear, actionable strategies to set them up for lifelong success.
In this episode, you'll hear:
• Why "positive is not permissive" in dog training.
• How all behavior is communication and how to understand what your puppy is telling you.
• How to prevent rehearsals of unwanted behaviors.
• What happens when you hope for "a good one" instead of planning for success.
• How games turn curious puppies into eager learners.
• The role of enrichment and why letting dogs choose their own can backfire.
• What to do when your puppy rehearses something unwanted.
• What being "the gatekeeper" is and how it helps with recall, greetings, and impulse control.
• How small time investments now shape your puppy's future.
• Real-life examples of how access to reinforcement shapes behavior.
• How small early investments in training lead to massive long-term results.
Free Hand Target Masterclass
Unlock the secret to better focus, more engagement, and faster training with your dog using one simple skill - Hand Targets! Join the free Masterclass now while it's available for a limited time https://dogsthat.com/together/
Crate Games
Get Crate Games Online - https://get.crategames.com/
Resources:
1.Susan Garrett's Shaped by Dog Podcast - https://dogsthat.com/podcasts/
2. Podcast Episode 198: What Does "Positive Is Not Permissive" Really Mean In Dog Training? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/198/
3. Podcast Episode 286: Frustrated Puppy, Frustrated Human! Strategies For Wins With Puppy Raising - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/286/
4. YouTube Playlist: Puppy Essentials with Susan Garrett Dog Training - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2hywpv3Md3HbWWPPbVF8W5
5. Podcast Episode 109: Project Calm Dog: Prevent Over Enthusiastic Greetings - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/109/
6. Podcast Episode 246: Susan Garrett's Puppy Socialization Strategies For Raising Confident, Happy Dogs - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/246/
7. YouTube Video: DIY Puppy Bombs: Easy & Affordable Enrichment Toy for Puppies - https://youtu.be/UBveJe2C2dA
8. Nina Ottosson's Puzzle Toys - https://www.nina-ottosson.com/products/all-products/
9. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/QLnIqL5icFs
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | If you've tuned into this episode and by chance you're either getting a new puppy or rescue dog |
| 0:05.6 | or you have a new puppy or rescue dog and I promised you that by listening to this episode |
| 0:12.7 | you would decrease the number of challenges you would have in living with and training |
| 0:20.2 | that puppy by at least half. |
| 0:23.8 | Would you believe me? |
| 0:24.9 | Well, I think that I can not just deliver that on that promise. |
| 0:28.7 | I think I can over deliver on this promise because of how many mistakes I see people make |
| 0:36.1 | with their new puppies or rescue dogs. |
| 0:38.6 | And if you're watching or listening to this episode and you're |
| 0:55.4 | saying, well, I don't have a new puppy or rescue dog. Trust me, we can still make a difference |
| 0:59.7 | on the behaviors you have, especially if you're dealing with unwanted behavior. And here's why I |
| 1:06.9 | know that this episode can make a difference. Now, if you've been following Shape by Dog, |
| 1:12.5 | you know I have talked about living in a reinforcement-based dog training program, raising a puppy |
| 1:18.8 | or a dog in a reinforcement-based dog training program. That doesn't mean we always say yes. |
| 1:24.6 | We let the dog have everything they want, when they want it. They rule the world. |
| 1:29.3 | It's far from that. I've been saying this for 30 years. Positive is not permissive. |
| 1:35.1 | Just because we want to be using positive reinforcement in our interactions with dogs, |
| 1:41.2 | that doesn't mean we're going to be permissive because when you are |
| 1:46.0 | permissive, you are allowing the dog to seek reinforcement in other places. Just like I talked |
| 1:52.4 | about in podcast episode number 286, how the rehearsals of unwanted behavior are what is going |
| 2:00.3 | to get you in trouble. In this episode, I want to talk a little |
| 2:03.8 | bit more about what those rehearsals are and what they might lead you to and what you can do |
... |
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