meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett

Shaping Tips For Timid, Shy, Softer Or Fearful Dogs To Create Enthusiastic Learners #264

Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett

DogsThat

Education, Puppy, Recallers, Animalbehaviour, Dogs, Kids & Family, Pets, Dogtraining, Dogsthat, Petmanners, Susangarrett, Pets & Animals

4.8679 Ratings

🗓️ 8 March 2024

⏱️ 24 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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 training with you.

 

In this episode you’ll hear:

 

• Shaping confidence for reserved, timid, shy, or fearful dogs.
• The importance of training the dog in front of you.
• About learning from my less confident dog, Decaff.
• A review of the confidence triangle for dogs.
• Why mindset is everything in training your dog.
• Common assumptions about shaping less motivated dogs.
• Why you need clarity over complexity for better results.
• All about the Yerkes-Dodson's curve and its role in understanding arousal levels in dogs.
• The importance of planning training environments strategically to optimize learning.
• How to manage frustration effectively.
• How to implement location-specific markers like “Cook” and “Search” to enhance training engagement.
• Learning the “Flirt Pole" game to build confidence and drive.
• Innovative games like “Hand Targets with a Twist” for engagement.
• Empower your dog's choice through the ItsYerChoice Summit for better training outcomes.
• How confidence grows with Crate Games and other tricks to keep training fun and rewarding.

 

Learn How To Play ItsYerChoice:
ItsYerChoice Summit - https://recallers.com/iycsummit-join/


Get Crate Games Online:
Crate Game Online - https://get.crategames.com/

 

YouTube Playlists to Check Out:

 

1. Playlist 1 - Emotional Regulation in Dogs: Dysregulation, Coping Strategies, Co-Regulation, Self-Regulation and Habituation - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy0ZnXC_lczh942HhB0Vdo5v 
2. Playlist 2 - Mastery of Positive Reinforcement Based Dog Training with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy20_Ko8p2SaE6B2IT4o6g6K&feature=shared
3. Playlist 3 - Unmotivated or Stressed Dogs: Key Insights with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2u-KJpomR3bHci93tu710D&feature=shared
4. Playlist 4 - Susan Garrett’s Dog Training Philosophy and Training Processes - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2An5_3KqDPqFVV6J6dYsYx&feature=shared
5. Playlist 5 - Fearful Dogs Help With Susan Garrett - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy0KAsqgnkMWv0v-5JGjNQG_
6. Playlist 6 - Reinforcement, Permissions and Transfer of Value in Dog Training with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy1IUj_4P54q2PIuLNtnXjFO&feature=shared
7. Playlist 7 - The Emotional State of Dogs with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy29pv3_9b7DZdMFJL9ZJPMy&feature=shared
8. Playlist 8 - The Heart / Mind Connection Side of Dog Training with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy1ruLW0CujlHgzCiTLK2Rfh&feature=shared

 

Further Resources:

 

1. Podcast Episode 262: Shaping Tips For High Drive, Frantic, Hyper Dogs To Stop Dog Training Frustration - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/262/
2. Podcast Episode 229: Transforming An Overwhelmed And Anxious Dog Into A World Champion – DeCaff’s Story Part 1 - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/229/
3. Podcast Episode 230: Finding Joy Amidst Frustration And Shame In Dog Training – DeCaff’s Story Part 2 - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/230/
4. Podcast Episode 236: Understanding Dog Fear (Part 1): Genetics, Trauma, And Your Dog’s Well-being - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/236/
5. Podcast Episode 237: A Plan For Your Fearful Dog (Part 2): Susan Garrett’s Strategic Plan For Anxious Dogs - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/237/
6. Podcast Episode 110: Is Your Over-Aroused Dog Just Over-Faced In Training? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/110/
7. YouTube Playlist: Dog Agility Training and Dog Sports Tips with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy3EtWn7JBVSPnYcOfKQrA-O&feature=shared
8. Podcast Episode 259: Use These Simple Shaping Hacks To Expedite Your Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/259/
9. Podcast Episode 86: How to Train Unmotivated or Overexcited Dogs - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/86/
10. Podcast Episode 255: Rescue Dog Training: Priorities For Your First Week Together - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/255/
11. Podcast Episode 151: How Location Specific Reinforcement Markers Will Improve Your Dog Training! - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/151/
12. Podcast Episode 141: Average Or Better Dog Training Question: What Did You Just Reward? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/141/
13. *Flirt Pole - https://geni.us/flirt-pole 
14. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/yGYJ4jAL4lw

 

*Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

In Shape by Dog podcast episode number 262, I explained all of the necessary steps to shaping a

0:06.6

high drive dog. And the question came up, what if my dog is in high drive? Like, I need help to.

0:13.0

So in today's episode, I'm going to help those of you who have a dog who may be the opposite

0:19.2

end of the spectrum, not high drive, but more reserved,

0:22.6

possibly timid, shy, maybe even fearful. That's the topic of today's episode.

0:27.9

Hi, I'm Susan Garrett. Welcome to Shape by Dog.

0:40.5

And you'll often hear me say our dogs are doing the best they can with the education.

0:45.4

We've given them in the environment we've put them in. And that, I'm sure, can be a frustration

0:50.9

if you have a dog that is either a very high drive or the opposite end,

0:55.8

a little bit more timid or shy. Because those two groups of dogs create difficulties for

1:02.6

anybody who owns them that those of you who have dogs in the middle, I'm not saying

1:08.2

they're easy to train, but they'll definitely cause less frustration

1:11.7

than the dogs owned by the people who find themselves at either end of the spectrum. And trust me,

1:17.9

after 35 years as a professional trainer, I've seen them all. I've seen all kinds of dogs.

1:23.1

I've seen training go very, very wrong for some of these dogs and I've seen training that

1:27.6

has worked incredibly well. And there's a lot of similarities when we're talking about dogs

1:31.9

at either end of the extremes, but there's a lot of big, big differences. But for either one

1:37.5

of those groups of dogs, it's important that you train the dog in front of you. And for the dogs

1:42.6

that we're going to talk about today, the more timid, shy, less confident dogs, it's super important because you will find you will have a

1:50.4

different dog on any different day. You may even have a different dog in the midst of an actual

1:55.9

training session. And so you need to be able to adjust on the fly to what the dog is presenting, both the challenges

2:04.2

and the successes, be able to adjust and dial your training up or dial your training down

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from DogsThat, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of DogsThat and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.