Should We All Stop Using Non-Reward Markers In Dog Training? #251
Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett
DogsThat
4.8 • 679 Ratings
🗓️ 10 January 2024
⏱️ 17 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Visit us at shapedbydog.com
Non-Reward Markers have long been used in dog training, but are they really necessary? And what drives our choice to use an NRM? An NRM, sometimes called a No Reward Marker, could be a word people use to freeze a dog from making a poor choice during training or even be something like, “ah”, “no”, “hey”, “stop”. I’m covering how things have changed for me and the use of Non-Reward Markers over the years and what we can do instead.
In this episode you’ll hear:
• Why to consider the balance of compassion and ambition.
• About the impact of using non-reward markers in dog training.
• Why to use the ABC model to create clarity for dogs.
• Personal experiences with my dogs over the years.
• Why manipulating the environment sets dogs up for shaping success.
• How making a small shift in dog training prevents frustration.
• Why to play the "Muffin Tin Game" and how it encourages dogs to offer behaviors.
• About considering experimental design and set up.
Resources:
1.Podcast Episode 37: Dog Training as a Career - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/37/
2. YouTube Playlist: Puppy Essentials with Susan Garrett Dog Training - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2hywpv3Md3HbWWPPbVF8W5
3. Podcast Episode 70: Critical Info for Your Puppy’s First Day and Night at Home - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/70/
4. Podcast Episode 234: How To Stop Puppy Biting: Avoid Mistakes With Susan Garrett’s Backup Plan - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/234/
5. Podcast Episode 64: Help! How Can I Tell My Dog He’s Wrong? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/64/
6. Podcast Episode 172: How To Teach Your Dog Anything With My Training Plan - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/172/
7. Podcast Episode 202: Getting A Happy Well Behaved Dog With The ABCs Of Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/202/
8. Podcast Episode 16: The Thing Before Your Dog’s Thing - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/16/
9. Podcast Episode 32: 20 Easy Ways to Exercise Your Dog at Home - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/32/
10. Podcast Episode 245: Make Dog Training Easy! Quick Guide To Antecedent Arrangements - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/245/
11. Blog Post: Positive Dog Training and the Difference in Shaping https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2018/11/the-difference-in-shaping/
12. Podcast Episode 44: Using Coincidences and Positive Associations in Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/44/
13. Podcast Episode 69: Clicker Training: Will It Work For Every Dog? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/69/
14. Podcast Episode 6: The Art of Manipulation - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/6/
15. Podcast Episode 218: Puppy Development Stages And Your Dog’s Behavior - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/218/
16. Podcast Episode 250: Expectations Vs Reality: Navigating The Path To Dog Training Success - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/250/
17. Podcast Episode 230: Finding Joy Amidst Frustration And Shame In Dog Training – DeCaff’s Story Part 2 - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/230/
18. Podcast Episode 24: Distraction Intensity Index: Help For Dogs Who Chase Chipmunks, Bicycles, And Neighbor’s Cats - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/24/
19. Podcast Episode 201: Can Dog Training Be Effective, Efficient AND Compassionate? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/201/
20. Podcast Episode 78: How to Train a Rescue Dog with Behavior Problems - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/78/
21. Podcast Episode 175: Food Luring VS Shaping In Dog Training: How Science Changed How I Teach Dogs - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/175/
22. Podcast Episode 217: Understanding Emotional Regulation In Dogs To Create Calm - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/217/
23. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/hmtsGw_QetI
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | There's so much I want to share with you in today's podcast. And I believe it's an accumulation |
| 0:05.0 | of looking at how training is progressed in the 30 years that I've been a professional |
| 0:10.6 | dog trainer. Well, probably more than 30 years. I think it's 33 now. Where we are headed as a |
| 0:16.5 | community of people who choose to train without the use of physical corrections or verbal intimidation |
| 0:22.0 | in our dogs. And if that is you, you can check what's greater when you're training your dog. |
| 0:29.3 | Your level of compassion you have for your dog or your level of ambition you have for what |
| 0:35.3 | your dog can do. Hi, I'm Susan Garrett. |
| 0:47.5 | Welcome to Shape by Dog. |
| 0:49.4 | And there's so many things that I've observed over the past week reading some of our |
| 0:53.0 | online students work, some private messages that I've received from the past week, reading some of our online students work, some |
| 0:55.0 | private messages that I've received from some of our instructors, as well as just being out |
| 1:00.8 | there in the general space looking at what people or how people are training their dog. |
| 1:06.0 | And I recognize the end of the day, 99.9% of the people that I interact with or that I see post things on |
| 1:13.2 | social media, I assume absolutely love their dogs the way that I love my dogs. And the decisions |
| 1:19.1 | they make for their dogs are the best decisions that they can based on what they have as |
| 1:24.9 | their priorities now. But I'm going to ask you to maybe question |
| 1:28.3 | the priorities. Like, take for example, if you get a brand new puppy home, like first day |
| 1:34.0 | with this new puppy and the new puppy nips at you, are you like disappointed, shocked, |
| 1:41.9 | frustrated, alarmed? What action do you take? Do you give it a firm? No. Do you give it a scruff? |
| 1:48.1 | What is it that you do? Because your actions are based, yes, a lot on your history, what your |
| 1:53.3 | mentors have taught you, the people who surround you, but they're also based on your ambition you |
| 1:57.9 | have for that puppy. I want this puppy to grow up to be a dog who's good |
... |
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.