The Hidden World Of Reinforcement For Dogs And Why You Need To Know
Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett
DogsThat
4.8 • 679 Ratings
🗓️ 12 April 2023
⏱️ 26 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Visit us at shapedbydog.com
To become great at reinforcement-based dog training, you have to get great at the use of reinforcement. I’m covering the hidden world of reinforcers for dogs and why to know the what, when, where and who of reinforcement. It goes well beyond the use of training treats and toy rewards. Awareness of everything reinforcing gives exponential ways to multiply the value of reinforcement in your dog training and to understand your dog's behavior.
In the episode you'll hear:
• How to identify your dog’s hidden reinforcers and leverage them to your advantage.
• The clear definition of what reinforcement truly is.
• Examples of what a dog finds reinforcing and the influence of when, where and with whom it’s experienced.
• How different conditions can multiply or nullify the value of a reinforcer.
• When water makes a great reinforcer and a tip to increase its value when appropriate.
• That you don’t need super high value reinforcement every time you train.
• How interaction and your body language reinforces your dog.
• What you need to know about negative reinforcement for unwanted behaviors.
• Why the things that lead to dogs chasing are reinforcing.
• Types of destructive and productive activities dogs find rewarding.
• That where you train, and the conditions greatly impact your training success.
• Why every distraction outside of fear is reinforcing to your dog.
• Why movement, like a flirt pole, is sometimes better than food rewards around distractions.
• What to use to your advantage to create more value for reinforcements when training.
Resources:
1. Podcast Episode 196: Why Mastering Reinforcement Is The Linchpin To Reinforcement Based Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/196/
2. Podcast Episode 197: Outsmarting Distractions: How To Use Environmental Reinforcement in Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/197/
3. Tasty Treats Recipes eBook - https://dogsthat.com/tastytreats/
4. West Paw Toppl Treat Toys - https://www.westpaw.com/products/toppl-treat-toy
5. Kong Toys - https://www.kongcompany.com/
6. YouTube Playlist: Loose Leash Walking with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy1mGMfdVKXq_hiJ27Ej1shW
7. Podcast Episode 40: Using A Head Halter On A Dog, Why My Approach Is So Different - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/40/
8. YouTube Video: Understanding Your Dog's Reinforcement Zone (RZ) with Susan Garrett - https://youtu.be/OaUAScgaFAg
9. Podcast Episode 24: Help for Dogs who Chase Chipmunks, Bicycles, and Neighbor’s Cats (Distraction Intensity Index) - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/24/
10. Podcast Episode 154: Car Vacations With Dogs: Tips To Make Holiday Road Trips Safe And Fun For All - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/154/
11. Podcast Episode 162: Dogs Swimming: 5 Must Do Steps For Dogs Who Hate Or Love The Water - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/162/
12. Podcast Episode 127: Puppy Socialization: Playtime For Puppies And Permissions - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/127/
13. Podcast Episode 121: How To Stop Dogs Jumping Up On People - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/121/
14. Podcast Episode 88: Barrier Frustration: Help for Fence Fighting, Leash Reactivity and Window Guarding - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/88/
15. Podcast Episode 42: Behavior Chains: Are You Teaching Your Dog to be Bad to be Good? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/42/
16. Crate Games Online - https://get.crategames.com/
17. Podcast Episode 172: How To Teach Your Dog Anything With My Training Plan - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/172/
18. Podcast Episode 111: How An Anchor Dog Can Help Overcome Your Dog’s Anxiety Or Reactivity - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/111/
19. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/p1UWLxdDPEI
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | If you've been watching this podcast, then you likely have heard me say, |
| 0:03.9 | in order to become great at reinforcement-based dog training, you really have to get great |
| 0:09.2 | at the use of reinforcement. |
| 0:11.0 | And today, by golly, by the end of this, I hope you are all great at understanding |
| 0:16.3 | reinforcement because today is all about the hidden world of what is reinforcing our dogs and why it's important |
| 0:23.0 | that each of us are aware of it. |
| 0:24.6 | It's important that each of us are aware of it. |
| 0:38.5 | Hi, I'm Susan Garrett. Welcome to Shape by Dog. And when you think of reinforcement-based dog training, most people think of food, giving a dog a cookie. Oh, no, no, no, no, Susan, I like to |
| 0:43.9 | throw a ball for my dog or maybe I'll tug with my dog. Yes, so there's three of the |
| 0:49.8 | a trillion of different ways that a dog might be getting reinforced. |
| 0:55.0 | And today's podcast is all about shining a light on not only what reinforces the dog, |
| 1:01.0 | but how that reinforcement can increase in value to the dog. |
| 1:06.0 | Because in each of our dog's world, there is reinforcement that helps them be closer to us and be more |
| 1:14.4 | aligned with what we want to do the things that we'd like to see them do. And there's also |
| 1:18.8 | reinforcement for them that gives them value to do things that we don't want them to do. |
| 1:25.7 | And here's the most important thing. Reinforcement by definition |
| 1:29.1 | is something that the dog wants at the time that they're getting it. And when it is reinforcing, |
| 1:38.2 | it increases the likelihood that they're going to do the behavior they were doing at the time they got the |
| 1:44.8 | reinforcement. So, reinforcement, just to be clear, is not what you think your dog would like, |
| 1:50.9 | oh, I'm going to buy them this really cute squeaky monkey because I really think my dog would |
| 1:54.8 | like the squeaky monkey. Your dog will tell you, your dog may not like that squeaky monkey |
| 2:00.6 | at that time. Doesn't mean that they'll |
... |
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.