I'm going to start off today's podcast with an apology.

I need to apologize to my students because over the years, this question pops up.

Not every day, but every now and again. And I thought,

well, that's a crazy question. Isn't it obvious? The question is, how do I end my training

for my dog? And I had this epiphany. I get why people are asking this question. So,

today's podcast is all about the beginning,

the middle, and the end to our training sessions with our dogs. Hi, I'm Susan Garrett.

Welcome to Shape by Dog. And when you're training in a system that is based in reinforcement,

and particularly one like ours, that everything that I train

my dogs is in the form of a game. When that is your training, then, you know, I've mentioned here

on the podcast in the past that if in the midst of your training, you turn your back on your dog,

you're giving them a time out, you're punishing them. So, you have to be very present to what's going on and be prepared

so that you flow through your training sessions and the transitions so that you keep that

dog engaged until the end of it. But then, Susan, how do I, how do I end it? And it

not be a punishment because we're

playing, we're playing, we're playing, and now I'm leaving. And this is super important because

what I see people doing is creating these little monster dogs who think you are there to

entertain them all day long. Yeah, game on. Let's do it. And as I mentioned in

podcast episode number 109, our dogs have to understand what is dog time and what is not dog time.

And so how you end the training is super important, as is what I refer to the rhythm of your life with your dogs.

And this is something that I don't think I've ever spoke about. I'm going to touch on it today

and it might require an podcast entirely all of its own about that rhythm. Maybe leave me

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