Training Tips From Susan: How I Create A Relationship Where My Dog Wants To Work With Me (And How You Can Too)
Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett
DogsThat
4.8 • 679 Ratings
🗓️ 10 September 2025
⏱️ 5 minutes
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Summary
Message From Susan
Hey everyone, it's Susan, and you're about to hear one of my training tips and tidbits. These are quick, actionable strategies to help you and your dog in everyday life or for dog sport. Often our short videos with tips are created from your most popular segments of podcast episodes. So, let's dive in!
How I Create A Relationship Where My Dog Wants To Work With Me (And How You Can Too
Every great partnership with a dog is built on connection, not control. I'm sharing how I create a relationship where my dog wants to work with me and how you can too. By focusing on what matters most to your dog, training turns into teamwork instead of work.
Watch the full video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdCQuzXcm2M
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I believe that a dog responding on one cue, a dog keen to work with you really comes down to one thing, |
| 0:15.7 | and that is the relationship that you have with your dog. I believe all dogs can have that kind of relationship |
| 0:22.7 | with their owners where they're keen to want to work with them, where they're keen to want to |
| 0:26.3 | learn. And I believe it really is easier than what you might think. So, here's what I do. |
| 0:32.9 | The first thing I do is what is of value for that puppy, that rescue dog? It's the same as when |
| 0:40.0 | we're starting a relationship with anyone, right? We look at what do they have, which I value? |
| 0:46.3 | Could be a great smile. It could be an amazing laugh. It could be a brilliant mind or, yeah, |
| 0:52.4 | come on, a great body or maybe a bank account or a nice car. |
| 0:56.0 | There is something of value that attracts us to them. And that is the first step for me and |
| 1:02.6 | the new puppy or the new rescue dog. Now, the difference is that when I have a new puppy or |
| 1:08.4 | a new rescue dog, I'm going to keep them in an enclosure with |
| 1:11.7 | just me so that I'm going to help them to see how valuable I could be or what I have to begin |
| 1:18.7 | with versus, you know, if you're meeting somebody for the first time, probably you don't |
| 1:23.3 | want to trap them or trap them in a small enclosed area. That's awkward. That's weird. It's |
| 1:28.0 | creepy. It's a lot of things. So, I have a puppy and I always start with some sort of tug toy |
| 1:32.9 | and a long rope. I get on the ground and I engage that puppy. Something of value. Oh, |
| 1:37.2 | chasing, chasing. If it's a rescue dog, this may work, but I have to play around because |
| 1:42.4 | they've had more experiences to decide what is valuable |
| 1:46.4 | in their world. And so, I may have to come about this from a different perspective. I get that |
| 1:52.2 | puppy playing with me and then I pull it up out of their mouth and I might push them back |
| 1:56.3 | and slam it on the floor and then I let them go, boom, now I'm really engaging them. I've got them |
| 2:01.4 | anticipating. I'm creating a dopamine release. When am I going to get it? When am I going to get it? I might like make them run around my body for it. And eventually I might pick it up and hold it. The first round of It's Your Choice. The first round of It's Your Choice happens with a tug toy. All they have to do is not jump up |
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