Beyond “Yes” And “Good”: Why Your Dog Needs “Spotlights” #327 #podcast

Moving beyond general marker words like “yes” and “good” can bring much more clarity to your dog’s training, and in this episode I share why your dog needs what I call “Spotlights.” Spotlights are Location Specific Reinforcement Markers that tell your dog what reward is coming and where it will be delivered. When dogs understand where success lives, they can make better choices and feel more confident in their training. I’ll walk you through the Spotlights I use with my own dogs, how they function as both markers and cues, and how introducing just a few can help your dog stay in position when needed, make confident choices, and bring more understanding and joy to your training. Resources: ItsYerChoice Summit: Learn How to Play ItsYerChoice - https://dogsthat.com/y/327/iycsummit Resources: 1. Podcast Episode 151: How Location Specific Reinforcement Markers Will Improve Your Dog Training! - https://youtu.be/5XDsCd39gCY?si=11mLmG0pKCqAVowm 2. Podcast Episode 176: Why Your Dog’s Emotions Are A Critical Element Of Dog Training - https://youtu.be/zT1mzPhmGdo?si=Y_ru5Ky-aiW-NaUp 3. Podcast Episode 107: Pedicure Please: 3 Steps To Dog Nail Trimming Or Grooming Success At Home! - https://youtu.be/JIPxgReFk58?si=1D3ul6SQyuo9R20S 4. Podcast Episode 89: Why Dogs Should Not Tug: The Truth Revealed - https://youtu.be/zBH2lKVxj58?si=TcQU0p03FJl3iO8g 5. Podcast Episode 205: The Hidden World Of Reinforcement For Dogs And Why You Need To Know - https://youtu.be/p1UWLxdDPEI?si=8i9S-nNU4-Sz6KDv 6. Podcast Episode 191: Get Your Dog To Calm Down With This Common Sense Protocol For Relaxation - https://youtu.be/FRmLd4k5qGk?si=aS0aTdLIkarPs-Ns 7. Podcast Episode 266: Hot Zone And Stays – How One Dog Training Nuance Can Fix Anxiety And Duration - https://youtu.be/x9_iX6--lXk?si=NTD87BYGSnJIMdcA P.S. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you get notifications of new videos! - - - - - - - Dogs That is brought to you by Susan Garrett and the Say Yes Dog Training Team. Susan Garrett’s interest in animal behaviour started at the University of Guelph where she earned a Bachelor of Science majoring in Animal Science. Since then she has developed into a preeminent dog trainer and canine sports instructor and competitor. Susan is one of the most successful agility competitors of the last three decades. She has won multiple Gold Medals at National or World Championship events with every dog she has ever owned over the past 30 years. A natural teacher and an entertaining speaker, Susan is world renowned as a leading educator of dog trainers. Her understanding of how to apply science-based learning principles to both competitive and family pet dog training has been pivotal in changing how dogs are trained. Susan is now helping many thousands of dog owners in 132 countries have the best relationship possible with their dogs. The real joy for her comes from bringing confidence to dogs and their owner through playful interactions and relationship building games that are grounded firmly in the science of how animals learn. - - - - - - - Our Website: https://dogsthat.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanGarrettDogAgility/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SusanGarrettDogsThat/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dogsthat LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dogsthat Pinterest: https://pinterest.ca/dogsthatcom/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/susangarrett There’s always something new happening at Dogs That, so if you’d like to be the first to know, visit our website, register to receive updates, and we'll keep you in the loop. https://dogsthat.com