Is It Ever Too Late To Train Your Dog?  

Join us in Home School the Dog: dogsthat.com/y/hstd Check out Shaped by Dog Episode 93: Fix Dog Training and Behavior Problems Before They Happen ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7SHbJvTRhGI.html

This was such perfect timing for me. I’ve been so close to giving up lately. I have the sweetest 4 year old lab that has been through a lot in her life and through a lot with me in my life. I thought we’d be so much farther along by now. I want to bring out the best in her and for her to bring out the best in me. This has given me hope and will keep me from giving in. Thank you,Susan.

My boy is about to be 2 and I just had a break down bc I felt like I failed him (I also enrolled him in adult training FINALLY) but I thought I could do it on my own and I was so wrong. Needed this soooo much thank you. He’s on his way to greater greatness soon!

I have 3 senior dogs in HS right now - never too late. They're 13 and 14.5 yrs old. One of the 13 year olds loves to play HZ and her littermate goes wild for hand targeting. The 14.5 year old has learned to go to her HZ instead of going to the top of the staircase. Thank you, Susan & Team Dogs That!

So timely for us, she is twelve weeks so I’m getting some sleep now. I really was thinking she was not the right choice, I’m now realizing we CAN do this. I am not new to training dogs but I’ve been a little tired, I am seeing positive results now. I am encouraged.

I am living proof that you can absolutely start with Susan's approach any time and make great gains! My lovely old dog Lucy and I started Recallers when Lucy was almost 9, and although she sadly died, far too soon, only a few months later, she was a happier dog as a result of the training, and our relationship was better, too. You can teach an old dog new tricks! (and an old owner, too!). NOW is always the best time to start training your dog!! Go for it!

Thank you this was the boost that i needed :)

I started with Recallers when my dog Bessie was about six years old. After a year and a half of various programs of Susan's she is becoming an amazing dog. She loves to play all the games and likes to watch Susan's podcasts with me. I think she knows that it means more games to play.

Have you ever wondered if you will ever catch up? That’s so freakin awesome! In school, @ work, at weigh-loss now @ dog training Thank you so much for listening to my suggestion. I feel like I won a lottery. We all know there is no magic pill or no short cuts to success but still we search for it. I think that’s what I’ve been doing all along since my border collie puppy came home. He is now 8 months but I have determined that I’m gonna train him to get better Bcos I want my dog to have a good life. I have enrolled in home school, wag nation, and recallers. I hope that in a few months I will have a dog that has a great bond with me. Thanks Susan for giving me hope and for the podcast

I am a member of all your programmes, starting with Recallers …..H360, AN, and recently added Wag Nation. I have a 5 year old rescue GSP, who has been with me since age 1. Zulli has been through our local dog club, and the Club has developed into a Positive Reinforcement school, along your lines. I have recently become an instructor taking on the Foundation agility class. However despite Zulli’s progress and I have to say she is friendly to humans and dogs, not reactive dog who is a joy to live with. One major problem I have not been able to solve. If I leave the house, and inadvertently leave any trace of food which is accessible, even remnants of treats in pockets of clothes in my wardrobe, it will be gone and a garment possibly destroyed. Of course I try and manage things by ensuring nothing is accessible but I’m fallible, forgetful and my dog has an incredible nose for finding stuff. IYC works if I’m around, I can cook dinner, put it down and do something else but if I leave the house, it would be gone. When I return home if I’m not immediately greeted and Zulli is in her crate, I know something is amiss and usually I find the remnants of something I’ve left out. I have an open plan house, I cannot isolate the kitchen, door handles Zulli can open which I do plan to replace, but it would be nice if it were not necessary. I am not prepared to lock Zulli in here crate when I’m out, or leave her outside. She is my only companion and it’s our home not just mine. Anyway that wouldn’t teach her not to seek out treats. Any ideas?

love that saying, laugh out loud funny.....i was thinking this same thing today, i want to go back in time, i corrected her harsh biting and i forgot to use a quieter voice...now i know her and i use a softer voice with her, but now i'm trying to figure out how to stop her biting attacks, demand barking when she's tired or hungry

Susan, this is so inspiring and resonates deeply... taking daily measured action clearly makes sense. You not only make it feel achievable, I know it's achievable. ❤

I saw the question that led to this podcast, and I thought/think it is such a good topic. And heck, my dog was well over 8 months by the time I found your classes! I can identify with feeling behind! LOL. I really liked your distinction between the emotional, behavioral, functional, and fun areas. That really made a lot of sense as it helps me see that the emotional area is what we most need to work on over here. The other three areas are much easier for us to progress at.

Okay- you have so much experience you’re the right person for this question. 3 dogs at the house, 12,10,4. 2 males 1 female, and they’re all just kind of do what they want dogs on an acre. Non mine personally. All do things I wouldn’t want my dog to do, no recall, basic commands but no real structure. Just your typical lazy owner dogs. If I got a puppy or 3 month old, even if I had structure and training … could these dogs be bad influences? I move in a year into my own house with no dogs (1 cat), am I better off waiting?

You don't know how welcome it is to hear this. I've been hustling with my JRT since he was 8 weeks old yet I still feel so far behind! I think that might be because he's reached puberty and he's a different dog outside, partly because it's all a bit new to him with the spring coming and my actually wanting to be outside with him. He's 6.5 months, btw. I feel so silly because he's the BEST pup when we're indoors. He's stopped chewing stuff, he can settle, his house training's great etc. Currently I'm trying to get him to give me some space in the evening. You must know the feeling. I've spent all day working, then training the dog, walking the dog, playing with the dog, feeding the dog, then at the end of it he wants me to cuddle him on the sofa until bedtime. So I'm working on ignoring the dog in the evening, now.

Very encouraging and informative. ♥️ I didn’t have the chance to see this happen 100% in my own dog’s life, but I’m super encouraged by it, and look forward to not beating myself up over “old school training”, and enjoying a very rich and deeper relationship with our future dog (s), now that I have the proper outlook and mentoring advice. Thank You Susan! P.S. I complete Homeschool for the dogs using my friend’s dog for practice, until I’m ready for another dog. Also just watched the “Bring Me” bonus videos. I’m so psyched and excited by this guidance to layered training! It has addressed many “issues” we had for years. I realized they were preventable and it was mostly my inconsistency. Looking forward to doing better as I gain the knowledge to do better. ♥️

😆 I had the same poster!

Sign up for Homeschool the Dog. Susan lays out an easy to follow plan with timely support. It takes the thinking out of your plan and it doesn't the teaching in a layered order for success

The key phrase that I took from this podcast is "there is no limit". When I find myself rehearsing those moans of "I'm so far behind", I have to catch myself and actually say out loud "you got this". Whatever the issue, or challenge, it can be worked through by taking daily measured action.

Love, love, love your podcast!!! And so does my dog because now training is going more smoothly. Question: my 3 year old Aussie hasn't been properly socialized, due to the lockdowns and pandemic, and I'm hoping it's not too late to socialize her...? She hides behind me on walks if we meet other dogs, growls at kids, and alarm barks at strangers. She's so fearful, she won't even take treats from me when we're out in the world. Help!

i'm not sure if my pup is biting me out of fear...i really wonder if now it's just her habit. also, when she has something, like my slipper i say good find!...i've been looking for that....and i give her a treat for it. before i would just take it from her, which i see now was abrupt and a power move...been years and years since my last puppy, so a mistake to correct 😞. my take on mistakes is no one died, now figure out thesolution...but that's the part i'm really unsure of....😞

Love all your podcast. Hahaha I think I'm your mountain goat on the ledge! No we are actually getting there. We've done the summit challenge and we're still working through home school. My biggest problem is me! Remembering to not say 'ah ah ah' and my (very guttural 'leave it!, No!)

No, it's never too late to train. All my dogs are out of rescue anywhere from 1 to 7 years old. Recallers has been brilliant for all of them.

My dog started to mark inside? How do we stop this? Started when kids didn't let him out and had an accident inside.

I got my first dog two years ago at 25. He was 7 year old at the time and, 15lb. Got him for free out of pure luck. Never had a familly dog when I was a child. Imposter syndrome is real. I don't know if I'm doing good or if I'm just as cluless as everyone else and I'm just lucky.

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