There is one question you can ask yourself to solve virtually any dog training problem. If your dog is jumping, digging, chewing, biting or doing something else you want to fix, you need to know “the thing before the thing”.
In the episode you'll hear:
- The four most common naughty behaviors in dogs.
- How to use the ABC’s of dog training to fix anything.
- What the antecedent of a dog’s behavior could be.
- How the consequence could be contributing to the problem.
- Two ways to fix anything.
- What I learned from my dogs about the things before the things.
Hello,
I got a GSD of 5 mounts and I got a BIG problem with her and my 4 cats.
She stear at them and charge when ever she can.
I can’t let her go on her own inside the house cause of that. Do you got an advice for me?
The triger is when she see them.
Hi! I have the exact same problem with digging outside as the comment left by Karen Jenks September 20, 2023 at 10:17 pm minus the broken arm. Murphy, has to be pulled away. He could care less if I am standing right there and have a steak in my hand. We don’t have rodents or pests and I’m just not sure what to do. He has to go outside, but what should we do? It’s like a frantic get in as much as I can and I’m afraid he’s going to get sick digging and consuming all of that grass and dirt. He also gets a great diet, lots of exercise and we play mental games daily and he is doing really well with all the games in HSTD which we are enjoying but I have no idea how to handle this “thing.” Would appreciate any advice.
I was watching episode 16 “the thing before the thing” and you talked about your dogs not digging while your outside with them. My puppy is so intent on eating rocks and searching for them when I take him out to potty and he’ll dig when I’m waiting for him to do his business. If I’m not supposed to say no how do I keep him from digging and eating rocks. This has been a major issue when taking puppy out to do business on leash. He doesn’t pull me, I have to drag him away from looking for rocks or dirt or anything to chew on. I tried carrying him to potty at first, but he is now about 30lbs at 13wks old and I have a broken arm and can’t safely carry him anymore, so leash is only option.
Hi! What is the thing before the thing when my dog goes to grab our shoes by the door or towels on the counter?
Thank you for the podcasts. I have done Home School the Dog and Wag Nation. But I am hopeless regarding record keeping and videoing. I am now just going through the podcasts. Max and I are learning each day. Thank you.
Thank you this was a great pod cast now I have an idea of what to start to do.
Fascinating! Thank you for helping me dissect my part in helping my dog.
I love, love, LOVE Susan’s no nonsense, easy to understand & follow advice every time. She’s amazing!
I am very happy to be with you Susan here – you are the first person in my life , who can explain everything with clarity, humor and scientific basis. Thank your very much for all what you do for dogs and their owners.
Brilliant! Makes so much sense. Thank you!
This is a great podcast and one that I’ll need to listen to again as I apply it to various behaviours that we’re working on with our 1 year old mini Aussie. I had a question that’s not related to the ‘thing before the thing’ … in this podcast Susan used the example of Tater and chewing a bone. What kinds of bones does she give her dogs… ours is an aggressive chewer and as part of teaching her to just ‘chill’ we’d love to give her bones. We’ve given her yak cheese chewies and gorilla wood bones, but wondering about your team’s thoughts about real bones?
Great podcast. Makes a lot of sense. My dog gets so wound up before going to class, that he cannot think about what he is going there for. Gets distracted, ignores me. etc I’d give you 5 stars, but don’t see how to do it.*****
Did you get a reply to this question? I would love to hear it, I am having the same issue. Thanks
Sorry, this is long – My puppy, actually the entire litter, is a whiner. I have always been able to work through this with my pups/dogs but this puppy is challenging me in a way I haven’t been before. In the past, puppy whines, just don’t address it until the whining stops, easy peasy.
My problem with this puppy is she will whine to be taken outside to go potty. If I try to wait her out she pees on the floor or in her crate. This girl is a peeing machine. She can hold it longer if she is in her crate but when she is loose with us in the room, she needs to go every 10 to 20 minutes (no UTI btw).
She usually goes to the slider, whines and now I have a choice. If I reward the whining by taking her out why would she ever stop, then again if I try to wait for her to stop she most often will pee on the floor right in front of the door.
Only twice have I taken her out and she hasn’t peed so I don’t think she just wants to go out for the sake of going out and we do not play, just potty then back in the house. I have even stopped any treats for pottying.
She has whined in her crate and if I don’t take her out she pees. When I take her out, she pees and I put her back in the crate after peeing outside. I have been trying to get her out of the crate BEFORE I hear her wake up or whine but it is hit and miss.
This has been going on since she was 8 weeks old, she is now 5 months old.
Any words of wisdom would be appreciated, I really am starting to get more frustrated than I can handle.
Hello Kathi, have you had a chance to watch Podcast 48? It might off your some insight how Susan handles teaching puppies (and rescues) the parameters of potty training and schedules. Also have you had the puppy in for a vet check with a urine profile just to ensure that quick inability to hold isn’t a low grade infection she may have. Something to consider. Lynda (TeamSusan)
Awesome podcast !!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️‼️‼️
The thing before the thing – okay here is a question for ya….I have a whinner and he whines every time he is bored after I crate him because he has not learned yet to stop jumping on people and bouncing off the walls. E.g., after I crate him, he starts whining when I’m doing dishes, or when I have to feed prep the rest of the dogs in the house. I know the answer probably gives him a brain activity toy with food in it but I have noticed since all of the training and treat giving, he is having diarrhea. Help, please:)
Hi Jennifer, If you know you have given the puppy sufficient activity ~ mental and physical training activity, then review Susan’s podcast to assess if there is any way the whining is being rewarded? #https://dogsthat.com/podcast/42/
A brain game / a chew bone before he starts whining will certainly be an activity to carry onward the understanding that good things happen when you are around and he is quietly when you know the puppy has been fully attended to. Lynda (TeamSusan)
What if the thing before the thing is something I can’t detect before my dog does? We live in a condo with a highly reactive dog just down the hall and Chester can sense the other dog before we can hear her. He takes off running toward the front door and presses into to window with growls and barks. In our small, private dog park he enjoys running and playing with her. There seems to something about sounds (the thing) outside the door that we can’t anticipate.
Thoughts on this?
We are working through and loving HS the Dog!
HI Guys! Great episode!
You suggested me to hear the episode 16 because I’ve presented you a question via facebook!
Thanks a lot for your help! However, I really don’t know how to proceed or what approach should I have. My jack russell molly, sha has an amazing hot-zone (i can work with my other dog that she will stay in the hot-zone), however when in relaxing moments (im washing the dishes, etc.) if we send her to the hot-zone she’ll be always in a “working state” super observer and controlling and we don’t know ho to teach her to “relax” :S
For sure we’ve been doing something wrong..thanks a lot for reading me
Did I see John Travolta passing in the background? 🤣
Great information and good examples!
Makes alot of sense. But would love podcast on how to train the “go see”/greeting people without the jumping. My dog can sit, can have people pass by and hold the sit…..unless they speak, then it is all over. Is a 15 month mini poodle. Lioves poeple more than dogs
I loved this! So simple, you break it down and make it possible to alter all behaviors.
What a gift! I have been struggling with a couple behaviors for waaay too long snd now I see a way forward!
so informative. Just love listening.
Susan tells how it is and gives us so much to think about.
I always start smiling and chatting back.
At the end of each podcast I say thank you even though I know no-one hears me.
It is just instinctive and proves just how much I am enjoying them.
Thank you so much.
Really enjoying the recallers as well.
You give me so much clatity and confidence! I love being a Recaller and listen to every bit I can. Thank you.