When To Add A Verbal Cue... Don't Make These Mistakes #325

Visit us at shapedbydog.com If your dog has ever "known" a verbal cue but didn't respond the first time you asked, it may be that your cue has been poisoned. In this episode, you'll discover why that happens, the most common reasons cues lose their power, and how to set your dog up for success before you ever add a word. I'm sharing the system I use to build consistent, confident behavior first, so when you finally add the cue, it simply reflects a rich history of reinforcement. The result is powerful, clean, and effective verbal cues your dog responds to anywhere with clarity and confidence. In this episode, you'll hear: • Why a cue doesn't create the behavior but rather reveals the training that came before it. • The reasons cues lose their power and become "poisoned." • The ideal timing for adding a verbal cue (and when not to add one). • The four ways behavior is created. • How antecedent arrangements create success before a cue is ever added. • Why using cues as praise weakens their effectiveness. • The danger of repeating cues or pairing them with your dog's name. • How to rebrand a cue if you've added it too early. • How clean cues create confident dogs who listen anywhere. Get Crate Games Online: Crate Games Online - Resources: 1. Podcast Episode 245: Make Dog Training Easy! Quick Guide To Antecedent Arrangements - 2. Podcast Episode 170: 5 Popular Ways To Train Your Dog With Food - 3. Podcast Episode 261: Common Misconceptions Around Shaping: Why You May Find Dog Training Frustrating - 4. Podcast Episode 322: Loose Leash Walking Starts Without A Leash - 5. YouTube Playlist: Target Training for Dogs with Susan Garrett - 6. YouTube Video: Understanding Your Dog's Reinforcement Zone (RZ) with Susan Garrett - 7. YouTube Video: Susan Garrett's Perch Work Dog Tricks (Pivots and Spins) - 8. Podcast Episode 175: Food Luring VS Shaping In Dog Training: How Science Changed How I Teach Dogs - 9. Podcast Episode 155: 10 Ways To Teach A Sit WITHOUT A Food Lure! Unreal Results For Puppies And Dogs Of All Ages - 10. Podcast Episode 184: Proofing Vs Generalizing In Dog Training To Grow Skills And Confidence - 11. Podcast Episode 173: Target Training For Dogs: How, Why, And When To Fade Targets - 12. Podcast Episode 6: The Art of Manipulation - 13. Podcast Episode 295: Fear Of Criticism? Why Facing The Camera Is The First Step To Becoming A Better Dog Trainer - 14. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube -

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When To Add A Verbal Cue... Don't Make These Mistakes #325 is an episode from Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett by DogsThat.

This episode is 17:51 long.

This episode was published on Feb 13, 2026.

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