{"podcast":{"title":"Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett","slug":"shaped-by-dog-with-susan-garrett-487351","podcast_index_feed_id":487351,"rss_url":"https://shapedbydog.libsyn.com/rss","website_url":"https://shapedbydog.com","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/c/9/3/8/c9380520d8d1294e/Shaped-By-Dog-Main-Podcast-Image_REV.jpg","author":"DogsThat","episode_count":378,"summary":"Susan Garrett, world-renowned dog trainer, multi-time champion of dog agility, and leading educator on all things canine shares everything related to dogs! Susan understands dog behaviour and wants you and your dog to have the best life together possible.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-25T02:17:45.453387+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shaped-by-dog-with-susan-garrett-487351"},"episode":{"title":"The Thing You THINK Calms Your Puppy... #320","slug":"the-thing-you-think-calms-your-puppy-320","published_at":"2025-12-10T16:56:40+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shaped-by-dog-with-susan-garrett-487351/the-thing-you-think-calms-your-puppy-320","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shaped-by-dog-with-susan-garrett-487351","url":"https://dogsthat.com/podcast/320/","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/shapedbydog/SBD_320_-_The_Thing_You_THINK_Calms_Your_Puppy....mp3?dest-id=2148986","summary":"Visit us at shapedbydog.com A lick mat can feel like magic when it brings instant peace to a whiny or restless puppy, but sometimes that calm comes after a buildup we don't even notice. I'm taking a closer look at what drives that rising anticipation and how small, thoughtful changes can shift the pattern toward calm, confidence, and comfort. With a bit of intention, lick mats can become tools that support your puppy's emotional well-being rather than fuel anxious routines or unwanted behaviors. In this episode, you'll hear: • Why puppies start whining, circling, pawing, bouncing, or barking before you deliver a lick mat. • The \"thing before the thing\" and how anticipation becomes reinforcement. • What to do first when your puppy is anxious, whiny, or restless. • The different stages of using a lick mat to support wanted behavior. • How to prepare lick mats without triggering excitement. • How to create a new trigger so calm behavior predicts the lick mat. • Ways to use lick mats for fear, visitors at the door, and environmental distractions. • Why lick mats should not be a lifelong crutch and how to use them with intention. Resources: 1. Podcast Episode 16: The Thing Before Your Dog's Thing - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/16/ 2. Podcast Episode 314: Dog Enrichment Secrets Part 1: Using Your Dog's Natural Instincts To Build Variety And Engagement - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/314/ 3. Podcast Episode 315: Dog Enrichment Secrets Part 2: 30 Day Enrichment Challenge + Free Planner PDF - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/315/ 4. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/U5zFK_WkHpY","meta_description":"Visit us at shapedbydog.com A lick mat can feel like magic when it brings instant peace to a whiny or restless puppy, but sometimes that calm comes after…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":645,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/shaped-by-dog-with-susan-garrett-487351/episodes/the-thing-you-think-calms-your-puppy-320/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shaped-by-dog-with-susan-garrett-487351/the-thing-you-think-calms-your-puppy-320.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}