Susan Garrett

Your dog comes when called in the kitchen… but a rabbit outside changes everything. 🐇 We wouldn’t expect a child learning simple math to solve a complex algebra equation. Our dogs need that same opportunity to build their understanding. Their behavior gives us valuable feedback about what they’ve learned. And sometimes, that’s different from what we thought we taught. 💜 What’s something your dog finds easy at home but challenging around distractions?

Those little puppy paws jumping up to greet you? Think about what that greeting might look like when they’re fully grown.😅 Puppies are learning all the time, including in the everyday moments we don’t think of as training. What gets attention today can become tomorrow’s favourite way to say hello! Try looking through the long lens: “Is this something I’d love my adult dog to do?” Then help your puppy practice that version, one small moment at a time. 💜 What’s one habit you’re helping your puppy build? 💬

Hesitation is information, not a mistake. 🚫 ➡️ When your dog hesitates during training, consider whether they're thinking, confused, or lacking confidence. Before asking for more, look at your training setup and how you could provide greater clarity.💡

Your dog isn't being stubborn. They’re doing the best they can with the education they've been given.

What if frustration in dog training became an opportunity for curiosity? 🤔 When something isn't going as planned with your dog, it's easy to assume they already know what we're asking. But what if they need a little more clarity? Instead of focusing on what went wrong, try asking yourself, "How can I make the next repetition clearer for my dog?" Because our dogs are doing the best they can with the information we've given them. ✨ A shift from blame to curiosity can change everything about how we approach training. What's something you've changed in your training that helped your dog understand better? 💭

Let the reward celebrate the choice. Rather than using food to lure your dog into a behavior, allow them to make a choice and use reinforcement to highlight that choice. This helps build independent decision-making.

💜 Great dog training isn't reserved for the experts! If you've ever felt like the results you want with your dog are out of reach, here's something important to remember. Your dog isn't failing. They're responding to what they currently understand. 🐾 Dogs are doing the best they can with the information we've given them, in the environment we're asking them to work in. The key isn't being a better or more experienced trainer. It's having a clear training system that helps your dog understand what's being asked of them. ✨ When something isn't going as planned, instead of focusing on what went wrong, ask yourself, "How can I make this clearer for my dog?" ➡️ What's one training breakthrough you've had when you changed your approach?

Puppies can learn bad things just as quickly as they can learn good things. It's up to us to set them up for success.

🏆 Train like a World Champion! You don't need to be the fastest handler on the course to achieve incredible things with your dog. You need connection, commitment, and consistency. 💜 That's exactly what  Handling360 Synergy  is designed to build, with a full year of progressive agility training and personalized coaching from World Champions Susan Garrett, Max Sprinz, and Enya Habel. 🐾 Ready to discover what's possible for you and your dog? 👉 Join Handling360 today: dogsthat.com/t/join-h360

Ever wish you could borrow your coach's eyes for a training session? In H360, you can. Again and again. Upload videos of you working through the lessons with your dog (or dogs!) and the coaches will be there to help you through any training challenges you encounter... or cheer you on when you nail it! Unlimited coaching feedback is part of H360. Because when you're putting in the work, you deserve more than a library of lessons. You deserve coaches in your corner. Ready to train with us? Join H360. 🔥 dogsthat.com/t/join-h360 #Handling360 #DogAgility #AgilityTraining #ConsistencyCode

Your dog is waiting to show you how brilliant they can be. Layers of success, leads to a love of learning and that takes you to the dog of your dreams. dogsthat.com/t/join-h360 #JustStart #RecallersDog #Handling360

Her 3 year old Border Collie is FAST. Tammy is not. And THAT is what makes this story so inspiring! 💜🩵 Tammy is in her 60s and has only been doing agility for 2 1/2 years, this is her FIRST dog she has ever trained for agility! Watch the “before” clips. She’s late with her cues, her dog has questions, and they’re both doing their best to figure out what the other one wants… but the frustration is obvious for both. Now watch the transformation. 🤯 Same handler. Same incredibly fast dog. But something VERY important has changed. Tammy hasn’t suddenly become a faster runner. She just put in the layers for her dog to understand how to drive forward while she has learned how to give her dog the information he needs, BEFORE he needs it. And the result? Two teammates running with confidence, clarity, and connection. The best agility handlers aren’t faster. They’re EARLIER. This is why Max Sprinz, Enya Habel and Susan Garrett created Handling360 Synergy. Because great agility isn’t reserved for the youngest, the fastest, or the most athletic. It’s available to anyone wanting to fall in love with game-based learning that creates a more effective conversation with your agility dog. Watching teams discover what’s possible together NEVER gets old for us! 🩵💜 ENROLMENT FOR HANDLING360 SYNERGY IS NOW OPEN! If you’ve ever felt that you can’t keep up with your dog, I want you to watch this video. Then come join us. dogsthat.com/t/join-h360 #Handling360 #DogAgility #AgilityTraining #BelieveInWhatIsPossible #TheAgilityCircle

The words we use to describe our dogs can shape what we believe is possible for them. 🐾 Instead of labeling our dogs, what if we got curious about what they might need? 💬 Instead of “He’s stubborn,” try thinking, “My dog may need more clarity.” 💬 Instead of “My dog is lazy,” try thinking, “What would make this game more engaging?” 💬 Instead of “She’s a troublemaker,” try thinking, “What is she trying to tell me through her behavior?” 💬 Instead of “He’s a Velcro dog,” try thinking, “How can I help him feel confident making choices independently?” When we shift from labeling our dogs to understanding their behavior, we open the door to new possibilities. 💙 ➡️ Have you ever caught yourself labeling your dog? What could you say differently?

What's one thing you understand about your dog's behavior now that you wish you'd known earlier?

After watching Episode 1, take a moment to reflect on your own handling. 🐾 Which of the 7 Elements of Handling feels like one of your biggest strengths right now? Drop your answer in the comments. 👇 🎥 Revisit Episode 1 and watch the series in your Consistency Code Lobby here: dogsthat.com/t/jointhecode Episode 3, The Commitment Test, comes out Thursday, October 15th.

Connection goes both ways. 🐾 You need connection with your dog so you can see where they’re going, but you also need connection with the course so you can see where you’re going. Too much focus on the course, and you may lose your dog. Too much focus on your dog, and you might lose track of what’s ahead. The goal is learning how to balance both. ⚡ 🎥 Episodes 1 and 2 of The Consistency Code are available now as part of our FREE 6-part series. Watch Episodes 1 & 2 here ➡️ dogsthat.com/t/jointhecode

Big day! 🎉 Episodes 1 & 2 of The Consistency Code are officially here and ready to watch now! 🎥 Episode 1: The 7 Elements of Handling   🎥 Episode 2: How Strengths Become Blind Spots Discover which handling elements you naturally rely on, and how one of your greatest strengths could also be creating a blind spot. ➡️ Watch Episodes 1 & 2 here: dogsthat.com/t/jointhecode Then join Susan Garrett, Enya Habel and Max Sprinz LIVE today at 1 pm ET as they answer your questions and explore what you're noticing in your own handling. Can’t make it live? The replay will be available in the Livestreams section of your Consistency Code Series Lobby.

You don’t have to be able to outrun your dog in this sport. 🏃 When your dog has the skills and confidence to commit, and you know when it’s important to connect with your dog as a handler, everything changes. And here’s the exciting part: These aren’t skills reserved for world champions. It doesn’t matter who you are, what breed or mixed breed of dog you have, or whether you’re an athletic handler or someone who’s simply doing their best. These are skills. And skills can be developed. 🚫 You don’t need to be faster. You need to be earlier. ⚡ That’s exactly what we’re going to help you discover in The Consistency Code. ➡️ Join Susan, Max, and Enya for The Consistency Code: dogsthat.com/t/jointhecode   Susan, Max, and Enya can’t wait to get started and see how things progress for you and your dog. 📅 Episodes 1 and 2 arrive Tuesday, October 13th. Then join Susan, Max, and Enya live as they answer your questions and talk through what came up in the first two episodes of this free 6-part series.

Strong verbal cues or supportive handling? Do we really need to choose? 🤔 Watch what happens when we strip one away. Both can work, but together the different elements of handling can support each other to create greater consistency on course. Explore how they work together in The Consistency Code, our FREE 6-part series premiering on October 13th. dogsthat.com/t/code

Six episodes. One code. A clearer path to greater consistency on course. 🐾 Across The Consistency Code, Susan Garrett, Max Sprinz and Enya Habel break down the pieces that can make all the difference, from handling and commitment to connection, timing and building a system you can rely on. Each episode gives you one piece of the code. Put them together, and you have a path from the start line to the finish. Save your spot in the FREE 6-part Consistency Code series here 🔗 dogsthat.com/t/code