Don't name behaviors before conditioning

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The first two weeks with your puppy are when what you grow is what you get. In these early days, everyday choices shape how your puppy learns, rests, and stays engaged long before cues are added. In this episode, I share a real-life puppy story to show how well-intended decisions can accidentally grow behaviors you weren't aiming to teach, and why raising a puppy with the future in mind supports clarity, confidence, and the relationship you're building as your puppy develops.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• How small, everyday choices can accidentally grow puppy behaviors you don't want to see. • A real-life puppy story that highlights common early choices. • Two critical lessons for new puppy owners. • Why management is proactive, not restrictive. • What early crate, sleep, and management choices are really teaching. • Why positive training is not permissive training. • What good leadership looks like with a puppy. • How off-leash freedom too soon can lead to disengagement. • Why a puppy's name should be protected and meaningful. • Why naming behaviors too early can create confusion. • Why behaviors should be conditioned before cues are added. • How cues lose clarity when used as praise. • What it means to raise a puppy using a long-term lens. • How Recallers games support focus, engagement, and early learning.

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Resources:

1. Shaped by Dog Podcast - https://dogsthat.com/podcasts/ 2. Podcast Episode 166: Puppy Freedom: How Much Is Too Much? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/166/ 3. Podcast Episode 30: Why Dog Crates Are Not Dog Cages - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/30/ 4. Podcast Episode 98: Puppy Home Alone: Are You Creating Chaos or Calm? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/98/ 5. Podcast Episode 48: Potty Train Your Puppy in a Week (Easy 3 Step Process) - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/48/ 6. YouTube Video: Understanding Your Dog's Reinforcement Zone (RZ) with Susan Garrett - https://youtu.be/OaUAScgaFAg 7. Podcast Episode 302: The Recall Myth: Why Your Off Leash Dog Isn't Coming When Called And How To Fix It - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/302/ 8. Podcast Episode 58: How to Create Kid Friendly Dogs and Dog Friendly Kids - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/58/ 9. Podcast Episode 113: Your Dog's Verbal Cues And Hand Signals: How To Effectively Train Both - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/113/ 10. Podcast Episode 16: The Thing Before Your Dog's Thing - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/16/ 11. Podcast Episode 155: 10 Ways To Teach A Sit WITHOUT A Food Lure! Unreal Results For Puppies And Dogs Of All Ages - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/155/ 12. YouTube Playlist: Puppy Training with Susan Garrett - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy2SggplHx3uEWAjXOL9hI21 13. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/j93tOUhvrrg