Beyond "Yes" And "Good": Why Your Dog Needs "Spotlights" #327

Beyond "Yes" And "Good": Why Your Dog Needs "Spotlights" #327

March 13, 2026 · 21 min · Episode 327

About this episode

Susan Garrett discusses the importance of using 'Spotlights' in dog training to enhance clarity and confidence.

Visit us at shapedbydog.com Moving beyond general marker words like "yes" and "good" can bring much more clarity to your dog's training, and in this episode, I share why your dog needs what I call "Spotlights." Spotlights are Location Specific Reinforcement Markers that tell your dog what reward is coming and where it will be delivered. When dogs understand where success lives, they can make better choices and feel more confident in their training. I'll walk you through the Spotlights I use with my own dogs, how they function as both markers and cues, and how introducing just a few can help your dog stay in position when needed, make confident choices, and bring more understanding and joy to your training. In this episode, you'll hear: • Why general marker words like "yes" and "good" can lose their meaning over time. • About Spotlights (also known as Location Specific Reinforcement Markers) and how they bring greater clarity to your dog's training. • The three things a Spotlight tells your dog about reinforcement. • How dogs are such powerful predictors of reinforcement. • How Spotlights function as both markers and cues. • The three types of reinforcement you can use in…

People in this episode

Host: Susan Garrett

Topics covered

Keywords

More episodes of Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett podcast page.