Impulse control, teaching calm behaviour.

Being calm and in control of their own behaviour does not come naturally to dogs; they need support and training.

You can teach calmer behaviour, known as impulse control, with training guidance using positive reward based techniques.

Teaching behaviour control will help prevent jumping up, snatching food or toys, bolting out of doors, lead pulling and improve general good 'manners'.

Just a couple of minutes each day using every day tasks will help your dog to get an understanding of what is expected of them.

Wait for Food Dish

Teaching your dog that calm behavior gets them food.

Step 1. Hold your dog’s bowl high enough that they can’t reach it. As soon as your dog shows any signs of calm behaviour, lower the food bowl immediately and add in a release command, “OK”, so they get to learn they can go to the bowl.

At this stage it is best not to use any other verbal communication and avoid moving or ‘flapping’ about, as this will only excite your dog.

Step 2. Over the course of a few days, as your dog figures out that if they stay calm, they get the food, you can slightly increase the wait time, and start adding in a cue word “wait” to that wanted associated behaviour. Then always offer “OK” when they can eat.

Don't expect them to wait for ages, as this could cause them to become frustrated or anxious, which may make them escalate their behaviour. You are just at the early stages of trying to build manners.

Leave It

This is an excellent skill for your dog to learn for safety, as it can prevent your dog from eating dangerous items and teaches them to take treats nicely.

Step 1. Place a treat in a fist and hold your fist in front of your dog, but not right in their face , have other treats within your easy reach, but out of reach of the dog.

Step 2. Allow your dog to paw and sniff at your fist as much as they want. Don't interact with them in any way. As soon as they back away, reward them with a treat from your other hand and add cue word “OK”.

Step 3. When your dog can ignore your fist, which may take days of practice, start opening your hand so they can see the treat and add the cue phrase “leave it”.

If they approach, close your fist again. If they back away, or wait, re-open your hand and reward them with a treat from the other hand, adding in “OK”.

Step 4. Now try placing the treat on the floor and covering it with your hand or foot, use “leave it”, when they wait or back away, offer a treat from your hand with "ok", whilst picking up the treat on the floor with your free hand.

Wait at the Door

This is a skill that is worth teaching for safety and it can help your dog be in a calmer state before going on a walk. It is a skill can also be transferred to the car.

For safety reasons, always have your dog on lead for this exercise.

If your dog gets very excited on production of lead or preparing for a walk, they will need training support to remain calm before you attempt practice at the door.

Step 1. Wait for your dog to be settled and open the door a crack. If your dog approaches the door, close it again. Initially only do this twice in one session to prevent your dog getting frustrated.

They are likely to be a bit confused in the beginning and it may take quite a bit of practice for them to gain an understanding.

Step 2. When your dog shows signs of a pause and/or focuses attention on you, add the “wait” command and then treat. Then open the door fully, step through offering them a release cue "OK", so they know they are free to move forward.  

Step 3. Over time and with practice, you can slowly increase the amount you open the door, closing it whenever your dog moves toward it, rewarding when they are calm and then releasing.

It is best to start practice on return from a walk. When your dog has established a good understanding, you can then introduce before you go for a walk.

Eventually you should be able to have the door fully opened, with the "wait" command, and exit calmly with the release cue of “OK”. Treats will unlikely to be needed at this point as getting out in the world will be the reward.

Settle/calm down

A game of tug-of-war, or a flirt pole for chasing, are great ways to introduce them to be able to have some self-control.

Make sure you dog has a good understanding at each step, before moving on to the next training step.

Step 1. Start with gentle play. You don’t want your dog too excited before you ask them to be calmer. In the middle of the game, stop playing and wait for them to become calmer or pause. Once they do, reward them immediately by starting up the game again. Totally ignore any unwanted behaviour - jumping up or barking. If they are struggling to calm down, just walk away and try at another time.

Step 2. When your dog starts waiting consistently each time you pause play, add in the “wait” command, then reward by restarting the game, at this point you also add in a release command “OK”, so they know they can approach the toy.

Step 3. When your dog is consistently pausing, you can start to slowly increase the intensity and length of the game before stopping. It is wise to introduce an end of game cue word, which you use and then calmly walk away from your dog.

Important information

In the beginning just small signs, or moments of calm behaviour need to be acknowledged and supported. You can expand the time frames as your dog gets a better understanding.

Each step on each task may take days or weeks for your dog to understand, before you can move on to the next step. You may have to adapt or break down the training into smaller steps to suit your dog.

Consistency is key to any training support you give your dog. Always use the same commands and reward pattern and ensure anyone involved in your dog’s life works with your dog in exactly the same way.

Each dog has an individual learning process and they are likely to make mistakes, so patience and understanding with any training will be required.

If you would like any information, further support of guidance please get in contact for a no obligation chat.

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