How to teach impulse control with your dogs.
Introduction
Impulse control is the ability of a dog to resist temptation and wait for a reward. It is an important skill for dogs to have, as it can help them to behave appropriately in a variety of situations. For example, impulse control can help a dog to:
- Stay calm when they see another dog or person
- Not eat food that is not theirs
- Not jump on people
- Not chase cats or other animals
- Not chew on furniture or other items
Common Misconceptions
- Some people believe that impulse control is a natural ability for dogs. This is not true. Impulse control is a learned skill that takes time and patience to develop.
- Others believe that there is nothing you can do to improve your dog's impulse control. This is also not true. There are a number of things you can do to help your dog develop better impulse control, such as training them to wait for a reward, providing them with plenty of exercise and mental stimulation, and managing their environment.
Impulse Control - Video Walkthrough
Steps to Address
Teaching Phase:
- Begin with your dog on leash and collar.
- Use obedience commands your dog is already familiar with such as "heel", "down", or "place" to implement more control before introducing something that will trigger their impulses.
- When your dog is offering calm, obedient behavior, introduce something exciting or distracting like a ball, a person, or another dog. The distraction should challenge your dog, but not be distracting enough for your dog to fail the exercise.
- Have the dog acknowledge or observe the distraction while still maintaining obedient behavior. Mark and reward.
Reinforcing Phase:
- Variably reward your dog for impulse control while slowly increasing the level of distraction and energy.
- Apply corrections for breaking a command or fixation.
Proofing Phase:
- Incorporate more energy, distractions and distance into the training session.
- Mark and reward each time you make impulse control more challenging for your dog.
- Practice impulse control in every session and in as many different environments as possible.
- Apply corrections for disobedient or inappropriate behavior.
Maintenance Phase:
- Be sure to use basic obedience to enforce impulse control in every session.
- Corrections should be infrequent, and your dog should learn to tolerate different energy and distractions in most scenarios.
Case Studies
- Case Study 1: Charlie is a 2-year-old Labrador Retriever who has a lot of energy and is very impulsive. He often jumps on people and chases cats. His owners started training him impulse control by teaching him the "sit" and "stay" commands. They also started taking him for long walks to help him burn off some energy. After a few months of training, Charlie is much better at controlling his impulses and is no longer jumping on people or chasing cats.
- Case Study 2: Sadie is a 10-year-old Beagle who is very anxious and has a hard time controlling her impulses. She often barks at people and other dogs when she is excited. Her owners started training her impulse control by teaching her the "wait" command. They also started giving her calming treats before they go for walks or to the park. After a few months of training, Sadie is much calmer and is better at controlling her impulses.
Pet Parent Coaching Tips
- Be patient and consistent. It takes time and patience to develop impulse control in dogs. Be sure to be patient with your dog and consistent with your training.
- Make it fun! Training impulse control should be fun for both you and your dog. If your dog is not having fun, they are less likely to learn.
- Be creative. There are many different ways to train impulse control. Be creative and find methods that work for you and your dog.
- Seek professional help if needed. If you are struggling to train your dog impulse control, you may want to seek professional help from a certified dog trainer or behaviorist.
Conclusion
Impulse control is an important skill for dogs to have. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can help your dog develop better impulse control and behave appropriately in a variety of situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What if my dog is only impulsive when they are excited?
A: If your dog is only impulsive when they are excited, you can try training them to "wait" before they are given a treat or toy. This will help them to learn to control their impulses when they are feeling excited.
- Q: What if my dog is impulsive all the time?
A: If your dog is impulsive all the time, you may need to consult with a certified dog behaviorist. There may be an underlying issue that is causing the impulsive behavior.