Impulse Control in Dogs -

Training Action and Emotional Control

Does your dog listen perfectly – until the doorbell rings, a jogger runs past, or a deer crosses your path? Impulse control is one of the most important training units so that you can rely on your companion anytime, anywhere.

It is an intensive training that requires a lot of patience. But success will come and reward you for your efforts.

What impulses are there?

Emotions manifest in dogs in various ways. Like us humans, these four-legged friends can have different impulses:

• Joy
• Sorrow
• Anger
• Love
• Fear

Does your four-legged friend jump at visitors, does he tremble with excitement as soon as you pick up the leash, or does he play so wildly that the dogs in your neighborhood are literally afraid of him?

Then you should check whether there is a genetic, health-related, or learned impulse control disorder. The fact is that your dog is not in control of himself and that you need to do something to redirect this undesirable behavior. In most cases, the problem behavior is caused by an interaction of several factors.

❓Do you pet your nervous dog or put his food in front of him when he spins around excitedly?

Then you are rewarding the impulsive behavior instead of training your dog to get his food when he has calmed down on his own.

✅ 3 Exercises for Lack of Impulse Control

With patience and daily training sessions, your dog will learn impulse control. There are various exercises you can use:

1. Food Hand (Your hand, a treat, patience)

2. Redirecting Expectations with the "Heel" Command (Long leash, favorite toy, large open area)

3. Flirt Pole + Stay (Create distraction with favorite toy on a string, reward staying calm)

The "Food Hand" works for most dogs who "drop everything" for a treat. This is the easiest of the impulse control exercises and therefore an optimal start. If your dog masters basic commands, which include "Stay," you can begin with a more difficult exercise and redirect expectations with the "Heel" command. You are still practicing in a low-distraction environment. This only changes with the third control exercise, which you carry out with a "flirt pole" or your four-legged friend's favorite ball.

The Goal:

To give your dog security and guide its behavior in the desired direction. Food rewards are crucial, as they always lead to success. Impulsive dogs have an increased risk of accidents and can certainly bring you into disrepute.