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Signs your pup may need to work on impulse control:

 🐾Jumps on guests when they come over

 🐾Runs out of the door when it is opened

🐾Counter surfs

 🐾Rushing in and out of vehicles

🐾Chasing other animals like cats, squirls, birds

🐾Lunging or going after other dogs

You don’t have to wait until your dog starts to display these behaviors, you can get a jump start on them right now at home with a few of these fun and easy impulse control games.

 1)  Rewarding your dog is key!

*  Have kibble or their favorite treats set aside, when you see them doing something you like, tell them good and reward them with a treat.  Practice and getting in reps is crucial to a good, solid obedient dog.  This game is easy, when you see something you like, reward it!  Eventually, your dog will start offering your behaviors!

2)  The Wait Game

*  Put a treat in your hand and say “wait”  Open your hand present it to your dog.  If your dog starts to take the treat, close your hand and say “wait”  do this as many times as needed before your dog offers the behavior to wait.  Once your dog waits for the treat, then you can say “Free” and allow the dog to take the treat from your hand.  Once your dog gets good at this game, then you can place a piece of treat in your dog’s dog food bowl and ask them to wait.    💡 Pro tip:  When you move to this level of the game, have a leash on your dog so that you can stop them from getting the treat from the bowl.  When your dog waits for a brief second, then you can tell them “free” to get the treat from the bowl.

3) Wait at the Door

*  Have your dog on a  leash for this activity.  Have high valued treats ready.  Tell your dog to “sit” and then ask him to “wait”  and open the door.  If the dog starts to get up, close the door and ask him to sit and wait again.  Repeat as needed.  The goal is to open the door and have your dog sitting at the door with the door wide open.  Close the door and tell your dog free and give him treats!

4) All Eyes on Me Game!

*  This is a super easy game to play with your pup.  Have high valued treats and in the beginning, ,make sure you are in a low distraction environment.  You can increase distractions as they get better at this skill.  Just sit and wait.  When your dog looks at you, mark his behavior with “yes” and give him a treat.  Rinse and repeat.  The goal is to start rewarding your dog for looking at you and paying attention to you.  Once they are really solid, you can take your dog out to your back yard and try again.  Gradually increase the distractions.

5) When Visitors come over

*  You can have your dog on a leash.  When visitors come over ask your dog to sit.  Have high valued treats ready.  If your dog jumps, you can quickly tap the leash and ask the dog to sit.  Once your dog is calm, you can reward with a treat and have your visitor reward with a treat.  Ask those who come to your home to ignore your dog while they are learning to settle in.  That means no talking, no petting, no eye contact, and a neutral body language.  Stand angled to the dog not facing them directly.  Let your visitors know that they can pet your dog or give them a treat once they are sitting calmly.  If your dog is too excited, you may want to go over to the couch or chair and sit with them and ignore the whining and bad behavior and wait until they are calm.

If you are still having trouble getting your dog to listen, we can help you with our one on one private lessons with our experienced dog trainers!