Impulse Control Exercises

Patience

1. Tether your dog’s leash to a stable piece of furniture or step on it. (Never leave a tethered dog unattended.)
2. Place some yummy treats just out of her reach on the floor.
3. Try not to pull back with the leash. Say, “yes” to mark the moment when she stops pulling to earn the treat.

• After some practice you can make this exercise more challenging by waiting to say “Yes!” or clicking your dog when she sits, or looks away from the treat to you. Say “yes” and hand her the treat reward from your treat bag, or from the pile on the floor.

• In general, wait for your dog to sit or calm down before giving her access to resources. Wait for her to sit or lay down, for example, before putting her filled water bowl down. Wait for her to stop jumping before greeting her when you come home.

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Waiting at Doors

This is very much like the exercise above and helps improve impulse control skills.

• Put your dog on leash. Walk her to the door. Wait for her to sit.
• Place your hand on the doorknob.
• If she stands remove your hand from the knob and wait for her to sit again.
• Place your hand on the knob and turn it.
• If she gets out of the sit, remove your hand from the knob.
• Wait for her to sit.
• Place your hand on the knob and open the door.
• If she gets out of the sit, shut the door.
• Place your hand on the knob and open the door.
• If she remains in the sit for even a second when the door is partially open, say “yes,” and reward her by going out the door.

As the days pass and you work on this behavior, you can begin to make your dog wait in a sit for longer and longer periods of time in front of the open door.

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Jump Prevention

This exercise can be done by yourself if you tether your dog.  Walk to her to greet her when she is tethered, and say “Yes!” the moment she sits. 

If she jumps, turn and walk away. After a moment, turn around and approach again. As your dog gets better at sitting or standing, you can increase the excitement level of the greetings.  

Sit is an excellent default behavior.

Ignore your dog, and even walk away when she jumps on you when you entering your home, a room, etc.

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Hydraulic Sit

1. Hold a treat or toy just above and a foot or so in front of your dog’s’ head and wait for her to sit.
2. Slowly begin to lower it to the floor.
3. If her butt comes up (out of the sit) lift the toy/treat upwards.
4. Lower again as she sits. If she gets up bring item upwards.
5. Lower as she sits. When you reach the floor quickly remove your hand from the item and say “go get it!” and let her get the toy/treat.
6. Repeat.

You can do this with her water bowl, etc. It is okay if your dog chooses to lay down instead of sitting during this exercise.