Dogs
By Tamara McRill
Who hasn’t known a dog that has struggled with going for what they want as soon as they see it? From snatching food to chasing squirrels and bounding out the door, to jumping on their favorite people, the wonderfully curious and energetic nature of dogs can lead to all sorts of impulses. These urges need to be kept in check for their own safety as well as the safety of other people and pets. As responsible pet owners, it is our duty to help our dogs with impulse control. Here are five simple tips to help work towards better impulse control:
Recognize Triggers
Even the most well-behaved pets have that one thing that really messes with their control. For one of our dogs, Dusty, it’s mail. He has the clichéd need to get at the mail carrier, and knows that those envelopes and packages are delivered by his two-legged nemesis. Since we recognize that this is an impulse trigger for him, we can take steps to avoid getting him riled up in the first place and work with him on not eating our bills.
By noticing when your dog acts up, you can do the same. If you don’t instantly notice a pattern, you can try keeping a behavior diary. Note what your pet did, where, the time of day and if any other pets or people were present.
Proper Rewards
Some aspects of impulse control training are similar to treat training. Such as, you need to be sure you are offering your dog a reward he actually wants. This can range from quality dog treats to favorite toys to playtime.
But that’s not all a proper reward entails. You also have to deduce what the pain point was for your pet and satisfy what he gave up. It’s part of taking care of their mental wellbeing, as well as physical.
Say you have a dog that doesn’t stay for long periods of time and you are working with her on doing so. A yummy CANIDAE dog treat when you come back into the room after a successful stay is great, but what your pet probably really missed was companionship. So a bit of playtime may be a more appropriate reward in that situation, even if your dog normally responds to food.
Expect Changes
Like us, our furry companions change over time, be it in their surroundings, health or tastes. We can help our dogs deal with changes and newly developed behaviors by keeping a close eye on their needs, and evolving the impulse control training to suit these needs.
For example, our dog Cody was never one to wolf down his food in one sitting, and while he loved treats he responded best to lavish petting. That changed almost a year ago, when he was put on medication that made him hungry all the time. All of a sudden he now has a new set of weaknesses that goad him into destructive and harmful behavior as he searches for his edible obsession.
Not only did we implement more safety precautions (no food left in reach, no trash access and no eating with the other dogs), but we also have to use food as a reward for harder training. That’s what motivates him now.
Do the Exercises
There are many exercises you can do with your dog to help with impulse control. These are normally centered around specific commands that let your dog know which behavior you wish them to exhibit, such as leave it, fetch and wait, settle, and leash exercises. The ones you need to work on depend on what your dog has already learned and his impulse issues.
It’s important to continue with training even after your dog has mastered commands, to keep everything fresh in their mind.
Forgive Yourself for Using Crutches
Blessed as I am to have so many pet lovers as friends, it seems as if discussing how to train a dog brings forth as many lively debates as how to raise a child. Especially when we use methods that we know aren’t perfect, because they work best for now.
I get teased for having to use a stick to keep my chocolate Lab, Wuppy, in the yard during his free running time, instead of being able to command him to do so. I have no idea what is so magical about him holding one of these sticks in his mouth – there are only two “special” ones that work – but it keeps him in the yard even when there are other distractions. When we work one-on-one with his staying, the stick often works as his reward.
What is your pet’s biggest impulse trigger? What about training rewards – what does your dog prefer?
Top photo by Mylesisme
Bottom photo by Tamara McRill
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Dogs
Helping Your Dog with Impulse Control
Who hasn’t known a dog that has struggled with going for what they want as soon as they see it? From snatching food to chasing squirrels and bounding out the door, to jumping on their favorite people, the wonderfully curious and energetic nature of dogs can lead to all sorts of impulses. These urges need to be kept in check for their own safety as well as the safety of other people and pets. As responsible pet owners, it is our duty to help our dogs with impulse control. Here are five simple tips to help work towards better impulse control:
Recognize Triggers
Even the most well-behaved pets have that one thing that really messes with their control. For one of our dogs, Dusty, it’s mail. He has the clichéd need to get at the mail carrier, and knows that those envelopes and packages are delivered by his two-legged nemesis. Since we recognize that this is an impulse trigger for him, we can take steps to avoid getting him riled up in the first place and work with him on not eating our bills.
By noticing when your dog acts up, you can do the same. If you don’t instantly notice a pattern, you can try keeping a behavior diary. Note what your pet did, where, the time of day and if any other pets or people were present.
Proper Rewards
Some aspects of impulse control training are similar to treat training. Such as, you need to be sure you are offering your dog a reward he actually wants. This can range from quality dog treats to favorite toys to playtime.
But that’s not all a proper reward entails. You also have to deduce what the pain point was for your pet and satisfy what he gave up. It’s part of taking care of their mental wellbeing, as well as physical.
Say you have a dog that doesn’t stay for long periods of time and you are working with her on doing so. A yummy CANIDAE dog treat when you come back into the room after a successful stay is great, but what your pet probably really missed was companionship. So a bit of playtime may be a more appropriate reward in that situation, even if your dog normally responds to food.
Expect Changes
Like us, our furry companions change over time, be it in their surroundings, health or tastes. We can help our dogs deal with changes and newly developed behaviors by keeping a close eye on their needs, and evolving the impulse control training to suit these needs.
For example, our dog Cody was never one to wolf down his food in one sitting, and while he loved treats he responded best to lavish petting. That changed almost a year ago, when he was put on medication that made him hungry all the time. All of a sudden he now has a new set of weaknesses that goad him into destructive and harmful behavior as he searches for his edible obsession.
Not only did we implement more safety precautions (no food left in reach, no trash access and no eating with the other dogs), but we also have to use food as a reward for harder training. That’s what motivates him now.
Do the Exercises
There are many exercises you can do with your dog to help with impulse control. These are normally centered around specific commands that let your dog know which behavior you wish them to exhibit, such as leave it, fetch and wait, settle, and leash exercises. The ones you need to work on depend on what your dog has already learned and his impulse issues.
It’s important to continue with training even after your dog has mastered commands, to keep everything fresh in their mind.
Forgive Yourself for Using Crutches
Blessed as I am to have so many pet lovers as friends, it seems as if discussing how to train a dog brings forth as many lively debates as how to raise a child. Especially when we use methods that we know aren’t perfect, because they work best for now.I get teased for having to use a stick to keep my chocolate Lab, Wuppy, in the yard during his free running time, instead of being able to command him to do so. I have no idea what is so magical about him holding one of these sticks in his mouth – there are only two “special” ones that work – but it keeps him in the yard even when there are other distractions. When we work one-on-one with his staying, the stick often works as his reward.
What is your pet’s biggest impulse trigger? What about training rewards – what does your dog prefer?
Top photo by Mylesisme
Bottom photo by Tamara McRill
Read more articles by Tamara McRill
- No Yard? 5 Ways To Still Exercise Your Dog
By Tamara McRill While a big backyard can be wonderful for excising our dogs, a lot of pet owners just don't have that luxury. That's something I learned when we downsized from two lots of running space to a teeny tiny yard. Luckily, I was able...
- Why Do Dogs Find Leaf Piles So Fascinating?
By Tamara McRill “Hi, my name is Cody and I am a leaf-aholic.” At least that’s how I imagine the meeting would start, if we could get our dog to admit he has an unhealthy obsession with brightly colored piles of leaves. Okay, he even finds the...
- Does Your Dog Video Chat?
By Tamara McRill Video chatting isn't just a great way for us humans to stay in contact—it can also keep our dogs in touch with those they love. I have one dog, Cody, who always gets face time with the camera when someone he knows comes up on chat....
- How To Succeed At Treat Training With Your Dog
By Tamara McRill Have you been trying to positively reinforce good behavior in your dog by treat training, but it just isn't working? The problem could be in your technique. Simply giving your pet a bit of food without these best practices could...
- Have You Tried Dog Scootering?
By Tamara McRill Dog scootering could be the perfect canine sport for those of us who are envious of the athletic coolness of mushing, but just aren't down with playing outdoors in frigid temps. Not being the most graceful individual on the planet,...