Impulse Control - And Why It Will Change You And Your Dog’s Life

IMPULSE CONTROL

And Why it will Change You And Your Dog’s life.

 

For many dog owners, the thought of being able to amble through the countryside or the local park with a dog focused on them, walking beautifully off lead and recalling perfectly -without any hesitation- is a far off dream that seems utterly unobtainable. 

But what if it’s not? What if, with time, effort and consistency, life with your dog could look as dream-like as you want it to be? 

Here’s the thing … Whatever the problem is that’s stopping you from letting your dog off lead, or stopping your dog from caring about you and your commands when out and about -chances are, it stems from a lack of impulse control. 

Most breeds we see in daily life: in people’s homes, and out and about in public were originally created for a specific purpose and not necessarily to be pets -yes, even Cockapoos. Both breeds that make a Cockapoo were originally bred as hunting and bird dogs. Labradors make great family pets, but they were also originally created to be bird dogs, with the energy, drive and instinct to preform all tasks associated with their job. Nearly every breed was designed for a specific purpose.

So why is this an issue sometimes? Well, with working comes purpose, structure and life-long training in order for the dog to safely and effectively carry out these tasks and their job. Working dogs are often trained consistently every single day (from day one) and have the physical and mental ability to complete their daily work without breaking a sweat. Pet dogs? Pets are often an addition to our lives, but they’re very rarely our whole lives or our livelihoods. We work, we have families and friends and daily tasks which don’t involve our dogs. They’re a great addition to our lives, but they often lack the structure and consistency needed in order to be truly well-rounded - especially in public or when out walking. 

To have a trained dog takes work, and often it’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it!

If you want to have a dog you can safely allow the freedom to be off lead, or if you’re struggling with a dog who finds everything but you exciting, this is for you. 

What is impulse control? 

Put simply, it’s the ability to think before acting. It’s the ability to resist immediate urges, whether specific to the breed you own (like Terriers and their urge to hunt constantly, or Cocker Spaniels and their love of chasing birds), or a lack-of is an outlet for the seemingly boundless amounts of energy they can build each day -there are countless reasons your dog may be struggling to listen or think straight around distractions, but the majority of them can be overcome by teaching impulse control. 

How do we teach this? 

It’s the million dollar question, and sadly, it takes a lot of work, but I promise it’s the hurdle between chasing your dog through the park, calling their name as it falls on deaf ears and your dog disappears into the horizon; and walking stress-free through the forest, safe in the knowledge that with one command, your dog’s focus will be on you and solely you. 

In order to build focus, we must teach self-control. And we do this by teaching the dog that calm and focused control results in reward. 

Why is this important?

Mainly, because as dedicated, responsible dog owners, it’s imperative that we have control of our dogs at all times. A dog off lead with no recall isn’t just a worry, it’s a liability. Birds can fly on to roads and lead your dog into oncoming traffic, bouncy dogs approaching any and all dogs they want to are consistently running the risk of approaching a dog who is either old, inform, recovering from surgery and causing further damage, or being attacked because the dog they approached isn’t as friendly as your dog wants them to be. Dogs go missing all the time, and a lot of those times are because they’ve run off following the scent of whatever has caught their fancy, sometimes never to be seen again, or found days (even weeks) later, miles away from home after causing endless worry for their owners. 

All of these risks are not worth chancing and all can be avoided by teaching impulse control. 

A dog under control is constantly tuned-in to its owner and working hard to listen and resist urges. In itself, that also provides a dose of mental stimulation and will help you have a tired, more content dog at home. 

Harmony is also one of the important reasons. A dog and owner in perfect sync, walking together, listening to each other and respecting each other is a feeling like no other. Trust me, you’ll be happier, but so will your dog. You really can’t put a price on contentment, but you can work to achieve it. 

I know, I know, you’re still asking “BUT HOW?” 

I’m sure you have a dog in front of you that you have taught to sit on command. If so, ask yourself if this behaviour is consistently proofed and works everywhere, regardless of the environment and its distractions. If the answer is yes? Great, you’re well on your way to having a focused, controlled dog. If the answer is no, that’s where you need to start. If your dog can sit and wait to be released to eat its dinner, but can’t do the same in the park, all that means is that you’re asking too much of your dog, too soon. Scale it back, build on it, adding distance and distractions slowly. In dog training, there’s a practice we like to call “The Three D’s.” Distance, Duration, Distractions. It’s simple in theory: build on each foundation separately, at your dog’s pace. Distance: increasing the space between your dog and yourself after the command is given and your dog complies. Duration: the time in which your dog has to carry out the command. Distractions: the environment around your dog. With all of these levels, you must start small, in an area your dog is comfortable and familiar with (your house is perfect). Once the command is proofed in your house and your dog is consistently getting it right, move into the garden and repeat the process, then out into the street e.t.c. Build on the foundations and add to them, slowly. If your dog struggles in one particular area, go back a step -that means you are asking too much at that time, and that’s okay. 

Games are also a great way to improve your dog’s impulse control and there are literally hundreds of games available, of varying levels of effort on your part. For example, impulse control can be worked on at night, whilst you’re chilling on the sofa. It will help focus your dog, provides some mental stimulation and leads to a calmer evening - it’s win-win situation.

One example is placing a treat in your closed hand and holding it out to your dog. Chances are, a dog that lacks the ability to resist its urges will paw, nudge and mouth at your hand to get the treat. Wait it out. The moment your dog moves its face (or paw) away, even slightly, mark the behaviour and reward your dog by opening your hand and allowing them to take the treat. 

This teaches your dog not to go in all guns blazing. It makes them think, figure out and use their brain in order to get the reward, and it’s teaching patience. All of these things will help build the necessary foundations for solid impulse control. 

Solid foundations like this are the key to a happy, healthy relationship with your dog and a more well-rounded companion in public. 

Is this something you’re struggling with? 

At EmPAWrium, we regularly hold workshops based on specific subjects and our next Impulse Control Workshop is on Saturday 24th January at 1:30pm. This hour long session will delve deeper into impulse control, how to teach it and will provide plenty of time to talk about your individual hurdles. To buy tickets, head over to the training section of the website.