Impulse Control And Dogs
One of the most common issues people run into with their dogs is impulse control. Maybe you have experienced this yourself. Deepening on the behavior of a dog, this can range from a small inconvenience to a real problem. The good news is that it’s something that can easily be corrected. All it takes is a little bit of patience and the right approach.
If you’ve noticed that your furry little friend has issues with jumping, ignoring commands, loss of attention, or even disliking being moved by touch, pay close attention because you’re about to learn some incredibly helpful tips that can stop these behaviors once and for all.
Let’s start with jumping…
How To Stop A Dog From Jumping
We’ve probably all had a dog, or know someone that does, that likes to jump when it comes to greeting people. Some people may think that this is just a cute gesture as well as a sign of affection. On the other hand, jumping can be a problem for others, especially when it comes to company visiting your home or people you may pass while out on a walk. Luckily, this is an easy issue to address.
We want to thank Eva Perrigo for these great tips and for taking the time to help the wonderful Domino in these videos!
Here’s a clip explaining why dogs jump as well as a simple way to deal with it.
The first thing you should keep in mind is that it is always better to be proactive rather than reactive with dogs. This helps reinforce positive behavior. Basically, you want to teach your dog what to do instead of what not to do.
This video shows you how to be proactive rather than reactive with your dog’s behaviors.
Impulse Control Training For Dogs
Unfortunately, there may be times that you can’t stay a step ahead of your dog’s behaviors. In these instances, it’s important to have techniques that can redirect their behavior and get them back on the right track.
Keep in mind, when a dog jumps it’s usually just looking for attention. So, how do we curve this behavior?
There are a couple of techniques that you can use that are very helpful. The first would be telling the dog no and then turning your back on them every time that it tries to jump on you. This shows the dog that their behavior will not get them the response that they want.
You can also teach your furry little friend to sit when greeting. This technique requires the owner to have the dog’s attention. It’s also important to be proactive with this technique. It’s much easier to get them to sit before they become excited and begin jumping to try and get on your level.
Simply use treats as a reward when your dog properly responds to your sit command. The more you do this, the more natural it will become. The most important part is making sure your dog gets their paycheck for their work (Their Treat). However, some people begin training their dogs with attention and affection as a reward once they have a grasp on the concept.
See how simple it can be to teach your dog this command in this video.
Additional Training Tips For Dogs
Jumping isn’t the only thing we’re going to go over. You’re also about to learn how simple it can be to redirect your dog’s attention, easily guide them, and recall them from anywhere with a single word.
This technique is known as “touch”. The idea behind it is to have a dog touch their nose to the palm of your hand, no matter what’s going on around the animal. As with any other training technique, it’s essential that the dog receives a reward for their compliance with your command. People don’t like to work for free and neither do animals. Make sure they get their check!
Watch the touch technique being used in this video.
Know When To Use These Dog Training Techniques
You’re probably wondering what types of situations this training technique would be helpful for. Well, here are a few examples.
The first use would be redirecting a dog’s attention. If you have ever worked with an animal before, you’re probably aware of the fact that it can be next to impossible to get them to respond to your commands if you don’t have their full attention.
The touch technique is an excellent way to put your dog’s focus back on you so that they know what you would like them to do. If you notice your dog’s attention drifting away, simply say the word “touch” and extend your arm downward with your palm facing the dog and then reward the dog’s behavior once they follow your command.
Another situation where this technique can be extremely helpful would be moving a dog, especially those that don’t like to be touched or grabbed. Say you’re walking your dog when suddenly you need to move them to the side of the road, sidewalk, or trail. This can be hard to do with an animal that doesn’t like to be touched or pulled. However, the process can be made much easier by using “touch”.
Simply say “touch” and then move your hand in the direction that you would like the dog to move. As an added bonus, this will not only get the dog to move but also maintain their attention at the same time. This is great for animals that tend to be aggressive or overly excited around other animals or people.
Check out Domino being moved with the “touch technique”.
Aside from getting a dog to move, this technique is also perfect to use as a recall word. Once your dog knows how to follow this command, you can get them to come to you no matter where you may be or what distractions they may encounter on their way back to you.
You can also use this technique as a solution for “The Keep Away Game”. Sometimes dogs will come into a person’s vicinity but never get close enough for a person to grab them or retrieve something from them. Needless to say, this can become frustrating rather quickly. This command will bring the dog right to your hand with ease.
Watch Domino’s reaction to the “touch technique” here.
Important Rules For Dog Commands
One of the most important pieces of information you should know about this technique is that the word “touch” should only be used once. It’s our natural tendency to repeat a command over and over again if we don’t see the response we want. This is not beneficial.
The main goal should be to teach the dog to make the decision to follow your command. This can be done by using the command only once, then using prompting techniques until the proper behavior is shown. Prompting consists of clapping, banging on your thighs, and making loud noises. Continue prompting until the dog follows your original command and then make sure to give them their reward.
Learn more about the touch technique in this clip.
These techniques are incredibly simple to use and very effective at the same time. Believe it or not, any dog can be trained as long as the owner is willing to do a little bit of work with them. Some dogs may pick up commands quicker than others. What’s important to keep in mind is that patience is a must and above all, never give up on them.
