Teaching Impulse Control

Want to Teach Your Dog Impulse Control? Start at the Back Door

Does your dog ever:

• Rush straight at the food bowl the second you put it down?

• Push in front of you the moment your hand touches the door handle?

• Bolt out the door the second you open it?

• Leap out of the car before you’ve said it’s safe?

• Snatch treats from your hand like it’s a competitive sport?

These are all examples of impulsive behaviour — when your dog acts before they think.

It’s common, completely normal... but also totally trainable.

🧠 Why Impulse Control Matters

Impulse control isn’t about obedience for the sake of it — it’s about helping your dog stay calm and safe in real-life situations. It’s about helping your dog engage their brain before their body leaps into action.

Whether it’s waiting at a door, greeting guests without jumping, or resisting the urge to chase a squirrel, impulse control teaches your dog to pause, think, and make a better choice instead of automatically reacting.

This “think first” habit keeps them calmer, safer, and more responsive in everyday life — and the more they practise it, the easier it becomes.

👀 Step One: Teach Eye Contact / Checking In

Before you can shape better behaviour, your dog needs to know that looking at you pays off.

We call this “checking in,” and it’s one of the most important skills you can teach your dog. It builds engagement, communication, and focus — and creates the foundation for everything from recall to walking nicely on lead.

There are a few ways to teach it — but here’s the one I’ve found works really well:

1. Hold a treat in your closed fist at your side.

2. Your dog will probably sniff, lick, or paw at your hand trying to get it.

3. Stay still and wait. The moment they give up and glance at you — even for half a second — mark it (“yes!” or click) and reward them.

4. Repeat a few times until they start looking at you faster and holding your gaze longer.

Once your dog understands that eye contact = reward, you can reinforce it in all sorts of real-life situations — like at the front door, before crossing the road, when guests arrive, or when they spot another dog in the park.

The more variety you practise in, the stronger the habit becomes.

🐾 What Is Shaping in Dog Training?

Once your dog is confident checking in with you, you can move to shaping.

Shaping means you reward small steps toward a full behaviour — without giving direct instructions. You let your dog experiment, and reinforce the behaviours you want to see.

For example, instead of saying “sit” at the back door, you wait for your dog to offer a sit (or a pause, or a glance) — and then reward that choice.

🚪 Real-Life Example: Lula at the Patio Door

In one of our recent sessions, I used shaping to help Lula learn to wait calmly at the door instead of racing into the garden. The behaviour I wanted: sit and look at me and wait for release word.

Here’s what it looked like:

• I opened the patio door slightly.

• If she rushed forward — I gently closed it.

• If she sat and looked and me — I marked and rewarded -("Yes" and "OK")

• Over time, she figured out that calm behaviour is what opens the door and gives her access to the garden.

No commands. No “ah ahs.” Just shaping — and patience.

🧩 Why This Works

When your dog learns to make choices, rather than just follow commands, you’re helping them:

• Develop self-control

• Think before reacting

• Engage their brain, which makes them calmer and more in tune with you

The goal isn’t perfection — it’s progress. Every time they choose to pause instead of pounce, you’re building a calmer, more responsive dog.