Challenging lessons: impulse control

One of the things that can be particularly challenging for a young dog to understand is that just because something is there and because they want it really, really bad, does not mean they get to have it.  Table surfing, stealing other dogs' treats, taking food from a child's hand, etc., are all examples of a dog that hasn't been taught that not everything in the world belongs to them.  Remember, this is not the dogs fault that they are doing that as dogs are impulsive, live in the moment creatures.  But to live in the world peacefully with humans, we expect well behaved dogs to practice this skill and that means that it's our job to teach it.  A dog that steals food off a table is just being opportunistic, not bad. What would be bad is to get angry at the dog for not displaying a behavior that has never been taught.  I'll get off my soapbox though.

While most young dogs tend to lack much impulse control, one of Langley's issues was he had almost no impulse control at all.  We are talking one out of control, hyper prey driven, food motivated dog.  So we've been doing lots of practicing and this is one of the exercises we do. 

On the plate there are a few bits of venison jerky and a little fish kibble - nice and stinky and delicious and Langley REALLY wants to eat it.  Initially every time he tries to eat it my hand clamps down over the food.  He sniffs and paws at my hand and when he realizes he's not going to get any of it he lies down and my hand lifts up again.  We repeat this until he doesn't immediately go for the food when my hand lifts up.  At that point I gave him a piece of kibble from my treat pouch (not from the plate.)  Then the light starts to go on in his furry little head and he lies there looking at me.

At first we start with the food a distance from him since a dog can only take so much temptation. I play with the food, moving it around on the plate, but Langley holds firm. So then we move it closer.

And then so close that it may be considered animal torture in some countries.   That took some serious self control.  You try staring down a delicious mouth watering Haagen Dazs bar and tell me how much fun you are having!

As a reward for such a well done job and enduring this cruel form of puppy torture, Langley was rewarded with a salmon and veggie filled frozen Kong to relax with. He loves all these structured "games" we play and the trick training we do and the result is a terrier that is much more connected and working with his human.

We do a bunch of differenct exercises like this each day and Langley is getting quite skilled and slowly doing better with being able to focus on me when we are outside in areas that really trigger his compulsions.  Of course we have a ways to go but it's better to focus on the baby steps and he's taking a lot of those. Good job, Langley!