Impulse Control: Baby Steps (Patreon)

Here is how I start off the tiniest bit of impulse control with a tiny baby puppy (or an adult dog!).

1) use a platform: platform helps them stay in position and makes them less able to creep forward to the food, making them more naturally successful. You can build a platform and staple yoga mat on the top, or use an ottoman or dog cot they can lay on.

2) Get their meal in a bowl or cup

3) place cup in front of puppy

4) slowly feed that meal to the puppy on the platform between their paws for about a minute.

If the dog goes for the food, simply cover the bowl and wait for them to lay back down on the platform. Help them out if they need help getting back into position, but try to avoid luring them/feeding them back into position as this can cause a yo-yo effect where they get up so that they can get lured back into position.

In this exercise the puppy is learning several things:

1) just because I see food doesn't mean I get it by being pushy with it/diving in

2) food will be delivered to me if I am patient

3) the start of a down stay + strong reinforcement history for the platform

4) as you progress this skill you can start selecting for the puppy looking at you, thus reinforcing eye contact in the presence of food

This will eventually grow into the ability to leave food on the ground alone. But, baby steps.

Happy Training!