Impulse Control with Food Toy (Patreon)

This video is an extension of the clam-shell hand impulse control game I first posted about last month. Service dogs, of all dogs, need to manage their natural impulses to the highest level, which is why I like to include it into so many aspects of their life (waiting at doors, waiting for food, obedience between toy throws, etc).

Osa’s puzzle toy is very valuable to her. Not only is it a fun ball but it also releases food when she plays with it. According to Osa, this is very awesome. This also makes it a good prop to use in impulse control games. You can find this particular toy (one of my favorites) here: https://amzn.to/31TTcup

In this version of the game, I place the toy on the floor. If she holds position, I release her to the toy. The hold of position is implied and this will progress to the important service dog behavior of not picking up food off the floor that is dropped at a restaurant. It’s a great behavior for pet dogs too!

I can make this task easier or harder in a variety of ways and progress at the pace at which Osa makes very few mistakes. By putting the toy closer to me and further from her I can make it easier. By putting the toy towards the ground faster, I can make it harder. By varying my body position in relation to the toy, I can make it harder or easier.

In this video you can watch the progression of how I teach impulse control around the food toy.

1. First clip: I start using the platform since she has a solid understanding that staying on the platform is rewarding.
2. Second clip: I now have her in a down but on the floor, another behavior she has been reinforced heavily for. The toy is far enough away from her that it’s easy for me to block or pick up the toy if she made an error.
3. Third clip: I have her in a sit in front of me She goes for the food without being released! I immediately lift the toy back up (just the same as “closing the hand” in the clamshell game). She learns that when she breaks position without the cue, the reward goes away. I offer the toy again. She holds the position until the release cue and is rewarded with her puzzle toy.

If Osa had made that same error again, I would lower my criteria (make it easier). I could make it easier by still having her sit, but putting her up on the platform instead. Or I could put the toy further from her, to the side or behind me. I could release her to it the moment it hits the ground. There’s lots of ways I can build on little bits of success every day. Note that this is something I do every day with food/puzzle toys.

Hope that was helpful. Feel free to ask questions!