Would you describe your dog’s behaviour around the home as calm and controlled, or more chaotic?

Can you trust them around your belongings without them being destroyed?

Does your dog push past you and barge through doorways and gates? Or wait calmly until they’re told?

Having a peaceful household with your dog/s in it is important for many reasons. Obviously, it’s more pleasant for you. But a dog that knows the rules is happier than a dog that has no rules at all.

When it comes to teaching your dog to make the right choices and not just run amok, a big part of this is what’s known as impulse control. This simply means that your dog is able to control their impulses rather than just leaping towards anything they want whenever they want it. It helps them to think before they act.

One brilliant way to teach some impulse control is the leave it command. This command is fun to teach (my favourite actually) and can show you how clever your dog really is.

If you have to shout, “LEAVE IT!!” in a panic or wrestle the object out of your dog’s mouth or physically intervene, your dog either doesn’t truly know what the word means, or is ignoring you.

Watch this video to see how I teach the leave it command and follow along with your dog at home.

Extra points if you post a video of your dog performing this skill in the Dog Matters Community facebook group!

Need more help teaching your dog some impulse control? Sign up now to Frantic To Focused!

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