Impulse Control Games
A collection of games that teach Bryn to think before she acts — building the self-control muscle that adolescent dogs need most.
Adolescent Note
The adolescent brain has poor impulse control by nature — it's neurological, not a character flaw. These games literally help build the neural pathways for self-regulation. Play them daily. They're the most valuable training investment you can make for a teenage dog.
Training Stages
The foundational impulse control game: access to the reward comes through restraint, not grabbing.
- Place treats in your open palm. When Bryn goes for them, close your hand. Say nothing.
- When she backs off (even slightly), open your hand again.
- Repeat: going for it = hand closes; backing off = hand opens.
- When she can look at the open hand without diving in, mark and give her a treat from the other hand.
Advance When
Bryn can look at an open palm of treats for 3 seconds without attempting to grab them.
Watch Out
Pulling your hand away instead of closing it. Keep your hand in the same position — just open and close.
Moving too fast to food on the floor. Master the hand version first.
Tips
This game is the gateway drug to impulse control. Play it a few times every day.
Progress: closed fist → open palm → treat on your knee → treat on the floor → treat tossed.
Impulse control applied to one of the most exciting moments of the day: the door opening.
- Approach the door with Bryn. Reach for the handle.
- If she surges forward, remove your hand from the handle. Wait.
- When she offers any self-control (sits, looks at you, steps back), reach for the handle again.
- Gradually build up: hand on handle → handle turns → door cracks → door opens → she waits for your release cue.
Advance When
Bryn waits while you open the front door fully and only goes through when released.
Watch Out
Blocking her with your body — she should learn to choose to wait, not be physically prevented.
Only practicing with the front door. Try car doors, crate doors, yard gates.
Tips
This is a huge safety behavior. A dog who waits at doors won't bolt into traffic.
Keep a leash on as a safety net during early practice.
Bryn learns to wait calmly while her food bowl is placed down.
- Hold the food bowl at waist height. If Bryn jumps or lunges, raise it back up.
- When she's calm (four on the floor, ideally sits), begin lowering the bowl.
- If she breaks position, raise the bowl again. No verbal correction needed.
- Eventually, place the bowl down, pause 2 seconds, then release her to eat.
Advance When
Bryn waits while the food bowl is placed on the floor and doesn't eat until released.
Watch Out
Making the wait too long before the meal. This is about impulse control, not torture. 2–5 seconds is plenty.
Getting into a power struggle. If she's too excited, do a few reps of sit/down first to lower the arousal.
Tips
Two meals a day = two free impulse control reps. Take advantage of it.
As she gets good, add a 'look at me' before the release for bonus engagement training.
Advanced impulse control games that channel prey drive through self-control.
- Reverse luring: hold a treat, walk backward. When Bryn follows calmly (not jumping), mark and treat. If she jumps, stop moving.
- Flirt pole: let her chase and catch the toy. Then ask for a drop it. She must drop and wait before the game restarts.
- Practice start/stop with the flirt pole: "get it!" (chase) → "drop it" (release) → sit or down → "get it!" again.
- The game is the reward for self-control. Chase → control → chase.
Advance When
Bryn can drop a flirt pole toy, hold a sit or down for 3 seconds, then resume play on cue.
Watch Out
Letting the flirt pole game be all chase and no control. The control breaks ARE the training.
Overdoing it physically — the flirt pole is intense exercise. Keep sessions under 5 minutes.
Tips
The flirt pole is incredible for working breeds. It satisfies prey drive while teaching self-control.
These games are mentally exhausting. 5 minutes of impulse control work can be more tiring than 30 minutes of walking.
Proofing — The 3 Ds
⏱
Duration
Increase the wait time in small increments.
📏
Distance
Add distance from the rewards: treat in your hand → on the floor 2 ft away → across the room.
🐿️
Distraction
Start in boring environments.
Generalization
These games should become part of daily life, not just training sessions. Wait at doors, wait for meals, It's Yer Choice before treats. The principles generalize to every situation where Bryn needs to think before acting.
Troubleshooting
Bryn gets frustrated and gives up during impulse control games
You're asking for too much too soon. Make it easier — shorter waits, more obvious rewards. Success should happen 80% of the time. Build confidence, then add challenge.
Bryn barks or whines during the waiting portions
This is frustration, which is part of learning. Wait it out — don't reward the vocalization. The moment she's quiet, even briefly, mark that. She'll learn that quiet patience pays.
Related Skills
Sit
The simplest position cue and often the first skill a dog learns — a building block for impulse control and polite greetings.
Stay / Wait
Teaching Bryn to hold her current position until released — the backbone of impulse control and safety.
Leave It
Teaching Bryn to disengage from something tempting on cue — a critical safety skill and impulse control builder.
Drop It
Teaching Bryn to release whatever is in her mouth on cue — a safety essential and the key to productive play.