Mary Allen
Impulse control is an exciting topic that plays a very important role for both us humans and dogs every day. In the following, we will show you the most important data and facts about impulse control in dogs. We also give you tips on how to deal with a lack of impulse control.
Impulse Control in Dogs – What is it Anyway?
If we break down the term “impulse control” we find that it is made up of the words “impulse” and “control”. We already know the “impulse” from school. Whether in physics or Latin lessons, the word and its meaning appear in many contexts. We also use it in our everyday life. Because we quickly say that a person or even a dog reacts impulsively and by that, we often mean thoughtlessly and carelessly, without thinking about the consequences. We associate a certain inner drive with the impulse.
If we now add the word “control”, let us associate it with the sense of surveillance, supervision, domination, or even verification. So, impulse control in dogs is about monitoring and controlling the inner drive.
No impulse control in dogs = uncontrolled action
We know that living beings direct their actions with a balance of drive and inhibition. This means that the drives are opposed to inhibitions. If it is not possible for the living being to counteract the drives with the appropriate inhibitions, it is not possible to control the drive and uncontrolled, impulsive action arises.
Impulse control is often discussed, especially in dog training. After all, our four-legged friends are regularly and to a large extent exposed to stimuli in our everyday lives. For a variety of reasons, we want our dog to behave as calmly, relaxed, and inconspicuously as possible with every stimulus. In dog training, the dog learns to refrain from behavior or action in certain situations and to wait and see. With the help of various techniques, an alternative behavior is taught to him, which he should show in the respective situation.
Factors Involved in Impulse Control Disorder
In order to be able to determine an impulse control disorder, a precise procedure and anamnesis are required. Because the causes are varied and not always immediately apparent or separate from one another. However, one thing is clear, impulse control disorders are related to changes in the central nervous system. Such changes can not only already exist, but also be shaped by influences. It is, therefore, necessary to take a close look at the dog, its living conditions, and its development and experience.
Impulsive character
If a dog shows impulsive behavior, this does not mean that it has an illness. Just like with us humans, strong behaviors can definitely be a character trait. After all, every dog brings its own individuality and personality. Some dogs can be more predisposed and much more receptive than other dogs or dog breeds.
The genetic disposition and the effects in the womb on its metabolism also play a role. Especially the latter is an important aspect in dog development. The dog’s metabolism is created in the womb. If the mother dog is heavily stressed, the metabolism adjusts accordingly. The unborn puppies are influenced by the connection with the mother dog and adjust their metabolism. As a result, they too will show a strong tendency towards stressed behavior after birth.
Predisposition
The time after birth is also very crucial for the dog’s development. Various influences can have an impact on the dog’s hormone system, especially in the first few weeks. These include, above all, illnesses and infections, prolonged stress, or even traumatic experiences. The time at the breeders with healthy development and small-step promotion of the puppies is very decisive for the entire dog’s life.
Breed
Breeding itself also plays an important role in this. We, humans, are changing dogs more and more in order to select them for desired behavior or for a special appearance. However, genetics is a very large undertaking and unintended consequences are not always predictable. Changes of any kind can also lead to health problems.
Diseases
Of course, there can also be organic causes for impulsive behavior in dogs. In addition to constant pain, chronic diseases such as the thyroid gland can also lead to violent reactions in the dog. After all, such events also have a very strong effect on the body’s metabolism. In addition, certain diseases such as distemper, rabies, or Lyme disease can lead to behavioral changes and thus trigger impulse control disorders.
Human-dog relationship
Last but not least, the dog owner also plays a decisive role in this topic. If a dog has a tendency to behave impulsively, the dog owner must take the individual needs of his dog into account in his upbringing and training. This is the only way he can minimize the risk of future problem behavior.
Impulse Control Disorder – Now What?
If your dog has been diagnosed with an impulse control disorder, a canine behaviorist can help you understand your dog’s behavior and context so that you can better deal with the problem in everyday life. Many behaviors can be redirected and handled more easily through appropriate training. Smaller changes are often enough to make everyday life more relaxed and structured. And structure brings stability and thus more calm to your everyday life.
What to Do if You Have Poor Impulse Control?
If there is a lack of impulse control in dogs, there are a few ways and approaches to work with the dog. Even small changes in everyday life can help to teach the dog more calmness and concentration.
Training requirements
Depending on how strong your dog’s behavior is, it can take a lot of strength and sometimes also affect the mind. But the fact is, every dog is an individual. He has his personal characteristics, experiences, and genetic predisposition. It is therefore important to accept your own dog even in such difficult moments and to see the positive in him. Dogs make our everyday life varied and exciting. If your mood or attitude is affecting you negatively at this time, try to recall your dog’s positive side. This can help you to better implement joint training with all your strength.
Learning should be fun for both of you. Choose rewards for training that your dog enjoys. In addition, a conditioned word of praise can help you to validate your dog precisely in the specific training situation. You can also use the clicker for this. However, if your dog gets too excited with joy, it is better to leave out the clicker and instead use a calm conditioned word of praise.
If you want your dog to stop a behavior and are looking for a training method, consider your dog’s personality. He should learn to endure a certain level of stress and endure frustration. However, it is important not to build up too much stress. If there is a lack of impulse control, severe and incorrect punishment can cause even more stress in your dog.
Find the right job
An essential part of training dogs for lack of impulse control is to use them properly and meaningfully. These dogs tend to be very active and can be pushed even more by improperly chosen employment opportunities. This can happen quickly because restless behavior is often confused with boredom or under-challenged.
The cognitive and physical workload is important for every dog. However, dogs with poor impulse control need a healthy balance between cognitive activity and calm and slow physical activity. Fast games such as throwing a ball, frisbee, or other activities designed for speed do not help the dog to become more relaxed and calm. On the contrary, the dog will react even faster.
So it is better to choose quiet activities that challenge your dog mentally and physically. Tracking work or hidden object games let your dog work with his nose and this puts a lot of effort on him – the ideal mental activity. Physically, you should also exercise your dog more calmly. Steady movements like jogging or hiking can bring calm and help your tense dog calm down. You can also incorporate dexterity exercises or those that train balance into your everyday life. However, your dog should always work calmly and with concentration.
The strength is to be found in the serenity
Learning to be calm is especially important for dogs with poor impulse control. Many everyday situations are already stressful for these dogs and put them in a high state of excitement. It is therefore important to avoid stress and to offer them a routine and structure in everyday life that gives them security.
If your dog can learn to relax, stressful situations can also be mastered better. Nevertheless, in addition to learning how to relax, it is also important to deal with your dog calmly. Your own mood can easily be transferred to your dog, and of course vice versa. If you are relaxed and calm inside yourself, your dog can orientate itself much better on you.
The introduction of a rest signal has proven to be helpful in order to resolve exciting situations better and faster.
Your dog may not lie down in a relaxed manner when you see a conspecific but will be able to calm down much more quickly in such a situation if you have trained diligently. Your dog will associate the rest signal with a relaxed state. You can also combine this with a blanket and send your dog onto the blanket to relax and let him settle down there.
You should start and consolidate the relaxation training at home. If your dog shows it there reliably, the next step follows. You change place. Minor distractions can now be installed.
Leading the leash makes handling easier
In addition to learning a rest signal, other signals can make training and thus your everyday life easier.
Being on a leash is an essential part of dog training. After all, everyone would rather walk a relaxed dog on a loose leash. This also includes passing other dogs. Dogs with impulse control problems often find it difficult to walk past other dogs on a loose leash. Here you should consider two different situations, on the one hand, the actual training situation and on the other hand the everyday situation in which you “just” have to manage this moment and no training takes place.
For training with other dogs, you need the support of an extra with a dog who is waiting at a distance with his four-legged friend. The training, therefore, includes a set situation in which you can influence the course, for example, the distance to the other dog, which you can increase or decrease as required.
Think carefully about what you want your dog to do beforehand. For example, in addition to walking easily on a leash, he can also regularly make eye contact with you. Start training at a distance where your dog can still walk relaxed on the leash and can already see the other dog. If your dog reacts at this distance and throws itself on the leash, you need to increase the distance.
On the other hand, if he remains calm when you see him, you can praise him. If you want eye contact and don’t have a trained signal for it, address your dog by its name. If he then looks at you, praise him for it again. You can also take the tension out of this situation by body language inviting your dog to come out of the situation with you. If he manages to walk with you easily, give him praise. The next step is to get a little closer to the other dog, always on a loose leash of course.
Take enough time for these training steps and always reduce the distance to the other dog very slightly. You and your dog should always leave the situation feeling positive.