How to calm a dog

[brendanelson109]

When I am training my Pug x he gets really excited and tries to snatch the treats:mad:

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hello Brenda,

The problem you are encountering is not unusual, it's a sign of lack of impulse control, but the good news is that training accomplishes just that: it teaches dogs to have more control over their impulses. The Airplane Game in the brain training course may come handy as it teaches your dog to perform a behavior before having the treat. You can find it here: https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/preschool/the-airplane-game/

 

It's very important that you avoid letting your dog have the treats when jumping up or trying to steal it from your hands or treat pouch. Make it clear that treats are earned only contingent upon the exhibition of the desired behavior. If you are at the luring stage, it's OK for your dog to gently try to nibble on your treats lightly, but let your dog have it only once he has completed the exercise.

 

If your dog is overly excited about high-value treats, then the method of lowering the value of food can always be used (think kibble which dogs see every single day). If your dog likes kibble and will work for it, that's great. Kibble works wonders for many dogs and can be used with success when training at home or in low distraction areas without the added calories of treats.

Edited September 1, 2018 by Adrienne Farricelli