12/31/2025
Impulse control doesn’t start when a dog is already losing it, it starts in moments like this.
In this video, you’ll see trainer Mel ask her Doberman to sit, place her food down, walk away (even out of sight), and then return saying a series of fake release words. She ignores all of them… because only one word actually matters: “break.” That’s her release cue.
This isn’t about control or a power move. It’s about building a skill.
Impulse control is a muscle, and dogs have to practice it in calm, low-stakes moments before they can access it in harder situations. That same muscle helps with things like nipping kids, chasing prey, rushing doors, lunging on leash, or reacting before thinking. I work with dogs every day who struggle in those areas, and this is often one of the foundational places we start.
Calm behavior doesn’t just happen. It’s taught, practiced, and reinforced, one rep at a time #
