From the puppy crate to their spay or neuter procedure, you’ll take plenty of precautions to ensure your puppy is safe and healthy. However, without learning self-control, your pet may be the one to put themselves at risk. Luckily, it only takes a few tricks to teach your dog the importance of self-control. Use the following three tips to get started.

3 Ways to Teach Your Dog Self-Control

1. Practice Waiting

When your dog is faced with a bowl of fresh kibble, they might be pacing and panting in excitement. Instead of letting them dig in, use the “Sit” and “Stay” commands after pouring their food.

Make sure they obey the command for at least five seconds before releasing them from their waiting period. If they’ve obeyed, place a treat on top of their food. Over time, your pooch will learn that treats come to those who wait.

2. Reward Relaxation

Most dogs don’t see any benefit to sitting still—their lives revolve around joy and excitement. Therefore, if your puppy is having trouble with self-control, it’s important to teach them that relaxation is good.

Whenever you catch them on their doggy bed or the couch, pet them slowly and give them a treat. When they start to get excited, ignore them, and go back to what you were doing. This will slowly reveal the reason behind your reward.

3. Teach “Drop”

Your dog might be at their most excited when playing with a new toy. While they can’t hurt anyone while chewing on that rope alone, they might get hurt if their excitement is unhinged when playing with other dogs. Therefore, it’s crucial to teach them the “drop” command.

In the middle of a game of fetch, use this word while pulling the toy to the ground. When they let it go, give them a treat. Over time, your pet will start to release the toy as soon as they hear the command, which can be extremely important if they’re playing rough in the dog park.

If you’re hoping to provide behavioral and medical care for your pet, turn to Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic. We are proud to offer cost-effective spay or neuter services for families around Stratford and Fairfield counties, CT. In addition to these procedures, we also offer pet vaccinations, including the rabies shot. To learn more about our affordable offerings, visit their website or call (203) 690-1550 to arrange for a spay or neuter appointment.