Impulse Control vs ‘Leave It’

Something I see a lot is the assumption that ‘Leave It’ and Impulse Control are the same thing - but they’re not, and here’s why:

Impulse Control

Impulse control is about teaching your dog to pause and think before acting. It’s not a single command, but a life skill. Dogs with good impulse control learn to wait for permission and make calmer choices on their own. They’ll wait to jump out of the car until they’re released, they won’t need to be told not to snatch food from the floor if you drop some, they’ll look to their human before rushing off to greet another off-lead dog. Essentially, your dog learns patience and develops the habit of checking in with you, even without you saying anything.

‘Leave It’

‘Leave it’ is a cue - something you actively ask your dog to do. It means, “Don’t touch that, move away from it and focus back on me.” For example, you might use ‘Leave It’ as a safety back up when your dog spots something extra tempting like a chicken bone on a walk. It’s a quick way to keep your dog safe and redirect their attention while their impulse control is still being worked on, or when something extra tempting or dangerous pops up.

How They Work Together

Impulse control sets the groundwork for the skills your dog will use in everyday life. ‘Leave it’ gives you a handy tool to use when you need it in the moment. Teaching both helps your dog make better choices, keeps them safe, and makes life easier for you.

Which one do you think Kyber is using in this video?

To learn more about how to teach both impulse control and ‘leave it’ get in touch via our website at www.wildshaped.co.uk.