Permission Based Training: Waiting For Food

Teaching a 4 month old puppy impulse control and handler respect by waiting for permission to have water or eat food.

If you’re trying to tackle your dog’s bad behavior before you leverage the tiny little moments where permission is needed, you are setting yourself, and your dog up for failure. Laying down a foundation built on respect using Permission Based Training creates leverage that can be used against your dog’s core issues.

Waiting for Food or Water is one of those exercises that should be practiced each and every day with your dog. Your dog should give you eye contact before she is allowed to eat her food or drink water. This helps her with impulse control while also cultivating respect for you as the leader.

This video demonstrates how to perform this exercise with your dog. Of course, after a few attempts at putting the bowl down, young Charley thinks this is turning into a game. A light leash pop is given to set the tone and let Miss Bossy-pants know that she needs to wait, and look me in the eyes before I allow her to have water.

I use every instance that requires permission or an allowance as leverage to build respect for me as a leader to Charley. Little Miss Thang has been allowed to wear the pants a bit too long, and now we are reversing that leadership role with tiny little Permission Based instances.