Top 13 'Confidence-Building' Impulse Control Games to train in Your First Month with a Rescue Dog
Bringing a rescue dog home is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. It’s a whirlwind of tail wags, sloppy kisses, and the quiet joy of watching a dog learn what it means to be safe and loved. But that first month is also a crucial transition period. Your new companion is decompressing, learning new rules, and figuring out their place in this strange, new world. It can be overwhelming for them, and for you.
Many new owners want to jump straight into formal obedience training, but I’ve found that’s often not the best approach. In these early days, our primary goals should be building trust, establishing clear communication, and boosting our dog's confidence. A dog who feels secure and understands how to make good choices is a dog who will thrive. And the best way to achieve this? Through games!
That’s right, games. Specifically, games that teach impulse control. Impulse control isn't about creating a robotic dog; it's about giving your dog the mental tools to pause, think, and make a great choice instead of reacting on instinct. For a rescue dog who may have a history of uncertainty or scarcity, these skills are life-changing. They learn that good things come to those who wait, that their human is a reliable source of fun, and that they have some control over their environment.
Here are 13 of my favorite confidence-building impulse control games to play with your new rescue dog during that all-important first month.
1. The "Wait for Your Food" Game
For a rescue who may have experienced food insecurity, mealtimes can trigger anxiety and frantic behavior. This simple game transforms feeding time from a moment of stress into a powerful training session that builds patience and reinforces your bond. The goal is to teach your dog that a calm demeanor is what makes the food bowl appear.
Start by preparing your dog’s meal as usual. Hold the bowl and begin to lower it to the floor. The very instant your dog moves towards it—lunging, pawing, or whining—lift the bowl back up. Don't say anything; just calmly raise the bowl. Wait for a brief moment of stillness, even just a split second where they hesitate, and then begin lowering it again. Repeat this process until you can place the bowl all the way on the floor without them rushing it.
Once the bowl is on the floor, give them a release cue like "Okay!" or "Eat!" This teaches them to look to you for permission. In the beginning, a single second of waiting is a huge victory! We're not aiming for a 30-second stay. We're building a foundation of calm cooperation, one meal at a time.
2. The "It's Yer Choice" Game
This is the absolute bedrock of teaching a reliable "Leave It" cue. It's a brilliant game developed by trainer Susan Garrett that empowers your dog to make the right decision on their own, rather than relying on a command. It teaches them that ignoring a tempting treat is actually more rewarding than trying to steal it.
Sit on the floor with your dog. Take a few low-value treats (like their kibble) and place one in your closed fist. Present your fist to your dog. They will likely sniff, lick, and paw at your hand to get the treat. Ignore them completely. The moment they pull their head away, even for a fraction of a second, say "Yes!" and give them a different, higher-value treat from your other hand. The treat in your fist is just the bait; the real reward comes from you.
Repeat this until your dog understands that backing away from the closed fist is the key to getting the good stuff. Once they are reliably backing off, you can up the challenge by opening your palm. If they lunge, simply close your fist again. This game brilliantly rewires their brain: "Mugging the human's hand gets me nothing, but ignoring the treat gets me something even better!"
3. The Dropped Treat Game
This is the next level of "It's Yer Choice" and directly translates to real-world situations, like when you accidentally drop a piece of food on the floor. It teaches your dog to look at you for guidance when something tempting appears, rather than just gobbling it up.
Start by dropping a boring, low-value treat (kibble works well) on the floor and immediately covering it with your hand. Your dog will likely try to get at the treat under your hand. Just like in the previous game, wait for them to back off. The second they disengage—by looking away, sitting, or looking up at you—mark the moment with a "Yes!" and reward them with a high-value treat from your other hand.
After a few repetitions, your dog will start to see a dropped treat and immediately look to you, expecting their reward. This is a massive confidence booster! They are learning to control their impulses and are being rewarded handsomely for it. This simple exercise can prevent future instances of resource guarding and keep them safe from eating something dangerous.
4. Hand-Fed Meals
This isn't so much a "game" as it is a powerful bonding exercise, but it’s invaluable for a new rescue. Instead of just putting their food in a bowl, take 5-10 minutes to hand-feed them a portion of their meal. This simple act builds an incredibly strong positive association with you and your hands.
For a timid dog, hand-feeding teaches them that your approach is a good thing. For a mouthy dog, it's the perfect opportunity to teach a soft mouth. If they get too snatchy or use their teeth, simply close your hand around the food and pull it away for a second. Re-offer it when they are calmer. They quickly learn that only gentle nibbles get the reward.
Hand-feeding also reinforces your role as the provider of all good things. It slows down their eating, which is better for digestion, and it turns a routine chore into a meaningful moment of connection. You don't have to do this for every meal, but incorporating it a few times a week in the first month can work wonders.
5. "Wait at the Door"
Door-darting is a common and dangerous behavior. This game establishes an invisible barrier at every doorway, teaching your dog that waiting patiently is the key to getting what they want—whether it's going outside for a walk or just following you into another room.
Start with an internal door first, as it's less exciting than the front door. With your dog on a leash, place your hand on the doorknob. If they surge forward, take your hand off and stand up straight. Wait for them to offer a moment of calm—a sit is great, but even just four paws on the floor is a good start. Then, try again. Repeat until you can put your hand on the knob without them moving.
Once you can touch the knob, progress to turning it. Then, opening the door a tiny crack. If they lunge, the door closes. It's a simple rule: calm behavior makes the door open; pushy behavior makes the door close. Over time, your dog will learn to automatically wait for your release cue ("Okay!") before crossing any threshold.
6. Toy Tug with "Drop It"
Many people shy away from tug-of-war, fearing it encourages aggression. But when played with rules, it’s a fantastic game for building confidence and teaching a reliable "Drop It" cue. It shows your dog that giving up a prized possession doesn't mean they lose it forever; it often means the fun continues!
Engage your dog in a game of tug with a designated tug toy. Let them win a few times to build their enthusiasm. Then, in the middle of the game, suddenly go completely still and quiet. Become "boring." At the same time, present a high-value treat right near their nose. To take the treat, they'll have to release the toy. The moment they do, say "Yes!" and give them the treat. Immediately after, pick up the toy and say "Get it!" to restart the game.
The dog learns two things: "Drop It" is a cue to trade for something delicious, and it makes the super-fun tug game start all over again. As I, Goh Ling Yong, often explain to my clients, this prevents resource guarding by teaching your dog that sharing with you is always a winning proposition.
7. The "Settle on a Mat" Game
This is one of the most valuable skills you can teach any dog, but especially a rescue who may not know how to relax in a new environment. "Settle" gives them a designated "safe space" and teaches them how to switch off their busy brain and just be calm.
Start by luring your dog onto a specific mat or bed with a treat. The moment all four paws are on the mat, mark with "Yes!" and reward them. Repeat this a few times until they are happily stepping onto the mat. Next, start rewarding them for a sit, and then a down position on the mat. Keep the sessions short and fun.
The goal is to capture calmness. Once they are lying down, you can start rewarding them for duration. Drop a treat between their paws every few seconds they remain calm. This isn't a "stay"; it's a relaxed default behavior. Soon, you'll find your dog choosing to go to their mat on their own when they want to relax.
8. "Find It" (Nose Work Lite)
A dog’s nose is their superpower. Engaging it is mentally stimulating, naturally calming, and incredibly confidence-building. The "Find It" game is a simple way to introduce your dog to the joys of nose work, and it's perfect for a rainy day.
Start easy. With your dog watching, toss a treat a few feet away and say "Find It!" in an excited tone. Let them eat it. After a few repetitions, have them wait (or have someone hold them) while you "hide" a treat in plain sight in another part of the room. Release them with your "Find It!" cue.
As they get better, you can start hiding treats in slightly more difficult places—behind a chair leg, under the edge of a rug, or inside a cardboard box. This game requires them to focus and use their brain, which is a fantastic outlet for nervous energy. It teaches them to solve problems independently, which is a huge boost to their self-esteem.
9. The "Look at That" (LAT) Game
If your new rescue is nervous or reactive towards things in the environment (other dogs, people, skateboards), the LAT game is a game-changer. It helps change their underlying emotional response from "Oh no, that thing is scary!" to "Oh, that thing makes my human give me a treat!"
Find a spot far enough away from a trigger that your dog can see it but is not reacting (this is called being "under threshold"). The moment your dog looks at the trigger, click or say "Yes!" and immediately give them a super high-value treat. The key is to mark the look, before they have a chance to bark or lunge.
The sequence is: dog sees trigger -> dog gets a treat. They don't have to do anything else. They will quickly learn that seeing their trigger predicts something wonderful. Over many sessions, you can gradually decrease the distance. This isn't about obedience; it's about classical conditioning that reshapes their feelings about the world.
10. Polite Greetings Practice
Jumping up is a common way dogs seek attention, but it can be unnerving and dangerous. This "game" teaches them that the most effective way to get affection and attention is by keeping all four paws on the floor.
The rule is simple: four paws on the floor gets attention, two paws on the floor gets you ignored. When you or a guest comes in, if the dog jumps, turn your back and be completely silent and still. The moment their front paws hit the floor, turn back around and give them calm praise and a treat. If they jump again, you turn away again.
They will learn very quickly that jumping makes the fun human go away, while staying on the floor makes the fun human come back. Practice this with family members first before trying it with new guests. It's a self-correcting game that teaches them valuable social skills.
11. "Slow Treats"
This is a micro-game that reinforces gentleness in every interaction. Many dogs, especially those from a shelter environment, can be very "grabby" with treats. This teaches them to have a soft, gentle mouth.
Hold a treat in your open palm. As your dog comes to take it, if you feel their teeth at all, quickly close your hand into a fist. Don't pull away dramatically, just close your hand. Wait a moment, and then open your hand again. They will quickly figure out that a hard mouth makes the treat disappear, while a soft, gentle tongue is what gets the reward.
This simple, consistent exercise builds a dog who is thoughtful and careful during training and everyday interactions. It's a small detail that makes a big difference in your life together.
12. The "Zen Bowl"
This is the advanced version of the "Wait for Your Food" game, and it’s a beautiful demonstration of connection and impulse control. It teaches your dog to offer you their attention and break their laser focus on a high-value resource.
Prepare your dog’s food bowl and place it on the floor. They will likely stare intently at the bowl. Your job is to wait. Don't say anything. Just wait for them to voluntarily break their stare on the food and look up at your face. The instant you get eye contact, say your release cue ("Okay!") and let them eat.
At first, this might take a minute. Be patient. The dog is working it out in their head: "Staring at the bowl isn't working... what does she want? Oh! Eye contact!" It's a powerful moment when they make that connection. Here at the Goh Ling Yong training center, we see this as a pivotal exercise in shifting a dog's focus from the environment to their handler.
13. Recall "Ping-Pong"
A reliable recall is one of the most important safety skills a dog can have. But endless "come" drills can be boring. Turning it into a game of "Ping-Pong" makes it the most exciting thing in the world for your dog.
You'll need two people for this. Stand a short distance apart in your house or a secure yard. Person A calls the dog's name in a happy, excited voice: "Fido, come!" When Fido gets there, they get a ton of praise and a high-value treat. As Fido is finishing the treat, Person B calls them in the same excited tone. When Fido runs to Person B, they get another party and a treat.
Keep it fast-paced and fun, going back and forth like a ping-pong ball. Always use an upbeat, happy tone. This game teaches your dog that coming to a human is always a fantastic, rewarding experience. It builds a powerful recall that's based on joy, not just obedience.
Your First Month is a Foundation
That first month with your new rescue dog sets the tone for your entire relationship. By focusing on these fun, simple games, you're doing so much more than just "training." You're building communication, establishing trust, and giving your dog the confidence to navigate their new life successfully.
Don't worry about perfection. Celebrate the small victories—the split-second hesitation at the food bowl, the choice to look at you instead of the dropped cracker, the voluntary settle on their mat. These are the building blocks of a confident, well-adjusted dog and a deep, lasting bond.
Ready to continue your training journey? Explore our other blog posts on positive reinforcement or consider scheduling a one-on-one consultation to create a personalized plan for you and your new best friend. Welcome to the incredible world of rescue dog parenthood
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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