How Tank, a 6-Month-Old Puppy, Built Impulse Control and Manners in Hampton Roads

At A Glance

Tank is a 6-month-old puppy who enrolled in training to work on impulse control, basic obedience, and household manners. While friendly and eager to meet everyone, Tank struggled with self-control both at home and in public.

His training journey began with Off Leash K9 Training of Hampton Roads, focusing on creating structure, calm behavior, and reliable commands.

Dog: Tank
Age: 6 months
Location: Hampton Roads, VA
Program: Board and Train
Main Issues: Poor impulse control, counter surfing, lack of basic manners
Outcome: Improved obedience, better self-control, calmer behavior

The Challenge  

Tank is a fun, social puppy, but his lack of impulse control made daily life challenging. He was constantly getting into things he shouldn’t and struggled to settle.

Before training, Tank:

  • Counter surfed around the house
  • Had difficulty controlling excitement
  • Wanted to greet everyone immediately
  • Lacked consistency with basic commands
  • Struggled to focus in public and at home

Tank’s owners wanted to get ahead of these behaviors early so they didn’t turn into long-term habits.

The Training Approach

Tank was enrolled in a structured program through the training services offered by Off Leash K9 Hampton Roads, with an emphasis on impulse control and foundational obedience.

What training focused on

  • Teaching basic commands like come, sit, and down
  • Improving impulse control around food and distractions
  • Reducing counter surfing through structure and boundaries
  • Teaching calm behavior at home and in public
  • Building focus without taking away Tank’s friendly personality

The goal was to help Tank learn how to think before acting, while still allowing him to be a happy, social puppy.

The Results 

As training progressed, Tank began showing improved self-control and responsiveness.

What improved

  • Better response to basic commands
  • Reduced counter surfing behavior
  • Improved impulse control around people and distractions
  • Increased focus during training sessions
  • Calmer behavior both at home and out in public

Tank started to understand expectations and how to make better choices in everyday situations.

 Trainer Insight

Tank’s case highlights how important early training is for impulse control. By setting clear boundaries now, he’s on the right path to becoming a well-mannered adult dog.

Ready to Build Better Manners for Your Puppy?

If your puppy struggles with impulse control, manners, or basic obedience, early professional training can make a huge difference.