Games to Teach Your Dog Patience and Self-Control
When I first started training my dog, she was all about instant gratification — pulling on the leash, jumping for treats, barking for attention. I didn’t want to rely on corrections or harsh methods, so I started looking for positive ways to teach patience. That’s when I discovered how powerful brain games can be. With just a few simple games, my dog learned to pause, think, and wait — and her self-control improved in every part of life.
In this post, I’ll show you my favorite games to teach your dog patience and self-control — and how you can start using them today. If you want the full brain training program that helped us so much, here’s my personal link:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out
Table of Contents
Why Dogs Need Patience and Self-Control
Without these skills, dogs can struggle with:
- Jumping
- Pulling
- Barking
- Over-excitement
- Reactivity
- Impulse-driven behavior
When you teach patience and self-control, your dog learns how to:
- Think before acting
- Stay calm when excited
- Handle frustration
- Respond instead of react
- Focus on YOU — not just the environment
The Changes I Saw
After adding self-control games:
- My dog’s leash manners improved
- Jumping on guests stopped
- Barking for attention decreased
- She became calmer and more focused
- Our bond and trust got stronger
This is the exact program that taught me how to structure these games for lasting results:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
Games to Teach Patience and Self-Control
1. “Wait” Game
Ask your dog to wait before taking a treat — builds impulse control.
2. “Leave It” Game
Teach your dog to leave tempting objects until released — great for focus.
3. Food Bowl Wait
Ask your dog to wait calmly before eating.
4. Doorway Manners
Practice calm sitting and waiting before going out the door.
5. Pattern Games
Repeating simple patterns helps your dog stay calm and focused.
6. Mat Work
Teach your dog to relax on a mat or bed — great for settling in busy environments.
7. Slow Treat Release
Hold a treat and release only when your dog maintains calm behavior.
Final Thoughts
If you want a dog that’s calm, focused, and able to handle excitement, adding games for patience and self-control is one of the best things you can do.
For us, this was the program that helped us build those skills — in a positive, fun way:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out
You’ll be amazed how quickly your dog’s patience, self-control, and calm behavior will improve — when you start adding these simple, fun brain games into their daily life!
Before I really started working on patience and self-control, I thought my dog was just “hyper” or “stubborn.” But what I learned is that these are skills — and once I started practicing them through games, my dog’s behavior changed dramatically.
One of the first things I noticed? After adding even 5–10 minutes of self-control games each day, my dog started offering calmer behaviors — sitting quietly instead of jumping, waiting instead of barking for attention.
If you want a full plan that teaches you exactly how to build patience and self-control in your dog, this is the program that worked beautifully for us:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
Another huge benefit? These games gave my dog clear expectations — instead of guessing what I wanted, she learned how to calmly ask for things through polite behavior.
And because these are skills built through positive reinforcement, my dog wanted to repeat them — which made life easier for both of us.
Even short, simple games had a noticeable impact on her ability to handle excitement and frustration — she became more balanced in so many situations.
For dogs who struggle with jumping, barking, pulling, or impulsive behavior, these kinds of games can be far more effective than corrections or “discipline.”
And because brain games build focus and thinking skills, your dog learns how to calm themselves — which leads to more reliable obedience everywhere.
This is the exact program that taught me how to structure these self-control games step-by-step:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
I also noticed that other behaviors improved — leash walking got better, greetings became calmer, and my dog was able to settle much more quickly after excitement.
And best of all? Our bond and trust grew so much stronger — because we were working together, not battling over behavior.
Now, I can rely on my dog to stay calm and focused in situations that used to trigger impulsive reactions — and it all started with simple patience games at home.
For anyone struggling with a dog that’s excitable, impatient, or reactive — adding self-control games could be the breakthrough you’ve been looking for.
And this program will guide you through it — even if your dog is very impulsive right now:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out
You’ll be amazed how quickly your dog’s patience, focus, and emotional balance will improve — when you start adding the right brain games to their routine!
One of the best things about using brain games to build patience is how much your dog begins to self-regulate. Instead of needing constant reminders, they learn how to calm themselves down — and that’s incredibly valuable in real-life situations.
If you want to create that kind of self-control and focus in your dog, this is the exact program that helped us build those skills:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
These games don’t just work at home — they translate into better behavior at the vet, during walks, around guests, and even at the groomer. Once your dog understands how to wait, stay calm, and focus, everything gets easier.
You’ll be amazed how adding just a few minutes of patience-based games each day can completely change your dog’s energy and improve their ability to listen, stay calm, and think before reacting.