The Ice Cream Test: A Fun Summer Challenge to Improve Your Dog’s Impulse Control

Summer in Montana means sunshine, frozen treats, and outdoor adventures with your dog. But it also brings more temptations—dropped food at BBQs, kids holding ice cream cones, and the excitement of busy patios and trails.

So, how do you know if your dog can handle it all without lunging or stealing snacks?
🎯 The Ice Cream Test—a playful way to assess and strengthen your dog’s impulse control this summer.

What Is the Ice Cream Test?

Imagine you’re sitting downtown at a local café, enjoying a cone on a warm evening. You drop a scoop. Does your dog wait for direction—or dive in before you blink?

Impulse control is one of the most important skills your dog can learn. It builds patience, manners, and safety—especially in unpredictable outdoor environments like parks, trails, and events.

Why Impulse Control Matters

• 🐶 Prevents food snatching and scavenging on walks

• 🐾 Reinforces calm behavior during exciting events

• 🚪 Helps with door manners, greetings, and leash reactivity

• 💡 Teaches dogs to think before they act

Whether it’s a hotdog on the ground at a family cookout or a toddler holding snacks within nose-level range, your dog’s ability to pause and wait can make all the difference.

How to Train for It (With or Without Ice Cream)

1. Start with the Basics: “Leave It” or “Off”

Hold a treat in your closed hand and say “off” or “leave it.” Reward your dog with a different treat only when they stop trying to get the one you’re holding. Once consistent, drop a treat on the ground and repeat the cue.

2. Practice in Real-Life Situations

Dogs don’t generalize well, so you’ll want to train in different places. Practice “leave it” or “wait” while out on walks, at outdoor patios, or when guests are over with food in hand.

3. Teach “Place” for High-Distraction Moments

The “place” command is great for helping your dog stay calm when guests are eating, when you’re grilling outdoors, or when you’re cleaning up dropped food. It gives your dog a job to do rather than leaving them to make their own (not-so-great) decisions.

4. Reward the Calm, Not the Chaos

Don’t wait for your dog to misbehave. Reward them for staying calm before they break focus. This builds the habit of self-control and teaches them that patience pays off.

Need Help Strengthening Your Dog’s Focus This Summer?

Whether your dog struggles with impulse control around food, people, or distractions, we’re here to help. Our one-on-one training programs in Missoula and Bitterroot Valley are designed to give your dog the tools they need to succeed in real-life settings.

📞 Call or text us at (406) 946-3037 or fill out the form below to schedule a consult call.

Let’s make this the summer your dog learns to stay cool, calm, and collected—even when the ice cream hits the ground. 🐾