Mastering "Leave It"

Teach a Cue That Could One Day Save Your Dog's Life!

What happens when your dog spots something dangerous on a walk?

• A chicken bone.
• A chocolate wrapper.
• Poison.
• Medication.
• A dead animal.

Or perhaps your dog becomes fixated on another dog, a jogger, a cyclist, or something else you'd rather they ignore.

Many dogs are taught "Leave It" as a simple obedience exercise.

This course takes a very different approach.

Instead of teaching your dog to reluctantly avoid something, you'll learn how to build a happy, enthusiastic, and reliable response to a cue that means:

"Turn away from that and re-engage with me."

The result?

A dog who willingly chooses to focus on you, even when distractions, temptations, or potential hazards are present.

Why This Course Is Different

Most "Leave It" training focuses on stopping behavior. This program focuses on creating behavior.

Using force-free, science-based training methods, you'll teach your dog exactly what to do when they hear the cue.

You'll build:

• Fast responses
• Happy responses
• Reliable responses
• Real-world success

By the end of the program, you'll have a clear training plan that takes you from the very first training session through to real-life applications in everyday situations.

Imagine Your Dog Happily Leaving...

🐾 Food dropped on the floor

🐾 Discarded takeaway containers

🐾 Dangerous items found on walks

🐾 Wildlife and environmental distractions

🐾 Toys and household objects

🐾 Other dogs

🐾 People

🐾 Anything you choose to include in your training plan

The goal isn't simply to teach your dog what to avoid. The goal is to teach your dog to make a different choice - to disengage from an item, person, animal, or distraction and happily re-engage with you.

More Than Good Manners

A reliable "leave it" cue is not simply about politeness.

It can help prevent your dog from picking up dangerous items, reduce unwanted interactions with distractions, and provide you with a practical way to redirect your dog before problems occur.

While no cue is ever guaranteed, a well-trained "leave it" can become one of the most valuable safety skills in your dog's training toolkit.

Suitable for Pet Guardians and Pet Professionals

Pet Dog Guardians

Whether you're raising a puppy or working with an adult dog, this course provides a complete roadmap for teaching one of the most useful life skills a dog can learn.

Pet Professionals

Dog trainers, behavior consultants, pet care professionals, and dog walkers can immediately use the DogNostics 10-Step Training Plan as part of their own services, classes, workshops, or behavior programs.

More Than a "Leave It" Course

While this program teaches a practical life skill, it also provides a comprehensive case study in behavior change and training plan design.

Participants will learn how to apply:

✅ Respondent conditioning to create positive emotional responses to cues

✅ Operant conditioning to build and strengthen desired behaviors

✅ Conditioned Emotional Response (CER) training

✅ Stimulus control principles

✅ Criteria progression and learner-centered training plans

✅ Reinforcement strategies that promote enthusiasm and reliability

✅ Proofing and generalization across environments and distractions

✅ Force-free approaches to building real-world reliability

The concepts taught throughout this program extend far beyond a single cue and can be applied to many areas of training and behavior modification.

Professional Applications

For dog trainers, behavior consultants, pet care professionals, and dog walkers, the DogNostics 10-Step Training Plan provides more than a finished skill—it provides a teaching framework.

The principles demonstrated throughout the course can be incorporated into:

• Private training sessions

• Group training classes

• Puppy programs

• Life skills courses

• Behavior modification plans

• Shelter and rescue training programs

• Pet care and dog walking services

Professionals will gain practical examples of how to combine respondent and operant conditioning, structure criteria progression, and build reliable behaviors through force-free methods.

What You'll Receive

🎥 Step-by-step video demonstrations showing exactly how to teach each stage of the training plan

🎯 A proven 10-Step Training Plan

🐾 More than 20 practical training games and proofing exercises

📚 Comprehensive lesson notes explaining the learning theory behind every training step

📋 Troubleshooting guidance and criteria adjustments

📥 Downloadable handouts and resources

🔄 Proofing and generalization strategies for real-world reliability

💡 Guidance on creating a positive emotional response to the cue itself

Why the DogNostics 10-Step Training Plan Works

Rather than relying on a single exercise, this course systematically builds:

✅ Self-control

✅ Focus

✅ Decision-making

✅ Positive emotional responses

✅ Real-world reliability

Each step prepares your dog for the next, creating a cue that remains effective outside the training environment.

A Complete Start-to-Finish Training System

This is not a collection of random training tips.

It is a complete curriculum that takes you from:

Introducing the cue → Building understanding → Increasing reliability → Generalizing the skill → Real-world success

Whether your goal is greater safety, better manners, or a reliable way to redirect your dog's attention, the DogNostics 10-Step Training Plan provides a clear pathway to success.


View the full curriculum and preview the lessons below.