F3015 Let it Be! Teaching Leave it and Drop it

3 WEEK CLASS - “Leave it” and “drop it.” They seem like such simple skills. And yet they can be anything but. Getting dogs (and other animals) to leave things alone or give them up can feel impossible at times.

Course Details

Don’t fret – help is on the way! In this three-week class, Irith Bloom will teach you a variety of fun, force-free methods for getting a solid Leave It and Drop It.

Whether you are struggling with teaching leave it and drop it to a particular animal in your household, or are looking to help others teach these skills to their pets, you’ll leave this class with new ideas and tools.

Bonus: Irith will also be describing the steps for teaching an automatic leave-it, in case you’re feeling ambitious!

* Irith also welcomes cats, horses, and more in all of her classes.

NOTE: This class is on a very specific topic. That means that unlike in most of Irith's classes, we will be keeping a strict focus on what is in the title: teaching leave it and drop it. If you are not sure if this class is right for you, please reach out to Irith via e-mail and ask!

Teaching Approach:

Lectures will generally be posted at the beginning of the week. Each week's lectures include practical tasks for you to work on. Most lectures will be provided as both video presentations (for those who prefer watching a video) and in a text format (for those who prefer to read lectures). Replies to student posts will include observations, tips, and (when applicable) suggestions for things to add or adjust.

This class will have a TA for Bronze students.

Syllabus

This class will follow the following topics. Note that this list is not exhaustive.

Defining "leave it" and "drop it"
Reasons why animals may swallow items or run away when they have something, and how to deak with that
Ideas for cues that are less likely to create fear or avoidance in the animal
A variety of ways to teach "leave it" and "drop it"
Troubleshooting for when challenges arise
How to teach an automatic leave-it

This is a new class, so other topics may be introduced depending on what the students need.

Prerequisites & Supplies

There are no formal prerequisites for the course – not even having a dog! I’m happy to have you work through the course tasks with your cat, horse, parrot, etc.! With that said, I strongly encourage everyone to do a vet check for their animal before starting this or any other training.NOTE: Gold students will benefit most when they regularly share video clips, questions, and insights. Classes are always more fun when Silver students participate actively by posting videos and questions about their own situation, as well as posting questions and encouragement for other students. Bronze students are encouraged to try the exercises at home while following along with the Gold and Silver students. Not all students will get a perfect "leave it" or "drop it" within the three weeks of the course. That’s OK! Every dog is an individual, and they may need more time and practice.

Instructor

Irith Trietsch Bloom

Faculty

Irith Bloom (she/her) finds joy in helping people teach with kindness while developing choice-rich environments for their companion animals. ...

FAQ

Explore the questions we get asked most often and find out everything you need for a smooth experience with us.