“Off” Hands
Week 4
Full Class Instructions
“Off” teaches your dog to stop trying to get something they want. This is an extremely practical skill that helps prevent dogs from picking up unsafe or unwanted items during walks or around the house. Instead of pulling your dog away from something, the goal is for your dog to hear the cue and choose to disengage on their own. In Week 4, Susan introduces this essential cue and shows how it helps dogs develop better impulse control.
Quick Notes
Here are some key ideas to remember when teaching OFF
• Say the cue before presenting the item to your dog.
• Begin with food hidden in a closed hand.
• Wait for your dog to stop trying to get the treat.
• Mark the moment your dog disengages.
• Reward immediately when your dog makes the correct choice.
• Progress slowly from closed hand to open hand practice.
• The goal is for your dog to choose self-control rather than being forced away.
Demonstration
Teacher Demonstration with puppy in class
In the demonstration, Susan reviews how to introduce the Leave It cue using food in the hand. The cue is given before the dog is shown the treat so the dog begins to associate the words with disengaging from the item.
Class Experience
Practice at home!
Now it’s time to practice the OFF exercise with your own dog. In class, Susan encourages participants to move slowly and give their dogs time to think through the problem. Many dogs will initially try different ways to reach the treat, but with patience they begin to realize that backing away from the food is what earns the reward.
As you practice at home, focus on waiting for your dog to make the correct choice rather than helping them too quickly. When your dog stops trying to get the food and disengages, mark the moment and reward. With repetition, dogs begin offering that self-control more quickly, making the Leave It cue easier and more reliable in everyday situations.
Upload a video
Be sure to send us a video demonstrating this behavior as well so we can give you personalized training advice with our virtual video service.
More Discussion
Additional tips and content
Susan also answers a common question at the end of the lesson about how often to say the cue. The goal during training is for your dog to respond after hearing “Leave It” once, but in a real situation you may repeat the cue if necessary. For example, if something dangerous falls on the floor, it’s okay to say the cue again to make sure your dog stops.
Here are few additional helpful reminders when practicing OFF
• Change which hand delivers the reward so your dog does not fixate on one hand.
• Practice both closed-hand and open-hand versions of the exercise.
• Reward quickly when your dog makes the correct choice.
• Avoid pulling your dog away from the item — allow them to choose to disengage.
• During training, aim for responding to the cue after hearing it once.
• In real-life situations, you may repeat the cue if needed to keep your dog safe.