I'm no expert, but I have to say that the biggest mistake people make with having a dog is not giving them enough exercise. Then they have so much built up energy that they just want to play with you and get your attention they start acting out. Mental stimulation is important too but the truth is a tired dog is a good dog.

Leave it command is IMO the most important command to teach. Recently I was walking my Labrador off lead and she nearly stepped on a tiger snake (venomous snake). She does have prey drive but as soon as I said 'leave it' she engaged with me and ignored the snake. It's a command that can literally save their life. Thanks for great videos!

Daily walks, strong "leave it" command, "sit stay and break" command and use as a gateway or barrier to entry for things they love. Thanks! Love this!

Oh my God. It IS a nightmare. I didn’t even know there WAS a teenage phase. Makes total sense that that is what we are in now. And I can tell I’m not handling it well. These tips are good!

This is where my Good Boy turned into A Right Handful - the teenage years. Your videos are really helping though I've only been following them 3 days and it's been 3 days of (almost) calm

Just a year or two ago, dogs were being poisoned with ibuprofen in hot dogs on a very popular walking trail in my area and it just makes me work that much harder on drop it and leave it. My puppy is only 5 months but she dropped a big old piece of burger patty she found on the ground and I was SO PROUD ❤😂 I know she has potential for great work, its up to me to let her be amazing

I needed to hear this. Struggling with a very reactive lab right now. Slowly and consistently making progress with her through these videos!

This video helped us turn a corner with our teen gsd. He now looks to me for direction. His leash reactivity is minimal now. Thanks Will!!!

This is exactly what we have been told to do from our trainer, and it helps a lot. We have a mini bull terrier, 10 months old, we started to work this way and see things are already better after few time.

Thank you Mr. Atherton for all you do. I truly appreciate your service & dedication to training us 2-leggeds to be the loving leaders our dogs need & deserve!! 🐕💗

Thank you, so timely & appropriate for my teen staffy girl right now, I had a nightmare day yesterday. This is a big help and has given me motivation and hope! just that slight difference of removing the leave it food & giving another makes so much sense!!

This is easily the best dog training channel on youtube, watching your videos and applying all the tips to my new puppy makes our life so much easier and fun.

My 10 month old labradoodle has just hit this in last 2 weeks. Could cry! I’m glad I found you

Thank you so much for allowing access to these wonderful videos. I recently lost a 12 year old rescue GSD that I worked really hard over 10 years to help become an amazing dog. Now starting again from scratch with a young rescue GSD and your tutorials are so helpful in reminding me of some training techniques as well as some fab new tips and tricks. THANK YOU!

This is great. I have a Aussie in his teenage stage. He started food guarding and tried to fight with my other two dogs. I started working more with him to get his attention to me and a release word. And it’s slowly starting to work. I’m also going to start this too. Thank you 😊

I so needed this video, my pup turned 4 months today, and the ,teenage phase' is scaring me, because I know it's coming closer.

Springador 9mth puppy adopted 2 months ago from Battersea. This was great great watch. These challenges you talk about are real in our house right now. Will be implementing your strategy with immediate effect!

Favorite dog trainer on YT. My Newfoundland doesn’t listen to me unless I lay my foot down and this teaches me how in a way she’ll understand

This channel should have 200 million subs. This is the best dog instructional content I've found. No wanky self fluffing bullshit that lots of the dog training dudes do (where they just brag about themselves). Just getting on with the job. I think it's a cultural thing in many ways, a lot of the training videos that grate me are from "across the pond". I'm super impressed how you can train a dog while teaching the audience at the same time. Awesome mate! Cheers from South Australia.

So glad I’ve found this channel. I have a puppy 4 months I’ve intuitively been doing a lot right but these videos are cleaning it up. We already have her with the leave it for food and now putting a barrier in place with our kids but the pack walk will be added from now it’s normally just me and Belle

i just got a 4 month old German Shepherd puppy and this is very helpful. she's a sweetheart, gentle, smart bundle of joy but she gets sooo distracted and can't teach her calmly almost anything. walking calmly on the leash is a challenge but she's getting so much better. your video on it was very helpful. thanks for the content

I love how much you stressed the loose leash exercise. What I observed was that eye-contact. Beautiful

What he says about becoming complacent is spot on. Don’t let it happen!

I’m bigggggggg on the leave it command! I have a Doberman, I’ve been doing this since basically day one. I work impulse control everyday! I’m not trying to get behind when her teenage phase begins!

Such great timing of this video for me, as I have one dog that just started the teenage phase last month and another that starts next week.

OMG. Thank you so much for your invaluable information. I live in Texas and on our last Independence Day, my 5 yr old American Foxhound and 8 mo old Labrador Retriever mix, got into a bloody dog fight over a dug hole. Terrifying because I was alone, and poured water on them to successfully separate them. Your informative video of “leaving it” is so important. While we have a long way to go, your knowledge was greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

My dog is 3 1/2 and has recently begin resource guarding. She also tugs on her leash and won’t come when I call. I’m so glad I found your channel, i just subscribed❤

Thank you for these videos! I've just discovered you, and your tips are getting through to my big redbone pup better than anything else I've tried. I just have to say that this experience is about training ME as much as training him. He's a wonderful pup, just 18 mos, but I haven't been diligent in communicating with him. You are helping me do that successfully.

I never stop paying my puppy. We continue to reinforce every sit, down, stay, leave it and place both at home and in the field. At 7 months she's a dream. The tips in the video are so true and so effective.

Really needed this 2 years ago. My shepherd is big on resource guarding and dog aggression. Biggest problem is he will occasionally guard me from my other dog. Dog trainer wasn’t helpful, everything she suggested made it harder because it was giving him for things to guard (food or toys). I’ll remember it whenever I get another puppy.

I have a 10wk APBT/amstaff/cane corso mix puppy and we just started working on training about a week ago. This is exactly what I needed to hear to prepare for the teenage phase I know is coming! He’s already showing a little reactivity to other dogs so this will be super helpful in learning how to correct that

Hey! English Mastiff Mama here. Will is only online training I have seen immediate results with. Within 24 hours he stopped doing P A W. Greatest thing ever. Working on other things too! But I’m blessed to have this dog. Thx Will!

So brilliant as ever. Will's ideas are based in love - because our dogs need us to lead and by doing so we show them love.

I'm French and I love this channel! Such awesome directions. I am going to practice these exercises everyday from now on!

Will, I've only see a few of your videos (and I don't currently have a problem dog), but you do a fantastic job of reiterating "key concepts". I particularly liked another video which highlighted the importance of understanding your dog and ensuring that training methods fit the dog's temperament. I had a rescue English Setter who had been harshly trained with an electric collar. (and she ended up being rescued at a dump where she was likely dumped because she did not hunt and spent 9 months in a shelter). I also had a rescue pit bull that was a harder dog (who was dumped), and he needed extensive work. Herm Sprenger to the rescue. Your pronged collar demonstration was so on point. I've seen many lay people (and I'm a lay person) who have NO understanding of how these collars are meant to work (or how to properly fit/use). My Herm Sprenger prong collar was a lifesaver. In fact, they loved the jingle, a. (P.S. for viewers always have a regular collar and lead as those prongs can spring loose). And I've also witnessed a "treat the dog to death" training which involves no direct correction--and of course the bad behavior continues--and the owner is a Pez dispenser not a leader guiding for the intended behavior.

This is pure brilliance. Thank you for the encouragement.

The leave it command for reactivity is exactly what I was looking for!

‘Leave it’ is one of the most powerful commands in dog training. ALWAYS praise your dog whenever you have success with it!

The “leave it” cue sounds like just what I need!!! My 6month pup knows how to sit and stay (though not always very well will he stay, especially when I move behind him), yet when I have his bowl of food I make him wait still. Waiting still is the problem. He won’t go for the food (usually, knowing I’ll tell him ‘no’) but he’ll drool and shiver and inch towards it. He’s so impatient and uncomfortable sitting still. This is excellent! I think the leave it exercise will help tremendously. Thank you! If perhaps there’s something I’ve described in his behavior that needs approaching or solving from another angle please inform! I will not lie, I’ve struggled with my boy here and there but your videos are really helping!

You sir are the man ! We’ve been struggling with our 5 month GSD. Didn’t seem like he was connected. Using your method with lead and having him earn everything has changed him very quick. Now I can set his fish skin ( the holy grail ) right in front of him and he will look to me to let him have it. We do it with literally everything and he is now fully engaged with us. Thank You.

Fantastic just watched this and done it with my 4 month old German shepard ...thank you

You are so good at describing what to do & why. Makes sense to me and my dog! 🐕

Great tips! I’ve been really struggling with my almost 1 year old Newfie. He’s really been testing the boundaries and just overall not listening as well as he used to. And definitely having some naughty behavior lol.

Very very very well stated. Lilly has entered her teenage phase. I made the mistake of not doing a third walk yesterday. 🤣 Her big sis Saki helps out with being a good role model. We upped our training, and I’ve started giving treats for being calm and sleeping while I’m working.

I’ve been watching your videos consistently. I’ve never had a dog before and I made it my missions to have her succeed and impress my family lol. The humane society said she was destructive, jumps, barks… after a month of constant guidance and direction she’s been killing it. We even have three cats that she doesn’t chase anymore 😉. Cats are tolerating her, but it’s a process. Thx Will!

Oh I’m so glad i have just watched this! I had already started doing leave it at dinner time! Now I’m going to try this daily with my naughty 14 month old rescue collie! I’m doing tough love for him and my two older dogs, dominance has to be knocked down amongst all of them!

Thanks will i have a 10mth old italian greyhound cross and he was grabbing me by the wrist and biting me. I watched your video and implemented it and the difference was amazing. Im keeping it going as he still tries it on. I also need to work on his nervousness with other dogs. He used to be so friendly now he pulls back or growls and barks

Excellent tips for a problem I am experiencing. Thank you!

I love the tip, to wait till they look at you, then giving them the reward for 'leave it' training. First time I heard that anywhere and I think that is exactly what we have been missing!

This is so important, for me the teenage phase has been my favourite stage so far because I’ve seen it as a great opportunity to advance my dog’s training and we do training every single day together which has been a great bonding experience for us.

Concise and straight to the point from the very beginning of the video. Thank you! You got a sub! My rescue puppies are currently 5 months old and I want to make sure to train them as best as I can until they get adopted (hopefully they do!)

Really felt good watching this, I'm doing all of these things! Still tough, don't get me wrong but I'm managing so far and loving the journey.

This was very helpful. We just adopted a teenage Dutch Shepherd mix. He is very smart and easy to train, but definitely has some behavioral issue we are working on. I watched you video on stopping the mouthing behavior as well.👍🏼

i really like seeing you talk outdoors. It actually made it easier to listen and focus, to learn. I hope to see you outside soon:)

As always, so insightful and helpful. Thank You! 🐶

We actually have an 11 week old aussiedoodle and tried the "leave it" command training, and she has done fantastic with it! She loves learning and is eager to please. TY

I've had rotties for over 35 yrs now and this is one of the biggest reason we find so many of them in shelters at the teenage phase! Great video! People need to learn about their chosen breed of dog too, this is also a good tip 😊

Love your channel its one of the most helpful ones for a first time dog owner like myself

Oh my goodness….I need this channel! My boy is just the best, but he drags me around the neighborhood on our “walks”😂

Wow! I've never seen that technique before (I've done leave it and then. Okay! With the same food. But never removed and rewarded in a different space). I'm trying this because it makes so much more sense!!!!

A big thank you Will for this video. I have a 2.5 yo dog who had amazing loose leading walking when a pup; but due to having another elderly dog who needed more of my time with its ailing health, I dropped the ball on consistent training of the younger one! Although her Recall and Leave It command were still amazing, the result was adolescent loose leading walking went from a 10/10 to 7/10; and then just to add to the mix reactive behaviour to other dogs started to kick in! On Saturday I watched your video and I started my loose leading training again, revisited Leave it command. It’s now Wednesday and its like I have a new dog! She is back to engaging with me, walking slowly and calmly. This video has made the difference between me having a reasonably good mannered dog to a dog with impeccable manners! No one likes a rude dog! 😃

Great. I did this exercise with an adult dog, an Amstaff, who was seized by the police and it's a Wonderfull exercise. I had to rebuild the whole base, but I was amazed how an adult dog like this one could manage in just a few months to rebuilt himself into a respectable and sociable dog. The basics are so important. Can't say it enough.

Great information, I shall use it,!!!! Maybe one of the problems is I am walking with him in backyard off leash, since he was attacked by same dog I was & I panicked, fell in the gravel got hurt, so I have problem too, going out & walking, he's sweet Staffy! I will work on the other things you showed for right now! By the way owner of Pit has moved, lived nextdoor thank God!!!!!! What you showed I needed, he won't sit for me!!

I 1000% agree with this! the only thing I'd do differently is that, instead of using physical corrections (like the slip lead), let the dog figure it out. start with a treat in your open hand (don't say the command until they've got a better grasp on the concept), and if they go for it, close your hand. repeat until they no longer go for your open hand and instead look at you. once they start to get it, introduce the command. then gradually build it up (like putting it on the ground in front of them, etc), and eventually work the command with other things, like toys, other dogs, etc. one major thing is to NOT give them the treat they weren't allowed to have - even if it's the same kind, it must come from the other hand (or make a show of pulling a new one out of your pouch), otherwise they'll interpret "leave it" as "leave it for a little bit, then you can have it"

1 minute 'games' done frequently over the day/evening brought our pups through this stage. Small fresh meat treats (emphasis on small) for every trick they got right was the key. It was basically. 'Sit' . Then I'd leave the treat on the floor and say 'Leave it'. 'Take it.' Then I'd do, 'down' , 'stay' (I'd walk away) and then 'come'. Get these basics slick and lots of other stuff will click into place.

Great info. This is a frustrating time. The teenage years make you a better trainer though. Stay the course, train every day

Your videos seem to come at the right time Thank you

Brilliant video on impulse control. I wish everyone would see this

i,m keep on training mine ADHD dog,baloe he is an 11 month belgium sheperd very playful and lovely but also very strong!!you,re advices help both of us a lot,thxs

Top man! Great tips, learned some great idea's from this, dealing with my 15 month x border collie/GS - Cheers!

My husky lab is 7 months. She was such a good and attentive pup. Now she is testing every single boundary: leash pulling, escaping pens, poor recall. It’s so discouraging, but I know it’ll be one day at a time and not giving up.

Thank you so much, as always for your terrific and informative videos! Currently my male GSD is 14 moniths old. You're right.as a puppy he did fantastically well and let the ball drop so that we are now "re-training" and repeating recall everyday, everywhere. I use "leave it' a lot but, it looks like not enough. Thank you for making me realize I've been a really shitty leader.........................

Thank you sir. Amazing seeing the difference. The doggo's forget the basics. But so do their owners ( i.e. me! 🤣) Game changer, yet again. Thanks 🐶😎👍

Great video dude!!! Just tried the leave it with my 7 month old lab/husky mix and he passed it with flying colors!!!

It's like you made this video just for me when I needed it. :o) My 10 months old Australian Cattle Dog female is a dream to train and I know she knows her commands but lately, she's ignored the COME command, looking at me and running the other way, and also on walks walking just enough in front of me that it's bothersome because she gets in my way. Sometimes I forget that training is an ongoing process.

Thanks Will! I think "leave it" and recall are crucially important. I have generally used "No!" as an equivalent to leave it. I take my dog on off lead Hikes as I am in Southwest Oregon. I want him to come back when called if he sees a deer or squirrel or a skunk to chase after. In the summer we have rattle snakes and I can't think of a better example for the use of the "leave it!" command. Further north up in SW Washington we have porcupines. I had Rottweilers that repeatedly got into porcupines. They were outside at night and went after the porcupines coming through the property. A horrible thing to wake up to.

Just got an 11 month old Great Sane rescue. She’s a lot of work. Your leash pulling video was brilliant. In 2 fifteen minute sessions she improved drastically. Will start with this in her daily training routine 😊

I love how you teach us with a dog that already knows the command. How did you get there

We rescued a beautiful 2-year-old Great Dane from a shelter last weekend. I was afraid of his future they were having trouble finding someone to adopt him because he was so big and so rambunctious. We adopted him immediately we had to save this beautiful dog but now to what do we do. I've watched a couple of this guy's videos and my dog has a responded immediately he obviously knows what he's doing. He explains it very well

Incredible content, thank you!

I'm a big fan of these Big Three: (my triangle 😊) Exercise, Discipline and THEN Affection.

I just got a 5 months old puppy and jeeez. Thank you

I really needesd to hear this, i currently have a staffie going through the teenage phase and its driving us mad! Today he was just completely out of control!

Brilliant video Will. Thankyou 👍

My daughter did the Perfect Puppy Course - perfect puppy. Then at 10 months he behaves like his brain has exploded on walks - all training just 'gone', so hopefully these tips will get him back to 'perfect'.

even when your dog is almost death it can be thought new tricks, every walk is a other training session...every walk and all day long you are training your doggie....this never stops if you are a good owner! keep your dogs happy, Will is wright! mental state is important..

I just adopted at this stage. 10month shepherd mix. Holy wow. It’s fun and terrifying all at once. I love it 😂- we learn from each other and she loves to learn. So might as well teach the kid from scratch 😊

Love your content. Thank you ❤️

I have a 12 month old cocker that has been socialised from 14 weeks. He’s suddenly started going for other dogs. It’s very challenging but things can be changed!

I been trying to teach the leave it command after doing a beginners behavioural course for my 11 month old rescue. She’s been really good with sit, stay etc, but a struggle with this, although I’m pretty sure she understands what it means. I’m a Brit now in Cyprus, big snake and poison problem here so to keep her safe it could be a life saver. I’m going to try this way now and if you ever fancy a visit to CY we’ve room. Massive stray dog problem here, it’s so sad to see.

This is an incredibly important piece

Alot of labs are ball driven like mine so when we're out I use the ball instead of treats and her eyes are locked on. Great video I would love too see a ball driven dog video.

Same because my Norfolk Terrier learned so many tricks as a puppy I kind of run out of ideas for new things to teach him but I know he loves reward learning. The only thing I haven’t quite mastered is to stop pulling on walks when he gets curious about anything/any other dog. I struggle to understand why as he was so quick to learn all commands within days of joining our family yet I can’t get the whole ‘heel’ walking right!!! Me bad not doggo so I’ll watch the videos and learn!

Thank you! Love your videos and accent

Since Chihuahuas never leave the adolescence stage they are always a challenge, they need an almost constant reminder. A few minutes a day makes a huge difference in keeping them in check. I have had a lot of different breeds, but these guys can be the most awesome companions if you don't let things sli[p.

Unreal just amazing

Such a good video thank you !

I must have a rescue in the teenage phase. He's 1yr and 8mos. Training was going well and now it feels like we are back at phase one.

Literally gonna go try this straight away

You are my favourite trainer, bar none!!