How to Teach Your Dog to Leave it

Just like training a recall, teaching your dog to “leave” is essential for ensuring their safety. From toxic substances to dangerous food, your dog may encounter hazards everywhere. Your dog should understand that what it finds on the ground is not there for them to grab.

Can you train your dog to ignore items they find? The “leave it” command is what you need. Let’s discuss how to teach your dog to “leave it.”

How to Teach “Leave It” to Your Dog

Follow the steps below to teach your dog the “leave it” cue:

1. Put a treat on the floor and cover it with your hand. Your dog will start trying to get it. When they stop, mark the moment and give a reward.

2. When you see that your dog consistently ignores the treat beneath your hand, uncover it. Then, reward the disinterest in the uncovered treat.

3. Repeat the same exercise standing up, but put your dog on a leash and cover the treat with your foot.

4. When your dog ignores the food you drop to the floor, you can introduce them to the “leave it” cue. Tell your dog to “leave it” and then drop the food. Mark and reward your dog when it ignores the food.

Pro tip: Avoid using the treat on the floor as a reward. Offer a treat from your pocket or other hand. It will teach your dog to leave alone any items they find on the floor. You can also offer a higher-value treat to teach your dog that ignoring certain things on the floor can lead to them getting even better treats.

How to Teach Your Dog to “Leave It” Outdoors

Now, you can start practicing the command in real-life situations where hazardous items can be found anywhere.

Here is how you can practice “leave it” outdoors:

1. Put the treats spaced several feet apart in a row on the ground.

2. Bring your dog on a leash, say “Leave it,” and walk the dog past the row. Mark and reward your dog for ignoring a treat on the floor and then walk to the next.

3. If your dog attempts to get the treat, cover it with your foot and prevent them from picking it up by using the leash.

4. Give a “leave it” cue and try walking past the entire row. Reward the successful run with a high-value treat.

Repeat the training in various locations outside.

5. Use other objects, like chewing toys, instead of food. Your dog will generalize the cue and start leaving alone other things you don’t want them to pick up.

Pro tip: When your dog is reliable with the “leave it” command, introduce the distractions (e.g., a cat or a cyclist) to the training process. Reward your dog with high-value treats for ignoring the item on the floor after being distracted. If your dog doesn’t respond to the “leave it” cue when distracted, incorporate that particular distraction into your training routine.

Wrap-Up

Teaching your dog to “leave it” is essential for improving their impulse control and ensuring their safety in various situations. A firm grasp of the “leave it” command means you have control over what your dog does with items they find on the ground. Follow the steps to master the “leave it” cue and keep your dog safe.