Canine Training Article

Training ‘Leave It’

Introduction

The ‘Leave It’ command is an important tool for new and experienced dog owners alike. At its base, the function of this command is to convince the dog that the treat on hand is more valuable than what is currently in his mouth. So long as a low-value treat is avoided—such as stale treats, or anything the dog personally considers non-motivational—teaching this command is easy to accomplish.

It’s important to note that depending on the dog’s tendency to mouth at foreign objects, this can become a crucial command for an owner to teach, especially before adulthood, when the dog is still becoming acclimated to new environments and how to behave within them. Many dogs chew at their leash, pull at clothing, or try to pick up foreign objects off the street. When the dog displays an undesirable behaviour that the owner wishes the dog to unlearn, the importance of this command is cemented in the animal’s mind by how high-value he finds the treat being used to reinforce the command. He may not understand why undesirables such as roadkill are to be avoided, but will be significantly more eager to respond to verbal cues deterring him from them with the promise of a more enticing reward.

An owner can practice the pre-emptive groundwork for this command with anything the dog finds interesting, but is easily distracted from. Depending on the dog, this may include toys, spots of grass, human food, or kibble. Introduce and practice the command with as many different smelling, colored and textured items as possible, and practice in different environments. If the owner wants the dog to show restraint everywhere, then it should be practiced everywhere. This will increase his understanding of the context of this command.

How to train a dog to ‘Leave it’

If the dog has something in his mouth which should be released, tell him to “Leave it,” while offering a treat and gently pulling out whatever’s in his mouth. If he responds, the item will then be released to you, and he will instead reach for the treat.

The dog may try to make a game out of it by avoiding the owner or trainer’s hands. Stay attentive to his body language: if he is looking away with wide eyes, ears back, and a stiff posture, having hands near his face is likely to increase his stress, but if he runs away and lowers into a play bow, he instead thinks it’s part of a game. Keep calm and prepare treats to reward equally calm behaviour. If he continues to avoid being within arm’s reach, use the opportunity to practice a calm sit, reinforcing that this is the only way to receive attention and treats. If he knows he’ll be chased, it will encourage the idea that this is a game, and training will be less likely to be successful.

Once the dog lets go of the item, move it away from his face and out of sight. Reinforce the action with a positive verbal cue, such as a friendly, “Good boy, leave it.” This reinforces what the command means. Reward the animal by offering the treat.

This command can also be practiced when the dog is sniffing at an object without anything in his mouth. As with the previous exercise, first practice in a controlled environment, to reinforce the self-control of not picking up foreign objects. When the dog goes to sniff at something undesirable, add tension to the leash, say the command, and offer a treat so he looks up instead. When he does, reinforce with, “Good boy, leave it,” and offer the treat.

With practice, soon the dog will fully understand the command. He will learn to respond to the barest amount of tension on the leash, and with time, will begin to altogether ignore anything not offered directly from the owner.