"Leave it" - A Safety Skill

A puppy who hasn't learnt 'leave it'

"Leave it" is a safety skill and teaches your dog that not everything is theirs to take; it protects them from dangerous items and can prevent resource guarding. Whether it's chicken bones at the park or your snacks on the coffee table, this skill can prevent emergencies and help create a well-mannered companion.

Key Concept:

Successful "leave it" training depends on always giving your dog something better. If they leave food alone, give them a special treat. This rewards their choice, making it easy and enjoyable.

What Success looks like:

Your dog stops approaching or interacting with an item when you say "leave it," then looks at you for direction. Once skilled, dogs will avoid things without being told, checking in with you when they encounter something tempting.

Step-by-Step Training

Step 1: The Walk By.

Have your dog on a lead, in a quiet place with limited distractions. Place a low-value treat (like kibble) on the floor. Walk past the kibble at a distance where your dog can see the item but not get it. To begin, they'll try to pull toward the kibble, hold the lead firm, but do not pull them. If they dash toward the kibble, place your foot over it.

Repeat, when they can turn their head away from the kibble, say 'Yes' and offer a more valuable reward from your hand. Practise for 3-5 minutes.

Stay at Step 1, practising for 3-5 minutes every couple of days until they are ignoring the treat and looking to you for a reward.

Step 2: Move Closer.

Move closer to the kibble so they can reach it. If they try to grab it, immediately put your foot over the kibble, when they look away, mark it with 'yes' and offer a higher value reward. Repeat until your dog is ignoring the kibble at a close range and looking to you for a reward.

Step 3: Change locations.

Change the locations where you practise, in the kitchen, in the garden, or on a quiet walk. If the location has more distractions, make it easier for your dog to succeed by moving to a quiet area, or if the kibble is too tempting, move further away. The idea is to make it easy for your dog to succeed. Practising succeeding means better rewards from you and will lay a solid foundation for your dog to make good decisions.

Step 4: Adding a 'Leave it' cue

Once your dog is reliably leaving the kibble, it's time to add the cue. When your dog looks away, say 'Leave it' and then reward.

Step 5: Real-World

Practice with increasingly tempting items: toys, food bowls, dropped items, and things they naturally want to investigate. Always ensure your reward is more valuable than what you're asking them to leave.

Common Applications

Safety Situations:

• Food dropped on walks

• Dangerous items (medications, cleaning supplies)

• Other animals' food or toys

• Garbage or dead animals on walks

Manners Situations:

• Your food while you're eating

• Guests' belongings

• Children's toys

• Items during house cleaning

Troubleshooting Common Issues

"They take the item before I can say leave it" Great, more practise, always move away from them, offering get irresistible treat and swap it out.

"They drop it but immediately try to get it again" Think about your own body language, were you leaning over the item to grab it, signalling you wanted it? Keep your body up and offer the treat while moving away from your dog, they'll follow leaving the item for you to quietly collect later.

"It works with treats but not with 'real' things" Practice with medium-value items first, then gradually work up to the really tempting stuff.

"They seem stressed or confused" Always trade for something better. If they seem anxious, go back to easier steps.

Pro Tips for Success

Start Easy: Begin with items your dog is only mildly interested in, then work up to the irresistible stuff.

Be Proactive: Use the cue before they reach for something, giving them time to think about it and make a good choice.

Keep Sessions Short: 3-5 minutes of practise every few days.

Practice in real life: Include "leave it" practise in your routine—dropped food while cooking, toys left out, etc.

Stay Patient: Some dogs learn this quickly, others need more time. Consistency and positive reinforcement will get you there.

Remember: Every time your dog chooses to leave something alone and look to you instead, they're building self-control and resilience - win ⭐️