Leave It

“Leave it” tells your dog not to touch something — food on the ground, rubbish, a dropped pill. A skill that can literally save their life.

🐾🐾 · ~7 days · 5 min/session

Step-by-step

1. The closed fist

   Put a treat in your palm, close your fist and offer it to your dog. They’ll sniff, lick and paw at your hand — just wait silently. The instant they back off even for a second, say “Yes!” and give a different treat from your other hand.

   💡 Never give the treat the dog “left”. The reward always comes from elsewhere — that’s the heart of the lesson.

2. Add the cue

   Once your dog backs away from the closed fist quickly, start saying “Leave it” just as you present your hand. Keep rewarding the back-off generously. Repeat over several short sessions.

3. The open palm

   Say “Leave it” and open your palm with the treat visible. If the dog goes for it, simply close your hand — no words, no pulling away dramatically. When they hold back with the palm open, reward from the other hand with something even better.

4. Treat on the floor

   Place a treat on the floor and cover it with your hand. Say “Leave it” and reward from your hand when the dog gives up on it. Gradually uncover the treat, then stand up next to it, then take a step away.

   💡 Keep a foot ready to cover the treat — the dog should never “win” the forbidden food.

5. The real world

   Practise on walks with items you’ve planted in advance — kibble on the pavement, a toy on the path. Keep the leash on, say “Leave it” as you approach and throw a party when they pass by. In time the cue will cover the surprises the street provides on its own.

Common mistakes

• Dragging the dog away with the leash instead of letting them choose — the skill lives in their head, not in your arm.
• Giving the “forbidden” treat as the reward — it breaks the logic of the exercise.
• Using “Leave it” after the dog has already grabbed the item — that’s what “Drop it” is for.

Problems & solutions

My dog just sits and stares at my hand forever.

That’s actually success — they’re holding back! Reward faster: one second without trying to grab is enough at first. Later you can wait for them to look up at you.

It works with treats but not with the litter box or rubbish.

Super-valuable “prizes” need super-valuable rewards and more distance. Train from further away with chicken, and manage access in the meantime — environment management is part of training.

Reward ideas

The reward must beat the thing being left: chicken, liver treats, cheese. Always from the other hand or your pocket.