How to teach your dog to ‘leave it’ AKA don’t pick up the half eaten sandwich on the floor.

My training method and approach is all about setting up your dog for success, making it easy, fun and engaging, rather than frustrating for your dog.

1️⃣ Hold your hand, with the food to ‘leave’, up high and at a distance at first to make it super easy for your dog to look away from it. Mark for looking away from your hand, then treat (don’t use the verbal cue just yet).

2️⃣ Step by step lower your hand (at a distance from your dog) and continue to mark and treat your dog for looking away from the food.

3️⃣ Once your dog disengages from the food reliably, add your verbal cue. Say the cue when your dog looks at the food, and immediately mark then treat if he/ she leaves it (you can build duration later!).

4️⃣ Lower your hand bit by bit until you can place it on the floor.

Troubleshooting:

❤️ If your dog does try to get to the food, simply close your hand (don’t jolt it away or tell your dog ‘no’). Wait for your dog to step away, open your hand again and if your dog leaves it, mark and treat.

❤️ If you feel your dog is getting frustrated at any point, take a few steps back in the training process, I.e. lift your hand above their head again or even take a break and get to it later.