Training Tip #7 - Leave It


An important command in dog training is the "Leave It" (or "Off") command. You want to have a command that is used to get the dog to stop bad behavior. Whether that bad behavior is scratching the door, eating food off the counter, or jumping up on people, you need a command that basically means "stop doing what you're doing... NOW"!



Here's the steps for training the "Leave It/Off" command:
  • Using a small treat, hold that treat with your first finger and thumb.
  • Use the rest of your fingers to form a fist.
  • Keep your hand positioned palm-side down.
  • Have the dog sit in front of you as you hold this treat.
  • Show the dog the treat.
  • When he/she sniffs or tries to eat the treat, say "LEAVE IT" or "OFF" (firmly) and use the "fist" you've formed to push the dogs nose back. You can push firmly, but you are not hitting the dog.
  • Repeat this until the dog does not attempt to sniff or eat the treat.
  • You want the dog to actually look away from the treat, to turn it's head.
  • When you achieve this result, turn the treat hand over so the palm is up, put the treat in the palm, and say "OK" and let the dog eat the treat.


Here's is my friend LL's response after she tried this last night with her Boston Terrier, Jack:

I did the treat thing in my hand (last night).
Would you like to know how many times it took for Jack not to try and take the treat?? THREE...I am going to do it again tomorrow morning to re-enforce the 'off', because I don't know if he understood the connection to the word and not trying to get the treat. We'll see.
Pretty funny, I thought. I have a smart boy.

LL


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