Training Tip: the Leave It command

When you drop a piece of food on the floor, does your dog go for it like it was the last piece of food it'll ever eat? Does your dog hover around the kitchen while you cook waiting for your clumsy hands (sorry, that's me) to drop a snack destined for your dog's mouth?

What if it wasn't edible food you dropped?
What if it was your blood pressure medication?
What if it was your pain meds?
What if it was your crack? (hey, someone out there might drop some crack, ok?)

One of the most life-saving commands you can teach your dog is the "Leave It" command.

First off, let's be clear as to what "Leave It" means: it means nose and mouth off the object and leave it alone. It means they can't sniff or eat the object. I even go so far as to sometimes have it mean "don't even look" at the object.

To teach the command, you are mainly going to setup the condition:

• Go to a park or a parking lot with your dog on leash.
• Use a slip collar, or if needed, a prong collar.
• Place food or an object within the dogs reach.
• Walk by the item.
• When the dog gives that item the least bit of interest, say "Leave it" and use a leash correction at the same time.
• After the correction, if the dog does well, say "good Leave It".
• Rinse, repeat

This is the type of exercise you want to repeat a lot. Try to do it while you go for walks. Pick items or people you want the dog to leave alone and practice the Leave It command with them. Either that, or setup the condition with food.

Practice the exercise at home too. Purposely drop items on the floor and say "Leave It" if your dog attempts to sniff/grab/eat the item.

IMPORTANT: Do NOT reward the Leave It command by giving the dog the food item you used to setup this training exercise. Simply pick it up and put it in your pocket. You can give the item later, but for the training exercise, simple praise is the reward for good behavior.

This exercise can save a dog's life someday.