02/22/2026
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ โ๐๐๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ญโ ๐๐ฌ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ . . . ๐๐๐ซ๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ฒ
Your โLeave Itโ Isnโt Workingโฆ Hereโs Why
When clients ask me about teaching a "leave it" cue, I oftwn ask them a question right back. "What are you wanting them to leave?"
I find their response of the situation they are imagining either requires structure/management, an alternative behavior, or BOTH.
"Leave it" in the way we often imagine it is actually accidentally a void/lack of behaviors, rather than an actual behavior they can physically present.
Dog is barking out the window -> "Leave it" -> You want dog to STOP barking
Dog is pulling towards a squirrel -> "Leave it" -> You want dog to STOP pulling
Dog is chewing on shoe -> "Leave it" -> You want dog to STOP having the shoe
Dogs SUCK at generalizing, and this generic Leave It cue is such a widespread "cue". In each of the three scenarios above, the behavior that we *could* see cued by the Leave It are completely different behaviors. So it's VERY unfair to try to teach a leave and expect dogs to generalize what it means across all contexts.
Instead, let's do alternate behaviors that we can use in those scenarios: (REMEMBER- all of this requires you to train these behaviors BEFORE utilizing them in these scenarios)
Dog is barking out the window -> "Go to place" -> Dog goes to their bed out of sight of the window + gets something to chew on
Dog is pulling towards a squirrel -> "Look at me" -> Reinforce eye contact heavily AND reinforce as you move away
Dog is chewing on shoe -> "Trade" -> Trade an item of equal value that they can continue that same chewing behavior on
We ALSO want to do pre-setup training and management. How annoying would it be to have to tell our dog to Leave It every time they bark out the window at the cat- AFTER they've already barked. Wouldn't you want to prevent the barking as a whole? Additionally- every time you take away this *thing* of value (barking at the cat, trying to chase a squirrel, chewing on a delicious shoe), and especially when you don't reinforce an alternative behavior, you are increasing your dog's frustration AND increasing the value in that *thing*- making the Leave It much less desirable for the dog each time. Eventually, your Leave It will absolutely break down and cease functionality.
SO. Pre-setup training & management:
Dog wants to bark out the window: Practice ignoring the distractions out there for reinforcement, put on place whenever in that room, reinforce when they quietly watch/ignore distractions/make ANY good decision, and limit acces to the room when you don't want to manage the dog
Dog is pulling towards a squirrel: Practice an eye contact cue. Practice offered engagement while at a DISTANCE from the squirrels, reinforcing good decisions, and slowly decreasing distance as they confidently do well. Teach proper Loose Leash Walking.
Dog is chewing on shoe: Put shoes away and out of access, give lots of chewing opportunities to get that behavior out properly. Put on place AND/OR give an appropriate chew when in the shoes room, of limit access to the shoes room.
NOW- more truth. As a trainer, you WILL hear me use leave it. HOWEVER: I will only use this in situations I know my dog can handle it. I never taught this behavior, it is only a verbal cue that is a precursor to an alternative behavior they DO know. Kind of like a "hey listen to me real quick!" and giving them something else to do.
So just remember, next time you're thinking of training/using a Leave It cue, you're probably actually thinking about a situation that requires an alternative behavior, pre-training setup, and management. Struggling with what that would look like? Shoot me a message and we can set up some private training sessions!
