I'd like to ask contributors to the board what techniques they use for teaching their dogs to LEAVE and what are their personal reasons for using this specific technique (this may be because you physically struggle with another, or it has implications for future training - ie obedience work requiring a high level of accuracy).

Admin: we would like to keep this thread as your techniques and NOT for debate. If you would like to debate ANY issue raised in this thread, please start another thread headed Leave - Debate

We taught Holly to leave things by coating a rubber ball with chilli oil (I know - it's a horrible thing to do but it did work).

Whenever she went to lick the ball we told her to leave it (in a really low growly voice). If she still proceeded to lick the ball she got nothing but if she moved away and left it alone we gave her a piece of frankfurter (her favourite treat).

We only had to do this a couple of times and she's been 100% reliable ever since, I put my sandwich down on the table yesterday and told her to leave it whilst I answered the door. When I got back she was still staring at it but she hadn't eaten any of it.

I'm sure there are better ways of teaching a dog Leave It but this worked for us.

Fiona
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I have just put them in a down and put a treat (something I know they like) and said leave it, if they got up I would grab it and do it again. When they stayed for a min I would say o.k get it. Then I would move it to 2 min then 5min back to 3min, I would always vary the time. I can now put a treat down or throw it down and say leave it and it works. They always got rewared in the end for leaving it. Works great in dog class when they are hyper/barking because they focus on the treat I either put on the floor or their paw.
ttfn :)

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Start by conditioning to the clicker.

Get tasty reward treats, put near dog but don't allow dog to get them. When he withdraws, immediately click and open hand to give treat. Repeat lots.When dog is proficient and holds back or withdraws, add the vocal command, Leave It.

Same again but with food treat on floor, cover with hand, click as dog pulls back, and treat.

Graduate to putting treat on floor in full view of dog (make sure dog cannot get it even if he lunges, so use lead or be ready to cover treat with foot or hand in a flash) and say Leave It, when dog obeys click and reward.

Progress to objects on the floor, such as socks, gloves, tins, boxes, anything the dog is likely to investigate but not TOO tempting at first ;) Walk the dog on lead past the row of items, let him sniff, and give command. He will hopefully Leave It, if he does click and treat and move on to next item. If he carries on sniffing, either make items less interesting, or wait dog out and click and treat whenhe does Leave It. He will gradually learn to be more responsive but it may take a little patience :)

Then progress on to more interesting items, until he will eventually leave packets of chews etc. At this stage it is acceptable to just ask dog to walk past the item if it is too hard to Leave It, if he gives you his full attention rather than the tempting packets I feel that is OK.

Start to ask for a Leave It on items out and about, click and treat each time dog offers correct behaviour.

Ask for Leave It when dog is saying goodbye to dog pals, then graduate this to when new dogs and people are approaching. And when dog is playing. Mega big rewards for dog obeying when these distractions are present, so maybe have a game or throw a Kong, whatever dog likes best of all :)

To help with chase recall/leave it, use 2 toys and chuck one, the less fav. one, and say Leave It, then reward with click and best/fav. toy, mega game and fun if dog obeys.

If dog doesn't during any of the stages, he is not ready or the environmental distractions are too great, so just go back a step and keep practising.

Keep practising and reward often. I love this exercise as it really gets the dog understanding and is fun to do.

Lindsay