Pets
Teaching "Leave It" or "Take It"
This is extremely useful when you want your puppy to avoid going near something. You can use "leave it" when something drops on the floor that you do not want your puppy to touch, when you put food on a low cocktail table, or when there is something on the ground outside such as feces or a carcass. Use "leave it" anytime you want your puppy to avoid touching something. Do not confuse "wait" with "leave it". Wait puts the puppy on temporary hold, whereas "leave it" means don't go near it unless I tell you to "take it".To teach your puppy "leave it", place a treat on the floor a little ways away from your pup. If he starts to go toward the treat to take it, cover the treat with your hand or foot. When the pup stops attempting to get the treat on the floor from under your foot or hand, reinforce him with a treat from your other hand. Once he gets the idea and doesn't approach the treat on the floor, but instead looks up to you, you can begin to say "leave it" right after you toss the treat on the floor. You want the pup to learn that when he hears "leave it", he comes to you for a reward rather than picking up what is on the ground.
Watch your puppy carefully for signs of avoidance when you toss the treat down. Signs of avoidance are different for individual pups. They can be so subtle that if not watched for carefully, they can be missed. Typical signs can be looking away, looking up at you, or moving his head away from the treat. Once he shows any sign of avoidance, immediately praise him and reward with a treat from your hand or other source. You can give him permission to "take it" as you do so. When the response is reliable, your puppy should immediately and consistently avoid anything when you say "leave it". This pattern can benefit from being practiced for the lifetime of the dog.
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PETsMART Accredited Training Instructors, in addition to their previous experience, receive a minimum of 120 hours of training in a curriculum which includes: Canine Behavior, Learning Theory ("How Dogs Learn"), Problem-Solving, Classroom Management, Equipment, Handling Skills and more. Where possible, hands-on training is completed in partnership with local shelters, using shelter dogs to demonstrate training methods, behavior assessment and handling skills. This enables us to accredit our instructors while contributing to the community, as we help to make these dogs even more adoptable.
Suzanne Hetts Ph.D. is certified as an applied animal behaviorist and co-owner of Animal Behavior Associates, Inc., in Denver, CO.
Terry Ryan is the well-known author of training books such as The Toolbox for Remodeling Your Problem Dog and The Bark Stops Here.
Pia Silvani is the Director of Pet Training and Behavior at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison, N.J.
Mary Lee Nitschke, Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology at Linfield College, an Animal Behavior Therapist and the Director of Training for Animal School in Portland, OR.
Trish King is the Director of the Animal Behavior and Training Department at the Marin Humane Society in Marin County, CA.
Pamela J. Reid, Ph.D. is a certified applied animal behaviorist and assistant professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, where she teaches veterinary students courses in Applied Ethology and the Principles of Learning.
Information and advice contained on this site is for your consideration only. Please consult your veterinarian for specific advice concerning the care and treatment of your pet.
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