“Leave It” is a useful cue that means “leave that thing alone and turn back to me.” Use this to tell your dog not to go after an item you've dropped on the ground, trash on the sidewalk, the cookies on the coffee table, etc. I teach this cue with an emphasis on having the dog give eye contact after turning away from the distraction - I don’t want the dog to just stand there staring at the forbidden item.
These instructions refer to using a reward marker (like the word “yes” or clicking a clicker), which you can read about here and here. In short, this is useful because it tells your dog EXACTLY what he did that has earned him the treat - in this case, that’s looking up at your face.
Foundation training
First goal is getting eye contact from your dog. See demo video here.
Hold some treats in your hand, behind your back, so they are out of sight.
Stand or sit in front of your dog and look at his face. Do NOT cue your dog to sit or stay.
Wait for your dog to look up at your face, too. If he hasn't done so after a few seconds, make a “kissy noise” or similar sound to get his attention.
As soon as your dog makes eye contact with you, say “yes!” or click.
Bring out your treat hand and reward.
Repeat until your dog is quick to make eye contact after each treat, without any help.
Adding distractions
Next step is getting the eye contact behavior in the obvious presence of tempting food, which will be both the distraction and reward. See demo video here.
Hold some treats in your hand, straight out from your side.
Wait for your dog to look away from your hand and make eye contact. If he hasn't done so after a few seconds, make a “kissy noise” or similar sound to get his attention.
As soon as your dog makes eye contact, say “yes!” or click.
Reward from the hand with treats in it.
Repeat until your dog is quick to make eye contact after each time you hold your hand out to the side, without any help.
Your dog can now give you eye contact even though there is food around!
Adding the cue
Time to teach your dog that “leave it” means “turn away from that and look at me.” See demo video here.
Hold some treats in your hand, straight out from your side.
As soon as your dog looks at the treats, say “leave it!” (Use a happy tone of voice; many dogs will avoid making eye contact if you sound upset or intimidating.)
Wait for your dog to look away from the treats and make eye contact. Do NOT repeat the words “leave it” or give other help.
As soon as your dog makes eye contact, say “yes!” or click.
Reward from the hand with treats in it.
Repeat until your dog is quick to make eye contact after each time you say “leave it!”
If your dog is not making eye contact within a few seconds of you saying “leave it,” go back to the “foundation training” and “adding distractions” sections.
Demo of Hayley learning the cue “leave it”
Your dog now has a basic understanding of turning away from a distraction and giving you eye contact when you say “leave it.” Congrats! However he only does it in this one specific context: you standing/sitting right in front of him, looking at his face, and holding the treat distraction out to your side.
In Part 2, we’ll switch things up, so that your dog can respond reliably in all kind of situations.