How to Teach a Rock-Solid "Leave It" Cue Using Kind, Positive Training

If your dog grabs things they shouldn’t—food, rubbish, toys, socks—you’re not alone. Teaching a reliable "leave it" cue can transform your day-to-day life and keep your dog safe, without using fear or frustration.

👉 To watch the video for this blog, follow this link: https://youtu.be/l37p_0lEZXo

Why "Leave It" Training Matters

"Leave it" is one of the most useful cues you can teach your dog. But here’s the key: it’s not about shouting louder or scaring your dog into backing off. It’s about creating a clear, positive association with turning away from something, and building real-life impulse control.

In this video and blog, I walk you through how to teach your dog to disengage from any distraction using positive reinforcement training. Whether you have a rescue dog, a curious pup, or a dog that loves picking up street snacks—this method is for you.

What You'll Learn

In the video, you’ll see exactly how to:

• Use shaping and luring to build the disengagement behavior

• Progress slowly from low-value to high-value distractions

• Avoid common training mistakes (like rewarding with the item!)

• Turn “leave it” into a trust-based, reliable cue your dog loves responding to

You’ll also see me working with client dogs in real-life situations so you can watch the process unfold step-by-step.

Real-Life Application

This isn’t just about food on the floor. Think walks in the woods, exciting wildlife, picnics, kids’ toys, or that surprise chocolate doughnut someone dropped. Your dog learns to hear “leave it,” disengage, and look to you instead—without confusion, punishment or stress.

Trainer’s Tip: Success Comes from Setup

The real magic here is in the setup. We want our dogs to succeed, so we make the task achievable, build up in small increments, and reward generously. No prong collars, no shouting—just good training that builds confidence and communication.