“Leave it” is a useful everyday cue: turn away from that item and check in with me instead. A rainy autumn afternoon is a good opportunity to practise indoors, where you can choose the item, the distance and the distractions.
Start with an easy lesson, rather than waiting until your dog has found something irresistible on a walk. You are teaching a choice that earns a reward. There is no need for a stern voice or a battle over the contents of your hand.
Quick answer
- Begin in a quiet room with a safe, low-interest item and a separate reward.
- Reward a small look or movement away from the item.
- Add your cue once your dog is regularly making that choice.
- Practise in different places gradually, making the exercise easier whenever needed.
What does “leave it” mean?
For this exercise, it means leaving something alone before picking it up. “Drop” is a separate skill for releasing something already in the mouth. Dogs Trust distinguishes these two jobs in its guidance.
Decide which words your household will use. “Leave” and “leave it” can both work; consistency makes your teaching clearer. Choose one version for these sessions.
Set up an easy first session
The RSPCA recommends beginning new training in a quiet room and keeping sessions short. Put other distractions away and practise with one dog at a time.
Have a few small rewards ready, using food your dog already eats and enjoys. Choose a less interesting, safe item for the exercise, such as a piece of their usual dry food if that suits their normal diet. Keep it under your control. Never use litter, wrappers or anything unsafe as a training prop.
You do not need special equipment or a new bag of treats. Set aside the session's food before you start and include it in the day's total. Dogs Trust advises monitoring treats and adjusting normal portions where needed. Our guide to choosing training rewards explains the practical options.
How to teach your dog to leave it
1. Notice a small turn away
Following the Dogs Trust approach, hold the low-interest item in one hand and keep the reward in the other. Present the item where you can control access. Wait for a small look or movement away, mark that moment with a familiar marker such as “yes”, then reward from your other hand.
Repeat a few easy attempts. You are looking for a small choice, rather than a long wait or perfect eye contact.
2. Add the words
When your dog regularly turns away, say your chosen cue just before presenting the item. Mark the turn away and reward. Keep the pattern consistent so the words become a useful signal.
3. Build towards an open hand
The RSPCA's advanced exercise uses food on an open palm. Ask for “leave”; if your dog stays away, reward from the other hand. If they move towards the food, calmly close your hand and return to an easier attempt. Do not pull it around as a tease.
4. Change one part of the exercise
Dogs Trust recommends gradually practising in new places and with distractions. Try another quiet room before a busier setting. Later, practise with the item on the floor only when you can control access. If your dog struggles, return to a successful stage.
What if my dog keeps trying to get the item?
Pause and make the next attempt easier. Use a less interesting item, remove nearby distractions or go back to the stage where your dog could succeed. The kitchen floor does not need to become an exam hall.
A first attempt in a new place is practice, even if the exercise went well yesterday. Note the setting alongside the result: “looked away in the living room” is more useful than “knows leave”.
Keep your voice friendly. BSAVA recommends reward-based methods and advises against shouting or physical corrections. If you are getting stuck, ask a reward-based training instructor to watch your timing and setup.
Keep management alongside training
Continue putting tempting belongings away and supervising your dog. A successful session does not make every real-life situation suitable for practice. On walks, use your lead and distance to avoid items you do not want them investigating.
If your dog already has an item, repeating “leave” is asking for a different job from the one taught here. Practise a separate reward-based swap or drop exercise with safe toys. Do not chase your dog or turn grabbing possessions into a game.
Your leave-it practice checklist
- Quiet place, one dog and a safe item chosen.
- Small rewards prepared and counted in the day's food.
- One clear household cue agreed.
- A small turn away rewarded promptly.
- Only one extra difficulty introduced at a time.
- Session finished with something your dog finds easy.
A useful note for next time is simply: where you practised, what your dog left and which stage to repeat. Progress comes from clear, manageable practice, rather than finding out how long you can both hold out.
Reviewed: 23 October 2026
