Teaching "Leave It"

Here’s a hard truth that doesn’t get enough airtime in cute dog videos: most canine emergencies start with something a dog picked up before a human could react.

Chicken bones on the sidewalk. A dropped pill. Chocolate within counter-surfing range. A “mystery snack” found in the grass that absolutely did not come from nature.

If there is one cue that deserves a spot in the “this could literally save your dog’s life” category, it’s Leave It.

Not “leave it… no… stop… DROP IT—”
Just Leave it. Clean. Immediate. Non-negotiable.

And yes, I’m going to argue that this command matters more than sit, shake, or any trick that earns applause from guests.

What “Leave It” Actually Means

(and Why Most Dogs Don’t Really Know It)

Here’s where people get tripped up.

A true Leave It does not mean:

• “You can look at it for a while”

• “You can sniff it”

• “You can grab it if I don’t notice fast enough”

• “You can take it later”

It means:
Disengage immediately and permanently unless released.

That’s it.

The problem is that many dogs are taught a watered-down version. Owners say “leave it” while the dog is already chewing. Or they repeat it six times while the dog debates whether the forbidden item is worth the lecture.

By then, the command has become background noise.

A real Leave It is proactive, not reactive. It prevents the grab in the first place.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

Dogs explore the world with their mouths. That’s normal. What’s not normal is how dangerous our human environment is for them.

Consider just a few common hazards:

• Cooked bones (especially poultry) splinter easily

• Chocolate toxicity varies by type and size of dog

• Xylitol (gum, baked goods) can be deadly in minutes

• Medications dropped on the floor

• Rodent bait or compost scraps outdoors

You won’t always see the danger before your dog does. You will sometimes be distracted. That’s reality.

Leave It buys you time. Sometimes, it buys you a vet bill. Sometimes, it buys you your dog’s life.

Teaching Leave It the Right Way (Not the Instagram Way)

Let’s strip this down to fundamentals.

Step 1: Start Boring on Purpose

Begin with a low-value item in a closed fist. Say “Leave it” once. When your dog stops trying to get it—even for a split second—mark and reward with a better treat from your other hand.

Key point:
👉 The reward never comes from the thing they’re leaving.

This teaches the core concept: disengaging pays better than grabbing.

Step 2: Open Hand, Same Rule

Once your dog reliably backs off, open your hand. If they move toward it, close it. If they hesitate or pull away, reward.

You’re teaching impulse control, not frustration tolerance.

Step 3: Ground Work

Place the item on the floor under your foot. Same cue. Same rule. Calm success equals reward. Lunging gets nothing.

Step 4: Real-World Objects

Now rotate in real hazards—wrapped, controlled, and supervised. Food scraps. Tissues. “Street snacks.”

This is where most people skip ahead and then wonder why it fails outside.

The Devil’s Advocate Moment (Yes, You Need This)

Here’s the uncomfortable part:
If your dog ignores Leave It outdoors, the problem is almost never the dog.

It’s usually:

• Too many repetitions of the cue

• Training only indoors

• Reward value too low

• Expecting obedience without proofing

Dogs don’t generalize well. “Leave it” in the kitchen does not magically transfer to a park full of goose poop and chicken wings.

That’s not disobedience. That’s biology.

Leave It vs. Drop It (They Are Not the Same)

Quick clarity check:

• Leave It = Don’t touch it in the first place

• Drop It = You already messed up, now fix it

You want both. But if I had to choose one in a true emergency scenario, I’d take Leave It every time.

Prevention beats negotiation.

The Long Game: Calm Dogs Make Better Choices

One last point that doesn’t get said enough.

Leave It works best when it’s not shouted, emotional, or panicked. Dogs read tone faster than words. If every “leave it” comes with tension, your dog will hesitate—or freeze—or gamble.

Train it calmly. Reinforce it generously. Use it sparingly and clearly.

You’re not just teaching a command.
You’re installing a safety system.

Final Thought

We found that out the hard way, how important it is to teach “leave it”. When Biscuit was just a puppy, she found a mushroom and decided to chew on it. She instantly became lethargic and sickly with excessive drooling. Luckily, we had seen her in the act and got her to throw up with an emergency dose of Hydrogen Peroxide (taught to me by my uncle who was a vet). She quickly recovered and let’s just say, learned her lesson that day!

Your dog doesn’t know what’s poisonous. They don’t know what’s expensive, dangerous, or irreplaceable. You see, dogs know patterns. They know outcomes. They know whether listening to you consistently works in their favor.

Teach Leave It like it matters—because one day, when something hits the ground that really shouldn’t be eaten, it will.

And you’ll be very glad your dog already knows exactly what to do.

Cartoon of the Week!

In partnership with

Science facts, carefully sniffed and thoroughly verified

Today’s Question: Why do dogs sniff everything like it’s their job?

Hello. Cricket here. Before anyone says “because dogs are weird,” please know that this is not the correct scientific answer.

Dogs experience the world primarily through smell, not sight. While humans have about 5–6 million scent receptors, dogs have up to 300 million, depending on the breed. That’s not a small difference. That’s a completely different operating system.

But here’s the part most people don’t realize: when a dog sniffs, they aren’t just smelling an object. They’re gathering information about time, direction, emotional state, diet, and even health. Scent particles linger, which means dogs can tell who was there, where they went, and how long ago it happened.

Dogs also have a specialized organ called the vomeronasal organ (also known as Jacobson’s organ). This allows them to detect chemical signals—like pheromones—that humans can’t perceive at all. So when your dog stops mid-walk to intensely sniff a single blade of grass, they’re essentially reading a very detailed message board.

In conclusion:
Sniffing is not a delay tactic.
It is research.

And as a scientist, I fully support thorough data collection.

—Cricket ✔️

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Click the Calendar Pic of your choice to get to the purchase page!

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“Hi Kevin! Why do dogs tilt their heads when we talk to them?”

Kevin’s Answer:
Hi. Kevin here.

I tilt my head because I am listening very hard.

Sometimes when humans talk, they use lots of words all at once! It can be too much for me. So, like tipping a box of ceweal, I tilt my head so all the words slip wight through my bwain and fall on the floor.

Also, I have noticed that when I tilt my head, humans smile and make their voice nicer and often get me a tweat! This makes me think tilting my head is a vewy good idea.

I don’t know if this works for evewy dog, but it works for me.

—Kevin 🐶

Every episode, Biscuit, Cricket or Kevin (you choose) will comment on one short message or question from a reader. Feel free to send in a photo if you’d like. We might be able to use it! So think of a good one and send all questions and comments to [email protected] (mention it’s a question for “Bark & Forth”).

Want more tips, tricks, and tail-wagging tales? Visit our blog anytime at cricketchronicles.ca!

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