How to Train Your Dog in Real Life Scenarios

Training your dog to leave it is vital so we’ll discuss how to train your dog during real life scenarios. It’s all good and well when your dog ignores treats in your hand, but will he ignore a chicken bone? If not, take a peek at these dog training tips.

Before Moving Forward:

• Your dog will ignore your closed and open handed treats on cue.
• If not, read this article before proceeding.
• While it’s extremely tempting to push forward, the behavior will collapse and become unreliable. For “leave it,” start with foundation behaviors first, then move forward. Usually, a dog will reach the last step within a week. Steps 1-3 can easily be taught within a few days, practicing 1-2 minutes per day.

Peek-a-Boo Hand

Begin by sitting on the ground with your dog. While holding a treat in your left hand, say “leave it” as you place the treat on the ground. Keep your hand close by. If your dog moves forward, cover the treat with your hand. Once he moves back from the treat, click and say “take it.”

Dogs are extremely fast! Keep your hand close to the treat. If your dog takes the treat once or twice, then take a step back to closed and open handed games. This will teach your dog to ignore the treat instead. Never correct your dog by saying “no” or giving a leash correction, as this will only confuse your dog. Trust me, I’ve been training for a long time. It takes much longer to teach this way.

Practice 5 times, then end the training session. Keep training sessions short for maximum effectiveness. This keeps dogs from becoming bored. Practice twice a day so about 10 reps per day.

Chicken Wing on Floor

Oh, you know that feeling in your stomach when your dog spots a discarded chicken wing on the ground! Yikes, what should you do? When teaching “leave it,” it’s pretty important to scan your environment. It’s kind of hard to say “leave it” if you don’t spot the chicken wing first. Oh, and carry luscious treats. 🙂

Okay, back to the ant-covered chicken wing. Once you spot it, stop and say “leave it.” You should be standing 6 feet away, meaning your dog can not reach his object of desire. Say “leave it” once and wait. Your dog will strain against the leash. The moment he stops pulling, click and give him 3 pieces of hot dog! Once he’s done eating the last hot dog, say “let’s go” and move forward. As he follows you, click and give him 3 more pieces of hot dog. Your dog just learned to leave it alone and walk away. Good job!

Eventually, your dog will learn to ignore gross things discarded around the park, but every now and again, he may try rolling in deer poop or snack on cat feces so keep your “leave it” cue current. Hey, they’re dogs and expected to roll in grossness and try to steal stinky stuff. Have you ever watched hidden cameras of people chasing flying dollar bills around the park? Hilarious, but it’s what we do too!

Training Your Dog to Leave It – Real Life Scenarios

How to Train Your Dog to “Leave It”

If your dog understands to “leave it” on cue, it’s time to take it a step further! When training your dog to “leave it,” take it in small steps for maximum effectiveness. Usually, this article is step 3 for most dogs, but if your dog will reliably ignore treats in your hand 80% of the time when given the “leave it” cue, it’s time to step it up a notch.

Why Dogs Eat Things Off the Ground

There’s something about food on the ground that makes most dogs go bonkers! Usually, this is a learned behavior. They’ve been rewarded by finding small tidbits hidden from the naked human eye so this explains their enthusiasm. Shoot, I would be looking under cabinets too if I found hidden $100 bills down there. 🙂

How to Stop Your Dog From Eating Off Floors

Hidden Food Hand

While holding a treat in your closed fist, lower your hand to the ground. As you’re lowering your hand, say “leave it.” By now, your dog has learned “leave it” means to ignore your “closed treat hand,” but sometimes he regresses. The food is now on the ground, oh my!

Once your dog ignores your “treat hand,” click and give him the treat in your hand. Practice 5 times and end the sessions. Over the next two days or so, practice using treats or a few pieces of kibble from your dog’s meals.

Treat in Open Hand

Once your dog successfully ignores your hidden food hand on cue, it’s time to make it a tad tougher. Place open hand with back of hand touching ground and treat inside palm. As you’re lowering your hand, say “leave it” and open your hand. Most dogs will rush for the treat, they can see it now. Once he starts moving toward your hand, close it so he can’t get the treat. Once he moves back from your hand, click and give him the treat.

Dogs are fast! If he successfully gets the treat from you, tether or ask someone to hold the other end of the leash for you. If your dog strains to reach the visual treat, take a step back to “hidden food hand” or try with a piece of kibble instead of a hot dog. Some dogs will do anything for hot dogs! 🙂

Practice 5 times in a row, then end the training session, regardless of success. Breaks are invaluable in dog training. They prevent boredom, and I’ve found dogs excel at the next training session. It’s almost like they marinated over the previous training session, worked out the kinks, and are much more successful during the next training session.

If, even after a break, your dog is still confused, take a step back to “hidden food hand” or “adding a cue.” It’s perfectly normal to take a step back. It’s like learning a new language where you’re confused on when or how to use the new word you learned. 🙂

VIDEO: How to Train Your Dog to Ignore Food on the Ground

More:
Picky Dog Eaters
Food Puzzles for Dogs
Prevent Resource Guarding
How to Give a Dog a Pill