Category: Getting Started ¤
  Author: Dani Weinberg ¤
   Title: Leave It ¤

> >>Fourth, train a "leave it" command. Dani Weinberg has a good method for
this; perhaps she'll speak up
> >
> >I need to know that.  Please, Dani, could you share it with us?
> 
Pat,
It's not particularly original.  In fact, I stole it from Ian Dunbar - and
I'm sure he didn't originate it either!
 
It's simple:
1)  Offer the dog a treat in your open palm, with "Take It." Repeat.
2)  Same thing, but this time close your fist around the treat.  Present
your closed fist to the dog's nose and hold your hand still while you wait
.  The dog will lick, nip, do whatever he can think of to get the treat,
but won't succeed of course.
3)  At a certain moment, the dog will move its head away from your hand -
whether by accident, or out of frustration or boredom, or whatever.
Doesn't matter.  Some dogs just naturally fall into a Sit - so much the
better, but not required.
4)  You mark that moment (it may be easier to use a verbal CR, unless you
have a confederate standing by to click for you) and open your hand -
offering the treat with "Take It."
5)  Once the behavior is established, I use the cue "Back Up" - simply
because that describes the criterion you're looking for so well and I think
it makes it easier for owners than "Leave It" - but the choice of cue
doesn't matter at all.  Some people use Off, but I use that for Get Off the
Furniture.
 
Once the dog is good at this (and it really doesn't take very long - just a
few reps will do it for most dogs), you can move to a valued object (treat)
on the floor.  You probably need the dog on leash at the beginning, and it
helps a lot to have an assistant who can quickly cover the treat with their
foot if the dog is about to get it.  I usually let the owner handle the
dog, and I "handle" the treat.  It's probably a good idea to start with a
less "hot" (highly valued) object, just so you don't have to pull on the
leash.  But at least you're not "popping" the leash and screaming at the dog!
 
 Dani  
 
 Dani Weinberg
 Albuquerque, NM and
 Mt. Crested Butte, CO