It seems like your dog is always stealing something. Your dog steals your shoes. Your dog steals your socks. Your dog steals your remote control. Your steals your Crocs. (Sorry. I’m a Dr. Seuss fan.)
Stealing things can be very rewarding for a dog. Most dogs love to put anything and everything in their mouths. Many dogs also love to chase and be chased, and nothing gets that started quite like stealing an iPhone or half of a pair of Uggs!
We train two behaviors to help with dogs stealing things. “Give” or “Release” is for getting your dog to drop something. “Leave it” is for getting him to not pick it up in the first place.
We train “Leave it” by training a dog to avoid things. Avoiding means not even looking at an item, let alone trying to take it. The complete behavior is “turn away from what you are currently looking at and look at me”
Training starts with treats and is then generalized to other things. When fully mastered you can tell your dog to leave anything, including other dogs and people
This video shows the initial training:
You can see three steps with Jewels, an exceptionally smart puppy:
- Marking and rewarding not lunging at or trying to taking a treat from my closed hand
- Then my open hand.
- Finally from the floor.
The initial training really does take only a few minutes (the edits are because of a shaky camera, not time), and you do want to try to get the “leave it treat” to the floor very quickly. It was very fast with Jewels, but most dogs shouldn’t take more than 3 or 4 minutes.
Each time Jewels stops trying to get the treat (she does a great sit or down when she does – not all dogs do that) I mark the moment with “Yes!”
During the “open hand” part, timing with the “Yes” is critical. Your dog may only stop trying to get the treat for an instant and a “Yes” during that moment really helps convey what you are trying to teach her.
After you gain a high level of proficiency on the floor, the next step is to delay the “Yes” until you get solid eye contact from your dog. From there, you can start to practice on other items, first inside and then outside in the presence of distractions.
Look here more training tips and tutorials. Click here if you are interested in home or group class training.
16 Comments
My dog Ginger learned a great “Leave it” at training class last spring. However, ignoring treats at class still proves to be much easier than ignoring rebel socks that get dropped on the way to the laundry room. This dog loves socks!
Interestingly, sit seems to be a incompatible behavior to the Kill The Sock game. If I can get her attention and ask for a sit, she always drops the sock when she sits. Then it’s just a matter of grabbing the sock and finding an appropriate toy to reinforce the sit.
Just curious, why do you prefer to use a verbal marker (instead of something like a click)?
cheers,
Mary H.
http://stalecheerios.com/blog
I use a verbal marker for a couple of reasons. I do still use a clicker in a few situations, and am pretty good at it.
I apprenticed at a school for several years that used lure/reward with a verbal marker, so I feel most comfortable using a verbal marker.
I also have injuries to both of my hands, especially my right. I can still operate a clicker, but it’s not always smooth. For that reason I am a lot more proficient working with a verbal marker and leaving my hands free to juggle treats.
What I love about your training techniques, is the kindness in your voice. The dog listens, but isn't terrified into submission. It's forceful and gentle at the same time.
Thank you!
Sending this one to another friend, too! Thanks for these great and focused lessons;)
I know people tend to think of Leave It as a convenience command, but it truly is a lifesaver. The first time you drop a bottle of medication or other dangerous substance, or your dog wants to grab something on the street, you'll be so grateful that you taught Leave It!
I know people tend to think of Leave It as a convenience command, but it truly is a lifesaver. The first time you drop a bottle of medication or other dangerous substance, or your dog wants to grab something on the street, you'll be so grateful that you taught Leave It!
I know people tend to think of Leave It as a convenience command, but it truly is a lifesaver. The first time you drop a bottle of medication or other dangerous substance, or your dog wants to grab something on the street, you'll be so grateful that you taught Leave It!
I know people tend to think of Leave It as a convenience command, but it truly is a lifesaver. The first time you drop a bottle of medication or other dangerous substance, or your dog wants to grab something on the street, you'll be so grateful that you taught Leave It!
Yes, it is a safety command. Great point!
Yes, it is a safety command. Great point!
Yes, it is a safety command. Great point!
Yes, it is a safety command. Great point!
Yes, Leave It! is a great command. Used it while out on K9 Search & Rescue mission recently – searching woods bordering fenced property with a bunch of chickens! Search dog loose, searching, was very interested to find out what those critters were – had never seen before! Did 180-degree turn AWAY from chickens after “Leave It” command & went back to work. Train young & reinforce command (“booster training”) periodically. Originally trained w/ clicker, but not required for boosters. Good when they start to show interest in smells coming from kitchen counters too!
Wish I read this post before this conversation with my husband:
TIM: (from dog yard) “You missing a yellow scrunchy?”
KIM: “Maybe. Why?”
TIM: (observes shovel of shit) “Want it back?”
LOL!
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