How to Teach Leave It to a Dog: NZ Step-by-Step Guide

The quick answer: teach "leave it" by rewarding your dog for turning away from something, not by wrestling items out of their mouth. Start with boring objects, make the right choice easy, and pay well. Once the dog understands the cue, use it for dropped food, wildlife distractions and household hazards.

What "leave it" should mean

"Leave it" means: notice that thing, then disengage and check back with you. It is not the same as "drop it", which asks the dog to release something already in their mouth.

This cue is useful around food, children's toys, picnic scraps, possum droppings, beach rubbish and other NZ walk surprises. Pair it with the wider basics in Dog Training and Behaviour NZ, Dog Recall Training NZ, Puppy Socialisation NZ and How to Stop a Dog Barking NZ.

Step 1: start with a boring item

Put a low-value item on the floor under your hand or foot. The moment your dog stops sniffing, backs away or looks at you, mark the choice and reward from your other hand. Do not let the dog grab the item.

Repeat until the dog quickly disengages. Then say "leave it" once, before they move away, and reward the turn-away.

Step 2: add movement and distance

Move to an item in an open palm, then an item on the floor, then a gently tossed item. Keep the reward better than the thing they are leaving. If your dog dives for it, make the setup easier.

Practise in quiet rooms before the garden, driveway, footpath and park. Dogs do not automatically understand that a cue learnt in the lounge applies beside a fish-and-chip wrapper.

Step 3: use real life carefully

On walks, say "leave it" early, before your dog reaches the item. Reward turning back to you. If the item may be dangerous, create distance first and reward afterwards.

Do not use "leave it" as a threat. RSPCA and AVSAB guidance supports reward-based training because dogs learn best when the wanted behaviour is clear and reinforced.

When to get help

If your dog guards items, freezes, growls, snaps or has swallowed something risky, do not keep practising over high-value objects. Contact a NZ vet for ingestion concerns and a qualified force-free trainer or behaviour professional for guarding.

Quick takeaways

• "Leave it" means disengage and check back with you.
• Start easy and reward with something better.
• Practise in many places before relying on it outdoors.
• Guarding or dangerous ingestion needs professional help.

Related reading

• Dog Training and Behaviour NZ
• Dog Recall Training NZ
• Puppy Socialisation NZ
• How to Stop a Dog Barking NZ

References

• RSPCA, Training your dog, checked 2026-06-13: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/training
• American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, Humane Dog Training Position Statement, checked 2026-06-13: https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AVSAB-Humane-Dog-Training-Position-Statement-2021.pdf

Important notice

*General dog training information for NZ owners. Item guarding, growling, snapping, toxin exposure or swallowed objects need a NZ vet or qualified behaviour professional.*