Leave it" means the treat is off-limits, while "Take it" grants permission to enjoy the reward. This distinction clarifies your expectations and supports your pup’s learning process.
"Remember, you're not telling your dog what to do, you are teaching them how to do it and when to do it. You're teaching them what each cue word means and what follows after hearing it."
This stage is crucial as it demonstrates to your dog how new concepts function within the framework of communication, emphasizing understanding over simple obedience.
Getting Started:
- Warm-Up:
- Begin by offering your pup a food treat accompanied by a cheerful "Take it." Allow your pup to take the treat from your hand. Repeat this at least 5 x to establish a clear pattern. This repetition helps teach the cue and expected behavior.
- Introduce 'Leave It':
- Hold a treat in a closed hand or pinch it between two fingers or hold it in your hand, ensuring they can't access it, and firmly say "Leave it." Maintain your position and patiently wait for your pup to either pull back its muzzle or look away. It's important to recognize and appreciate your dog's persistence and determination, which reflect commitment rather than stubbornness.n
- Response and Reward:
- Avoid repeating the command. Simply wait for your pup to voluntarily disengage. Once they do, promptly say "Take it" and offer the treat at least 5 times.. This immediate response helps your pup understand the distinct outcomes expected from each command, helping to avoid confusion.
- Reinforce the Behavior:
- Warm up your puppy first with several rounds of "Take it," generously rewarding each successful action. After setting a positive tone, reintroduce the "Leave it" command and patiently wait for your puppy to withdraw even slightly from your hand. Once they do, reward them with "Take it," repeating the reward multiple times to celebrate their success and reinforce positive behavior.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Engagement and Reward:
- Engage your pup with multiple "Take it" cues, each followed by a treat. Use irresistible treats like chicken, liver, or hot dogs. Aim for 5 to 10 repetitions depending on your level of generosity to ensure the dog fully understands the positive consequences of obeying the "Take it" command.
- Initiate 'Leave It':
- Clearly say "Leave it!" and secure the treat between your fingers or in a closed hand, making it inaccessible to your pup.
- Wait silently until your pup disengages by pulling away or looking aside, even if only for a split second. Resist the urge to repeat the command; this encourages them to process and act on the command independently.
Training Insights: In this session, you're teaching your pup the meanings of the words rather than just commanding them. "Leave it" means the treat is off-limits, while "Take it" grants permission to enjoy the reward. This distinction clarifies your expectations and supports your pup’s learning process.
Final Note: Always remember to lift the treat from the floor yourself and hand it to your pup following a "Take it" command. Never allow your pup to pick up food from the ground directly. This practice reinforces that treats and permissions come from you, establishing a clear protocol and respect for your role as the provider.
Teach dog to come away from the food and other deisrable items on the ground. Alwasy keep in mind dogs are also scavengers, it is survival thing.