How to teach a dog "leave it": Easy step-by-step training guide

A dropped mince pie on the kitchen floor. A mysterious "something" under a hedge on your walk. A sock that's suddenly very interesting. "Leave it" is one of the most useful things you can ever teach your dog – and it's easier than you might think. This step-by-step guide shows you how to teach a dog "leave it" using simple, reward-based training, from the very first closed-hand game to dropped food at home and tempting finds on walks.

At a glance:

What "leave it" means: Your dog learns to turn away from something they want and look to you instead.

Reward, don't block forever: You protect the item at first, then reward your dog generously for choosing to leave it.

Pay with something better: Always reward with a tastier treat than the thing they left – never let them have the item itself.

Build up slowly: Start at home with easy items, then add dropped food, distance and walks.

In this guide:

• Why "leave it" is so useful
• What you'll need to teach "leave it"
• How to teach a dog leave it: step by step
• Teaching "leave it" with dropped food
• Using "leave it" on walks
• Teaching a puppy to leave it
• Troubleshooting: when "leave it" isn't working
• Choosing the right treats for leave it training

Why "leave it" is so useful

"Leave it" teaches your dog to ignore something they'd like to have – food, a toy, a smell, even another dog – and check in with you instead. It's useful every day:

• At home: Dropped food, children's toys, socks, the cat's bowl.
• At Christmas: Chocolate, mince pies, wrapping paper and decorations within nose height.
• On walks: Litter, chicken bones, fox poo, dead birds and that half-eaten sandwich by the bench.
• Around other animals: Squirrels, cats, ducks and other dogs.

It's also a lovely confidence-builder. Your dog learns that good things come from looking to you – which helps with recall, loose lead walking and lots more.

What you'll need to teach "leave it"

• Two kinds of treat: One less exciting (such as a piece of their usual dry food) for the "leave it" item, and one really tasty treat for the reward. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home suggests a less tasty treat such as dried biscuit for the floor, with something your dog loves for the reward.
• A marker: A word such as "yes" or a clicker, so your dog knows the exact moment they got it right.
• A quiet room: Start somewhere with no other distractions.
• Patience: Five-minute sessions, a few times a day, work far better than one long session.

Small, meaty training bites are ideal as the "good stuff" reward.

How to teach a dog leave it: step by step

This method is based on reward-based training, as used by Battersea and most UK positive trainers. If you're new to this style of training, our guide to positive reinforcement dog training explains the basics.

Step 1: The closed-hand game

Put a less exciting treat in your hand and close your fist. Hold it at your dog's nose height. Your dog will sniff, lick, nibble and paw at your hand. Just wait – don't say anything, and don't open your hand.

The moment your dog moves their nose away from your hand, even for a second, say "yes" and give them a tasty treat from your other hand. Repeat until your dog backs off your fist straight away.

Step 2: Open hand

Now hold the treat on your open palm. If your dog moves towards it, simply close your hand. When they move away, say "yes" and reward from the other hand. Your dog is learning that leaving it is what earns the reward.

Step 3: Wait for eye contact

Once your dog is reliably moving away, wait for them to look up at your face. Battersea's method adds this step: when they look at you, mark and reward. If they need help, say their name once. This is the heart of "leave it" – leaving the item and checking in with you.

Step 4: Add the cue

Only add the words once your dog is getting it right most of the time. Say "leave it" just as you present your hand, in a calm, friendly voice. Then mark and reward when your dog turns away and looks at you.

Step 5: Move it to the floor

Place the less exciting treat on the floor and cover it with your hand. Battersea's advice is to keep your hand still if your dog nudges it. When your dog backs off and looks at you, mark and reward with the tasty treat. Gradually move your hand away, always ready to cover the treat if your dog goes for it.

Step 6: Practise standing up

Next, put a treat on the floor and stand next to it, ready to cover it with your foot if needed. Say "leave it", wait for your dog to look at you, then mark and reward.

Step 7: Make it harder, slowly

When your dog is confident, increase the challenge one thing at a time:

• Use a more exciting item on the floor.
• Leave it there for longer.
• Move a step further away.
• Practise in different rooms, then the garden.

If your dog gets the item, it's a sign you've moved on too fast. Simply go back a step.

Teaching "leave it" with dropped food

Dropped food is one of the hardest – and most useful – versions of "leave it", especially in a busy kitchen at Christmas.

1. Start low: Hold a less exciting treat just above the floor and let it drop, ready to cover it.
2. Cue and reward: Say "leave it" as it drops. When your dog stays back and looks at you, mark and reward.
3. Build height: Gradually drop food from higher up. Battersea suggests dropping food from height, moving it closer to your dog and even placing it on their paws as advanced steps.
4. Practise in real life: Set up "accidental" drops while you're cooking, with a tasty reward ready.

We practised this one a lot. Mr Barnaby is a professional kitchen hoover, so "leave it" with dropped food became a daily game while we made dinner. Now, when a piece of carrot hits the floor, he looks at us first – most of the time, anyway.

Using "leave it" on walks

Walks bring a whole new level of temptation. Start with your dog on the lead, so you can stop them reaching the item.

1. Plant something: Ask a helper to put a less exciting treat or toy on the path ahead, or do it yourself.
2. Walk past on a loose lead: As your dog notices it, say "leave it".
3. Reward the check-in: When they look back at you, mark and reward generously, then carry on walking.
4. Keep your distance at first: Walk past at a few metres, then gradually closer.
5. Use it for real finds: Once it's reliable, use it for litter, bones and other surprises.

Keep a pocket full of treats on walks, and always reward a good "leave it" – it needs to be worth it.

Teaching a puppy to leave it

Puppies explore the world with their mouths, so "leave it" is a brilliant early lesson. The steps are the same, but:

• Keep sessions very short: One to three minutes is plenty.
• Use tiny treats: Puppies have small tummies. Our Puppy Training Treats Bundle is made for little mouths and lots of repetitions.
• Puppy-proof as well: Training takes time, so keep tempting or unsafe items out of reach while your puppy learns.
• Celebrate small wins: A puppy turning away for one second is a big success.

"Leave it" vs "drop it": what's the difference?

They're two different skills, and it helps to teach both.

• "Leave it" means "don't touch that" – before your dog has picked something up.
• "Drop it" means "let go of what's in your mouth" – after they've picked it up.

Teach "leave it" first, as it stops problems before they start. For "drop it", swap the item for a tasty treat – never chase your dog or pull things from their mouth, which can turn it into a game of keep-away.

Troubleshooting: when "leave it" isn't working

My dog keeps grabbing the food

You've made it too hard too quickly. Go back to the closed-hand game and build up more slowly. Battersea's advice is that your dog should never get the item you've asked them to leave.

My dog leaves it, but doesn't look at me

That's still progress. Reward the leaving for now, then wait a second longer for eye contact before rewarding.

My dog only does it at home

Dogs don't generalise well. Practise in the garden, then a quiet street, then a park, making it easier each time you move somewhere new.

My dog is frustrated

Keep sessions short and end on a success. Use a less exciting item and a really tasty reward to make the right choice easier.

My dog has eaten something they shouldn't

If your dog eats something toxic or unknown on a walk – or chocolate, raisins or mince pies at home – contact your vet straight away. If your dog has a health condition, is on medication or you're worried about a change in them, please speak to your vet first.

For more on how rewards build reliable behaviour, see our complete guide to training your dog with treats.

Choosing the right treats for leave it training

"Leave it" asks your dog to turn down something tempting, so the reward needs to be better. That's why treat choice really matters for this skill.

Look for treats that are:

• High value: Tasty, meaty and more exciting than the item you're asking them to leave.
• Small: So you can reward lots of times in one session.
• Quick to eat: So training stays smooth and fun.
• Simple: Single-protein treats are easy on sensitive tummies.

Our Mixed Meaty Training Bites are one of our best sellers for exactly this reason – small, tasty, grain-free bites in a mix of proteins that keep dogs interested. Remember that training treats count towards your dog's daily food, so adjust meals on busy training days.

Summary:

"Leave it" teaches your dog to turn away from something they want and look to you instead. Start with the closed-hand game, add eye contact, then the cue, then move to the floor, dropped food and walks – making it harder one step at a time. Always reward with something better than the item, never let your dog have what they were asked to leave, and go back a step whenever they struggle.

FAQs:

Q1: How long does it take to teach a dog leave it?

Most dogs pick up the basics within a few days of short sessions. Making it reliable with dropped food and on walks usually takes a few weeks of regular practice. Keep sessions to around five minutes and practise little and often.

Q2: At what age can a puppy learn leave it?

Puppies can start learning "leave it" as soon as they've settled into their new home. Keep sessions very short, use tiny treats and keep tempting items out of reach while they learn.

Q3: What's the difference between leave it and drop it?

"Leave it" means don't touch something, before your dog has picked it up. "Drop it" means let go of something already in their mouth. Teaching "leave it" first stops many problems before they start.

Q4: Should I give my dog the item they left as a reward?

No. Always reward with a different, tastier treat from your other hand or pocket. Battersea's advice is that your dog should never get the item you asked them to leave.

Q5: Why does my dog ignore leave it on walks?

Walks are full of exciting smells and distractions, so it's much harder than at home. Practise on the lead with easy items first, keep your distance, and reward generously. Build up slowly to real-life finds.

Q6: What are the best treats for leave it training?

Small, tasty, meaty treats work best because they need to beat whatever your dog is leaving. Use a less exciting treat as the "leave it" item and save the high-value treats as the reward.

Ready to make training simple? Try our natural training treats – small, meaty and grain-free.

This guide is general information to help you care for your dog. It isn't a substitute for advice from your vet, who knows your dog's individual needs.