Obedience training
How do you use leave it on walks to stop a dog going for trash or dead animals?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Practice leave it heavily at home and in easy settings first, since a walk full of genuinely tempting, novel smells is one of the hardest environments to test a new cue in. On the walk itself, say the cue the moment you spot the item, before the dog fully commits to investigating it, and be ready to move away and increase distance rather than relying on the word alone if the temptation is very strong. Rewarding generously for compliance out on real walks, not just at home, keeps the behavior strong where it actually matters.
Why walks are the hardest test, not the starting point
Trash, roadkill and other strong smelling finds are genuinely more tempting than anything practiced at home, so a leave it that only exists from indoor sessions often fails the first few times it meets real outdoor temptation. This is expected and does not mean the training failed, it means the walk stage needs its own dedicated practice.
Cueing early, before full commitment
Saying "leave it" the moment you notice the item, rather than after the dog has already started pulling toward it, gives the cue a much better chance of working, since interrupting an early interest is far easier than stopping a dog mid lunge. Watching ahead on the path for likely trouble spots helps you get the timing right.
Using distance as a backup, not a failure
If the cue alone is not enough, calmly changing direction or crossing to the other side of the path removes the temptation entirely, which is a perfectly reasonable backup rather than a sign the training is not working. Rewarding generously every single time the dog does leave something alone on a real walk, with genuinely good treats kept specifically for outdoor practice, keeps the behavior strong in the environment that matters most.
Key takeaways
- Real walks are the hardest test for leave it, not the place to start training it.
- Cue the moment you spot the item, before the dog has fully committed toward it.
- Changing direction or distance is a reasonable backup, not a training failure.
- Reward compliance on actual walks generously, since that is where it matters most.