I was strolling through a Seattle park last week when a golden retriever suddenly darted toward a discarded sandwich wrapper, nose to the ground. “Leave it!” his owner called, and to my surprise, the dog froze, then trotted back, tail wagging. It looked effortless, but teaching that split-second choice—ignoring something tempting to listen to you—starts with understanding why your dog wants that “something” in the first place.
Dogs explore the world with their mouths, and to them, a crumpled wrapper or a neighbor’s shoe isn’t “forbidden”—it’s a mystery to solve, a texture to investigate, or a way to interact with their environment. The “leave it” command doesn’t shut down their curiosity; it redirects it, teaching them that “ignoring” brings better things than “grabbing.” A trainer in Chicago calls it “value substitution”: if your dog learns “that wrapper = nothing, but coming to you = cheese,” they’ll make the swap every time. This works because their brains are wired to seek rewards, not avoid punishment.
Start indoors with low stakes. Place a kibble on the floor and cover it with your foot. Say “leave it” in a calm, firm voice, and wait—your dog might nudge your foot, but the second they pull back (even for a breath), say “yes!” and toss a high-value treat (like a piece of hot dog) a few feet away. Repeat this 10 times a day, gradually uncovering the kibble. By day 5, try it with a sock or a toy—something they actually want. My cousin in Austin did this with her beagle, Lucy, who’d steal socks nonstop. After two weeks, Lucy will glance at a sock, then look at my cousin, as if to say “Where’s my treat?”

Once they nail it at home, take it outside—but keep them on a 6-foot leash. If they spot a squirrel or a trash pile, say “leave it” and redirect with a treat from your pocket. In apartment hallways, practice with dropped keys or mail—this keeps them from pestering neighbors. Always carry poop bags (Seattle fines $125+ for forgetting) and confirm their rabies vaccine is current; most dog parks require proof, and a dog who listens to “leave it” is safer around other pets and people. Never yank their leash or scold them for being curious—positive reinforcement (praise, treats) builds trust way faster than frustration.
By autumn, you’ll notice your dog checking in with you before going for something tempting, that split-second pause where they decide to listen. That’s the win: not just obedience, but a partnership where they trust you to guide them, even when the world is full of interesting things to explore.