How to Train Your Dog to Leave It with No Command: Susan Garrett's ItsYerChoice

How to Train Your Dog to Leave It with No Command

There are many reasons to train your dog to “leave it” on command. Your puppy or dog might be grabbing scraps off the ground when you are out walking, raiding the garbage, stealing food off the table or counter. It’s not safe for your dog, and it is frustrating for you.

The downside of training “leave it” on command is that you’ll have to be there to say it to your dog for life. And perhaps one day your dog is off the lead, away from you, can’t hear your “leave it” and grabs something that is life-threatening. What I like to do is teach my dogs to leave things alone by making it their choice. It all starts with a game I call ItsYerChoice because it teaches dogs to make the choices we want them to make. It removes the need for us to always be micromanaging what our dogs are doing.

The ItsYerChoice game will even help your dog make great choices in the face of big distractions. You’ll be able to get your dog’s attention just by saying your dog’s name, or any word you want to use. I’ve got a demonstration of how it looks in the foundation stages here in this video with my dog Momentum.

When you join in, you and your puppy or dog will receive a free 20 minute training video and a step by step Play Book to help your dog get control over distractions. My foundation game teaches dogs HOW to make great choices to ‘leave’ food / toys / distractions. This is DIFFERENT! And because it’s a game, it’s fun, and we all learn best when we are having fun.

Looking forward to coaching you on how to get your dog to leave it because that is what your dog chooses to do. Join me to learn how IYC can change your life with your dog:

See you soon!

Susan Garrett

P.S. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you get notifications of new videos!
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Dogs That is brought to you by Susan Garrett and the Say Yes Dog Training Team.

Susan Garrett’s interest in animal behaviour started at the University of Guelph where she earned a Bachelor of Science majoring in Animal Science. Since then she has developed into a preeminent dog trainer and canine sports instructor and competitor. Susan is one of the most successful agility competitors of the last three decades. She has won multiple Gold Medals at National or World Championship events with every dog she has ever owned over the past 30 years.

A natural teacher and an entertaining speaker, Susan is world renowned as a leading educator of dog trainers. Her understanding of how to apply science-based learning principles to both competitive and family pet dog training has been pivotal in changing how dogs are trained.

Susan is now helping many thousands of dog owners in 82 countries have the best relationship possible with their dogs. The real joy for her comes from bringing confidence to dogs and their owner through playful interactions and relationship building games that are grounded firmly in the science of how animals learn.
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[DogsThat]

How to Train Your Dog to Leave It with No Command

There are many reasons to train your dog to “leave it” on command. Your puppy or dog might be grabbing scraps off the ground when you are out walking, raiding the garbage, stealing food off the table or counter. It’s not safe for your dog, and it is frustrating for you.

The downside of training “leave it” on command is that you’ll have to be there to say it to your dog for life. And perhaps one day your dog is off the lead, away from you, can’t hear your “leave it” and grabs something that is life-threatening. What I like to do is teach my dogs to leave things alone by making it their choice. It all starts with a game I call ItsYerChoice because it teaches dogs to make the choices we want them to make. It removes the need for us to always be micromanaging what our dogs are doing.

The ItsYerChoice game will even help your dog make great choices in the face of big distractions. You’ll be able to get your dog’s attention just by saying your dog’s name, or any word you want to use. I’ve got a demonstration of how it looks in the foundation stages here in this video with my dog Momentum.


When you join in, you and your puppy or dog will receive a free 20 minute training video and a step by step Play Book to help your dog get control over distractions. My foundation game teaches dogs HOW to make great choices to ‘leave’ food / toys / distractions. This is DIFFERENT! And because it’s a game, it’s fun, and we all learn best when we are having fun.

Looking forward to coaching you on how to get your dog to leave it because that is what your dog chooses to do.

Susan Garrett

[tpqsrby]

Looking at the distraction and not back it me is SO important. Forget worrying about a squirrel - we don't have those. What we do have is snakes. I will want my dog to alert me to a snake's presence, but not to go near it.
Invaluable training advice Susan. Thank you.

[mrouse]

Sunday afternoon, I grabbed a few pretzels, found myself side tracked, layed them on a low table and walked away. Cake walked across the room, looked at them and quietly sat down. IYC, I was head over heels happy, excited and proud of him!! Thank you so big, Susan!!!!

[ozpwpck]

I wish I learned your technique earlier. My pup looks at me and as you said, I have no idea what he's asking! Thanks for a new way to do eliminae "leave it" and "look at me." I too like using his name to get his attention.

[AnnainAwe]

I love that you explain so clearly why the dog is trained to look at the cookie and not the human face. This helps me understand where I've been undermining some of my own goals, inadvertently 😜

[karenhalskov]

Things I’d like to improve:
Liva 13 years - barking
Oscar 6 years - barking, pulling on the leash to sniff & mark
DeeDee 3 years - barking and ignoring me
Tommy 3 months - alarm barking
Yes, I have got my work cut out for me 😁

[dianelovett]

Love this. I started out doing this without realizing on walks, and it’s been amazing. I want my dog to see the squirrel and be calm. I don’t need him to stare at me and I can’t say leave it soon enough to stop him, I’m no longer saying “leave it” over and over while he ignores me and goes nuts. He sees the squirrel and stays in place calmly.

[kelleywyskiel]

❤ my pups are getting really great with these games.
I took my girl to a squirrel ran park today and just walked with her around the squirrels.
Nothing.
She looked at them, looked at me. Sat down and watched them run up and down trees. Then just enjoyed exploring and sniffing without reacting to anything
It was such a nice experience ❤

[Halberry]

I love this game!!! I absolutely love learning from Susan Garrett! Her method of educating people is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. She’s made a huge impact on my life and I’m not even halfway thru her podcast!

[sarahanderson]

4:42 I love Momentum's goofiness! She's like, "Umm, hello, I could use some more playtime or those yummy cookies, please!" Goofy, but still making good choices! That's how I want my dogs to be :)

[bethchen]

I love your videos Susan! Living in a city where everything from human feces from drug addicts to „treats“ with poisons or needles in them can be found in the parks, I need a video to understand how to train my dog to ONLY eat things with permission. Is there a video specifically on this? Thank you so much for the work you do. Honestly wish I had seen your videos decades ago when I had a small child ❤

[debbiecharlton]

I wish I lived near you. Your videos are awesome and so interesting 😊

[michellem]

Thank you Susan, you are my hero!!!! 🦸‍♀️

[suzanneevans]

So, as long as they are showing self restraint in front of their food bowls, no more expectation of them looking at me before I let them eat. Thank you for explaining the logic behind this.

[alexxela]

Thanks for the video. It is more like self-control than a choice.

[bethl]

This has been so helpful with my two little minions, 45 lb GSD/ Husky and 35 lb Am Staf/ dachshund (imagine a dachshund on steroids) We are getting the hang of it, the GSDx more so that the Am Staf. She is a little lady and he is a bull in a china shop

[kasiapanasiuk]

Susan I love you ! ☺️ I did not look at this excersise that way. It's blow my mind. And its perfect ! Thank you for all of your videos. You are the best trainer ! Wish you all the best.

[chaoskings]

I'm starting to play IYC with my boarding dogs in preparation of training me for my next puppy who comes home in about 7 months!

[JoanHobbs]

I loved these first two videos and can't wait to start working with my rescue dog! Our biggest challenge is recall and I hope to start building on these first steps of ItYerChoice to grow our relationship. I choose not to be on Facebook, is there any other way to see future videos? I'd hate to miss out on these great training tips. I'm also baking two of the treats from the recipe book today, they look great! Thanks so much, Susan! Fingers crossed Facebook is not the only avenue for accessing these great lessons and information.

[depotdave]

We’ve been listening to the podcasts. Thanks. I’m looking for the first itsyerchoice video. Hopefully we can find a version for this with toys to see how you’re able to play this without treats. Our dog most in need of help has EPI so no treats for us.