By the Sheeba & Zoey Team · 2 German Shepherds · Over 15 Years with GSDs

How to Teach Your GSD to ‘Leave It’: A Step-by-Step Guide

When we first welcomed Sheeba and Zoey home, I thought getting them to learn commands would come easy-peasy. I mean, you’ve seen those dogs on TV doing tricks like magicians! But honestly, getting Sheeba (the fast one with a short black-and-tan coat) and our head-tilting Zoey (fluffy long-coat who smiles at everything) to understand took way more time than I’d figured.

The German Shepherd Difference

Why bother teaching your GSD to ‘leave it’? Well, understanding this helps you succeed. German Shepherds are super smart and built for work. As per the American Kennel Club, they’re the third most popular breed in the U.S. Fantastic companions for sure but they come with their own set of training puzzles!

For example, Sheeba’s bark can shake the world when a bicycle rolls by. It gets intense during walks! Zoey? She’s all about that head tilt when I ask her things—just bursting with curiosity. Their quirks show why tuning your method really counts.

So German Shepherds are powerhouses of energy and drive, always needing to keep their minds as busy as their legs. Teaching them ‘leave it’ channels that into something positive and keeps them safe from life’s hazards like stray chocolate or sharp bits on the street.

If you prefer hands-on learning, take a peek at our training video library on YouTube.

Step 1: Basic Command Understanding

Start by making sure your dog really gets what you’re asking. First things first, let’s be clear about ‘leave it’: it’s a cue for them to drop whatever they’re eyeballing and look at you instead—basically telling them to ignore stuff they shouldn’t mess with.

This is how I explained it to Sheeba:

• Choose Your Words: Stick with one command like ‘leave it.’ Say it in the same tone every time so she links the word with not touching.
• Create Scenarios: Use things she’s drawn to but shouldn’t have—like toys or food scattered around. I’d start with her favorite toy because that always gets her attention.
• Select Training Times: Spend 5-10 minutes daily on this alone. For us, mornings worked best before heading out for walks.

This first part took about three days for Sheeba until she got consistent when distracted during practice sessions. Repeating right after meals seemed helpful—she was just more mellow then. As for Zoey, she needed five days since she loves investigating everything around her.

Newsletter Modal Overlay

Need essentials for teaching your GSD to 'leave it'? Explore our curated collection (tried and tested by Sheeba & Zoey).

Step 2: Introduce Distractions Gradually

Next up is carefully introducing distractions while practicing ‘leave it.’ My two girls handled them differently — Zoey was into everything around us, curious as a cat, while Sheeba maintained focus better, not as bothered by the noise.

Sheeba's Tip: Kick off with easy-peasy distractions (like putting treats nearby) before making it tougher!

Here’s how I did that:

1. Low Distraction Environment: Start indoors where sights and sounds are minimal. My living room works great — curtains pulled shut. I also ditch my phone and TV to keep things quiet.
2. Add More Distraction Gradually: Once they're solid on the ‘leave it’ inside without getting frazzled over stuff, begin adding distractions like toys outside or even my kids running about after a week of indoor training. We waited until they nailed the command inside before trying the backyard, with squirrels taunting them. It began with my kids lightly tossing a ball nearby during practice.

After about two weeks or so, I started taking them to the local park to work on ‘leave it’ with bigger distractions like joggers and other dogs trotting by. If they seemed overwhelmed, I’d step back to easier setups until they got their mojo back. We went during quieter times (early mornings or later in the afternoon) to keep distractions manageable.

The Psychology Behind Positive Reinforcement

This method leans into positive reinforcement because GSDs thrive on rewards for good behavior. Punishment doesn't work the same way. Here’s what clicked for us:

• Praise Immediately: The instant they drop an object, shower them with loud, cheerful praise and maybe a belly rub! I'd shout “Good girl!” in my happiest voice—definitely made them perk up about obeying.
• Treat Reward System: Bring out the high-value treats they rarely get (like special chicken bites). These rare goodies make success taste sweet! Small bits of cheese or freeze-dried liver worked wonders for us. I sliced them into tiny pieces—pea-sized. to keep their bellies from filling up fast.

Advanced Tips for Experienced Owners

Once ‘leave it’ basics are down, spice things up! Try exercises along paths with other pets nearby—the aim is no engagement despite distractions! (Trust me—it can be chaos!).

Here are some additional advanced techniques I've used with Sheeba and Zoey:

• Use a Clicker: If you've got a clicker, use it to mark obedience instantly. It sharpens their grasp of the command. Once they knew ‘leave it,' I introduced the clicker—it took about a week before they reacted positively to that click sound. I clicked when they turned away from distractions.
• Vary the Reward: Mix rewards so they're always surprised by what's next. Sometimes it's treats, other times it's playtime or toys. This keeps commands exciting! For instance, after training sessions, I'd let them dash around the yard as a fun reward.
• Distance Training: Slowly increase space between them and the distraction. Start with just a few feet; eventually move to ten feet or more. During park strolls, I set treats at different distances—took about a month until long distances felt okay. Early on, I used a leash to help maintain focus and keep them from darting at distractions.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with great plans, hiccups happen. Here's what tripped us up and how we smoothed things out:

• Ignoring the Command: If Sheeba or Zoey ever ignored ‘leave it,’ I'd head back to a spot with fewer distractions and try again with something less tempting. It seemed to work better, giving them a chance to get their confidence back at their own pace. A higher-value treat sometimes did the trick too, grabbing their attention more effectively.
• Excitement Over Treats: Too worked up over treats? I'd drop the treats and switch to toys or playtime instead—helped reset their focus. Sometimes just tossing around Zoey's favorite toy for a few minutes helped settle her (and her wagging tail) down.
• Frustration with Progress: Felt stuck in training? I'd check if maybe I was pushing Sheeba too fast. Lowering the distraction difficulty often made sense, then easing back up slowly. Keeping a journal really helped spot learning patterns—plus, it was good for my memory!

Cost Breakdown for Training

Training a German Shepherd isn’t always cheap, but lots of stuff is free out there. Here’s a quick breakdown from my own experience:

• Training Treats: Plan around $10-$20 monthly for good training treats. A bag of chicken bites usually lasted us two weeks (bulk buying saves bucks).
• Clicker (optional): Clickers run about $5-$15 each. Found mine locally and it turned out pretty handy!
• Training Classes (optional): Group classes can range between $100-$300 per series. Enrolled Sheeba in one for $150—it was worth every penny! Got some fantastic feedback to tweak my methods.
• Books or Online Resources: Set aside $10-$50 for books or online courses. Bought a few training books packed with insights and found several solid online videos showing techniques visually.

Costs vary depending on your investment in tools and classes—but quality treats and off-and-on classes really paid off in my dogs’ behavior! Time spent together strengthened our bond as well (more than money ever could).

Age-Specific Adaptations

Training adjustments might be needed based on dog age. Puppies under six months need short sessions—around 5 minutes. and playful ones at that (games help). For adults like Sheeba, longer sessions. 10-15 minutes. are fine if they know basic commands already.

For senior dogs, focus on keeping them comfy. Softer treats help, and make sure training's low-stress. Zoey, at eight, needed way more breaks than Sheeba did at four. We adjusted sessions for her.

Step-by-Step Protocol to Teach 'Leave It'

Here’s a quick protocol that wraps up what we talked about. Dead simple to follow:

1. Choose a Command Word: Pick something clear like 'leave it'.
2. Set Up Training Sessions: Spend 5-10 minutes each day; best after meals or before walks.
3. Start Indoors: Low distractions. Show them a treat or toy, say 'leave it'. Reward when they ignore it (even if it's hard).
4. Gradually Increase Distractions: Slowly add things like outdoor toys or kids running around.
5. Positive Reinforcement: Praise and give treats as soon as they do it right.
6. Practice in Different Locations: Train in parks or other public spots as they get better.
7. Evaluate and Adjust: If they’re having trouble, go back to simple steps to boost their confidence.

Watch the step-by-step walkthrough on our YouTube channel.

Final Thoughts

With patience, practice, and the right tricks up your sleeve, your German Shepherd can learn to 'leave it' like a champ. Every dog's got their own rhythm. Be gentle with yourself and your dogs while you're in training (Zoey's head tilts can provide comic relief).

People Also Ask