Due to a email I received this morning, from a friend whose dog died from poison late last night, I thought I would ask how many of you feel that teaching a dog to "leave it" or "drop it" is important and work on it until they are 100%?
2007-11-07 00:54:36 · 17 answers · asked by Scelestus Unus 5 in Pets ➔ Dogs
My dog is capable of dropping a steak if I ask him to. Not only will he drop 95% of items (cheese he won't drop) I can put my hand in his mouth and take it without complaint from him.
2007-11-07 01:23:27 · update #1
Also she's a health nut, the poison the dog got was NOT from her or her property. They are waiting for the blood panel, are going to do a necropsy and try to prove the neighbor willfully poisoned the dog.
2007-11-07 01:24:52 · update #2
Akron Ohio. And the dog wasn't unattended. She saw him go for something, lay down and she went over to get it from him. He wouldn't give it to her.
2007-11-07 01:26:24 · update #3
I use "leave it" for NOT going for something IE, scents, food, small animals. "Give it" instead of drop it, but "give it" means let go.
2007-11-07 01:29:48 · update #4
As Tom very correctly pointed out, these are two distinct, different commands. I teach both to my dogs, but, for different reasons. My work dogs learn "leave it" as a command to not pick something up that I do not want them to or to stop sniffing in an area that I have not directed them to!!
My sport dog understands both commands and performs both on demand. You cannot compete at a high level in sport with a dog that will retrieve and not release something in your hand, there are point loses for that. Hope I helped!!!
2007-11-07 01:23:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I do teach leave it and drop. Leave it is for things I don't want her to touch, or even pay attention to, drop is for things she already has in her mouth.
I know she's not 100% though, but she is getting better.
It is scary how things like this can happen though. My trainer told me about a person who was staying in a hotel with their dog, and the dog ate a pill left there by a previous guest. The dog had kidney damage and died 2 years later because of it.
2007-11-07 10:09:21 · answer #2 · answered by Carrie O'Labrador 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's an important command, but no dog is ever 100 percent. If you expect 100 percent, particularly if the dog has gotten hold of something really yummy, like a steak, you're in for some disappointment. Dogs are great, but you have to respect their limitations, too.
2007-11-07 08:58:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We teach both commands to our dogs, we are working with it on the puppy now, and our trainer from level one actually incorporates this into the class- puts bowls our all over the place with treats in them. However, I agree with those who've already posted- don't know that it would do much good if you are not there to give the command- we have those nasty bufo toads here in south florida, so I try not to leave the dogs outside unattended after dark just in case....
2007-11-07 09:40:09 · answer #4 · answered by Rachal961 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Teaching your pet to "leave it" is not going to keep him/her from ingesting poison UNLESS you are there to give command. The only way to avoid the sad situation that your friend has experienced is to not put poisons down in the reach of your pets. Dogs and cats are like curious children and no parent would ever knowingly leave poison in the vicinity of a child, so why would you leave it where your beloved pet could come in contact with it. I am extremely sorry for the loss of your friend's pet.
2007-11-07 09:00:05 · answer #5 · answered by michelenrowe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those are the FIRST two things I teach new puppies. They are easy and fun for them to learn. And they can save their life!!!!
My friends dog suffered damage and major surgery after he could not get a hunk of deer bone from the dog. Had the dog learned "drop it", it never would have happened.
I also have a packet on those two commands that I give all new puppy people.
It is amazing how many people cannot get things away from their dogs!!!!
2007-11-07 09:06:41 · answer #6 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Teaching a dog "leave it and drop it" is very important. Mine do as told so long as I tell them. The problem will come when I am not around. If they are in the yard doing their business and find something, I dont think they are going to "leave it' on their own.
2007-11-07 09:00:24 · answer #7 · answered by sheena708 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
omg, I am so sorry for your friends loss, I know how it feels to lose a best pet
dogs work with 1 syllable words the best...
so "NO!" I have found works the best with my dogs. It is real hard , depending on the area to keep an eye on your dog 100% of the time and they do get into things.
2007-11-07 09:05:12 · answer #8 · answered by str8putter 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With my retrievers I DEMAND 100% compliance for the trained retrieve.
First "drop" and "leave it" are two completely different things.
"Drop" is the command to deliver to hand whatever the dog has in it's mouth.
"Leave it" is the command not to pick something up off the ground. (like if the dog tries to retrieve a duck decoy instead of the duck)
Here is a very good explanation of teaching "drop"
http://www.dobbsdogs.com/library/retrievers/rjpart1.html
click on the Dobbs library tab for part II
2007-11-07 09:09:19 · answer #9 · answered by tom l 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think it is extremely important. After "watch me", "leave it" was the second thing that the trainer told us to teach our dogs. According to him, my dog is the worst with "leave it" in regards to any kind of food/treat that he has ever seen. She is coming up on a year now, and it is still something I have to work on every day with her.
2007-11-07 10:02:05 · answer #10 · answered by Amanda 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋