Leave It

Leave It Tip 🐾

A dog that leaves the treat on the kitchen floor doesn't automatically leave the possum on the back fence. Dogs don't generalise a skill the way we assume they will – to them, a new environment can mean a whole new rule.

Practice "Leave It" in as many different settings as you can: the yard, the park, on lead, off lead, near food, near toys. Each new context is a chance to prove the cue really means the same thing everywhere.

The goal is a dog who leaves it whether it's a sausage roll or a startled koala 🐨

Free training tips and guides: leaveit.com.au 📍

Leave It is an initiative of The Behaviour Change Collaborative . Proudly supported by Queensland Environment.

Leave It Tip 🐾

A dog that nails ‘leave it’ in the lounge room can fall apart the second a rabbit bolts across the park – and that's normal, not a setback.

Start somewhere boring. No distractions, low stakes, easy wins. Once your dog is reliably doing it there, add one variable at a time – a bit more distance, a bit more temptation, a bit more chaos. Build up slowly and the skill actually sticks, even when a koala's nearby 🐨

Free step-by-step guides are in the app and at leaveit.com.au 📍

Leave It is an initiative of The Behaviour Change Collaborative . Proudly supported by Queensland Environment.

Free dog training sessions in Brisbane? You bet! Join our expert trainers and learn leave it and recall cues.

Multiple locations across Brisbane. Spots are limited so register quick! https://www.leaveit.com.au/free-dog-training-brisbane-city/

Sponsored by Brisbane City Council. Leave It is an initiative of The Behaviour Change CollaborativeT. Proudly supported by Queensland Environmentnt

First things first – barking is completely normal dog behaviour. It's how they communicate. But when it becomes excessive, it's worth figuring out what's behind it before trying to fix it.

Barking usually falls into one of these categories: boredom, fear, alerting, attention-seeking or frustration. The approach that works depends on the cause – so a little detective work goes a long way 🔍

Here's where to start 👇

Don't reward it accidentally
If your dog barks and you go to them, give them attention or tell them off, you've responded – and that can be enough of a reward to keep it going. Wait for a moment of quiet before engaging.

Teach a "quiet" cue
Let them bark a couple of times, then calmly say "quiet" and wait. The moment they stop – even for a second – reward that silence. Build from there.

Meet their needs first
A tired, mentally stimulated dog barks less. Make sure they're getting enough exercise, enrichment and social time before expecting them to settle.

Manage the environment
If your dog barks at passers-by through the window, blocking that view can reduce the trigger while you work on training.

Reducing barking takes time and patience – but with consistency, it absolutely gets better 💚

Download the free Leave It app for more training tips 👇
https://www.leaveit.com.au/dog-training-app/

Leave It is an initiative of The Behaviour Change Collaborative . Proudly supported by Queensland Environment.

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Not all treats are created equal. 🐾

At home with no distractions, your dog will probably work for their regular kibble. But out on a trail where the bush is full of interesting smells and movement? You need to bring the good stuff.

High-value rewards – think cheese, chicken, ham or whatever makes your dog's eyes light up – give you a real chance of competing with the environment. And in areas where koalas are active, you want every advantage you can get. 🐨

Save the special treats for the moments that matter most. Ask for a recall near a distraction, reward big. Spot wildlife before your dog does, call them back, reward even bigger. You're not bribing your dog – you're making the right choice the most rewarding one. 🌿💚

Want more training tips? Download the free Leave It app via the link in our bio. 👆

Leave It is an initiative of The Behaviour Change Collaborative . Proudly supported by Queensland Environment.

The secret ingredient in dog training? Consistency 🐾
It's not the fanciest tip, but it's the most important one. Dogs learn through repetition and pattern. When the rules stay the same every single day, they know exactly what's expected of them – and that makes learning so much faster.

Here's what consistency actually looks like in practice 👇

Same cue, every time
Pick a word and stick to it. "Down", "lie down" and "get down" all mean different things to your dog. Choose one and use it every time.

Same rules, everyone
If one person lets the dog jump up while another doesn't, your dog isn't being stubborn – they're just confused. Get the whole household on the same page.

Same rewards
Your dog should always know that good behaviour pays off. If sometimes you reward and sometimes you don't, the behaviour becomes unpredictable too.

Same timing
Reward within a second or two of the behaviour you want. Every. Single. Time. Timing drift is one of the biggest reasons training stalls.

Consistency doesn't have to be perfect – it just has to be predictable. Your dog is always learning from you, even when you're not ‘training’ 💚

Download the free Leave It app for more tips 👇
https://www.leaveit.com.au/dog-training-app/

Leave It is an initiative of The Behaviour Change Collaborative. Proudly supported by Queensland Environment.

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