Since dogs can't always be trusted to use common sense when it comes to what they put into their mouths, teaching them to drop something — or (better yet) not to pick things up when you ask — can be invaluable.

Teaching Leave It

You can start teaching “Leave it” by putting a treat in your hand. Close your fingers around it to make a fist. Offer your fist, palm-side up, to your poodle. If the treat is smelly enough, he'll start sniffing and maybe even nibbling in an effort to get at the treat. Just ignore him and wait. Eventually, if only out of frustration, he'll remove his nose from your fist. At that point, click your clicker, then open your fist and give him the treat. Try again. He'll doubtless start sniffing again but will probably pull back more quickly. Again, click and give him the treat. Do a few more repetitions — you'll probably be surprised how quickly he gets to the point where he barely sniffs your fist before pulling back in anticipation of the treat. When that's happening, say, “Leave it” just before he pulls back, then click and treat. You've taught your dog an important command and done it very gently.

Now move the treat to the floor. When your poodle starts putting his nose toward it, gently say, “Leave it.” Don't shout it or say it in a threatening manner. Cover the treat with your foot or hand if you have to. When he backs away from it, click and give him another treat (not the one on the floor — you don't want him to think it's okay to pick up something he's been asked to leave).

Now you can try “Leave it” under more natural circumstances. Try to always have a treat handy, in case you have the opportunity to practice. As your poodle shows an interest in something you think he might pick up (but that you don't want him to), say “Leave it.” If he hesitates to pick it up, or better yet, looks at you, click and shower treats on him. Especially at the beginning, you need to make whatever treat you use to reward him better than the thing he's giving up.

Teaching Drop It

The key to teaching your dog to drop something when you really need him to (like when he's picked up a decaying carcass in the park) is to lay the groundwork at home. If your poodle has a long history of being rewarded for dropping something on request, he might come through for you when it really counts. If not, you'll probably be forced to play tug-of-war with him over that carcass.

Start at home by handing your poodle a toy. Don't make it a favorite toy. Make it something that he feels pretty ho-hum about. Brightly say, “Take it!” Play with it a little, if necessary, until he takes it in his mouth. Then offer him a treat. As he drops the toy to take the treat, say, “Drop it!” Let him nibble on the treat while you casually remove the toy. After he's eaten the treat, hand him an even better toy, and do the same thing all over. He'll soon figure out that dropping the toy gets him something great. Keep doing this, upping the ante by using toys that are more prized. This should be a fun game for your poodle that results in his rapid-fire response to the cue “Drop it.”