Teaching Your Morkie ‘Leave It’: Essential for Curious Pups

One sunny afternoon, Georgie, my perpetually curious Morkie, spotted a discarded chicken bone on our usual walking path. Before I could even register what it was, her little nose was practically suction-cupped to it, a low growl rumbling in her chest – a sound usually reserved for the postal worker. My heart leaped into my throat. This wasn’t just a dropped french fry; it was a potential choking hazard, a bacteria bomb, a trip to the emergency vet waiting to happen. In that split second, I knew my half-hearted attempts at “leave it” weren’t cutting it anymore.

Teaching your Morkie “leave it” isn’t a cute trick; it’s a non-negotiable life skill. Morkies, bless their fluffy, inquisitive souls, are natural-born scavengers. Their tiny noses are powerful detectors of anything remotely interesting on the ground, and their small stature makes them particularly adept at hoovering up questionable items before you can even react. Think about it: a Rottweiler might sniff a dropped pill and you have time to intervene. A Morkie? That pill is gone before you even complete your thought. This command isn’t about denying them a treat; it’s about keeping them safe from toxic foods, sharp objects, and unsanitary discoveries that could lead to hefty vet bills or, worse, irreversible harm. (Check out our top pick: training treats.)

My wake-up call with the chicken bone taught me that consistency and high-value rewards are key. I started simple, placing a low-value treat (like a piece of kibble) on the floor and covering it with my hand. When Georgie went for it, I’d firmly say “leave it.” The moment she backed off, even for a second, I’d praise her like she’d just discovered a cure for all diseases and immediately offer her a much higher-value treat (like a tiny piece of cheese) from my other hand. We practiced this religiously, slowly progressing to covering the treat with just my foot, then with no cover at all, and eventually, with irresistible temptations like dropped bits of human food. The crucial part was always making the “leave it” reward infinitely better than what she was being told to leave alone. It took patience, repetition, and a lot of cheese, but the payoff was immense. (Check out our top pick: premium small breed dog food.)

Now, when Georgie eyes a suspicious crumb or a mysterious leaf, a calm “leave it” is usually all it takes. She might give it a longing glance, but she understands that ignoring it means something even better is coming her way. That chicken bone incident, while terrifying, solidified the importance of this command. It’s not about obedience; it’s about protection. Equip your Morkie with this vital skill.

Practice “leave it” daily in various environments, starting with low-value items and gradually increasing the temptation.

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