Do you often say “leave it!” to your dog on a walk or while cooking? Has your dog learned to grab things and run when they hear that word? Dogs are curious, but sometimes that curiosity can lead to an emergency trip to the vet. Calling your dog away from dangerous items is important, but there is a better way using the “Look at That” game, or LAT for short. 

Why “Leave It” Can Be a Problem 

The “leave it” cue can sometimes frustrate your dog, especially when they really want something. It tells them what not to do but does not give them an alternative. LAT works differently by teaching your dog that when they notice something interesting or exciting, their job is to tell you about it. Instead of reacting, grabbing, lunging, or fixating, they look at the object, then look back at you as if to say, “Hey, I see that!” This turns your dog from a reactor to a reporter and gives your dog a clear purpose while reducing frustration. 

How to Teach LAT

There are two main ways to reach this game: the mat method and the neutral object method. The mat method is often the preferred approach because it builds on skills your dog may already know. 

Method 1: The Mat Method

This method works best because the mat gives your dog a clear boundary. They learn that being on the mat means they will not be interacting with anything around them. 

• Step 1: Teach a solid “go to mat” behavior. Your dog should be able to go to their mat and settle into whatever position they are most comfortable.
• Step 2: Open bar, closed bar. Have an assistant walk to a specific spot, like a cone. When the assistant is at that spot, feed your dog treats continuously. When your assistant leaves, stop feeding. Your dog will learn that your assistant being there means good things happen.
• Step 3: Reward the look-back. As your assistant approaches their spot, your dog will probably look at them, then back at you, expecting treats. Mark this moment with a “yes” or a click, then reward. This is the behavior you want: look at the thing, then check in with you. 
• Step 4: Add the question. Once your dog does this reliably, add words. Just as your assistant approaches, ask, “Where is your friend?” Your dog looks, turns back to you, and gets rewarded. Now you have a cue. 

Method 2: The Neutral Object Method

This classic approach uses a boring object to teach the basic principles. 

• Step 1: Show your dog a neutral object, like a coffee mug.
• Step 2: The moment your dog looks at it, even a tiny glance, mark it with a click or “yes”.
• Step 3: Hide the object behind your back and toss a treat from your other hand. This encourages your dog to whip their head back towards you.
• Step 4: Place the object on the floor and repeat. Click any glance at the object, then reward the turn back to you.
• Step 5: Once reliable, add the cue: “Where is the mug?”

Build a Strong Turn-Back First

The most important part of LAT is the turn-back, or Whiplash Turn, which teaches your dog to look at something and then snap their attention back to you. Practice this as a separate skill. 

• Step 1: Call your dog’s name and reward them for turning toward you.
• Step 2: Toss a treat on the ground, then step behind your dog so they turn around to find you after eating it.
• Step 3: Practice at doorways or coming out of a car or crate. Can your dog look at the world and then check back with you? If they get “stuck” staring out, they may not be ready for that environment yet. 

Using LAT in Real Life

Once your dog understands the game, use it instead of “leave it.”

• Use the cue as an early warning. When you spot something your dog might react to, say “Where’s the [thing]?” before they see it. This frames the whole experience as safe and predictable. Your dog thinks, “Oh, this is the game I know!” instead of reacting.
• Reward tiny behaviors. Do not wait for big, dramatic head turns. Reward small ear movements, slight head tilts, or even quick eye flicks back to you. If you only reward big movements, your dog learns they must be dramatic to be heard.
• Let your dog lead sometimes. You might ask, “Where’s the squirrel?” but your dog ignores the squirrel and reports some trash instead. There is excellent communication since they are telling you what matters to them. Reward it.
• Signals that they have moved on. When your dog starts offering other behaviors, like sit or a trick, instead of reporting on a trigger, they are saying, “I have processed that. What’s next?” Listen to them and move on to something else. 

When LAT Works Best

LAT is most helpful when: 

• There is one clear thing your dog needs help with (a person in costume, another dog at a distance).
• Your dog wants to watch something, and you need their attention. LAT is a fair compromise.
• Something suddenly happens (a person stands up, a door opens), and you want to frame it as safe.

When NOT to Use LAT

LAT is not the right tool for every situation:

• Crowded places with lots of triggers. LAT works best with one thing to discuss, not ten. 
• When your dog is over threshold. If they look at the trigger and cannot turn back to you quickly, they are too overwhelmed. Move farther away and try again.
• When you cannot prevent interaction. If an off-leash dog is running toward you, an interaction is about to happen whether you like it or not. LAT promises “we are not interacting,” and you cannot keep that promise in this example. 

Ending the Game Clearly

Always end the LAT game clearly before allowing your dog to interact with anything. If your dog is on a mat, call them off; the game ends. If they are not on a mat, move them away or ask for a simple behavior, such as touch. Reward that behavior and then give a separate cue if you want them to interact, like “Go say hi!” This keeps the rule clear: LAT means we are not interacting with that thing.

Extra Safety

You might want to teach your dog to wear a muzzle while learning this skill. It adds another layer of protection by encouraging them to report rather than grab. 

Why LAT Works

LAT gives your dog an alternative behavior instead of just a rule to follow. With “leave it,” dogs only know what they cannot do. With LAT, dogs know exactly what they should do: notice things and report them to you. This builds real communication and trust. Over time, you will better understand what your dog is telling you, and they will get better at checking in with you.

Pattern games are a way for your dog to report triggers in their environment to you. These games can be found in the Control Unleashed book series by Leslie McDevitt, CDBC, CPDT-KA, MLA. She also has an instructor certification program.