Drop

Drop It is different from Leave It in that your dog already has the bad thing (or toy) in her mouth and you want her to out it when you ask. Your dog must learn this skill before playing tug. Here is how you teach her this great behavior.

Show Her The Game

Sit in front of your dog and make sure she is chewing on something like a toy or a low value bone. Put some treats in your hand that are better than what she’s chewing on and put your fist behind your back. Slowly move the treats from behind your back around your side and up to her nose. She will smell the treats and drop what she’s chewing on. As soon as she drops, you click and let her have the bait in your hand.

Wait Until She Understands

Do this several times until she starts to anticipate your hand coming near her nose. For example, once she’s caught on to the game, she will start to drop when your hand is 6 inches away from her face. This is a good sign. Wait until she is dropping her toy when your hand is 1 foot away, generally at your side. Keep clicking as soon as she drops her toy and then give her the bait in your hand. Now you are ready to insert your verbal cue.

Insert Verbal Cue

Say “Drop” and then bring your hand around because you know your hand signal is going to make her give you the behavior you’re asking for. Click when she outs the toy and then give her the bait in your hand. Keep doing this until she drops right after you give her the verbal cue.

That’s it. This is a really easy and fun behavior to train!

NOTE: If your dog is not dropping the toy or bone she has, then the bait in your hand is not better than what she’s got. Think of it like this, she wouldn’t drop t-bone steak for kibble but she would drop kibble for a t-bone steak!
 

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Frequently Asked Questions - Drop

Why do I invite him up? Isn’t that unfair to ask him to jump on me and then punish him by turning around?

That’s a great question and the answer is this, what do most people do when they come through your front door? They make high pitched, happy to see the dog, noises. Your dog needs to learn that jumping is never allowed period no matter how enticing you or your guest is.

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Green Paws Training Options

We teach and practice Drop training in our Puppy Manners and Basic Manners classes. 

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Books and Tools

There are no books or tools to really recommend for this behavior.

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