teach to drop toy

[kaykay]

i am trying to teach jayson to drop toys so we can throw them again but all he wants to do is play tug o' war with them. what is the best way to teach him to drop them?

[Tanya]

I use a treat at first. you may need to put a short leash (to drag around as they fetch) if your dog is a "run away" and keep away dog

put the treat under their nose and as they open their mouth give the command and give them the treat (step on the toy!). make a habit of giving them back the toy (no throw) as well, I find that if you ALWAYS take things away when you say drop it, especially at first, it makes it harder to train.

For fetching try using two dogs so you don't waste all your time on training I did htis with a past dog, I would hold up another toy until he droped the first then throw (the second toy)

practice with things around hte house. get a toy and give it to them, but keep your hand on it. when they are putting their teeth on it, say "take it". play for abit (keep your hand on it and play tug) and hten put the treat under their mouth and say drop it as they open their mouth. after they eat the treat start over.

when a dog KNOWS the command (after lots of training) and doesn't drop it I push their gum on their tooth until their mouth opens and I get the toy. but first, training!

[silverbyrd21]

i am working on this now with Libby using the two toys of egual value technique. it is by far the biggest challenge ive had so far!

[SharonaZamboni]

Bean was always very good at dropping the toy, but he will try to tug as long as my hand is on it. As soon as I let go, he drops. He actually tries to throw a ball in my lap.

[kaykay]

i tried the treat thing today he gives the toy up for the food so i am gonna keep trying this thanks for the responses.

[maloneandme]

the treat thing works ok, but i feel like my dog should "get" it by now. he is 14 months and if he doesn't give it up using the 'drop it' command, NOTHING will pry him loose from it. seriously, nothing. pinching the gums into the teeth, trying to unlock his jaw... yesterday he swallowed a sock. i suspect i need to go back to some training again - get out my clicker.