How to Train Your Dog to Drop an Object

How to Train Your Dog to Drop an Object
Easy difficulty iconEasy
Time icon1-4 Weeks
General training category iconGeneral

Introduction

There is nothing worse than playing fetch with your pup and he won't drop the toy once he brings it back to you. That is unless you have a dog with a slipper fetish--then nothing is worse than soggy slippers. Training your dog to drop an item is not as hard as you might think, it just takes a little time and patience. The last thing you want to do is chase him around endlessly. Not only is this futile, but your pup will simply think you are playing a game.

In fact, the more you chase him and the louder you yell, the faster your pup is likely to run away from you. A much better solution to the problem, one that will make everyone happy (except for maybe your pup who will miss the game) is to simply teach him to drop items on demand. This is a very important command, as it will be useful in many other tricks you can teach your dog down the road.

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Defining Tasks

The task is simple: your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to train your dog to release anything he has in his mouth into your hand when you tell him to. This is a very important action to train your dog as it may stop him from getting hurt if he picks up something he shouldn't and it lets him play a number of games such as fetch or tug of war without anyone getting hurt.

The command is very simple, most people tend to use the two words "Drop it!" in a strong and commanding voice without yelling. In fact, the last thing you want to do is yell at your dog as this can turn the whole thing into a game, one that can be hard to overcome. While you can teach any age dog this simple command, it is one you really need to teach your pup at an early age. In most cases, you can teach this trick to your dog within a few days. Remember to work in short sessions of around 15 minutes several times a day. Be sure to give him plenty of praise and rewards when he does what he is told.

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Getting Started

Like any good training program, there are a number of things you will need to successfully train your pup to drop an object. Among these are:

  • Treats: Be sure to have plenty of treats on hand to reward your dog when he gets things right.
  • A training toy: Training like this should be started using a particular toy.
  • A quiet area: The best possible place to train is a quiet room or yard, as training is easier with fewer distractions.
  • A voice command: Pick a command you plan to use and stick to it. Changing commands will only lead to confusion.
  • Patience: No matter what you are training your dog to do, you need tons of patience. Remember, the more stressed and upset you get, the more it affects the success of your attempts at training.
  • Praise: you can never give your dog too much praise when he gets it right. It makes him feel good when you praise him and will also help the two of you to form a stronger bond.

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The Trade Method

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1

Take it

Offer your dog one of his favorite toys using the command 'take it'.

2

Play

Let him play with it for a few minutes until he calms down.

3

Distract

While he still has a hold on the toy, offer him a treat.

4

Treat

When he drops the toy, give him the treat.

5

Practice

Rinse and repeat until your dog releases the toy each time.

6

Add command

Now do this but add in the ‘drop it’ command while holding the treat out to him.

7

Remove treat

Start moving the treat farther away from his nose, use the verbal command and try withholding the treat. If he continues to drop the toy, be sure to heap on tons of praise and repeat without the treats.

The Exchange Method

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1

Offer a toy

Give your pup one of his favorite toys using the ‘take it’ command. By doing this, you are showing him you are the one in control.

2

Offer a trade

Now that he has a toy in his mouth, offer him another one of his favorite toys in exchange, using the command ‘drop it’. If he drops the first toy in favor of the new one, be sure to praise him.

3

Up the ante

If he doesn't drop it, never try to pry his jaws apart as this can be dangerous for both of you. Instead, try offering him a treat in exchange for the toy.

4

Repeat

Continue this form of "exchange" training until he gets the idea.

5

Cut out the trade

Try again with the exchange of toys method and then try without any type of exchange, repeating the process and heaping on tons of praise each time he gets it right. It might take a few days of working with him until he drops things on command.

The Around the Room Method

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Treat trail

Start by walking around the room saying, "drop it" and then dropping a tasty treat on the floor.

2

Associate with the floor

Point to the treats and place your hand on the ground near the treat. This will get him used to your hand being on the ground.

3

Change posture

Do this from several positions such as crouching, standing, or kneeling. This will help your dog become accustomed to treats being dropped on the ground when you say, "drop it."

4

Switch to toys

Once your pup has become used to the process, switch out the treats you have been dropping for a toy, giving him a treat each time he "hands" you the toy--along with tons of praise.

5

Increase the challenge

Be sure to start with a toy that he has less interest in at first and then move on to his favorites later as this will make it easier for him to make the transition and be willing to drop anything he has in his mouth.

By Amy Caldwell

Published: 11/27/2017, edited: 01/08/2021

Training Questions

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Training Questions and Answers

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Gus

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Cocker Spaniel

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Six Months

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Question

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Hello, Gus is obsessed by food, as soon as I have treats out to start training he’s only interested in the treats. For example having some to hand ready to try and teach the drop an object I have to have treats out so they are easy to get to and he won’t play with any of his toys as his is just obsessed by the toys. What can I do in this instance? Thanks in advance

Feb. 12, 2023

Gus's Owner

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Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer

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1133 Dog owners recommended

Hello, In cases like these you can two two different things. You can either try training with his kibble and see if he is less overly excited, so can focus better, or you can choose a few different toys that he finds interesting, and make the toy you have more fun than the toy he has when you command drop it. For example, when he has one tennis ball, command drop it, then wiggle your tennis ball, toss it in the air then catch it again, or even bounce it on the ground once, to get him to let go of his ball. If he has a squeaky toy, make yours more fun by squeezing your toy a bunch and wiggling it around while commanding drop it. If he is really resistant to dropping his toy, then choose hollow toys and stuffed the one you are holding with a couple of pieces of kibble, tell him to drop it and let him sniff the one you have so he drops his toy, takes yours, eats the kibble out, while you pick up the empty toy he dropped, place a couple of pieces of kibble into the toy he gave you, ad repeat the process again once he has eaten the kibble out of the toy he has, so your toy is continually more exciting than whatever he has because yours is always the refilled one. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Feb. 13, 2023

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Bengi

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Border Collie

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3 Years

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Question

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Hi. Bengi is happy when guests come by. He goes near them, they start to pet him and next moment Bengi is growling, making everyone nervous. I am afraid now to have him around guests. This growling with petting happened with family members too. Bengi also growls when he does not want to move from the doorway. What should I do? Thank you

June 16, 2021

Bengi's Owner

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Alisha Smith - Alisha S., Dog Trainer

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257 Dog owners recommended

Hello there. It sounds like you have your hands full. I am going to provide you with information on how to correct this behavior. You won’t be able to solve your dog’s overprotective behavior in one day. In the meantime, you don’t want to put your life on hold. You can still invite guests into your home as long as you prioritize managing your dog’s behavior. You’ll need a short-term strategy to start showing your overprotective dog what behavior is unacceptable while also keeping your guests safe. There are a few ways to do this. Leash: Keeping your dog on a leash while friends are visiting gives you control over your dog’s actions. Leash him up before the doorbell rings and keep him close as you greet your guests. During the visit, you can let the leash drag and only use it if you have to. Muzzle: If you feel his behavior warrants the use of a muzzle for the time being while you work on solving this problem, then it may be a wise choice. Separate Room: Your dog won’t get better without practice, but sometimes you have to weigh the risks versus rewards. If your overprotective dog is in the beginning stages of training, keeping him separated from guests might be best. You don’t want to put a friend’s safety at risk or needlessly stress out your dog. As long as you keep working toward stopping the behavior, separating an overprotective dog from company is a temporary management solution. Start Obedience Training Obedience training is a must for every dog, and it’s especially important for overprotective dogs. Working with your dog on things like “sit-stay,” “down-stay,” and “heel,” will help build his impulse control. He’ll start seeing you as a capable leader and will turn to you for guidance. A mistake many pup parents make is stopping obedience training once their dog masters the basics skills. Being well-trained is about more than knowing how to sit when a person holds a treat in front of their face. It’s a lifetime lesson, and even senior dogs need regular training. Commit to training your dog several times a day for short periods of time. Make Your Dog Work for Affection You can’t help but smother your dog with love every time he’s within petting distance, but that isn’t always what’s best for him. He will start to feel entitled to your attention, and that’s part of the problem. To remedy this, initiate a “work for it” program that allows you to show your dog affection as long as he earns your attention in appropriate ways. Make him sit, stay calm, and do whatever else you ask before doling out whatever it is he wants. If he’s excited for dinner, make him sit and leave it before digging in. If he wants in your lap, ask him to do a trick first. Never give your dog attention if he rudely nudges your hand or barks in your face. He needs to know polite behavior, and polite behavior only, is how he gets what he wants. You ignore everything else. Involve Other People in the Dog’s Life Most overprotective dogs choose to guard only the person they feel closest to. It’s usually the same person who fills their food bowls, takes them on walks, and handles training. They become obsessively attached, and a strong bond gradually mutates into overprotective behavior. Putting some space between you and your dog will help him learn to trust other people. Enlist the entire family’s help and take a step back in your role as primary caregiver. Have someone else feed the dog a few times a week, and encourage other people to engage her in playtime. This will help him be more comfortable with different people. Socialize Socialization is best done during the puppy stages, but even adult and senior dogs benefit from new experiences. Exposing your overprotective dog to new places, experiences, and people, will help him learn that not everyone is out to hurt you. Make sure each new experience is positive, and encourage your dog without forcing him to interact. If your dog is afraid, you don’t want to make things worse. Take socialization at the pace he’s comfortable with. If he seems overwhelmed, back up and try something a little smaller. These are some general ideas and they can be modified to fit your dynamic. These behaviors do take time, I am talking months, to correct. And sometimes the behaviors get worse before they get better. So just push through that time if that starts to happen.

June 16, 2021


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