5 TIPS FOR TEACHING YOUR DOG TO "DROP IT"
“Drop it” is a necessary trick for your dog to know for its safety. When your pooch understands this command, you can prevent your pet from trying to eat or touch things it shouldn’t. There are plenty of items on the streets of Los Angeles, and in our homes that we don’t want our dogs picking up and chewing.
Our 5 tips for training your dog to “drop it” will help you teach your dog this critical command. Our top tips use positive reinforcement, so you’ll be using treats and encouragement to train your dogs. Positive reinforcement makes training more fun for your dog and you!
1) Start with Play Time
Use a toy to get your dog’s attention. Start to play and get it interested in the toy. Keep a hold of the toy and play tug of war. Some dogs like to tug on their toys, so it can be best to say “drop it” quickly rather than keeping up the game.
2) Use Treats
To get your dog to understand what “drop it” means, you can use treats. When it is holding the toy, say, “drop it.” Use your other hands to reach for a treat and hold it close to its mouths. When your pup drops the toy, reward it with the titbit, and say “good” or your usual praise.
If you say “drop it” at the same time as putting the treat close to it, your dog might not pay as much attention to the command and won’t learn as quickly. So be sure to say “drop it” before moving your hand to give a treat.
Is your dog not taking the treat? It can be more excited about playing than the food offered. You can make the game more boring by putting less energy into tugging on the toy. As your dog gets less interested in the game, its attention will focus on the treat.
3) Which Toy Should You Use?
It’s easier to use a larger toy, so you have more room for your hand, and there is less worry about your dog accidentally catching your hand instead. Don’t try to start this dog training by using your dog’s favorite toy, as it will be less likely to drop it quickly. Start with a toy in which your pup is less interested.
Once your dog has gotten used to dropping one toy, you can test the command on other toys and objects as well.
4) Be Consistent
If your dog chews on the toy once you say “drop it,” and you have to wait a few seconds, this can lead to it not dropping food it shouldn’t be eating quickly enough. Being consistent in dog training is very important, so your dog understands what to do right away.
5) Can You Use a Clicker?
Maybe. You can use a clicker alongside a treat when your dog opens its mouth to drop the toy to reinforce the positive behavior. But it can also startle the dog as the clicking sound can be loud when it is close to the clicker. If you want to use a clicker, try finding a softer sounding device, or just use treats instead.