![\"Lab](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/drop-it-700x525.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nPuppies explore the world with their mouths. But sometimes what they pick up isn\u2019t safe, such as a television remote with batteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve taught many dogs to drop an item on cue. When my Lhasa apso Ralphie was a puppy, he loved to pick anything he could reach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, I puppy-proofed the house as much as possible. But I still had to teach him to give items up on command just in case something fell or if someone happened to leave the wrong item within his reach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It took time and consistency, but, eventually, he learned that dropping something on command was desirable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Article Summary<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Teaching your puppy to drop any item is very important. It can save his life if he picks up something that\u2019s toxic or unsafe. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- But the command is useful in other situations too. If your puppy will give a toy up on command, you can play fetch with him and play tug and release. And you can even teach him tricks such as putting his toys away in a toy bin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- When teaching the \u201cdrop it\u201d command, there are other commands that complement it and will make your training more likely to succeed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Teaching him to also give up an item to your hand, to leave an item, and to readily come to you can also help your puppy not be injured or sickened by the wrong items.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Why You Should Teach Your Dog To Drop Something<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nDogs love to investigate the world with their mouths. So your pup can easily pick up the wrong thing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many items are toxic or harmful to dogs. Of course, you should puppy-proof and keep unsafe items out of the puppy\u2019s reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if you just brought in groceries and your puppy quickly gets hold of a sprig of grapes? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grapes are toxic to dogs. So, as soon as he gets hold of it, have him drop it on cue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even non-toxic items can be very dangerous to dogs. They may get hold of a plastic food wrapper or child\u2019s toy, both of which can cause an intestinal blockage or damage internally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, even if you puppy-proof your home, unexpected things happen. It\u2019s important that your pup drop something when told to for his own safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, if you teach your dog to drop something on cue, you won\u2019t need to chase him to get something away from him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many dogs pick something up because they\u2019re chased to get it back. Of course, your dog thinks that playing keep-away is a great game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He runs away with the treasured item as if he\u2019s found gold. But, for us, the game is no fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most dogs can outrun us. And, while they\u2019re running away, the pup might ingest the item, leading to an expensive emergency vet visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teaching your dog to drop something on command can also be useful when playing games with him. If you\u2019re playing fetch with him, it\u2019s important that he gives up the ball or other toy on command so that the game can continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even if you\u2019re playing tug with him, teaching him to release an item is important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If he learns to drop an item, the tug game can then continue on your terms without escalating too much. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some dogs become over-stimulated and may unintentionally nip you when playing tug if they don\u2019t release the toy on cue. And some dogs may even guard the resource (the toy) if they\u2019re not taught to release the toy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also teach your dog some cute tricks after he learns to drop something. For example, you can teach your pup to fetch a toy and bring it to his toy box, where he can drop it in on command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I taught my sheltie Amber to retrieve a squeaky dog toy that looks like a basketball. I then also taught her to bring the ball to a toy basketball hoop, which I purchased at a toy store for children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The third step of the trick is when I taught her to drop the basketball into the basketball hoop on cue. It really entertained people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber and some other dogs I have did volunteer therapy work at a hospital and obedience and trick demos for people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So there are many practical and fun reasons to teach your dog to drop an item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How To Teach Your Puppy To Drop It<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBefore training your puppy to drop something<\/a>, first make sure that he\u2019s been exercised. A walk can help take the edge off so that he’s calmer and more able to focus on the training session. <\/p>\n\n\n\nYou always want to set your pup up for success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, again, don\u2019t forget to puppy-proof your home as much as possible so that he can\u2019t reach forbidden items. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s not only unsafe for him to grab certain items, but even if the item he grabs doesn\u2019t injure him, it teaches him that grabbing items is very rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make sure that when you are teaching any new command there are no distractions. You always want to set your puppy up to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pro-Trainer Tip: Use very high-value treats when teaching your puppy to release an item or to come to you. Both of these behaviors can ultimately save his life. Kibble won\u2019t do. Use meat, cheese, or fish treat that he can\u2019t resist. And mix it up during various training sessions, giving different treats sometimes, so that he doesn\u2019t get bored.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBefore your training session begins, you\u2019ll need to have a few high-value treats ready that your pup can\u2019t resist. The treats should be no larger than a pea. Also, have the items you\u2019ll use to teach your puppy to drop an item ready. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At first, you should use some toys he likes. Usually, soft toys with squeakers work well in the beginning because puppies usually are excited to grab them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- You can start with the puppy in front of you. Have a reward treat ready. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Gently wave the toy just in front of your puppy\u2019s nose. You can even squeak it to get him more excited to grab the toy. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- As soon as he grabs it, show him the mouth-watering treat. Tell him to drop the toy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- If he drops the toy, immediately praise him (Yes!) and give him the reward treat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Repeat this three more times, then end the session with a game of fetch with the toy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- If he didn\u2019t drop the toy, make sure that he\u2019s hungry before you begin the training session. Also, use higher-value treats such as meat or cheese. Hot dogs or cheese cut up into small pieces that are the size of a pea can really entice most puppies to give up a toy. Another trick is that maybe the toy you\u2019re initially using is too valued by your puppy. Start with a less-valued toy before working up to him releasing his favorite stuffie.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In the beginning, you\u2019ll show him the yummy treat\u2013the lure\u2013prior to his dropping it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But after he eagerly drops various toys and chews while in different places, then start fading the lure. That is, stop showing him the treat all the time before he drops it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But still give him the great treat and praise him immediately after he drops an item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if your puppy takes the toy and runs off with it before you can do an exchange? Have him on a six-foot leash<\/a> that\u2019s tethered to you or that a helper next to you holds.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEventually, after a few training sessions with one toy, start to vary what you teach him to drop. Teach him to drop all of his toys, one at a time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also teach him to drop any items he\u2019s allowed to chew, such as a Kong<\/a>, bully stick<\/a>, bone, or Nylabone<\/a>. Of course, in each training session, just work with one or two items. Have him drop the items a few times each.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOf course, you don\u2019t want to give him items he shouldn\u2019t have to test whether he\u2019ll drop them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Otherwise, he\u2019ll think that it\u2019s alright to take such items. And there\u2019s a chance that he might not give it up willingly. Then, he would be rewarded for taking something that he shouldn\u2019t have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But you want to be sure that he\u2019ll drop anything eventually. So, after he is willing and quickly drops the various toys and chews that you practice with, have him drop them in various situations other than training sessions with you nearby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only do this when he\u2019s very reliable about immediately dropping those items. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the next level of training, have a few of his less-valued toys in the room you\u2019re both in. When he picks one up, tell him to drop it and praise (Yes! Good drop!) and reward with the irresistible treat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can even give him two or three treats in a row\u2013a jackpot\u2013when he does this, to really reinforce what a good job he did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, go pick up the toy he had and move it to another place in the room. Do this a few times during your training session. Always end on a positive note. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do various training sessions in different rooms he\u2019s allowed in. After he\u2019s successful inside, do the same training exercises outside. First, do it on leash as you practiced inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, eventually, do it off a leash only if your puppy\u2019s in a safe, enclosed area without unsafe items in the yard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You want him to eventually generalize that he has to drop whatever you tell him to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only after your puppy routinely drops items when told to, once in a while don\u2019t give him a treat. But still, praise him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eventually, the goal is to randomly reinforce with treats so that he\u2019ll perform the drop behavior even without treats. But don\u2019t rush the process of weaning down treats too fast, or he\u2019ll stop reliably releasing the item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What To Do in Case of an Emergency<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat should you do if your puppy gets hold of something that he shouldn\u2019t have before he\u2019s reliable at dropping anything? Don\u2019t panic. I know that it\u2019s easier said than done as sometimes we can\u2019t help but panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grab a few yummy treats, throw them down, and tell him to \u201cget them.\u201d The goal, of course, is to get him to drop the forbidden item and scarf up the great food rewards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if he doesn\u2019t go for the treats? It may be because he didn\u2019t know what \u201cget them\u201d means. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So a few times a week, play a game using that phrase so that he learns what it means. Once in a while, throw a few treats down and tell him \u201cget them\u201d immediately after he retrieves a ball. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Praise him for dropping the ball while he\u2019s eating the treats. By doing this, he\u2019ll know what \u201cget them\u201d means when needed in an emergency situation. And he should then run to eagerly eat the yummy, special treats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don\u2019t want to chase him, as most dogs will run away with the forbidden item\u2013exhilarated by the game of chase. Instead, run a short distance away from your puppy, making a happy sound like \u201cWHEEE,\u201d so that he\u2019ll chase you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, you can use the \u201cget it\u201d phrase before throwing the treats after he reaches you. You can also train an emergency recall this way (discussed below) so that he\u2019ll come to you no matter what the distracting setting is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other Important Commands for Giving an Item Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThere are other commands that really compliment the \u201cdrop it\u201d command. Of course, you want to teach each command separately so that your puppy doesn\u2019t get confused. Teach in short training sessions\u2013five to 10 minutes at most. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One command is \u201cgive.\u201d In teaching a dog to give an item up, I hold onto the item. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I may wave it around a little in front of the puppy\u2019s nose so that he\u2019s interested in it. And I may even squeak it to pique his interest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second that the puppy\u2019s teeth touch the toy, I tell him to \u201cgive,\u201d after showing him the yummy lure treat. I praise and reward after he removes his teeth from the toy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s basically the same process as the drop command only I hold onto the toy to teach him to release it to my hand. Then, just as I taught him in the \u201cdrop it\u201d command, I use different toys and chews he can have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And I\u2019ll train the \u201cgive\u201d command in different locations inside and outside. You want your puppy to generalize that he has to give up any item that you tell him to wherever he is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why You Should Teach Your Dog To Drop Something<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nDogs love to investigate the world with their mouths. So your pup can easily pick up the wrong thing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many items are toxic or harmful to dogs. Of course, you should puppy-proof and keep unsafe items out of the puppy\u2019s reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if you just brought in groceries and your puppy quickly gets hold of a sprig of grapes? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grapes are toxic to dogs. So, as soon as he gets hold of it, have him drop it on cue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even non-toxic items can be very dangerous to dogs. They may get hold of a plastic food wrapper or child\u2019s toy, both of which can cause an intestinal blockage or damage internally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, even if you puppy-proof your home, unexpected things happen. It\u2019s important that your pup drop something when told to for his own safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, if you teach your dog to drop something on cue, you won\u2019t need to chase him to get something away from him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many dogs pick something up because they\u2019re chased to get it back. Of course, your dog thinks that playing keep-away is a great game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He runs away with the treasured item as if he\u2019s found gold. But, for us, the game is no fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most dogs can outrun us. And, while they\u2019re running away, the pup might ingest the item, leading to an expensive emergency vet visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teaching your dog to drop something on command can also be useful when playing games with him. If you\u2019re playing fetch with him, it\u2019s important that he gives up the ball or other toy on command so that the game can continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even if you\u2019re playing tug with him, teaching him to release an item is important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If he learns to drop an item, the tug game can then continue on your terms without escalating too much. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some dogs become over-stimulated and may unintentionally nip you when playing tug if they don\u2019t release the toy on cue. And some dogs may even guard the resource (the toy) if they\u2019re not taught to release the toy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also teach your dog some cute tricks after he learns to drop something. For example, you can teach your pup to fetch a toy and bring it to his toy box, where he can drop it in on command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I taught my sheltie Amber to retrieve a squeaky dog toy that looks like a basketball. I then also taught her to bring the ball to a toy basketball hoop, which I purchased at a toy store for children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The third step of the trick is when I taught her to drop the basketball into the basketball hoop on cue. It really entertained people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber and some other dogs I have did volunteer therapy work at a hospital and obedience and trick demos for people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So there are many practical and fun reasons to teach your dog to drop an item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How To Teach Your Puppy To Drop It<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBefore training your puppy to drop something<\/a>, first make sure that he\u2019s been exercised. A walk can help take the edge off so that he’s calmer and more able to focus on the training session. <\/p>\n\n\n\nYou always want to set your pup up for success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, again, don\u2019t forget to puppy-proof your home as much as possible so that he can\u2019t reach forbidden items. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s not only unsafe for him to grab certain items, but even if the item he grabs doesn\u2019t injure him, it teaches him that grabbing items is very rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make sure that when you are teaching any new command there are no distractions. You always want to set your puppy up to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pro-Trainer Tip: Use very high-value treats when teaching your puppy to release an item or to come to you. Both of these behaviors can ultimately save his life. Kibble won\u2019t do. Use meat, cheese, or fish treat that he can\u2019t resist. And mix it up during various training sessions, giving different treats sometimes, so that he doesn\u2019t get bored.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBefore your training session begins, you\u2019ll need to have a few high-value treats ready that your pup can\u2019t resist. The treats should be no larger than a pea. Also, have the items you\u2019ll use to teach your puppy to drop an item ready. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At first, you should use some toys he likes. Usually, soft toys with squeakers work well in the beginning because puppies usually are excited to grab them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- You can start with the puppy in front of you. Have a reward treat ready. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Gently wave the toy just in front of your puppy\u2019s nose. You can even squeak it to get him more excited to grab the toy. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- As soon as he grabs it, show him the mouth-watering treat. Tell him to drop the toy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- If he drops the toy, immediately praise him (Yes!) and give him the reward treat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Repeat this three more times, then end the session with a game of fetch with the toy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- If he didn\u2019t drop the toy, make sure that he\u2019s hungry before you begin the training session. Also, use higher-value treats such as meat or cheese. Hot dogs or cheese cut up into small pieces that are the size of a pea can really entice most puppies to give up a toy. Another trick is that maybe the toy you\u2019re initially using is too valued by your puppy. Start with a less-valued toy before working up to him releasing his favorite stuffie.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In the beginning, you\u2019ll show him the yummy treat\u2013the lure\u2013prior to his dropping it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But after he eagerly drops various toys and chews while in different places, then start fading the lure. That is, stop showing him the treat all the time before he drops it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But still give him the great treat and praise him immediately after he drops an item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if your puppy takes the toy and runs off with it before you can do an exchange? Have him on a six-foot leash<\/a> that\u2019s tethered to you or that a helper next to you holds.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEventually, after a few training sessions with one toy, start to vary what you teach him to drop. Teach him to drop all of his toys, one at a time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also teach him to drop any items he\u2019s allowed to chew, such as a Kong<\/a>, bully stick<\/a>, bone, or Nylabone<\/a>. Of course, in each training session, just work with one or two items. Have him drop the items a few times each.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOf course, you don\u2019t want to give him items he shouldn\u2019t have to test whether he\u2019ll drop them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Otherwise, he\u2019ll think that it\u2019s alright to take such items. And there\u2019s a chance that he might not give it up willingly. Then, he would be rewarded for taking something that he shouldn\u2019t have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But you want to be sure that he\u2019ll drop anything eventually. So, after he is willing and quickly drops the various toys and chews that you practice with, have him drop them in various situations other than training sessions with you nearby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only do this when he\u2019s very reliable about immediately dropping those items. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the next level of training, have a few of his less-valued toys in the room you\u2019re both in. When he picks one up, tell him to drop it and praise (Yes! Good drop!) and reward with the irresistible treat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can even give him two or three treats in a row\u2013a jackpot\u2013when he does this, to really reinforce what a good job he did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, go pick up the toy he had and move it to another place in the room. Do this a few times during your training session. Always end on a positive note. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do various training sessions in different rooms he\u2019s allowed in. After he\u2019s successful inside, do the same training exercises outside. First, do it on leash as you practiced inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, eventually, do it off a leash only if your puppy\u2019s in a safe, enclosed area without unsafe items in the yard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You want him to eventually generalize that he has to drop whatever you tell him to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only after your puppy routinely drops items when told to, once in a while don\u2019t give him a treat. But still, praise him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eventually, the goal is to randomly reinforce with treats so that he\u2019ll perform the drop behavior even without treats. But don\u2019t rush the process of weaning down treats too fast, or he\u2019ll stop reliably releasing the item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What To Do in Case of an Emergency<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat should you do if your puppy gets hold of something that he shouldn\u2019t have before he\u2019s reliable at dropping anything? Don\u2019t panic. I know that it\u2019s easier said than done as sometimes we can\u2019t help but panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grab a few yummy treats, throw them down, and tell him to \u201cget them.\u201d The goal, of course, is to get him to drop the forbidden item and scarf up the great food rewards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if he doesn\u2019t go for the treats? It may be because he didn\u2019t know what \u201cget them\u201d means. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So a few times a week, play a game using that phrase so that he learns what it means. Once in a while, throw a few treats down and tell him \u201cget them\u201d immediately after he retrieves a ball. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Praise him for dropping the ball while he\u2019s eating the treats. By doing this, he\u2019ll know what \u201cget them\u201d means when needed in an emergency situation. And he should then run to eagerly eat the yummy, special treats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don\u2019t want to chase him, as most dogs will run away with the forbidden item\u2013exhilarated by the game of chase. Instead, run a short distance away from your puppy, making a happy sound like \u201cWHEEE,\u201d so that he\u2019ll chase you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, you can use the \u201cget it\u201d phrase before throwing the treats after he reaches you. You can also train an emergency recall this way (discussed below) so that he\u2019ll come to you no matter what the distracting setting is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other Important Commands for Giving an Item Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThere are other commands that really compliment the \u201cdrop it\u201d command. Of course, you want to teach each command separately so that your puppy doesn\u2019t get confused. Teach in short training sessions\u2013five to 10 minutes at most. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One command is \u201cgive.\u201d In teaching a dog to give an item up, I hold onto the item. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I may wave it around a little in front of the puppy\u2019s nose so that he\u2019s interested in it. And I may even squeak it to pique his interest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second that the puppy\u2019s teeth touch the toy, I tell him to \u201cgive,\u201d after showing him the yummy lure treat. I praise and reward after he removes his teeth from the toy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s basically the same process as the drop command only I hold onto the toy to teach him to release it to my hand. Then, just as I taught him in the \u201cdrop it\u201d command, I use different toys and chews he can have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And I\u2019ll train the \u201cgive\u201d command in different locations inside and outside. You want your puppy to generalize that he has to give up any item that you tell him to wherever he is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before training your puppy to drop something<\/a>, first make sure that he\u2019s been exercised. A walk can help take the edge off so that he’s calmer and more able to focus on the training session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You always want to set your pup up for success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, again, don\u2019t forget to puppy-proof your home as much as possible so that he can\u2019t reach forbidden items. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not only unsafe for him to grab certain items, but even if the item he grabs doesn\u2019t injure him, it teaches him that grabbing items is very rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure that when you are teaching any new command there are no distractions. You always want to set your puppy up to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro-Trainer Tip: Use very high-value treats when teaching your puppy to release an item or to come to you. Both of these behaviors can ultimately save his life. Kibble won\u2019t do. Use meat, cheese, or fish treat that he can\u2019t resist. And mix it up during various training sessions, giving different treats sometimes, so that he doesn\u2019t get bored.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before your training session begins, you\u2019ll need to have a few high-value treats ready that your pup can\u2019t resist. The treats should be no larger than a pea. Also, have the items you\u2019ll use to teach your puppy to drop an item ready. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At first, you should use some toys he likes. Usually, soft toys with squeakers work well in the beginning because puppies usually are excited to grab them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the beginning, you\u2019ll show him the yummy treat\u2013the lure\u2013prior to his dropping it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But after he eagerly drops various toys and chews while in different places, then start fading the lure. That is, stop showing him the treat all the time before he drops it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But still give him the great treat and praise him immediately after he drops an item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What if your puppy takes the toy and runs off with it before you can do an exchange? Have him on a six-foot leash<\/a> that\u2019s tethered to you or that a helper next to you holds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eventually, after a few training sessions with one toy, start to vary what you teach him to drop. Teach him to drop all of his toys, one at a time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also teach him to drop any items he\u2019s allowed to chew, such as a Kong<\/a>, bully stick<\/a>, bone, or Nylabone<\/a>. Of course, in each training session, just work with one or two items. Have him drop the items a few times each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, you don\u2019t want to give him items he shouldn\u2019t have to test whether he\u2019ll drop them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Otherwise, he\u2019ll think that it\u2019s alright to take such items. And there\u2019s a chance that he might not give it up willingly. Then, he would be rewarded for taking something that he shouldn\u2019t have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But you want to be sure that he\u2019ll drop anything eventually. So, after he is willing and quickly drops the various toys and chews that you practice with, have him drop them in various situations other than training sessions with you nearby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Only do this when he\u2019s very reliable about immediately dropping those items. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the next level of training, have a few of his less-valued toys in the room you\u2019re both in. When he picks one up, tell him to drop it and praise (Yes! Good drop!) and reward with the irresistible treat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can even give him two or three treats in a row\u2013a jackpot\u2013when he does this, to really reinforce what a good job he did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, go pick up the toy he had and move it to another place in the room. Do this a few times during your training session. Always end on a positive note. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Do various training sessions in different rooms he\u2019s allowed in. After he\u2019s successful inside, do the same training exercises outside. First, do it on leash as you practiced inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, eventually, do it off a leash only if your puppy\u2019s in a safe, enclosed area without unsafe items in the yard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You want him to eventually generalize that he has to drop whatever you tell him to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only after your puppy routinely drops items when told to, once in a while don\u2019t give him a treat. But still, praise him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Eventually, the goal is to randomly reinforce with treats so that he\u2019ll perform the drop behavior even without treats. But don\u2019t rush the process of weaning down treats too fast, or he\u2019ll stop reliably releasing the item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What should you do if your puppy gets hold of something that he shouldn\u2019t have before he\u2019s reliable at dropping anything? Don\u2019t panic. I know that it\u2019s easier said than done as sometimes we can\u2019t help but panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grab a few yummy treats, throw them down, and tell him to \u201cget them.\u201d The goal, of course, is to get him to drop the forbidden item and scarf up the great food rewards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What if he doesn\u2019t go for the treats? It may be because he didn\u2019t know what \u201cget them\u201d means. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So a few times a week, play a game using that phrase so that he learns what it means. Once in a while, throw a few treats down and tell him \u201cget them\u201d immediately after he retrieves a ball. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Praise him for dropping the ball while he\u2019s eating the treats. By doing this, he\u2019ll know what \u201cget them\u201d means when needed in an emergency situation. And he should then run to eagerly eat the yummy, special treats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t want to chase him, as most dogs will run away with the forbidden item\u2013exhilarated by the game of chase. Instead, run a short distance away from your puppy, making a happy sound like \u201cWHEEE,\u201d so that he\u2019ll chase you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, you can use the \u201cget it\u201d phrase before throwing the treats after he reaches you. You can also train an emergency recall this way (discussed below) so that he\u2019ll come to you no matter what the distracting setting is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are other commands that really compliment the \u201cdrop it\u201d command. Of course, you want to teach each command separately so that your puppy doesn\u2019t get confused. Teach in short training sessions\u2013five to 10 minutes at most. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One command is \u201cgive.\u201d In teaching a dog to give an item up, I hold onto the item. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I may wave it around a little in front of the puppy\u2019s nose so that he\u2019s interested in it. And I may even squeak it to pique his interest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The second that the puppy\u2019s teeth touch the toy, I tell him to \u201cgive,\u201d after showing him the yummy lure treat. I praise and reward after he removes his teeth from the toy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s basically the same process as the drop command only I hold onto the toy to teach him to release it to my hand. Then, just as I taught him in the \u201cdrop it\u201d command, I use different toys and chews he can have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And I\u2019ll train the \u201cgive\u201d command in different locations inside and outside. You want your puppy to generalize that he has to give up any item that you tell him to wherever he is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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What To Do in Case of an Emergency<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Other Important Commands for Giving an Item Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/teach-puppy-drop-it-700x1050.jpg\")
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