![\"Golden](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/golden-give-toys-700x467.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWhy Won\u2019t My Golden Retriever Release His Toys?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
My golden Riley loves to fetch a toy and tug. He would joyfully retrieve his fleece or rope tug toy<\/a>, shaking his prey as he approached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But he wanted to tug without releasing his toys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So I had to teach him to let go or the game would end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many reasons why dogs don\u2019t want to release their toys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tugging and running around with a toy is self-rewarding. It\u2019s a fun game to your pup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t teach your pup not to tug, he thinks that\u2019s part of the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After all, many dogs find tugging to be a lot of fun. My Aussie mix puppy loves to tug. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She loves to tug and shake her Kong Wubba <\/a>as if she caught a rabbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had to teach her to give the toy up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We still play tug sometimes but on cue. She\u2019ll tug and I\u2019ll say \u201cyes! Good tug!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n But I also taught her to release the toy on my cue \u201cgive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is different than guarding their toys aggressively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These pups want to hold onto their toys so that they can hide them and play with them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I rescued a Pekingese named Dina who had this habit. She wasn\u2019t aggressive at all when I went to take the toy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But when she had the toys she\u2019d run around and place them under furniture to enjoy at a later time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even when not actively playing, my golden Spencer almost always enjoyed having a toy to carry around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He didn\u2019t guard it. For him, it was just fun. I\u2019ve trained many other retrievers with similar instincts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It wasn\u2019t a big deal: I just taught him to give it up on command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Resource guarding occurs because of a dog\u2019s survival instinct. There are limited resources and, to be safe and to survive, dogs try to guard the resources they have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most dogs learn that they don\u2019t need to guard resources. We teach them that there\u2019s plenty to go around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And we teach them to exchange a desired resource for an even better one, like exchanging a toy for a yummy treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For our dogs to succeed, we have to teach them our rules. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are certain training exercises that help convey to our pups that the game ends unless they give up the toy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have high-value pea-sized treats<\/a> ready for your training exercises. And, to be successful, make sure that your pup has had enough exercise before working with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You want to set this up as a separate training exercise so that when the real game occurs, your dog will know what\u2019s expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hold out a toy that\u2019s long enough for your dog to grab and you to hold too. A long fleece-type toy or rope toy usually works well. It should be long enough that your dog\u2019s teeth aren\u2019t near your hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t use a ball for this to start the training because there isn\u2019t enough space for me to hold it while training my dog to release it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But I will teach my dog to release any item–including a ball–after he understands what\u2019s expected of him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have your reward treat ready. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Wave the toy in front of your dog\u2019s nose, telling him \u201ctake it.\u201d When your dog takes a hold of the other end of the toy, tell him \u201cgive<\/a>.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Immediately show him the treat with the other hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As soon as the dog releases the toy to your hand, reward with a great treat and praise (\u201cYes! Good give!\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do the training exercise a few times, then, at the end, throw the toy and tell your dog to get it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also teach your dog to drop the toy<\/a> to the ground instead of releasing it into your hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you exchange the valued treat for the toy, just tell your dog to \u201cdrop it\u201d and don\u2019t take the other end. Just let the toy fall to the ground. Reward with the treat and tell your pup \u201cYes! Good drop!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do this training exercise a few times, then throw the toy and tell your dog to get it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Always end the training session on a positive note.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When your dog understands the \u201cgive\u201d and \u201cdrop it\u201d exercises, which may take days or weeks, start giving the treats on a random basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At first, give the treat four out of five times; then, less and less frequently<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you actually play fetch, bring the treat exchange back as needed until the dog understands the exchange when playing fetch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some dogs are so toy motivated, that you can even try exchanging one toy for another (both being toys your dog really values) instead of exchanging his toy for treats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Letting your dog get the toy to play with at the end of the training or fetch session helps him not want to guard it and helps him be more willing to give it up. After all, he\u2019ll still get it in the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PRO TRAINER\u2019S TIPS: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s generalize.<\/em><\/strong> <\/strong>When doing the toy-treat exchange training exercise, teach your dog to give or drop all of his toys. Use different toys he has in your training sessions. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n So one session, for example, you may use a fleece tug, and another his toy rope. You want him to generalize that he has to release ALL of his toys on command.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep your sessions short. <\/em><\/strong>Do a few exchanges, then take a break and do a few more. You don\u2019t want to do too many exchanges or your dog will lose interest and zone out.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Distractions, distractions. <\/em><\/strong>Start your training without distractions. Add distractions once the dog understands the exercise. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Distractions can be people moving in the room, noises, or even changes in location. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll want the dog to perform his training cues everywhere. He\u2019ll do this only if you up the ante and make the training occur in real-life places.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes! <\/em><\/strong>Whenever training your dog, you always want to mark the behavior you like to let him know he did the right thing. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Happily saying \u201cYES!\u2019 immediately after he performs correctly will show him that he did the right thing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a really dangerous habit for a dog to jump up and grab a favorite toy out of your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His teeth or nails may accidentally scratch you. Or he may accidentally knock you over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of grabbing, teach your pup to take something out of your hands only on command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, when you\u2019re practicing your \u201cgive\u201d and \u201cdrop it\u201d training exercises, teach a \u201ctake it\u201d command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure that you use a toy that your dog really loves<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hold the toy out at your dog\u2019s height; tell him \u201ctake it.\u201d If he doesn\u2019t take it, gently wave the toy in front of his nose while saying \u201ctake it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t hold it too high–you don\u2019t want him to have to jump for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As soon as he takes hold of the end of the toy, tell him \u201cYes! Good, take it!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, use the \u201cdrop it\u201d or \u201cgive\u201d command you\u2019ve already worked with for at least a few days so that your dog will release the toy immediately on your cue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then praise and immediately give him the reward treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many dogs–especially retrievers–love to fetch. But they may love the game so much that they don\u2019t want it to end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And they nudge you–and even bark at you–to continue the game. Make sure that your dogs had enough exercise through the game or walks or otherwise (like playing with other dogs). <\/p>\n\n\n\n You want to set him up to succeed. If he has too much energy to expend, he\u2019ll be less likely to stop retrieving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to teach your dog some impulse control, even where the fetch game is concerned. If he learns to control his behaviors, all his behaviors should improve–including releasing toys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I end the game with the word \u201cenough.\u201d At first, the dog doesn\u2019t know what this means. After I say my cue, I turn away or even walk a short distance away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re consistent in not rewarding this behavior, it should go away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A principle of dog training is that behavior that\u2019s not rewarded will extinguish itself. So not rewarding the attempts to play should end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At first, though, the dog may try even harder to get you to play–nudging with the toy. It\u2019s called the extinction burst and is normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, if you\u2019re consistent and the dog\u2019s exercise needs are otherwise met, you should be successful. Be patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To make life easier when you have a die-hard toy retriever, I set up something else for the dog to do when the game ends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This can be a puzzle toy<\/a> to solve, or a chew to gnaw on, or a stuffed KONG<\/a> to work on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My Aussie mix puppy Millie dedicates her life to retrieve toys. Of course, I\u2019d throw her toy so she\u2019d exercise and learn to release toys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But she\u2019s like the Energizer Bunny and doesn\u2019t want to stop. So using the above methods, she learned when the game was over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some dogs who know how to fetch still think part of the game is to run off with the toy–just out of your reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s really frustrating!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you work on the take-give, take it-drop it training exercises, that should solve this problem. The dog should learn to come right up to you when giving up the toy. This should solve the problem for most dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the dog still keeps out of range, you can take a step away from him as he\u2019s coming towards you, then stop. This should bring him right up to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog loves playing keep-away, the game ends. Walk away as described in #3 above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even toys that your dog loves can become boring if they\u2019re always available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog has a treasure trove of toys, have two or three groups of no more than about eight toys. Alternate the groups every week. By doing so, the toys won\u2019t become boring to your pup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog guards only one item or toy, you should just put that toy away. He shouldn\u2019t have it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, don\u2019t take it away from him. Put it away when he\u2019s not around it, and in his crate or another room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many resource guarders guard many items they see as valuable. When you approach or try to take a toy away if your dog growls, gives you a hard stare or a whale eye in which the whites of their eyes show, or his body stiffens and tenses up, or he snaps at you or the air–take it seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t approach or attempt to take a toy away. Instead, get the help of a behaviorist or positive reinforcement trainer who\u2019s experienced with resource guarders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even with the best intentions, there are things that we shouldn\u2019t do when working with the issue of a dog giving up his toys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I advise NOT forcing the toy out of your dog\u2019s mouth. If you try to pry his jaws open, he may lose trust in you and how you handle him. Some dogs may even become aggressive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you do so, the dog will think “keep away” is a lot of fun. But you won\u2019t. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In chasing a four-legged canine, he\u2019ll usually win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He certainly won\u2019t learn to give a toy up this way. Instead, by teaching him the \u201ctake-it, give\u201d or \u201ctake-it, drop it\u201d exercises, coming to you to give up the toy will be more rewarding to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs may not release toys for many reasons. They may not know that\u2019s what we expect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So we need to train them so they learn the rules of the game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Be patient and don\u2019t rush the process. Move at your dog\u2019s learning speed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find any behavioral issues such as resource guarding or aggression, it\u2019s best to get the help of a professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We all know the dog that loves to play but won\u2019t give up his toys. He tugs as if his life depends on it. How…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":30213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1716],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dog-training-tips"],"yoast_head":"\nReasons Why Dogs Won\u2019t Release Their Toys<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. It\u2019s fun!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. The dog doesn\u2019t know the rules of the game<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Some dogs hoard and hide their toys<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Some goldens love to always have a toy in their mouth<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"Golden](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/APACHE-3.16.11019_edited.jpg\")
5. Some dogs guard resources, including toys, food, space, and people.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Can I Do To Teach My Dog To Release Toys?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Teach your dog to give the toy to you or drop it on the floor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Teach your dog not to grab at toys or other objects in your hands<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. End the game on your own terms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. If your dog plays keep-away, the game ends<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. To keep toys interesting, alternate them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. If your dog shows any aggression by guarding his toys, get professional help<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Not To Do<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t get confrontational with your dog<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t chase your dog for the toy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Save To Pinterest<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Golden](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/golden-release-toys-700x1050.jpg\")
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