The DROP IT Command
/L C Sometimes your dog enjoys the Vj \J • game of tug-of-war better than the game you are trying to play with him. A useful command to teach your dog is DROP IT. The command DROP IT will require your dog to release the object out of his mouth and not pick it back up again. We chose DROP IT instead of GIVE or any other command which requires you to take the object out of your dog's mouth. This is an important difference to your dog.
Begin teaching the command by giv-• ing your dog an object like a ball. Give the command DROP IT (using neutral, businesslike, non-threatening vocal tones), and open your dog's mouth slightly so the object falls out. Praise with "good dog" and immediately give a food reward. Have the food reward ready so your dog does not have time to pick up the ball again.
Some dogs resist prying their jaws apart. Bait your dog with the treat while commanding DROP IT so your dog has a choice: he can either hold the object in his mouth or spit it out and get a treat. With enough repetition, your dog will spit out the object without baiting with the treat.
After several repetitions of hearing DROP IT, your dog will spit the ball out and look for the food reward. Remove all the physical help in opening his mouth, and introduce the corrective NO. Give the command DROP IT, praise with voice and food for success, or give a corrective NO and re-command DROP IT. When your dog drops the object, praise with voice and food.
Z QQ Test the DROP IT command with I »another object like a stuffed toy or dish towel. Practice the command regularly, keeping the vocal tones neutral, and praise success so the command does not become confrontational. Make DROP IT a part of your regular distraction-training workout.
Some dogs are chewers and some dogs are swallowers (ingesters). If your dog is an ingester, teach DROP IT with an oversize object like a ball or a bath towel. Use extreme caution with items like socks, sponges, or small balls. If your dog swallows the wrong object, it may require an expensive operation to remove it. Teach DROP IT with larger items for at least three weeks.
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