How To Teach Your Dog To Drop It
Teaching your dog to Drop It allows them to learn that if they let something go from their mouth, they’ll get something else that’s (even more) rewarding. It can be used when your dog has either an acceptable item, like a rope toy, or an off-limit item, like your shoe, though in these circumstances, management needs to also be incorporated by consistently keeping such items out of your dog’s reach.
A reliable “Drop It” can be a lifesaver.
Showing your dog that you don’t just take things away and that they’ll get other things, like a better “toy” or another throw of the ball, can help prevent resource guarding. In other words, making your dog feel there’s no need to protect something, like a toy, a location, or even you; There’s always more because you are a generous leader that provides what they want and need. It’s almost magical how much you give!
A good partner to “Drop It” is “Fetch.” “Fetch” means put this item in your mouth and return it to me (a retrieve). To help prevent injuries during “Fetch”, as with other exercises, it’s best to work on a non-slippery surface.