Teaching “Drop It”

“Drop it” is one of the most useful commands your dog can know. Not only because it’s hard to play fetch with a dog who never drops the ball, but also because you need a word that means “Yuck! Spit that out!” when your dog grabs a dirty sock off the floor.

When I start to teach “drop it” I usually start with a game. Here are my 3 tips on teaching “drop it.”

Jagger the Lab playing with a Kong Wubba

When you start this exercise, be sure to use a dog toy that is big enough to get your hand on. It’s more challenging to do this with a tennis ball. My current favorites are the Kong Wubba and the West Paw Bumi.

When the dog brings the item to you, place your hand on the item, but do NOT tug. Hold your hand still, bend over the dog, and say, “drop it.” Do not pull the toy out of your dog’s mouth. It’s very important that they spit the toy out.

THE REWARD

When your dog drops the toy, immediately throw it again. Don’t pet. The BEST reward for most dogs at this point is to get the toy thrown again. The faster he drops it, the faster you throw it. It’s tempting to hold the toy up in the air and say, “Do you want it? Do you want it?” Don’t do that. Just throw the darn thing.

FOOTWORK

Jagger waiting politely (notice leash dragging)

I find it useful to have a dog like this to drag a six foot leash. If they are zooming in and zooming away, I unemotionally step on the leash. Keep Away is a game that dogs like to play, but it’s not appropriate during fetch.

These tips help the majority of dogs to understand “drop it” inside a game. From there, it’s easier for them to drop the socks, paper towels, or cat poop. (Ok… maybe not cat poop.) If these tips aren’t working for your dog, a professional trainer will certainly be able to help.

PS- Are you using playtime to train your dog? Read about The Power of Play.