Teach your dog to drop items on command

Does your dog tend to pick up and eat all sorts of things? Or do you struggle to get a toy back when playing? Here's a simple exercise that will make it fun for your dog to drop items on your signal. You can use this exercise both when training together and as a way to encourage your dog to drop inappropriate items.

How to teach your dog to drop items

First, we want to teach your dog that the signal "Thank you" (or whatever cue you choose) means they'll get a treat. So, give your cue and then deliver a treat at least 10 times. Then, it's time to introduce a toy. Play with your dog for a bit, then say "Thank you" and offer a treat. Your dog will then release the toy to take the treat. When this works well and your dog drops the toy as soon as they see the treat, you can start to wait and see if they'll release the item just on the "Thank you" cue, rewarding them for doing so.

Important notes

Remember to practise with familiar items to reinforce the "dropping" behaviour. Once you've practised this for a while, you can apply it on walks or indoors when your dog picks up other items. Always remember to give a treat when your dog chooses to drop an item and come to you.