Drop it
Basic Manners · 4 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to drop a toy on the verbal cue 'Drop', both during fetch and while playing tug.
Teaching Your Dog to spit out whatever is in their mouth on cue is much safer and easier than trying to pry it out.
This plan uses toys, but the same technique works anytime Your Dog has something in their mouth. **Work up to harder items gradually,** since asking Your Dog to drop a chicken bone or a prized forbidden treasure takes practice and a generous trade. **Trading for something good, rather than chasing or prying, keeps Your Dog happy to give things up.**
**During fetch and tug,** once Your Dog drops reliably you can swap the treat for another throw or a game of tug, so the game itself becomes the reward.
Training steps
Teach the verbal cue
Setup: Your Dog has a toy in their mouth.
Play fetch with Your Dog for 5 minutes. When Your Dog has a toy in their mouth, say the verbal cue 'Drop', then immediately present a treat in front of their nose, giving it to them as soon as they drop. Because Your Dog has to empty their mouth to eat, they will drop. As long as you always say the cue before presenting the treat, Your Dog will learn the cue predicts a treat and will start to drop for the cue alone. Toss the toy again to prompt Your Dog to pick it back up. Do as many repetitions as you can in 5 minutes and track how many times Your Dog needs a lure to drop versus how many times they drop for the verbal cue 'Drop' alone. Note: If Your Dog runs off with the toy, don't chase them. Let them run and only say the cue again when you are confident you can get a drop (also consider upgrading your treat value).
Success: Your Dog drops without a food lure.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Only the verbal cue
Setup: Your Dog has a toy in their mouth.
While playing fetch, when Your Dog has the toy in their mouth, say the verbal cue 'Drop' and wait to see if they drop it. If they do, give them a treat and throw the toy again.
Success: Your Dog drops.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Use a food lure while playing tug
Setup: Your Dog is tugging on a toy with you.
While playing tug with Your Dog, say the verbal cue, hold the toy still, then present a treat in front of their nose. When they drop, give them the treat and prompt them to tug again. If Your Dog won't drop after a few seconds, let go of the toy to avoid reinforcing them for ignoring the cue, and consider upgrading your treats.
Success: Your Dog drops.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Only the verbal cue while playing tug
Setup: Your Dog is tugging on a toy with you.
While playing tug with Your Dog, say the verbal cue 'Drop' and hold the toy still while you wait. When they drop, give them a treat and prompt them to tug again.
Success: Your Dog drops.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Good job! You've laid a strong foundation for Drop it.
Now it's time to proof Your Dog's new skill. You can restart the plan using proof steps, or play games with the goals you just earned. Practice both in different locations and around distractions.
Once Your Dog drops reliably in a game, you can fade the treats and let another throw or a game of tug be the reward.