My Training Shortcut for “Drop It”
No need to play tug-of-war to get something away from your dog!
If you share your home with a dog, there will come a time when you need him to “drop it.”
Whether it’s something benign (but annoying) like your dirty laundry, or something precious like your favorite shoes, getting him to release his treasures is important for safety and a frustration-free relationship.
Here’s the easy training hack I use to get dogs to “drop it” without creating conflict.
Avoiding Aggression
As a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, I always prefer to trade a dog or puppy for their treasure instead of simply taking the item away.
Removing a possession they’re enjoying can trigger some yucky feelings that cause yucky behaviors like running away, growling, snarling, snapping, biting, etc.
Instead of creating a situation where the dog's nose, his treasure and your hands are all sharing the same real estate — the perfect set-up for aggression — use Trade Instead of Take.
Do This Instead
Get some super yummy treats
Approach your dog within a couple of feet
Gently toss the treats a couple of feet away from your dog
When he voluntarily leaves his treasure to go eat the treats, remove the item
When he comes back looking for his treasure, give another treat as a consolation prize
Watch me do it with two German Shepherds here.
I do this with illegal items (things the dog isn’t supposed to have), and legal items like toys and chews.
If you want to teach your dog the words “Drop It,” say the phrase right before you toss the food. With enough repetition, your dog will learn “Drop It” predicts goodies for him and he’ll release the item in anticipation of the goodies. Chirag Patel has a great tutorial for this on YouTube.
“But…won’t this teach the dog grab anything and everything to get a treat?”
Possibly. But I’m much rather he grab my socks and bring them to me, instead of running away and getting aggressive when I try to take them away.
Note: if your dog actively guards his treasures and displays aggressive behaviors when you try to remove them, do not try this. Contact me and I'll connect you with a professional who can help you.
Meet the Dog Trainer and Blog Author
Leighann Hurley founded Koinonia Dogs in 2014 and has been a Certified Professional Dog Trainer in the Austin, TX area since 2019.
She's a problem-solver by nature and loves creating cooperation through conflict-free communication so both ends of the leash enjoy an easier life together.
