training drop it

    • Gold Top Dog

    training drop it

    what is the best way to train drop it?  Lizzy does not seem to be getting it.
    • Puppy
    here is what I do,
     
    First we have to realise the dog does not want ot give the toy up. So we have to rewrd giving up the toy. The only thing I do, is get a toy, like a tug, and play, then when i want the dog to stop playing. I freeze say drop it, then I follow with no,no, or ah,ah. I keep still and do not budge. the dog will eventually try letting go. the minute it does, we start playing again. I do this for a long time. a few months. till drop it fast, and quick. then when they have that. i use 2 toys. I do not touch the toy, but ask the dog to drop it when it does, I offer the other toy. the toys must be the same. so the dog does not fall in love one more than the other. than i will make variations of the game. like ask the dog to drop it, then tell them to get it, never touching it. but at first, I never end the game after drop it. I just pick the dogs front end off the ground from behind, so I ams tanding over them, they will drop it on there own. I do not want them to think drop means the game is going to end. then when all is said and done. I have dog that will drop anything. because the dog knows drop it, starts the game and does not stop it.
    • Gold Top Dog
    For those of you who do not use food in training, this method is *excellent*, and I recommend it, too.
    • Gold Top Dog
    that is what we did in puppy classes but Lizzy is not really into toys that much. she will play for a few seconds and once she does drop the toy she won't start playing with it again. I'll have to keep trying. thank you.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Use food.  As long as you fade the food out and only use it once in a while after she has learned the behavior, it should be fine.
    If you do want to increase her motivation about toys, make one really "special" and only take it out when you are training.  Beforehand, tease a bit, make like you really love the toy, and put it away without letting her play with it.  Sounds mean, but eventually, many dogs get hyped enough to regard the toy as more special than it was before.