Useful behaviors to train: Drop it or Give

Drop or Give: 

The dog must be willing to drop an item when you tell him to.  This work is an important part of bite-prevention, is the beginning of teaching retrieves, and can save his life if he happens to grab a stray chicken bone or fish hook on your next walk!  Start with something of low value to the dog.  Have treats handy.  When the dog has the low-value item (here, we’ll call it a Nylabone) in his mouth, wave the treat under his nose.  The dog will drop the Nylabone to grab the treat.  Say “drop it,” treat the dog, and give the dog the Nylabone back.  This is called an “object exchange.”  The dog has learned that giving you the item is rewarding, and that he will most likely get the item back.  Once he is comfortable with the Nylabone, gradually substitute higher-value items.  Of course, if he is out walking and finds a chicken-bone, he can’t have it back!  But he may still be willing to drop it for you out of habit if he’s used to getting his goodies back.  Object exchanges are the beginning of teaching retrieves and an important part of playing tug, too.