Asking advice from dog owners

[Ohiogal]

How do you teach a dog to "drop it" when they get ahold of something they really want that they shouldn't have?

I have had two Labs and a Springer and never was able to teach them this command. I have tried offering something else tantalizing in exchange, but that doesn't work.

I ask this because my dog got ahold of a dead mouse out in the back yard this morning and would not give it up for anything, and of course I had nothing to try and distract her with.

Any advice immensely appreciated.

[hlthe2b]

1. blow in their ear.

Seriously. That is how many hunters get young bird dogs to drop.

Not on the ear, not around the ear, but directly down in the canal with one strong puff. Unless their ear canal is overgrown with hair or debris (in which case you should see your vet anyway), that works.

[randr]

2. You might try obedience school one dog at a time

Some schools are really good at providing you with the tools you need for each dog.
Good Luck.
Finding food for a dog triggers a very primal urge. First they need to be taught to share it with you and they then will learn to drop it. Basic fetch and drop training.

[Zoonart]

3. Dogs are very transactional dan have a keen understanding of fairness...

so in my experience, (many dogs and mostly rescues),you are correct that you should have some yummy treats at hand all the time. A little baggie of chunked chicken meant in your pocket will go a long way.

I have taught my dogs the command word release, for which they are rewarded with a yummy treat and then, as they begin to respond more reliably, they are rewarded with outdoor playtime and lavished with praise and affetion.

I know some trainers don't hold with treat based training, but it has always worked as a basis of establishing trust and trade.
You do this for me, and you will be rewarded.

[Phoenix61]

4. If food motivated should be doable

Offer a toy the dog will grab. Say “drop”. Offer yummy treat. Over and over and over. Works best when hungry.

[RainCaster]

8. Some dogs are always hungry

Especially when it's a treat they like. I use that to train our dogs. Works very well.

[Phoenix61]

10. Kinda like me and cookies and ice cream nt

[Laffy Kat]

5. With my puppy, I don't exactly use "drop it", I use "let me see" in a very sweet baby voice.

She will eat ANYTHING, so I frequently have to take what's in her mouth. From the start, I've simply used a soft, sing-song voice and have put my hand under her mouth. She's learned that it's an opportunity to show off what she's found and she'll place it in my hand. I feign delight and praise her. She'll wag her tail and wait for pets. I do give her treats if I have one in my pocket, otherwise, it's praise alone. It does result in me getting disgusting items in my palm, though.

[mrs_p]

6. Redirect redirect redirect

I say that as a dog owner and a vet. When I was training my border collie a decade ago, I (tried to) never leave the house without a treat. We practiced drop it in obedience school as well as while on walks so that when we were in real life situations, she would listen.

A mouse in mouth without this training would have been impossible - and now that my dog is really old and does not get a hot damn about listening to me anymore, I’d have to find another way - a ball, physically removing it, changing the inflection in my voice, changing direction, etc.

Check out obedience schools in your area or practice while on walks and see if that works.

[redstatebluegirl]

7. We took our oldest one to obedience class for puppies when he was little.

The one thing he learned first was "leave it", he will drop it every single time.

[emmaverybo]

9. Try high-value treats. Those are steak, meatballs. Chicken can work. Hotdogs are lower. The lowest

are “training treats,” beggin strips, biscuits even if your dog normally likes these. To compete with
a mouse, you need the big guns. You can get frozen meatballs and thaw out a few at a time.

Prepare dog to focus on you with “look at me” exercises. Then when you do the drop it, you get the dog to focus on you first and immediately offer the highest value treat. You can offer very small
amounts of the treats at a time. Alternate with petting, praise, a favorite toy.

[Mr.Bill]

11. A gentle tug on a pinch of the hairs under their chin

will trigger them releasing their bite. Couple that with the command "drop it". Soon you will only need to speak the command.

[mopinko]

12. watch this vid.

imho, leerburg is the best source for training.
their dvds are good, but there are tons of free vids on the site, and lots of written advice. sign up for their newsletter. always worth the read. this was included a couple weeks ago.
great equipment, too.

https://leerburg.com/flix/player.php/1749/Training_the_YUCK_Command

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Offering treats always works on me but I am not sure about dogs.