Dogs are not usually willing to give up food or items they have picked up in their mouths, but it is possible to get them to drop these items safely and enjoy the game!
Possession is nine tenths of the law, so why should we be telling our dogs to drop things they have in their mouths or prying their jaws open when they have something they shouldn't? While you don't want your dog ingesting things that are bad for him, sometimes it's not worth trying to win the battle, especially if your efforts could put you at risk of getting bitten. Fortunately, there are safer ways to ensure your dog will drop things and do so willingly.
If you have a puppy, it's important to teach that pup from an early age to be confident about giving things up without you being confrontational. If you challenge your dog, it's likely to encourage him to hold onto the object even harder, but by turning the whole process into a game of trade by teaching the ‘take it’ and ‘drop it’ game, your dog will feel good about giving up any object.
The take it and drop it game
1. Start with an object of low value (a toy) and present it to your dog. When he opens his mouth to take the object, say ‘take it.’
2. Allow him to play with the object for a little while and then present him with a duplicate one that you have behind your back.
3. As your dog drops the object he has in his mouth say ‘drop it’ and reward him with the duplicate one that you have in your hand, saying ‘take it.’
4. Keep repeating this exercise, and when your dog is really good at taking it and dropping it, you can gradually build up to the really good stuff.
5. You can also take your dog on a search for objects you have pre-set inside and out of doors. When he finds an object, ask him to take it and then drop it on your cue. If he picks something up without being cued, casually ask him to drop it and give him plenty of praise and reinforce his willingness to do so with another toy, game of tug, or a tasty treat.
By doing these training set ups, your dog will learn to drop objects that you haven’t asked him to pick up, as well as ones that you have. This will make it easier for him to do what you ask if he has something in his mouth that could pose a hazard to his health.
The emergency drop
The emergency ‘drop it’ is something that every dog should be taught, regardless of age. It’s easier to start when a dog is still young, but can be taught to older dogs as long as it’s safe to do so. Remember that if your dog has grabbed a piece of food that is safe to eat, then it’s probably better to let him consume it and move on. But for food items such as chicken bones or other household items that pose a hazard, the emergency drop is vital.
Be aware of the pitch and tone of your voice while you teach this. Keep it unemotional and relaxed when you are teaching, but also practice raising your voice a little to mimic how you might sound in the real world. If your dog picks something dangerous, you might panic and that will reflect in your voice. If you shout at your dog, you might freak him out, but if you have previously practiced this scenario with a raised voice, he won’t clamp his mouth shut and refuse to open it because your behavior is making him nervous.
If your dog refuses to drop something he's picked up, you can try a couple of other techniques to encourage an emergency drop. Pick up another object and start playing with that object in an area where your dog can see you. Don’t make a move towards him to get the object from his mouth, as this will only encourage him to hang onto it more. Focus on the object you have in your hands and make it interesting. Your dog might just get bored with what he has and come over to investigate what looks like another fun object. You can also trade it for a delicious high value food reward or throw some treats on the ground encouraging him to play a ‘seek and go find’ game. You can even ring the doorbell or knock on the front door as a distraction to redirect his attention and make him think someone new is coming into the house.
If your dog becomes aggressive around food or other objects do not attempt to do this training and find a certified positive trainer to help you. Resource guarding can be very dangerous and needs professional help to keep everyone safe.
