Teaching your dog to drop a ball does more than just make playtime easier. Dogs get into a lot of things that can be dangerous for them or make them sick, like dead animals, chocolate, or toxic plants. Teaching your dog to “leave it” or “drop it” by using a ball teaches them to drop whatever they have when you use those words. It’s a cue that you can use to keep your dog safe. 

Why You Should Teach “Drop It”

Using the “Drop it” command helps protect your dog when you can’t get to the dog fast enough. If your dog finds something they shouldn’t get into and you try to approach to take it away, they may think you’re playing chase and run from you with the item in their mouth. But if they know the “Drop it” command, they will immediately drop the item before it hurts them. 

Your dog should also know the “Drop it” command so that you don’t have to try to remove an item from your dog’s mouth. No matter how much your dog loves you or how well trained your dog is, it’s risky to stick your hand in their mouth. Teaching your dog to drop items on cue is for your safety as much as theirs. 

How to Teach “Drop It” With a Treat

When you’re teaching your dog to drop an item, you’re really making a trade. The dog needs to know they will get something better in exchange for that item. That’s why using treats is one of the most effective ways to train your dog to “Drop it”. To use a treat to teach the command, you should:

• Offer your dog a low-value toy. It should be something they have an interest in but don’t feel overly excited about. You want to make it easy for them to give it up.
• Let your dog play with the toy for a few seconds.
• Place a high-value treat in front of your dog’s nose. If you choose a low-value toy and an exciting treat, your dog should willingly drop the toy in exchange for the treat. As soon as your dog drops the toy, praise or use a clicker to mark the behavior, then give your dog the treat.
• While your dog is eating the treat, pick up the toy and hide it behind your back.
• Once your dog is finished eating, present the toy again and repeat the process.
• When you know your dog will drop the item as soon as you show the treat, you can add a verbal cue like “drop it,” “trade,” or “out.”

After repeating this sequence several times, you can try again without the treats to see if your dog has learned the command. If the dog drops the item, praise them and give them many treats. 

How to Teach “Drop It” With a Toy

You don’t have to use treats to teach your dog a drop command. If your dog is on a limited diet or can’t have treats for any reason, you can do the same procedure with your dog’s favorite toy instead of treats. If your dog doesn’t learn the command this way, you can try playing “tug of war” to teach your dog the drop command. Play “tug of war” with a rope or whatever your dog’s favorite toy is. After a few seconds, go limp. The dog will get bored and drop the toy. Then, you lavish the dog with praise and add a verbal cue like “Drop it” or “Leave it” so the dog learns the cue. With lots of practice and positive reinforcement, your dog will learn to drop whatever they have in their mouth when you give the command.

Get More Easy Dog Training Tips

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