Books & Articles
Dog Behavior Article
The Give or Drop Command
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The dog is now taught the "drop" or "give" command:
- Whenever the dog has its bone or off-limit object, the owner grabs some irresistible treats, bends down six feet away from the dog, extends his hand with treats, looks away and says, "Give!" or "Drop!"
- The dog must relinquish the chew object in order to eat the unusually scrumptious treats (broken up pieces of string cheese, cooked hot dogs, liver treats, etc.).
- Once the dog relinquishes the object, tell it to sit, and reward the dog with one hand while removing the object or chew toy with the other.
- If the dog makes any aggressive displays, blast it with the water or ultra sound device, tell it "Off!" and remove all toys and ignore the dog for the rest of the day. Start again the next day.
- THIS IS NOT BRIBERY, NOR WILL IT TEACH THE DOG TO STEAL. The dog must EARN the paycheck or positive reinforcement, by doing the behavior FIRST (dropping the chew object), then sitting, and then receiving the verbal praise ("Good drop") and then the treat.
- Practice this each day, and in two to four weeks, the dog will relinquish the object just by hearing "Drop" or "Give" -- without needing a treat.
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