tips for the drop command

kcolsey · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject: tips for the drop command

I am wondering if any of you have any tips for reinforcing the "drop" command (or whatever you call it).

Gracie, my 10 month old weim, knows the meaning of the command and will drop whatever she has in her mouth, most of the time :)

However, the problem I am having is getting her to drop her beloved tennis ball. She will often stick it out the side of her mouth as if to tease the person who is trying to get her to drop the ball. She loves to chase the ball when it is thrown for her so I expected that at some point she would make the connection between dropping the ball and getting to chase the ball. But, Gracie continues to be rather stubborn about dropping her tennis ball. When we are at the dog park, often people try to get her to drop the ball so that they can throw it for her and she does the same thing to these well-meaning strangers.

I'd appreciate any thoughts on this if you have the chance.

DukesMom · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject:

Duke did/does the same thing. But we won't throw it for him unless he drops it and he's finally figuring that out. (he just turned 1 year).

krisnkaipo · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:56 pm Post subject:

I have had Wilson for going on 2 years and he still does this! Drives me nuts!! He loves those da$% tennis balls.

If anyone has any solutions I would LOVE to hear them!

samckinner · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 1:42 pm Post subject:

Haus is doing better with (I call it leave it)dropping whatever is in his mouth. I started giving him something to play with that he really loved. I would then let him smell a treat and say leave it. Then I would hold the toy or whatever and say take it. I would then repeat this game. He is doing better, but still not perfect, especially when excited.

Sam and Haus

Rubychewsday · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:20 pm Post subject:

I've had really good luck with the "leave it" command for my pack. I start by showing a yummy treat and then I say "leave it" and put it down in front of them. Use lots of verbal praise and "leave it" (or drop it). Then use your release command and hand the treat over. I also do the same technique with their beloved ball. Work yourself up to "leave it" while tossing the ball or treat. It took my 3 month old weimy about 2 days to learn it the command. Good luck!

shouseholder · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:10 am Post subject:

Mischa does this with her frisbee. She wants to be chased and I make sure NOT to give her the drop it command if she is likely to ignore it. I don't want to make it a habit for her to ignore it. I just ignore her until she drops the frisbee. Eventually, she gets it.

Allyson · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:19 am Post subject:

That is exactly what we do with Hannah. If she has a toy and she brings it up to you to try to tease you with it (she loves to play tug) I will usually do that with her for a minute, and then command "drop it". In the beginning she wouldn't, the fight would go on. I just dropped it, and went on to do something else. She caught on quickly. Wink

Now when she goes sneaking through a room all I have to do is holler "drop it" and we get back whatever treasure she has found to go hide!

krisnkaipo · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject:

Wilson knows and is very good with "leave it", but nothing works when it comes to his beloved tennis ball. He will "leave it" with super yummy treats and stuff, but he will lay there chewing on the ball like gum! I know it is bad for his teeth.

We have started to play frisbee with the neighbor Bob the border collie. The frisbee is easier to deal with than the ball. I am hoping some of Bob's meticulous manners will rub off on Wilson.

He is such a brat with that ball Evil or Very Mad

Am hoping my neighbor (Bob's dad) has more patience than me! He is trying to work with Wil on the drop it as well........

ange165 · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:50 pm Post subject:

I use "Leave it" for something I want her to leave alone ENTIRELY unless I give her an OK that she can have it.
I use "Drop" when we are playing fetch with her balls/stick/toys.
When I throw the ball and she chases and fetches I yell "Bring it back" and she brings it to me I have treats on the ready. I swap the treat for the ball. She got the picture pretty quick, if she wanted the treat, she had to drop the ball!
I think Gracie is rewarded by someone chasing her for the ball? Ruby can be a brat like this sometimes. I will ignore her when she runs past, and then call her and say "bring it back". When she comes back, I get her to sit, say drop and she will usually drop it.

versatilek9s · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject:

Maya is a tennis ball junkie, too. I find that if I make her "down", she'll drop it. The other option is grabbing her by the collar, and she drops it then, too.

JacksMommy · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:31 am Post subject:

Jack knows "drop it" and is very good about it, EXCEPT when it comes to his mario ball.

LOL Jack stole this stupid happy meal toy from my daughter, its Mario (from super mario brothers) and its this rubber like ball.. .about the size of a baseball. He carries that stupid thing around like its a baby.

And if you say "Marrrrio!!!" in an Italian accent (as my husband loves to do) it drives him nuts and he goes running looking for it. LOL We've tried everything, but he REFUSES to drop it!!!

tritonsmom · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:35 am Post subject: "Give" command

My husband and I do not use the "drop" command, instead we use "give". It is amazing how much Weims are alike; the teasing with the toys, the stubborness..
Triton is the same way.
I would advise that when playing with a ball or any other toy to always "win". Weims, because of their high level of energy, are always trying to be the first in the pack.
Especially when playing tug of war, you should always get the toy back from them. If it is a struggle, I just take the toy away after that. This way Triton sees that I will only play with him (and he only gets to play with the toy) IF he acknowledges that he is not the leader/winner and will listen to my commands.
As far as the tennis balls go, we have never introduced one to him, because of the dangers of choking if he happens to swallow it in his excitement or chew off a big piece; not to mention some of the dogs we have seen get obsesed over the ball.
We did, however, buy him a Kong ball, which is virtually indestructible; he got obsessed very quickly. We tricked him into leaving it alone in exchange for a rawhide bone so that we could take it away. He hasn't played with it since, but eventually, we'll take him to a park and train him for good manners with the ball. Smile

therealm80 · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:48 am Post subject: My Technique

I taught Sky Blue to drop it by holding a treat in my fist and letting her try and get it. She would claw and even nibble my fist to get it out and the whole time I would keep repeating "leave it!" when she stops trying to go for the treat I give it to her. It took 2 try's for her to get it right. After a day or so I was able to have her sit, say leave it and put the treat on the floor. She will stare the treat down until i give it to her but so far I can get her to watch it and not go for it for a minute or so. It also works when she is holding something she is not supposed to. It is useful, not mastered yet but darn close. She still likes shoes.
Thanks
-80

Cathy · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:52 am Post subject:

If you have not already, you might want to try the tennis ball trick. Cut a slit in the ball and place treats in it. When they return the ball, they have to drop it to get a treat.