Teaching Drop

[Guest Tiggy]

It was Banjo's third night at dog training tonight and we started teaching the drop command. I'm the only one in my class who wants to trial so my Instructor said I should teach him from a stand to drop back into position as it looks neater and the dog doesn't end up in front of you. To do this hold a piece of food between the dogs paws and it should drop back into position. Banjo had no clue what I wanted so I'm thinking I'll arm myself with my clicker and treats and get ready to reward him big time for the first hint of the drop then ask for a bit more each time until I eventually have him in the drop. I'm finding this a tad trickier than the other way of having the dog drop out in front but it does look neater. I'm going to re-teach Sophie this way to. Any tips? :D

[dogdude]

There should be countless threads on teaching drop.

Make sure when you lure with food that the lure is started from his nose, slowly working down trying to get him to tuck his chin into his neck, moving down the chest, then between the paws. Do not make too many movements away and outwards until he is in position.

With larger dogs, between the paws is too far away once the dog has dropped, making them want to get up.

[Kowai]

Oh man dropping is such an issue for my dog! We're almost up to trialling level and he still hates doing it for me!

I always teach drop originally from the sit position with the dog at my left hand side. Once they have that you proceed onto dropping from the standing position. Dropping is naturally easier for the dog from the sit position because they're already halfway there!

Food is great for teaching them and for most dogs you can probably get them to drop without having to physically handle them - you just hold the food in front of their face, give them the command to drop, and slowly move your hand down to the ground and away from them along the ground and they should hopefully drop! Sometimes it helps to just put a hand on their rump so they keep their butt down

For some dogs food is a great reward for dropping... But it wont get them their in the first place - they'll just look at it and wonder what you're going on about! Physically assisting them at first to show them what you want is the trick. I start by kneeling down next to my dog, who is sitting on my left. I put my left arm around them, lightly resting my elbow on their back and holding their left leg with my hand. My right arm holds their right leg. I give them the command to drop and I gently and slowly pull out their front legs while putting some pressure on their back with my elbow. Once they're in the drop position I praise them and give them a treat.

Most dogs get the idea very quickly and you'll be able to give them the command without having to kneel right down.

Once they've gotten the concept and will drop for you then proceed onto dropping from stand position

[Guest Tiggy]

Banjo's got it ! It took a few minutes of him wondering what I was going on about but then he did his first drop, yay! After the first one he dropped each time I asked, not confused anymore .

[Kowai]

Banjo's got it ! It took a few minutes of him wondering what I was going on about but then he did his first drop, yay! After the first one he dropped each time I asked, not confused anymore :D .

Congratulations

Zach is almost to trialling level and he STILL refuses to drop sometimes the little bugger