6am this morning my little 13 week monster, Arnie, decide to take advantage of my groggy state and grab a sock as I was putting it on and then swallow the sock whole....(we got him to be sick so it’s out again) so does anyone have advice on getting them to “drop it”? I was trying to get him to drop it by replacing with toys or treats in my hand as per guidelines, as he has been doing quite well with that as we keep practicing - but this morning he wouldn’t, then I tried dropping some treats on the floor as everything time I went close to him he bolted away and I guess this is where I made a mistake as he just gulped the sock AND the treats..... Should I practice drop it with something he “shouldn’t” have? Maybe an old slipper (something he can’t swallow whole) than I could leave lying around and he can grab .....I’ve been using his toys when we are training.....and I think he’s worked out that forbidden things are more fun.... He’s no worse for wear now.....ate his breakfast as normal a couple of hours after it and is full of the zoomies and general high spirits this morning! It’s a good job he’s cute!
It sounds like there are a few things you're doing wrong there. Firstly, you need to use very tasty treats. The dog has to want the treats more than the thing they have picked up. Secondly, you need show show absolutely zero interest in taking the item from the dog. If the dog sees you reaching for it or has a history of having his mouth opened and stuff taken off him, he will run off with the item and you will get keep away or resource guarding developing. You need to use the food - preferably by putting it on the floor and hovering your hand over it, playing with it, picking it up and dropping it a few inches and directing all your focus onto the FOOD and not the item. The dog will then drop the item to get the food. When the dog drops the item, you still must NOT reach for it, because the dog will see you reach for it and this will trigger resource guarding and keep away issues. At the moment you reach for and take the item, the dog's back must be turned to you. So, after the dog has dropped the item, use the food to lure the dog a bit further away - or throw the food for the dog to chase at that moment, then pick up the item when the dog's back is turned. If the dog turns around and sees you holding it, this will NOT trigger resource guarding or keep away tendencies. If the dog witnesses you 'claiming' the item, it will. You might get the item that time, but you are then making huge problems for yourself in future. There is no rush to get the item or reach it before the dog or anything competitive like that whatsoever. You just want the dog to drop and then run to get the treat you threw whilst you pick it up.
Thank you, very helpful...I see what I can work on with him and mainly me! I knew it was my mistakes that escalated this situations....
