Why teach the dog to "let"? If you have a puppy you already know the answer - little ones very often have something dangerous or valuable in their mouth! The aim is that when you say "let" your dog open his mouth and allow you to retrieve the object. It is very important that, in all of this, the dog makes a great exchange (you will give him a reward in return), and that you keep calm and do not start chasing him. If the command is taught correctly, your dog will be happy to hear you say "drop". It will then be appropriate to place those objects where it cannot reach them. This exercise is also important to prevent the dog from protecting the food. If your dog knows you don't "steal", he won't worry when you get close to something he cares about.
Steps
Step 1. Gather some items your dog may like, a clicker and some treats
Step 2. Hold some ready-made food in your hand while encouraging your dog to bite into one of the objects
Once he has it in his mouth, bring the food close to his nostrils and say "let go". Click when he opens his mouth and give him the food, taking the object away from him with the other hand. Give him the item back.
Step 3. Have him pick up the object so you can continue training, but remember that once your dog knows there are rewards he may opt not to fill his mouth so he can eat better
If this is the case, keep the treats on hand throughout the day, and when you see your dog biting into an object for some reason, you can resume training. Try to repeat the exercise at least 10 times a day. Sometimes you won't be able to give the item back (if it's a forbidden item), but no problem, just give it an extra reward.
Step 4. Repeat step 2 but, this time, don't hold the treat as you place it in front of the dog's nostrils
He'll likely drop the item anyway, and you can click and give him the treat. Give him the equivalent of three rewards the first time you do the exercise this way. After a few days of training, try something tasty or something he likes a lot. Hold it in your hand and offer it to the dog, but never let go. The dog will be able to bite it and at that point you will say "let go". Give him the equivalent of three rewards the first time he does so, and propose the item back to him. If he doesn't take it back in his mouth, put it away and try again on another occasion. Do 10 repetitions of this step before moving on to number 6.
Step 5. Take back the item and some great treats (meat or cheese)
This time you offer the item to your dog and letting him appropriate it, immediately afterwards tell him to leave it. If he does, give him the equivalent of 10 rewards and give him back the item (this will make a great impression!) If he doesn't leave it, try to show him the rewards and if it doesn't work leave him the item, you will try again later with an item less greedy for the dog. You will be able to achieve obedience to even the most coveted items once your dog understands that it is worth listening to you.
Step 6. Practice the "leave" with everyday objects that cannot bite, such as:
fabrics, sheets of paper, pens, shoes, wrapping paper. Then try it outside.
Advice
- Always use biting objects when practicing "let go". Don't encourage your dog to bite into something you don't want him to put in his mouth.
- Practice the "drop" in ball games.
- Another way to train him is to put a plate of treats on the floor, then walk by the plate with the dog on a leash. When the dog tries to reach the plate, tell him "drop" and reward him for not eating the food on the plate. This is a great exercise compared to situations that can happen to you when you are walking in parks and there are objects and garbage that the dog would like to bite.
- It's okay to give him a treat if he happens to have a forbidden item of greater value to him than the ones you trained him with. Just be careful that it doesn't become a habit!
- If your dog does not leave a dangerous object, not even for a tasty treat (or you don't have them with you), put your fingers on the dog's lips, where the canines are, and press to open his mouth and remove the object.. Give him a treat (even if you feel frustrated) for allowing you this invasive treatment and keep the item out of his reach, or at least until you use it to train your dog.
- If your dog also loves biting objects because he thinks you will chase and play, start teaching him by not chasing him. Ignore him and he will likely leave the item as soon as he gets bored. If your dog tries to play this game during training, put the leash on him so he can't run away.
- If you don't have cheese or meat, use bread or something else they like (remember not to use chocolate).
Warnings
- Don't give your dog too many treats, they could make him sick.
- If you feel like you've inadvertently trained your dog to find items to trade for a tasty treat, train him to do other things. This will provide him with the mental stimulation he needs and the rewards he enjoys so much. * If your puppy is obsessed with protecting and guarding food, take him to the vet for a checkup. He may be obsessed with food from worms or other gastrointestinal disorders. If he is always hungry or if his mother did not have enough milk, he may be "worried" about food. Try to understand their needs and, at the same time, provide them with behavioral guidance.
