Drop it command

[MuShu Mom]

I need help! I've tried to teach MuShu the drop it command, to no avail. I've tried using the trade method. She doesn't ever want what I have to trade. And if I use food, she drops whatever she has as soon as I go get the treats. I try to get her to put a toy in her mouth, but she won't take it! I've taught her the "take it" command, but she only does that after I tell her to "leave it" while waiting for her food. I never seem to have treats right on me when she has something in her mouth. It steams me when I see the "It's Me or the Dog" gal, sitting on the floor with her real chicken in her fanny pack or holding the treat behind her back. The dog on tv just sits nicely or plays with the toy in it's mouth and then he's told to "drop it" he does to take the treat. My MuShu would be attacking the fanny pack. Or, if I'm standing, she runs around to the back of me to get her eye on the treat. I just can't seem to come up with a scenario to get MuShu to start learning this command! I've tried using a clicker, but I don't think I'm using that right either. Can anyone help me?

[CountryPug]

Just remember on the show (It's me or the dog) they can do editing to make it look easy. Some dogs are more difficult than others to train, what I did for awhile was keep dog kibble in my pocket so I would be ready for those unexpected moments when you really need them to drop it. It does take time and persistance, but both mine have learned to do it pretty well. The only draw back is that sometimes when I would go somewhere, I'd put my hand in my pocket and realize I still had kibble in there Good luck.

[CountryGal]

The method in Bo's puppy class is holding the treat in your hand (made like a fist) and when he drops it, mark it (clicker or "good boy/girl") and give the treat.

Then the fist is the cue, so now I just make a fist and he drops it. Then I treat and "good boy".

[Imon]

"Trade" worked for us, too.

Otto will drop whatever is in his mouth and sit waiting for his treat when he hears that word.

It's been a very, very useful command for him to have learned, with what he's put in his mouth over the years.

[rockypug]

rocky does the leave it command quite easy now but at first it was hard and took a while for him to realise if he leaves it he will get a treat...
first done at puppy classes with the hold command but it didnt really work well there...
but he is a devil for bringing me stones sticks etc from garden so when he comes in with one i just say to him rocky leave it and he normally drops it then i treat him...
i never kept treats on me ..i used to say leave it as he was walking away and he always walked under the table near kitchen so as i was saying leave it i got a treat out of his box and returned to him and he left it and i treated him..even when he left it near my feet in the lounge we both walk to kitchen for a treat so now he knows when he leaves it wherever we are in the house or garden he will get treated...
as if the dog gets used to getting treated as soon as he leaves it and then if he leaves it and you havent got treats imediately on you he will think hes not gonna get treats no more and wont leave it..hope you know what i mean..

[MuShu Mom]

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'll try them out! Sometimes though I think MuShu really knows what I want but she is just too stubborn or sometimes just wants to be naughty! lol