Leave it versus drop it

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Vandal03

Leave it versus drop it

Post by Vandal03 » Tue Jun 03, 2008 4:11 pm

Related to a previous post mine, do you guys use a separate command for dropping things that the dog retrieves (either part of a natural retrieving program or force fetch program) versus dropping things that they shouldn't pick up? In other words, do you use "Drop It" for everything or "Drop It" for retrieves and "Leave It" for the gross, unwanted things.

With my older dog, I've used Drop It for everything - and used it as the give command in force fetching. Seems to have worked alright, but I do get the occasional refusal on the really nasty stuff.

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Re: Leave it versus drop it

Post by gonehuntin' » Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:04 pm

Drop the "it". One sharp word. Drop. Leave is not as sharp.
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Re: Leave it versus drop it

Post by bean1031 » Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:36 am

I use drop it for a command only when the item is in the dogs mouth. I use leave it when she is about to pick something up that I dont want her to.
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Re: Leave it versus drop it

Post by BigShooter » Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:43 pm

FYI - I use one word "out" to release to my hand. I use "quit" to cease an activity I don't want.

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Re: Leave it versus drop it

Post by wems2371 » Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:50 pm

I use "give" to release to hand and "leave it" if she's headed for trouble, but doesn't have it in her mouth yet. I did have her pick up one icky thing, out of my sight, a few months back. It was a dead skunk and I certainly didn't want that in my hand :cry: .................and "No" popped out of my mouth before I even knew it. She did drop it and we went about our way. Denise

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Re: Leave it versus drop it

Post by nj gsp » Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:27 pm

Interesting question.

My dog does retrieve naturally, and I used "give" for the command to let me have whatever she picked up (with occasional success). Instead of "fetch", I'd tell her "go get it". This was all before I started FF, where she's learning "Fetch", and "Out" as the release command. I do not see the point to telling the dog to "hold". I think "Fetch" should mean to the dog that she should go get it, bring it to me, and hold it until I tell her to give it to me with the "out" command.

I use "leave it" to get her to, well, leave it. For example: to break off pursuit of a running bird, or not to chase a rabbit, or to call her off a field mouse point (which she still does when she gets bored and there are no birds around). She will also drop things she's carrying when I say "leave it", so there's no need to teach her anything different. :D

Vandal03

Re: Leave it versus drop it

Post by Vandal03 » Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:46 am

Thanks all. I think a lot of my confusion comes from reading about encouraging natural retrieving. Lots of books describe encouraging a dog to be a natural retriever by never getting on them about having anything in their mouths and always just encouraging them to bring stuff to you. I've tried with a couple dogs and that never seems to work as perfectly as described - they always want to get into stuff that could harm them or steal your socks. I try not to play the chase game, but isn't it inevitable to some degree? Both of my pups seemed to learn quickly that the really good stuff was going to get swapped out for the same old boring Nylabone. I just try to react calmly with stuff in their mouths.

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Re: Leave it versus drop it

Post by Don » Sat Jun 07, 2008 8:07 am

I use "leave it", softly, but only when the dog has completed a retrieve. Actually I'd never given your question much thought before. But if the dog is picking up something I don't want it to, the command is "no".
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Re: Leave it versus drop it

Post by jeckel » Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:10 pm

I think of leave it for something that she is interested in (the peanut butter jar on the counter) that she hasn't got yet but is eyeing. I draw it out so it's more of a warning. Drop it I use when she has something already in her mouth.

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Re: Leave it versus drop it

Post by WildRose » Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:28 pm

I like to keep things simple. "Leave it" or "No" for things I don't want them to mess with. "Give" is to release to me what has been retrieved. CR
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Re: Leave it versus drop it

Post by upland-o » Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:35 pm

I agree with wildrose. I use "give" if I want something delivered to me and I use "no" for everything else. Unfortunately sometimes we give dogs too much credit, the more commands we give them or try to teach them the more confused they get. The best approach as with most things is the K.I.S.S. principle. Keep it simple....silly. Almost all dogs thouroughly understand the command "no" why not not use it?

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