Having a hard time with "leave it"

[Miss Molly May]

Molly is now 20mths old she is very obedient listens to all command accurately. The one and only issue I have is get her to "leave it" when she clamps on to the stuffed toy on her flirt pole. The flirt pole is by far her favorite toy she will drop any other toy on command just not this one? We have tried everything with no success. anyone have any suggestions on getting her to release this toy. When she clamps down I can't even pry her mouth open.

[GSD07]

Put your hand under her chin along the lower jaw and wait. She'll release it. It make take some time after all the prying since she's determined to fight for her toy now .

Oh, and maybe attach a different command to it since 'leave it' obviously doens't work. I use leave it for 'don't even look at it', and 'drop it' for something in the mouth to be dropped on the ground immediately, and 'give it' for releasing a tug or a toy into my hands.

[Emoore]

What have you tried?

[Miss Molly May]

Originally Posted by GSD07

Put your hand under her chin along the lower jaw and wait. She'll release it. It make take some time after all the prying since she's determined to fight for her toy now .

Thank you I will certainly try this

[Wolfiesmom]

Wolfie does this with his frisbee. I don't know if it is advisable, but I just stick my finger in his mouth on the side, and say "let go" He won't clamp down on my finger and if he feels it there, he immediately releases, so he doesn't bite me.

[Miss Molly May]

Originally Posted by Emoore

What have you tried?

treats, trading for other toys, stopping the game ...

[cassadee7]

I would switch to an "out" command for spitting things out of her mouth, and save "leave it" for telling her not to bother/eat/sniff/look at something she does not already possess.

Sometimes they get a toy from the flirt pole when they are in drive and have a hard time outing it. Try teaching out when the dog is not already in drive (no flirt pole or excited tug games right before). Use other toys that are not as interesting and use a clicker and/or trading for treats to teach a reliable "out" 100% of the time with other things. Once you have a good out, you can work up to an out in drive. Start with a different toy on the pole, then maybe that particular toy but not on the flirt pole.

[CLARKE-DUNCAN]

Im not sure how this works with Nero but I put my hand over the bridge of his nose and he lets go or drops his toy. My boy is such a teaser when it comes to playing fetch or something. He will drop his toy and then quickly grab it again before you get chance to grab it.

[Miss Molly May]

Originally Posted by cassadee7

I would switch to an "out" command for spitting things out of her mouth, and save "leave it" for telling her not to bother/eat/sniff/look at something she does not already possess.

Sometimes they get a toy from the flirt pole when they are in drive and have a hard time outing it. Try teaching out when the dog is not already in drive (no flirt pole or excited tug games right before). Use other toys that are not as interesting and use a clicker and/or trading for treats to teach a reliable "out" 100% of the time with other things. Once you have a good out, you can work up to an out in drive. Start with a different toy on the pole, then maybe that particular toy but not on the flirt pole.

Good point!! thank you I do use "leave it" for many different scenarios I will start working on the "out" command for dropping a toy

[Miss Molly May]

Originally Posted by CLARKE-DUNCAN

Im not sure how this works with Nero but I put my hand over the bridge of his nose and he lets go or drops his toy. My boy is such a teaser when it comes to playing fetch or something. He will drop his toy and then quickly grab it again before you get chance to grab it.

lol Molly will do this with my socks.