Teaching Your Dog to Release a Toy During Play

When playing tug with your dog, sometimes your dog just doesn’t want to let go of the toy. It’s very common because tug is super fun! It’s important to know that your dog is refusing to let go of the toy because releasing it means the game is over. It’s that simple. Check out these dog training tips for teaching your dog to release a toy.

Step 1) Keep Tug Toy Still

Dogs tug on toys because it’s fun and you’re tugging back. When you wave, toss or tug on a toy with your dog, it’s a super fun game. When you stop moving the toy, this should tell your dog to release the toy. When the toy stops moving, it’s no longer fun for your dog. Here’s how to teach a “release” behavior.

1. Start playing tug with your dog for 1-2 minutes.
2. Hold the toy completely still and wait for your dog to release the toy. In the beginning, this may take a few seconds or even a full minute, but it will happen.
3. Patience is key here. Continue to hold the toy still even as your dog pulls and bites at the toy.

WATCH: Teach Your Dog the Tug Game

Step 2) Teach Your Dog That Release Means Another Game

The moment your dog lets go of the toy (removes mouth from toy), start moving the toy around to play another game of tug. Your dog will learn that releasing the toy makes another tug game happen. Let’s try it again.

Pull, tug and shake the toy around for a couple of minutes with your dog, then stop moving the toy again. You’ll likely notice your dog releasing the toy a bit quicker this time because he’s learning that stillness means to “release.” The moment your dog releases the toy, make the game start again.

When teaching the release behavior with a toy, there’s no need for a verbal cue. Your dog will learn that stillness is the signal to release the toy. Omitting a verbal cue works quicker because most verbal cues are used too early or too late, which confuses the dog. Toy movement means the game is on! When you stop moving the toy, it means your dog should release the toy.

Game Over

We all wish fun games would continue forever, but it’s not realistic. When it’s time to end a game of tug for the day, just stop moving the toy. When your dog releases the toy, say “all done” while tossing several treats in the opposite direction of the toy. When your dog runs over to eat his treats, put the tug toy away.

Good luck, and let me know how it goes!

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