Teaching Your Dog to Release the Toy on Command

Teaching your dog to “drop it” or “out” on command is an incredibly useful skill, it makes playtime more fun, keeps your dog safer, and helps build stronger training habits overall. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you teach it the right way!

What You’ll Need

• Two identical toys (e.g., two balls on a rope)

  Tip: You can grab these at Humble Dog!

• A slip lead to keep your dog focused and safe

• A training vest or pouch to hide the second toy (mystery makes it more exciting!)

Step 1: Set Up

Pick a toy your dog loves, high value means high motivation!

Start by letting them play with Toy 1 while you keep Toy 2 hidden.

Step 2: Introduce the Command

1. Let your dog grab Toy 1 and play for a moment.

2. Quietly get Toy 2 ready (but don’t show it yet).

3. Say your release cue (like “Out”).

4. The moment they release Toy 1, boom, reveal Toy 2!

5. Let them grab Toy 2 and quickly hide Toy 1 again.

Tip: Timing is everything. The second toy appears after the command, not before.

Step 3: Master Your Timing

If you show the second toy too early, your dog might wait for the swap rather than actually learning the release command. The sequence matters:

• Cue first: “Out!”

• Then reward with Toy 2

Step 4: Troubleshooting

• Problem: Dog drops Toy 2 and tries to grab Toy 1 again

  → Fix: Be quicker hiding Toy 1 after the swap.

• Problem: Dog grabs the rope instead of the ball

  → Fix: Pause play and calmly encourage correct targeting.

• Problem: Dog won’t release at all

  → Fix: Let the toy go “dead” no more tugging, then give the release cue.

Step 5: Build Anticipation

With repetition, your dog will start to release Toy 1 before Toy 2 appears, just from hearing the command! That’s when you know it’s clicking.

Celebrate those small wins (treats and praise work wonders) and keep sessions short and sweet.

Training Tips

• Don’t repeat the cue, say it once and reward the correct response.

• Keep sessions under 5 minutes to maintain energy and engagement.

• Rotate toys so your dog doesn’t get fixated on just one.

Remember: consistency is key! Your dog won’t learn this overnight, but with patience and a clear game plan, they’ll start to understand what the release cue really means. This skill not only improves play, it sharpens communication between you and your dog.

Have fun, train smart, and don’t forget to cheer your pup on every step of the way!