There are so many good reasons for teaching a puppy to let go of something they have in their mouth. Not only does it make fetch and tug games go more smoothly, it's also an important safety skill, especially when a pup picks up something that can be harmful to them.
I have the pleasure of working with young puppies regularly and, if you've lived with one yourself, you know they like to pick up pretty much anything in their mouths, including leaves, twigs, grass, acorns, mulch, stones, bugs, poop, shoes, scraps of paper, eyeglasses, socks, TV remotes, tissues, and on and on. It's how they explore their world and it's perfectly normal behavior.
The challenge is this: how do you strike a balance between their desire to explore the world and your desire to keep them safe? As you can see in my brief list of items above, some would certainly be unsafe if they were actually INGESTED as opposed to just being picked up and inspected in the puppy's mouth before being spit back out. If, in your desire to keep your puppy safe, you are constantly swooping in to remove from their mouth every single item they pick up, they may become more resistant to letting go or stealthier about staying out of your reach so you can't steal their 'treasure.' I've even met dogs who have learned to quickly swallow an item so that the person has no chance of stealing it away. Yikes!
So, what can you do to keep your puppy safe without completely smothering their natural inquisitiveness? Here are some ideas:
Puppy-proof your indoor space to limit access to taboo or potentially dangerous items.
Litter their space with puppy-approved items that are fun and interesting. Rotate in new items regularly to keep things exciting.
Use food puzzles and long-lasting edible chews to keep your pup's mouth happily entertained for longer stretches of time.
Choose an outdoor potty area that has fewer hazards, and/or rake regularly to eliminate the worst of the outdoor temptations.
Allow puppy to explore an item with their mouth as long as it's not dangerous (i.e., it's not toxic, it's not a choking hazard, etc.). Chewing on a small leaf or a bit of grass, for example, is unlikely to be hazardous. Observe their behavior carefully: if the norm is for your puppy to pick up an item, inspect it with their mouth, and then spit it back out, you may be able to relax a bit. If, however, your puppy is a "swallow first, ask questions later" sort, then you'll have to be much more proactive to keep them safe.
Teach a solid "DROP" skill and reward with exceptionally tasty treats. Practice this a lot with dog toys and other safe items so your pup has a rich history of rewards for this behavior and becomes quick to let go of items whenever requested. After you've rewarded them for dropping an item that's safe for them to have, return it to them so they essentially get two rewards! By teaching the drop skill thoroughly, you're likely to get compliance even when surprise items are picked up that you haven't specifically trained for.
Some thoughts about pica: the frequent ingestion of nonfood items, known as pica, can be a serious issue. If you're experiencing this with your pup, please discuss this with your vet in order to rule out any underlying medical issues. You may also find this article helpful. And for temporary management (under your supervision), having your pup learn to comfortably wear a basket muzzle or an Outfox Field Guard will prevent pica in tricky situations.
Dealing with some challenging behaviors that you're not sure how to address?
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You can reach me at virginiadare2013@gmail.com.
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