How To Teach Your Dog To Drop The Ball In 3 Easy Steps

German shepherds have a lot of prey drive and most of them love chasing a ball. A game of fetch is a great way to burn off some of the high energy that they’re so famous for. A game of fetch is also a great way to reward them after a training session.

There are many benefits to playing fetch with your German shepherd, including:

• It’s fun, rewarding, and makes them happy.
• Perfect way to exercise your dog when you can’t go on a long walk or run.
• Provides mental stimulation.
• Helps prevent boredom.
• Encourages them to focus on you.
• Reinforces training and discipline.
• Improves the bond between dog and owner.
• Exercise helps keep them fit and joints healthy.
• Improves coordination.
• Helps alleviate stress and anxiety.
• Helps prevent destructive behavior.
• Improves indoor behavior.
• Most people can do it and there are tools available for those who have physical limitations.

As you know, most German shepherds don’t have to be trained to chase a ball. As a herding breed, they naturally love to give chase. Running after a ball comes second nature to them. However, after fetching their ball, they may also love to happily run around holding their prize in their mouth with no intention of giving it back to you. After all, games of ‘catch me if you can’ are fun for them, too.

If this is your dog, no worries. Teaching your dog to bring the ball back and drop it so you can throw it again will only take a little time and training. Soon enough your clever pup will realize that the faster they drop the ball, the faster they get to chase it again.

If your dog has recall and knows the drop it command, teaching them to retrieve and return the ball then drop it, will be easier. If not, now is the time to start teaching them these important commands.

How To Teach Your Dog To Drop The Ball

Step 1

Start by having your dog sit then offer the ball to your dog. When they take it, hold your hand out palm up and then ask them to drop it. If they don’t drop it, don’t tug on the ball. That will only teach them to tug, which is another fun game. Rather, take out a treat and issue the drop command again. Try to coordinate the command with them letting go of the ball. As soon as they do, praise or use a clicker to mark the behavior. They should be eating their treat by the time the ball hits the floor.

It looks like this:

• Have the dog sit.
• Offer the ball.
• Dog takes the ball.
• Say the drop it command as you show the treat.
• Click or praise as your dog drops the ball.
• Quickly give the treat.
• Practice this until your dog drops the ball on command.

Step 2

Start teaching fetch indoors by gently tossing the ball a few feet from you. Call the dog back to you and ask them to sit and drop it. When they drop the ball, mark the behavior with praise and a treat as you did in step 1. Once they master this, move on to step 3.

It looks like this:

• Toss the ball a couple feet away.
• Dog retrieves the ball (give praise).
• Call the dog to you.
Have the dog sit.
• Say the drop it command as you show the treat.
• Click or praise as your dog drops the ball.
• Quickly give the treat.
• Practice this until your dog drops the ball on command.

Step 3

Begin tossing the ball further away outdoors, such as the backyard. Don’t toss the ball very far at first. Keep them close and once they learn to return to you and drop the ball on command, you can begin throwing the ball farther away. It is up to you if you continue to have your dog sit at this point in the game. Once they master this, get rid of the treat because fetching the ball will become the reward.

It looks like this:

• Throw ball.
• Dog retrieves the ball (give praise).
• Call the dog to you (give praise).
• Have the dog sit.
• Say the drop it command as you show the treat.
• Click or praise as your dog drops the ball.
• Quickly give the treat.
• You can get rid of the sit step (if you choose) and eliminate the treat once the dog reliably drops the ball.

Once your dog reliably drops the ball, games of fetch will be much more fun and rewarding for both of you. You can mix the game up by throwing different balls, toys, flying discs and more. This is an easy and rewarding game to teach because once they understand that, in exchange for dropping the ball, they get more fun exercise.

We hope you enjoyed this article. Please feel free to share it with your dog loving friends.

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