Adding the Verbal Cue

Once the trade is reliable, say "drop it" just before you present the treat. The phrase becomes the signal that a trade is coming. Practice with steadily better items: a boring toy, then a fun toy, then a chew, then a sock.

For dogs that refuse to release high-value items like raw bones, do not turn it into a confrontation. Walk away and come back with something extraordinary — a piece of steak, a handful of cheese. The trade currency must be higher than the held item's value.