Sounds like you're putting in the work! I don't think your dog will become treat dependent if you exchange a nice bit of steak for the "drop" command. I would use the "drop" command often during the day with things he has toys or bones in his mouth. Be sure to let him have it back, or he'll be less inclined to give it to you. After the command is rock solid with the treat, you can wean him by giving it less often.

 

So, it's turning out that darling Barkley was just the easiest puppy on the face of the earth and I'm not as good of a trainer as I thought.....

You have no idea how much this makes me laugh I've said this about my collie. I swear a good Golden will make you think you're a genius trainer and then along comes another dog to put you down a peg.

I don't know how old Cooper is now??? if he's still a puppy I'd tether him to your waist or put him indoors when you can't watch him. I'd try to give less opportunity to entertain himself. Either engage or crate him. A mesh muzzle is also an option for rocks if you are so inclined. It won't help with poop though I also agree with above suggestion of working harder on give command during play and give high value treats all the time, as mentioned you eventually go to intermittent reward and phase out. I'd absolutely call him to you and trade for yummy treats. This is something I'd build over a year. You can also work on having him "hold" a soft toy and then "give" it back. Having those two opposing commands is useful and I think it helps with understanding "give".

 

FWIW, I taught drop it and leave it with treats, and was able to eventually fully remove the treats and maintain the commands. At first, the treats were the "trade" right? Drop what's in your mouth and you get this treat. And then over time, you start to give praise for the drop (maybe every third drop is praise, and the other two are treats). It's almost like, you mix it up so that they don't know when they are going to get the treat, so they keep doing it, hoping to get the treat. And eventually, it's just solid enough that you don't need the treats at all. It might take a LONG time - like, many months of solid consistency - but it does work!

 

These are great tips; THANK YOU!!! 💜 I think I might add a bit of steak tidbits to our "drop it" work; "give" is a new one, I need to figure out if that is different than "drop it", or what my expectation should be for "give". I appreciate the help!!

ps
Cooper will be 14 months on 7/17; he hit the adolescent stage HARD and it's been 2 steps forward and 1 back for a while now. But we'll get there

 

Yes! There's no competition. No deadline. Just consistency.

 

I taught Denver with treats for drop it and leave it. She does both 99. 0% of the time.
Its was a exchange for things she thought she could have in her mouth. Like rocks. The treats were better than rocks.

I use the leave it command for on walks if i see something she will pick up. First i started with leave it in the house. Had the treat in my hand told her to sit and then once i opened my hand if she left it she got rewarded. Now i can drop food on the grounf and not have to worry about her taking it.

Tucker was a bit trickier, he learned leave it the same way. He learned drop it for most things besides toys. With toys i found having 2 of the same or very similar toys taking one and throwing it. Then when he came back id show him the other toy. Him being more toy driven than food driven. It didnt take long for him to be dropping it at my feet.