Anyone got any ideas on how to get my Springer to give a ball/stick/kong back? He is so stubborn- he ignores food, pain and other distractors. Currently having to blow in his face but he's even getting used to this now!

Start training the drop with something that's low value to him. Exchange for a highly valued treat (I use really stinky fish bread). Then give back. When he's dropping on command, start upping the value of the thing you're trying to get him to drop. Gradually work up to his prize posessions. You shouldn't have to resort to using pain

that's how I read it when I just skimmed the post...blowing in the face...a puff of air much less painful

What the flippin H*** do you mean pain? You would put your dog through pain just to get something off him

What the flippin H*** do you mean pain? You would put your dog through pain just to get something off him

No advice sorry, Racer drops on cue to the word drop. Murphy refusses to drop dead things he picks up, so I gave up and let him eat them. Saying that he never used to drop tennis balls, so I let Racer harrase him til he drops it to get rid of Racer, now he doesn't bother picking them up! Am I bad or lazy?

oh really, what other distractors, the water in the face you advocated ???

we've tried to persuade Rufus to drop his ball for ages, then the other night he just did it- he was walking up the living room, drop it, take it, drop it, take it... etc - it was hilarious (and very clever too!)

Trouble is now, when you ask him to bring you his ball he picks it up and puts it down before you can ask him to drop it

sadly he learnt this skill after the pigeon and dead fish incident - not sure how it will work with high value stuff.

I think he got the hang of it because we started off having to take the ball from his mouth, (whilst saying 'drop it') persuading him by showing him a treat - then it progressed so that if you got hold of the ball in his mouth he would release it to your hand - and now he can let go all by himself!

i struggle to get Ollie to drop on command. He tends to drop thiongs that he has stolen, like underwear, kids toys, shoes etc. But i cant get him to drop a ball or any of his things and if i approach him he thinks its a game and runs away tail wagging.
As for using pain, are you serious or did you not mean it in the way i am thinking. I hope you dont use pain, as your dog will just become fearful and possible agressive.

Swapping for a higher value ite, warm chicken or sausage has always worked for me, far more rewarding than any other distractor.

By pain I meant sticking a red hot poker in his eye.

Get a grip folks- it was a turn of phrase to show how keen he was to keep it!

Thanks for the sensible posts- particularly the one about building up to his favourite toy.

I blow on Robbies ear to get things back. Then I give them back as his reward. Then do it again, next time I keep them