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This is the one thing we wren't able to teach our dog. Now, with the no talking - well - it may have to wait. Not sure
Anyhooo. . .
When he gets something in his mouth that he isn't meant to have (like a cat's toy) we have a REAL issue most times getting it away from him. To him, whatever he has is like treasure.
He's not possesive of his food when eating from a bowl. We could take that at any time.
He IS possesive a lot of times about a patella bone (Tartar Buster) or like tonight - a tag from under a chair that he ripped off. (I didn't even know there were tags there!)

Any advice ?

i have never used the drop it comarnd,i used leave it as you can use to make hem drop something or you can use it to stop them getting something, or have used it when out walking and a child or dog is comeing the other way, as they get close you can say leave it,
start by getting something the dog likes (fav toy) offer it to the dog as the dog gose to take it give a good firm leave it use lots of grrrr for a start. after lots of reruns you should be able to use normal voice, works well as if dog has something in its mouth it should drop it, or if he goes to get something a good leave it should stop him

for got to add when teaching this when og back of after the leave it give lots of praise until the dog gets the hang of it

Another way that I've learned is that you put the dogs treat in the palm of your hand and when he goes to take it from you, snap your hand shut and shout "leave it". It startles the dog with the hand snapping shut. Works fast and very effective.

Brian

Our problem is more once that dog already HAS something in his mouth. Like yesterday with the cchiar tag.
We were eating supper, the dog was under the table lying down - then - out he popped with a r=tag in his mouth.
It's like he siad "Hey ! See what I found ? It's MINE ! "

THAT'S when we can't get him to drop something.

when i had a dog teaching the leave it would also work at makeing them drop something as they learn leave it means they must not have it, or get it

When we've had our dog out for a walk and he snaps something off the ground into his mouth, we just say, "LEAVE IT", and his mouth pops open like a PEZ dispenser. I'm not bragging, I'm just saying that with practice, they do learn. When we had his treat in our hand and popped it shut with the command, we did this about 5 times and then gave him a break. We did it for about 3 days, and he will always drop what's in his mouth.

Brian

We use Leave It too. It works as others have said for all kinds of situations. We live close to some stores and get a bit of garbage blowing around especially in Spring. Now we tell Jasper leave it and she won't pick it up. If Jasper picks up something we haven't noticed I say EEEWWWW Leave it yucky. You should see how fast she spits it out! lol
We started with two of Jaspers favourite balls and would throw one and as she got back to use we said Leave IT and threw the other one. Most times they drop the first ball and chase the second ball. Meanwhile pick up the first ball and repeat. it takes a while but you can get them to drop the first ball before you throw the second one and leave more of a pause and then just with the one ball. In Jaspers case sometimes she'll hang on to the first ball and run off to the second one and "kick" it back!

Thank you "emailsucks" & "jaspersmom"
I'll try your suggestions with the Leave It today when we get home. I'm SURE we'll have cause to try it.

Don't worry - it's not bragging - It's SUCCESS from hard work!

Not usre if this is a good technique or not but i have a VERY sniffy dog and frank always has his nose to the ground so you are often surprised to find he has something in his mouth, to late to use 'leave it'.
At first i always carried a small stick so i would say drop it and show him the stick (which he wanted) so he would open his mouth and 'drop it'. i didn't give him the stick but snatched away whatever it was, gave lots of praise and then would throw the stick as reward, after awhile it was just praise, now it's just 'drop it'. For Frank, positive reinforcement really works.
hope this helps, i am definately no expert.