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Yes, Chirag Patel's method is very cherished by behaviorists world-wide. I have been using it more and more for some challenging cases. It does take a little longer because initially you are just saying drop without the dog mouthing/ carrying any objects/foods, but the extra steps are totally worth it because it creates a positive association with the word and the dog gets so reflexively used to eating savory foods upon hearing it, that he more easily drops anything from the mouth. As a bonus, as you gather the chicken with the finger, it helps build trust with hands nearby food. Of course, it's not suitable for dogs who resource guard, but I think it works great as a preventive. Yeah, that fluff ball teddy-bear Pom has a special place in my heart, so full of character! One day I saw her eat something, and since she was in my care, I took the risk and opened her mouth worried it could have been something harmful. I retrieved the item from her mouth and popped a treat from my pocket in her mouth in exchange, only to realize later it was ---uggh, I feel like gagging still to this day--- it was her poop! I was literally retching as I rushed to clean up my hands. So drop it and leave it turned out being the main training she needed, along with learning to trust me being around when she pooped (owner used to scold her). She eventually got very good at her drops, so much so, one day, I was sitting on the couch reading emails and she intently, with great purpose jumped up right next to me and dropped her poop on my lap-and looked up at me with the expectation of a treat to exchange! This is normally a pleasant consequence of teaching drop it. It's a sign you have instilled a higher level of trust. My female Rottie Petra, used to chew my pens, but then once she learned to drop well, she would carry any pens I lost to me rather than chew them on her own which was great, but I never thought about this happening with poop, eeek!