teaching "hold"

[Newly Newfed]

I am training Sierra for her water test.  She wasn't ready for the test this past September, so I am aiming for next year's test.

One of the things she just can't seem to learn is to hold an item in her mouth, like a rope or a bumper, until I ask her to give it back to me.  I was thinking of taking a piece of rope and smearing it with something yummy, like bacon grease or peanut butter, so that she wants to take it in her mouth.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for teaching her this?

[People Whisperer]

THAT was my biggest issue with Lily in dumbbell training 
And yes, you got the idea right...You can wrap an American cheese around an object and let her hold it for 1 second and take it away before she spits it. Repeat a few times. Then move to a 2 seconds, 3, and so on. When she can hold it without chewing for 3 seconds you can add a command "Hold" and praise! A LOT!!! She will think that the word HOLD is the best one  If she is having issues holding for even a second you can scratch her chin and then put an object in her mouth, that way she can't spit it out and keep petting it while it's there.
I hope it will help 

[Newly Newfed]

Thank you for the advice!  I will definitely try them.