diff --git a/dvc/scm/git/backend/base.py b/dvc/scm/git/backend/base.py
index 304e96530..02808c59e 100644
--- a/dvc/scm/git/backend/base.py
+++ b/dvc/scm/git/backend/base.py
@@ -67,7 +67,11 @@ class BaseGitBackend(ABC):
 
     @abstractmethod
     def checkout(
-        self, branch: str, create_new: Optional[bool] = False, **kwargs,
+        self,
+        branch: str,
+        create_new: Optional[bool] = False,
+        force: bool = False,
+        **kwargs,
     ):
         pass
 
diff --git a/dvc/scm/git/backend/dulwich.py b/dvc/scm/git/backend/dulwich.py
index cd3af32fd..517978bd5 100644
--- a/dvc/scm/git/backend/dulwich.py
+++ b/dvc/scm/git/backend/dulwich.py
@@ -189,7 +189,11 @@ class DulwichBackend(BaseGitBackend):  # pylint:disable=abstract-method
             raise SCMError("Git commit failed") from exc
 
     def checkout(
-        self, branch: str, create_new: Optional[bool] = False, **kwargs,
+        self,
+        branch: str,
+        create_new: Optional[bool] = False,
+        force: bool = False,
+        **kwargs,
     ):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
diff --git a/dvc/scm/git/backend/gitpython.py b/dvc/scm/git/backend/gitpython.py
index 19922e5c9..f7bf23a3e 100644
--- a/dvc/scm/git/backend/gitpython.py
+++ b/dvc/scm/git/backend/gitpython.py
@@ -217,12 +217,16 @@ class GitPythonBackend(BaseGitBackend):  # pylint:disable=abstract-method
             raise SCMError("Git pre-commit hook failed") from exc
 
     def checkout(
-        self, branch: str, create_new: Optional[bool] = False, **kwargs
+        self,
+        branch: str,
+        create_new: Optional[bool] = False,
+        force: bool = False,
+        **kwargs,
     ):
         if create_new:
-            self.repo.git.checkout("HEAD", b=branch, **kwargs)
+            self.repo.git.checkout("HEAD", b=branch, force=force, **kwargs)
         else:
-            self.repo.git.checkout(branch, **kwargs)
+            self.repo.git.checkout(branch, force=force, **kwargs)
 
     def pull(self, **kwargs):
         infos = self.repo.remote().pull(**kwargs)
diff --git a/dvc/scm/git/backend/pygit2.py b/dvc/scm/git/backend/pygit2.py
index 3aa944b15..a00c3aef8 100644
--- a/dvc/scm/git/backend/pygit2.py
+++ b/dvc/scm/git/backend/pygit2.py
@@ -100,14 +100,20 @@ class Pygit2Backend(BaseGitBackend):  # pylint:disable=abstract-method
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     def checkout(
-        self, branch: str, create_new: Optional[bool] = False, **kwargs,
+        self,
+        branch: str,
+        create_new: Optional[bool] = False,
+        force: bool = False,
+        **kwargs,
     ):
-        from pygit2 import GitError
+        from pygit2 import GIT_CHECKOUT_FORCE, GitError
+
+        checkout_strategy = GIT_CHECKOUT_FORCE if force else None
 
         if create_new:
             commit = self.repo.revparse_single("HEAD")
             new_branch = self.repo.branches.local.create(branch, commit)
-            self.repo.checkout(new_branch)
+            self.repo.checkout(new_branch, strategy=checkout_strategy)
         else:
             if branch == "-":
                 branch = "@{-1}"
@@ -115,7 +121,7 @@ class Pygit2Backend(BaseGitBackend):  # pylint:disable=abstract-method
                 commit, ref = self.repo.resolve_refish(branch)
             except (KeyError, GitError):
                 raise RevError(f"unknown Git revision '{branch}'")
-            self.repo.checkout_tree(commit)
+            self.repo.checkout_tree(commit, strategy=checkout_strategy)
             detach = kwargs.get("detach", False)
             if ref and not detach:
                 self.repo.set_head(ref.name)