My dog has a lot of prey drive, but after watching the Building Drive & Focus DVD, I know I've done some things wrong. What do you suggest?

Hi,



I have a 7 month old German Shepard and I messed up some of his training. I just watched the building drive DVD and realized that it goes against everything I have done so far playing with my dog. His mother was a highly energetic ball nut, and none of the kids would play with her because she would nip at the toy.



I could tell the pup had a high prey drive and did not want issues with the kids. I taught him to NEVER touch a toy in my hands and once retrieved, to drop it and either sit or lay down.



He never tires of chasing a ball and completely ignores ANY distraction while we are playing. This includes a set of new born pups who nip at his legs while he sits waiting for me to throw the ball.



I tried the first step in building drive with a small orbee ball on a string. He simply sits there and barks/cries, never taking his eyes off the ball. The few times he has tried to get the ball from me, I've played tug for a very short period and let him take it from me. He mouthed it while he sat down and spit it out at my feet.



The problem is not with his drive...he has it. The problem is all the times I held him by the cheeks and told him NO! when he touched a toy in my hands and from making him do a sit stay before throwing the ball.



Any ideas are greatly appreciated.



Thanks,
Eric