Howdy. I'm trying to work on fuss with Siris, my 8 mth old GSD. Since he's toy/ball crazy, I'm trying to do it the way Flinks does in his video--ball is under the arm (or, since he's just learning, up against my chest in front of the arm). Problem is, Siris is so focused on the ball that he wants to be in front of me and facing me instead of beside me and looking up at me (or rather, the ball). I hook a leash on his fursaver to keep him from charging forward and he just pulls continuously, something I don't want him to learn. Would putting a prong collar on and using light pops help keep him in position without messing anything up? We use it during regular walks and he's perfectly fine with it, but I haven't used it for corrections in training yet.

Have you tried throwing in a bunch of left turns & about turns?

Sabrina,

If he is too focused on the ball/toy? Put it out of sight.
Start with the dog in front, mark eye contact with a clicker or voice YES/OK/? Then bring out the ball or tug
When you have good attention in front. Go to stationary fuss
position on the side repeat eye contact/mark/reward When you
have solid stationary attention, go two steps with attention
and mark/reward then 6 steps, then 10-5-20- 100

Hey.

Susan, we're not past taking more than a step or two, so turns haven't really been started yet.

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If he is too focused on the ball/toy?

I think that's the problem.

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Start with the dog in front, mark eye contact with a clicker or voice YES/OK/?

I have pretty good attention when he's in the front, with or without a ball or treat.

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Go to stationary fuss position on the side repeat eye contact/mark/reward.

This is where the problem comes in--he wants to come around front so he can see the ball better, and probably because he's used to the front since I use it when we play fetch. I've tried guiding with the ball, but he's fixed on the front position. If I do get him into a proper fuss position and tell him to sitz, he'll sit for just long enough for me to open my mouth to mark it and then pop up and come around front. So can I use the prong to keep him in the fuss position and prevent him from coming around to the front?

Nothing is a hard thing to do. But it is a great tool for a dog with a lot of drive. When the dog is in the wrong position do nothing. When the dog is in the correct position reward him. There is no unwritten rule requiring that the reward must be given every session.
WAIT, on the dog to give you the correct behavior.

Too often the handler feels compelled to reward a dog after a certain amount of time. I wouldn't pop him into position with a collar. I would start in basic position reward him there, and then step forward half a step, leaving him in place, and then say "fusb". If he comes up into position mark the behavior and reward him. If he goes past position do nothing. Then after a pause try again.

Thanks guys. We'll give the waiting a try. I found my clicker (amazing what you find when you clean house) so I think I'll start using that with Siris, see if it helps catch the right behaviors.

I am with Orville, depends what age your dog is as well,
puppies/younger dogs take longer to learn focus. (paying attention is hard work), especially if he is anything like my ADD Delinquint.

I am currently putting in the foundation for BH he is 9 mnth old now, all he does now is a recall, for food and I encourage him to finish in the heel(fuss) position,Lots and lots of praise and food.
I praise and reward when he comes in at the position, I want him. If he is skew or overshoots position
I move where I want him, I use no verbal corrections just walk him away and do it again, and feed and praise when he
does it right.He works on a line for all of the above.
I have done 3 Begleithunds previous to this and have used this method successfully, all were high drive very energetic dogs, I always get the sit and focus right first,
and then move on to teaching the fuss position, it has definitley helped with the long heeling later on. You may have to try a couple of suggestions and see what works, as each dog is different.You could also try showing him the toy and then tuck it under your arm pit, and see if he remains focused.
Good luck with your training.