I have a 6 mos old GSMD that I got from someone who had done no training with him. Did not even know how to sit. I am working hard on the pack behaviors and am trying to train him. I have tried on several different occasions to use different types of treats down to plain kibble. No matter what I use he can NOT focus on what I want he is just crazy to get the treat. I tried training after feeding him it doesn't matter, he can not pay any attention to me and can't even do commands he does no problem when I have no treats. He can't take his eye off my hand or my pocket. Any suggestions

Cassy, are you using marker training(clicker-type training)? If not, check out the free e-book here to get you started, and the DVD's that you can buy.
Marker Training e-Book, Free!
Marker Training DVD

Get a treat bag and put it behind your back so that the pup can't see it. Like This One

A good command to teach focus is 'watch me'.

It's an easy one to teach using marker training, and will get the pup looking at your face.

Read through the marker training e-book and ask more questions if something's not clear...

That was a great article. I have been trying to read all the pertinent stuff on the website and will have a couple of videos tomorrow. I sure appreciate the input. I have read so much and am starting from sq 1 with this guy that I almost feel like a dog overwhelmed by too much info and training. LOL. I am very thankful for the input and will start today on the yes training. that should make him find today a happy day. He gets treats without doing anything.

I do have quite a bit of experience with dominant breeds and I have raised two purebred wolves from pups. I had them early though and they didn't learn to be stubborn and obstinate. They were never given any choice early on. Great animals. One was Mackenzie River Wolf crossed with an Arctic Wolf. He was a sweetheart and we lost him a couple of months ago after 13 and a half wonderful years.

Thank you again Lynne

Try using a toy reward!

Watch the free streaming video where Cindy teaches impulse control to the dogs. Then teach him using food!

Once he has learned the impulse control, use the food to imprint and teach a behavior, then when he knows the command use a toy to tug with him, to reinforce and reward the command.

I got my lab at 9 months old with zero manners, no training, and a bottomless pit stomach. Add in her drive level and in most places she would have been PTS rather than deal with her insanity. She was more than willing to climb you for a kibble, bite your hand when you tried to give it to her and generally speaking was so frantic to get whatever you had inside her mouth that the behavior was entirely lost on her.

So I tied her to a post in the beginning for our training session on a 5 foot cable tie. I then showed her that I had food... about 5-10 minutes later of her climbing the wall and backflipping, when she stopped struggling towards forcing her way to the treat and gives me the what do I need to do to get that treat look I marked that behavior and rolled her the food. Repeat. Basically I'm setting her up where she will eventually do the behavior I want which I can mark and that acting like an absolute idiot will not get her the reward or closer to a reward.

Things have happily gotten alot better since those initial days of bear training.

I really appreciate the input. This is very helpful. That is pretty much where he is, trying to climb you to get the treat. I am working on the pack behavior too so am keeping him on leash all the time. I had the pleasure of learning something new the other night. I had him on a leather leash at my feet and he had his toy across his paws. (toy he loves to chew on) He was happily chewing away for a good hour and I was happy to look down and see him happily chewing away. I went to get up and picked up the handle of the leash and that was all there was. The handle and about 2 in hanging from his neck he couldn't reach. He ATE the entire 10 ft leash. I am going to start calling him jaws. The tying him up to calm him down sounds like a good start. He just can't even think straight when he knows you have a treat. Glad to hear some others having some of the same issues with good results because he really is a sweet dog when there is nothing edible around. I know he will be a great dog when I can get some quality time in.

Also my husband is away in Alaska crab fishing and will be home in 2 weeks was hoping to have some manners in him by then.


THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.....

I agree with teaching the "watch me" command first with this dog. If you can't keep his attention he can't learn.

Yes I think that is a good idea. I was going to try that shell game concentration thing with him too.

I sure appreciate all the input. I have had no problems with training dogs before. All of mine have always had good manners. He is a new challenge.

I find reading all these food motivation, and toy motivation posts interesting. But it's as if it's a different language. As a guide dog trainer, having a GD (guide dog) food motivated is only a little less of a no-no than being ball obsessed.

This is not a criticism. Different needs mean different tools and approaches, so carry on by all means. But sometimes I automatically cringe when I hear descriptions of how food or toy driven a dog is and how that's a good thing. LOL