ok..so we have taken a bit of a break (for about two months) on some of the normal ob work. havn't really worked on the fuss or the stand command till two weeks ago..and also have run into a bit of a problem on the "here" comand. reason for this is my lack of confidence in being his teacher..but i'm starting to get a little more confidence. i never knew a dog could encourage someone till i got Ace. He pushes and pushes me to play fetch and offers downs, sits, and even stays put with out me reinforcing it in any way. I have never had to tell him "stay" once.
ace's butt swings out on the fuss about 1/4 the time so we are now just practicing up against a fence when we are walking. also some times he surges ahead of me. and i'm afraid of useing a correction for this as i am scared he will lag behind. He always tries so hard to please me and i want to be as fair as possible.

but i think my biggest problem is his placment when i tell him to come. he is a little bit further away from me than i'd like. By about 10in's. should i try touch training to bring him closer? I would really LOVE some advice on how to correct this problem. Irealize i have mostlikely caused these little issues by my lack of knowledge

Thank you so very much!
everything else we are working on is on this short clip. please feel free to correct me on any mistakes you see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj_kVZGZcFs&feature=related

I was having some trouble with proper position on the sit in front - I've been correcting it by backing up my training to when I was taking steps backwards while she was coming in, and sort of guiding her into postion by holding a treat in my hands directly in front of where I want her to stop.
See what I mean?
She now see's my hand position as a "hand signal", though and I have to gradually phase it out. Takes time.
Would love to hear other ideas...
Btw, you two look great in the video!
Cheers!

Hey Steph! Lovely dog! What a happy, willing worker!

The BIGGEST problem I'm seeing is the way you are holding the toy in between, and during behaviors. It's pure bribery to do it this way. The toy should 'appear' in the desired position after the mark. Holding the toy (especially at your chest like that) only distracts him and makes him want to come around to the reward. I think that's why you're having trouble with forging and crabbing (butt swinging). Tuck it under your armpit (for heeling especially) if it's too hot to wear a vest, or use a toy you can stuff down the back of your pants.

Cruise around on the free videos section and watch how Cindy Rhodes handles the toy with Rush.

The recall issue is sort of the same problem. If he's a ball dog, I've seen people tuck the ball under their chin, and release the ball once the dog get's close enough. This is also luring/bribery, but at least the dog is comming all the way in to your center line. Another method is to mark, and then deliver the reward from behind your body, in between your legs. Only problem with that one (for me) is my GSD is quite tall, and will high-center me on occassion.

If you have done leash pressure properly, you can use your leash to keep your dog in position while heeling and also to bring him in closer to you for recalls. It's won't squash him.

BTW, it's absolutely awesome and such a valuable tool to video yourself while training. You can note your success as well as your mistakes. It's so hard to figure things out in the moment....

Keep posting vids! And keep up the good work!

I think for his age, his doing quite well - but I have to agree with Lisa on the bribery part.

How is his food drive?

For my girl, I use food to teach a new behavior so that I can lure and shape, then once she knows the behavior well, I start using the ball. So I show her the ball, put it away in my pocket, ask her to do the exercise(s) then mark, then bring out the reward.

For the recall, try back chaining it. To me it really looks like he just does not know the place that you want. He thinks where he is, is the right place and because you reward for that, you reinforce that he has chosen the right spot.

So what I would do, is ask him to sit anywhere. Then take a few pieces of food in your hand, go TO your dog and stand where you would like him to be when he comes into a front sit. Mark and throw the food behind him to get as the reward. Then try again. Once you have done this a few times, I would start a shaping game.

How I start, is by luring the dog into the front sit position using food. Get him exactly where he needs to be, have patience and don't give up. Keep making him move around until he gets the right spot. When he does, mark, then reward by throwing the treat behind him, so he has to go out from you. As soon as he picks up his food, call him to "come", and show him again where you want him through luring. Each time you reward, you throw the treat behind him so he can leave the position and get it. Do this 3-5 times.

After you have done it a few times, call him to "come" and just stand there with your hands at your side. Now he must figure out where he is supposed to be. He will try many things (down, sit, heel), I just say "nope" and let him try again. Once he gets near the spot you say "Yes" throw the food and let him get it. Each time he tries for the spot you mark and reward, but each time he tries, you only pay for something better, not the same and not worse.

IE: The first time he comes in a little off to the side but fairly close to where you want him. You mark and reward and call him back in. The second time he comes in straight but a little far out, mark & reward. The third time he comes in off to the left and out far, "nope", and let him try again. Once he achieves one spot, do not pay for anything less than that, only when he gets better.

I hope this isn't too confusing

Great pup and great work!!!

My advice is also not on the obed, but on the tugging. I couldn't hear if you were giving him an "out" command or not, but I would work on the out before using the toy as a reward like that.

His "outs" are a bit chewy and slow, which might come back to haunt you in your bite work. Do you have the ME tug DVD? It has a great section on teaching the out.

Awesome pup though, he really wants to work!

"and then deliver the reward from behind your body, in between your legs" I LOVE IT!
and i will also try the mark and reward technique Niomi recomended..i see both of those working but i will try both and see which one he responds to best.
oh and i did say ous when he was letting go. and i sooo agree that he can be fairly mouthy at times and slow as well. i'll be getting a few new tugs for him and start working on that too
how would i best go about doing that?
as far as food drive...it's fairly high. but NOT if there is a chance a ball or tug is around. he will give up steak for a ball anyday

Well.... I hate to be a stickler. I know that there's more than one way to skin a cat, but I'm a Michael Ellis die-hard.

Delivery of the reward matters. If you're using food, I disagree with throwing the food away from where you want the dog. I think that encourages the dog to anticipate moving out of position. JMO, and Michaels...

The only reason you would not deliver a toy in the front of your body for a recall, is because of the frenzied nashing teeth.

 Quote: Lisa Brazeau

Delivery of the reward matters. If you're using food, I disagree with throwing the food away from where you want the dog. I think that encourages the dog to anticipate moving out of position. JMO, and Michaels...

I have to say that I agree strongly. (Also have to say, right up front, I admit that I never saw the importance of reward position until I studied the ME videos. )

Here's a nice discussion: http://leerburg.com/flix/player.php?id=128

 Quote: lisa brazeau

... BTW, it's absolutely awesome and such a valuable tool to video yourself while training. You can note your success as well as your mistakes. It's so hard to figure things out in the moment.... Keep posting vids! And keep up the good work!

Big ditto! I think MANY of us appreciate "real" (untrained, in the process of training) video clips. I sure do!

In fact, that's a big part of the value of the ME videos, IMO: real dogs getting real training with real owners!

 Quote: Niomi Smith

... For my girl, I use food to teach a new behavior so that I can lure and shape, then once she knows the behavior well, I start using the ball.

Me too!

Also, I think there is info here on that topic:
http://leerburg.com/flix/searchResults.php?searchfor=when%20to%20use%20a%20toy