Here's me and my 11 month old dutch, Crash. This is my first high drive working dog and I got him in the hopes to do protection work. Right now we're just working on engagement and very basic stuff. Here's some videos of us from yesterday doing some drills. Like I said, please critique me. Any info you can give me on potential and drive you can see in my dog would be greatly appriciated also. I'm completely new so let me have it! I wanna learn! (P.S. I apologize if this should have gone in the video forum but I want to discuss my training so I posted here.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNdzyiUgwR4&list=UU3M34yIl9d6Qx32QJ8msx7Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2ZWsO12lLg&list=UU3M34yIl9d6Qx32QJ8msx7Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gAKEk0AWEk&list=UU3M34yIl9d6Qx32QJ8msx7Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6RSIPBPhjo&list=UU3M34yIl9d6Qx32QJ8msx7Q

Very good! When you do the recall, I noticed that instead of encouraging the dog to come closer, you step toward him, but later in the sequence, I noticed he nearly ran into you and you back up after he sat. When he wants to stop short, I'd back up, when he wants to run into you make him fix it by stepping towards him...I see you adjusting to him rather than him adjusting to you.

I also noticed that on one video you released with a YES and instead of letting him get the toy, you put it in his face. I'd actually step back and present it to him so he has to go after it.

He tugs very well! Will he not yet bring it back to you or out? I wouldn't use a toy as a reward until those two things are 100%. Overall very good!

Thanks Tresa, that's exactly the type of critique I was hoping to hear. I'll work on the things you said about recall. One issue that I've come across is that he isn't very food motivated. I'm gonna start making sure he is really hungry when we drill and I'm working on finding his favorite treat so we can use food rewards better. I'm also working on having him bring the tug back and outing. Do you have any suggested info/resources on him bringing the tug back and outing?

Hi, Alex. I agree with what Tresa said, and would like to add to that.

By feeding the tug to the dog, you are squashing his drive. The dog has good drive, but it is being suppressed by you. Make the dog chase his prey (the rabbit does not jump into the beast's mouth). Give him some misses. Most important of all, watch the end of every one of your clips.

To the dog, you are stopping in the middle of a nice game of tug and just walking off (shutting down). He follows you and teases you with the toy, trying to get you to reengage. He gives up, "kills" his prey (thrashing, which is undesirable), then drops it and looks for you.

IMHO, you need to learn to work the dog in a higher state of drive, and learn how to build that drive accordingly. When you are ready to end the game, "out" the tug and tell the dog "we're done". Leave the dog in drive and wanting more rather than shutting him down.

Good looking out.

Even though you'd like to work with food and need to add that to your toolbox, you have some foundation with the tug, so don't stop tugging. Teach the out with rebites then backchain the retrieve.

When tugging, freeze the tug. When he lets go, mark and immediately give a bite. You may need to add the command sooner than you normally would, as outing can be stressful and repeating the command is sometimes necessary until the dog gets it.

When he will out the toy, have him take it and hold it. Food is the best reward for this. Once you master that, start retrieving with some short tosses. When he comes in (which, judging from your clips, he will come in to reengage), tug really enthusiastically (reward for retrieve), then out and repeat.

Thanks Duane. I'll start working on that.

By whipping out the tug when you reward your creating a shallow bite because it's in motion.

BACKWARDS motion from you is fine because you want him to surge forward for the bite.

If it's shallow then mark and reward of releasing your grip on the tug.

If he doesn't come right to you in order to continue the game then put him on a lead.

You want the reward to be the game of tug WITH YOU and not just get the tug as reward.

Make sense.

i'll just echo what bob and duane have said . . .

at the end of each routine where you reward him with the tug , you are basically slapping him in the face with the tug . instead , mark , then step away and hold the tug out to one side so he has to come and get it , further sparking his pursuit / prey drive . this gives further value to the reward .

second , you can get more out of each reward party by releasing the tug to him while you move backwards away from him , encouraging him to come into the space you just left and continuing the game . so rather than just one tug per reward , he gets a random number , similar to the " jackpotting " with food .

as well , make sure your tugging is side to side , i saw a couple up and downs , nothing serious , but something to be aware of .

last , i realize you are just walking over to shut the camera down , but you should " end " or " pause " the game while you do that . look at the look on his face " what , you're just gonna walk away . . . i was just starting to get into it ! "

good work overall , keep it up . . . i like the paint job on that guy .

Filmed a quick one today. How's it look? I know there's still a few errors, like I know I should give the tug more movement after I "yes" from outing and I still need to work on "ending" the tug secession but I think we're getting better. I'm hopefully gonna film a better one tomorrow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkENnLJ5X-0&feature=youtu.be

That was a great ending compared to the other clips. I like having to duck the flying dog. That's a dog who was left wanting more.

Instead of worrying about moving the tug more after you mark, you might want to concentrate on moving away from the dog quicker with the targeting out to the side.. JMO. The faster you move away and the more distance the dog travels will 1) speed the dog up, and 2) build more drive. Also, misses, misses, misses.

When you get this dog in a high state of drive, he will blow your mind. You have something to work with, and this is just the tip of the iceberg, as far as drive is concerned.

ETA: Try some more obedience later in the session when he is in high drive (after a few tugs and outs, instead of a mark for the out) and you will see how much more focused on his training he'll be.

Edited by Duane Hull (05/21/2014 09:45 PM)
Edit reason: eta