I recently purchased the video on building prey drive, grip, and focus. The video is very informative, but I have a few questions and/or concerns with my 7 month old GSD. Ever since I got him at 6 weeks, I believed he had a very strong prey drive. He seemed to chase everything and loved to play tug games with me. When I first watched the video I figured he would blow through the beginning part of the drive work and we could start working on focus after a couple weeks. I let him choose the prey item and it happened to be a ball on a string. When I tried to start working on the drive like shown on the video, he would go after the ball a couple times and then stop and wait for me to put it right in his face. The dogs in the video seem like the would chase the ball for hours if given the opportunity. Then, like the video recommended, I decided to put the ball on a longer string attached to a long rod to see if that helped. That seemed to help a lot. He was like a madman really focused on the ball. Unfortunately when I go back to just the ball and a short string, he does the same thing.
Do you think that maybe he just needs some more time with the long string?

Without seeing what you are doing I would remind you to be sure and let the dog actually get the ball when building the drive. If the dog doesnt believe that it will/or can get the ball you probably wont see the type of drive you need or want.Once the dog believes it can get the ball you can stretch out the drive and make it last longer, turn it into focus, so you can then turn it in to obedience.

Doesn't the video say that the best way to build up drive is to let the dog get frustrated by not letting them have the ball? I mean to wait until they are at their peak of frustration and put the ball away until the next training session. I've been doing that for the last couple days and he seems to really go after the ball initially. Another down side of letting him have the ball is that his grip is so tight now, that I physically can't pry his mouth open to get the ball from him. Since I'm not really trying to teach the "OUT" yet, I want him to keep a strong hold on it....right?

Michael,

If the dog stops going after the ball you are waiting too long to allow him to get it. It is like playing any game, if you can never win it isn't much fun. I would work with a longer string and make sure he catches it early. in the game until he doesn't loose interest.

It sounds like you may as well start teaching the out. Other wise you are stuck trying to wait out the dog just letting go. If you are going to do that you may as well associate it with a command.

Hello everyone,
The problem i am having with my 5 month old boxer is that he will only bite/grip the string. While he is chasing the ball i do not expose any string, so I think that he is still stimulated with the ball. However, once i do allow him to get the ball, he mouths until he gets to the string. Should I be using a different prey item? Right now I'm thinking that the ball might be too big for his mouth. Thanks in advance

Grabbing the string rather than the ball is a very common issue with some dogs when they first start drive work. Just keep doing the work the dog will eventually prefer the ball.

I also have a problem with my GSD going after the string. Lately I have been using a long string to build up his drive and I noticed that he will go after the item that moves the slowest which is the string. I put a thinner string on the ball and that seemed to help. When I give him the ball he usually starts chewing the string and moves down to the ball.

the flinks video also demonstrates the proper 2-handed approach for using tugs/jute rolls. maybe you could use that instead if your dog seems motivated by it....or switch off.

Originally posted by patricia powers:
the flinks video also demonstrates the proper 2-handed approach for using tugs/jute rolls. maybe you could use that instead if your dog seems motivated by it....or switch off. In the latest Flinks video it talks about how some dogs need more success with getting the prey item to really go after it. I believe it also (or maybe the puppy bite training video) talks about how some might like a softer prey item - like a short tug.

My 5 month old puppy was dropping in prey during teething and didn't seem to want the ball on a string like he did before, but I've had good success using a short retriever roll/tug. It's something he can bite into and I can still use it while building his drive. I almost started over and let him catch the prey item a lot, then as his drive went up, let him get to it less and less. The important thing seems to be that he's getting enough success in getting the prey item, so he wants to chase after it more aggressively.

Well, I've been working a couple times a day with trying to build up his drive. I have a couple questions that the board may be able to help me with.....First of all I started to let him catch the ball more frequently and his drive seems to be getting better. Still on a long string, but like a madman trying to get it. Like previous advice from the board, I think it is probably a good time to teach the out. Especially if I'm going to let him have the ball more frequently. The problem is that I can't get him to let go of the ball until he gets sick of playing with it. I've tried just about everything (except food) and nothing seems to work. Any suggestions out there?

Also, the video says not to "out" him too often. If that's the case, how do you get the ball? Especially in my case where I'm still trying to build some drive in him. Do you think that a food bribe is the best way to get it back without teaching him to anticipate an "out" every time.