I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on OB videos featuring methods based in prey drive. My GSD (13 months) has low food drive and I am finding it difficult to make progress with his obedience work using food. His prey drive is good and he has done well with the first 2 Flinks videos.
I have tried reducing his rations to make him more eager for the food reward but he tends to drop weight very quickly, as his activity level is high.
I was considering the Ivan Balabanov series but was not sure of the methods he uses. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Scott

training drive focus and grip

As I said, I've worked through the first 2 Flinks videos and thought they were excellent. However, I'm finding it difficult to make progress with obedience training using the reward of a ball or tug toy. I'm sure the upcoming 'competition heeling' video with Bernard Flinks will be just what I'm looking for, but in the meantime, any alternatives would be great.

What exactly is the hindrence to using the tug or ball? Too much drive? Not enough? Just saying you can't use the ball or tug doesn't give us much to go on.

Ed also sells a competition heeling tape that he did with Tom Ross. I have that in my video library. Excellent tape, but I still intend to get the Flinks version. Ya can't have enough way to get into a dogs head.

Deanna,
His drive is developing well, but when I train with a prey item, I feel like I end up outing him too frequently. That's based on the guidelines Ed gives in the Flinks videos.
His focus for a toy is much better than when he is working with food, so I think I would benefit from watching videos that concentrate on these methods.
Bob,
I was interested in the tape with Tom Rose but I thought that it relied quite heavily on food drive. Is this the case?
Thanks

This will come down to temperament of the dog then. Some dogs do well with the release and praise with some sort of physical activity... maybe just some pats and running, acting is key here. If your dog's grip isn't solid, or you are seeing any nervousness around the out, you are right to not want to reward with the toy. You can switch back into drive making, without rewarding with the toy as an alternative. i.e. dog is heeling nice, give your release command (I use free) then drive building- not letting the dog catch the toy, and then manipulate the toy into whatever you want next.. like sit, fuss, etc. This is a big balancing act, because not letting the dog win also has repercussions... so there is no definative answer. You have to read your dog.

I remember this age. It seems like you are not making progress, you look around and think what the heck... but it will come together one day. And the results when it does are well worth the wondering.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

The Tom Rose tape does primarily work with food drive, but he does show some dogs working for a ball or tug.

I DO use food, but I use it for teaching positions and in instances when the drive is too high for a toy to be an effective reward.

Sessions should be short. You want to leave the dog wanting more. If you mix things up enough, you should be able to avoid doing multiple outs in a session.

Thanks for your help Deanna. Also, do you have any knowledge of the Ivan Balabanov series of training videos? I'm interested to learn how he recommends training for OB.

I have seen them, not on my list of top videos. Check your PM's.

Scott, as Deanna said, the Rose tape is primarily a food drive tape but it explains that some dogs have to much drive for the ball. Ed's tape also shows an example of a dog that is to high drive for a ball to focus on commands.My own dog is to high drive when I use his kong for new obedience. I use food. Once he has the exercise down REALLY well, I can then use the kong for a reward. It's all about figuring out what trips your dogs trigger.