First off I'd like to warn you about the hefty amount of questions in this post. Bear with me please.

I'm trying to build the prey drive of my puppy (hopefully for Schutzhund in the future, and I say hopefully because she's a Border Collie and I'm not sure how successful I'll be in that. At the very least it won't be performance-quality and just for fun). I want to get a few things straight though, since I'm not sure if I'm doing everything 100% right--my puppy is only 11 weeks old. I would only work with a 'ball on a string' type toy at this stage, correct? Not a tug? The reason I ask this is because she goes nuts over something over a string-fishing line type item (it's actually a cat's toy because I couldn't find a ball on a string small enough for her that wasn't extremely expensive AND that looks like it would be chewed apart in seconds)--but if I move to a jute tug she's not interested.

Do I just let her chase after the toy, let her win, etc., and not worry about grip or anything at this stage? It's okay if she bites just the string? When and to what type of item do I move on?

(I'd like to add that I'm planning to purchase a couple of Ed's tapes, but not at the moment because of several issues. So a bit of guidance at this stage would be very helpful. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />.

There are so many answers and variables to those answers of your questions, it would be best just to get the video. But since you can get it yet, Leerburg.com has tons of articles and q&a posts on their site to help you. Use their search function to find specific topics. I survived on their site alone for a few months of training also, so the articles are really helpful. Here are a few links.
Questions and Answers article on Drive, Focus, and Grip-Has info about young dogs also.
http://www.leerburg.com/qa-drive.htm
Bite Training Puppies 8wks and Up Article- very informative! Answers alot of your questions~
http://www.leerburg.com/pupbite.htm
Understanding Drives Article- very helpful in starting a good foundation in drive for dog.
http://www.leerburg.com/drives.htm
Drive Thresholds, Nerves(2nd part of the article above)- Read this one after you read the Understanding Drive one.
http://www.leerburg.com/drives2.htm
I know these will help you alot. There's tons more on the site though.
Besides playing with the ball on the string, try a wash rag on a string, a rolled up towel, or a piece of raggedy leather to play tug with yur pup. Tugs don't move around enough to interest her yet. Once she has an addiction for the game and more drive, you can transfer her to the tug. Remember to keep the tug sessions short 2-3 min. and always let her win.
http://www.leerburg.com/722n.htm Leerburg sells a good ball on string. Don't use a tennis ball one. The glue will rot the enamel off your pups teeth. Bad tennis balls!
http://www.leerburg.com/puppytug.htm The tugs they sell.
lol- I know I look like a Leerbug sales representative...lol. Honestly though, it's really the only place on the web to find info on sch., ppd.,etc.
Oh yeah!!! Check out the Bite training Puppies section of the discussion forum...
Alison Voore

Thanks. I'm just a bit insecure as to what I'm doing at the moment. I'm afraid to make mistakes...

 Quote:

Do I just let her chase after the toy, let her win, etc., and not worry about grip or anything at this stage?

You can have her chase a jute rag around and yes let her win, give her a nice short not to forceful fight (baby teeth) and pet her on the head saying good girl, and yes only let her win with full mouth bites. If she isn't biting full, then lift her front feet off the ground just a bit and hold her there, then let her down and gently come into her as if you are attempting to put the rag at the back of her mouth, the loosening of the tention should make her rebite deeper, if she does then hold it for about 1-2 seconds then let her win, she will soon realize she can only win if she bites full. This is an argumentative point, I'm not sure honestly here I stand, but some say you can't teach a dog to bite good that they have to have it genetically, others say it can be taught through repetition of quality bites. One thing for sure is that if you do have a genetically good biting dog you can mess up his grip with poor helper or tug work, and it's a B#$^& to fix, OOHH let me tell you. Remember the absence of reinforcement is itself reinforcing! So if you don't reinforce the good bites, you will probably by virtue reinforce negative bites.

Thanks for the tip. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />