Steve I noticed your dog acted like it was having a blast. My dog seems so serious and 110% concentration on the ball. Kinda hard to explain. Like when I put her in the sit with me holding the ball she is like froze in that position. Your dog was too .. Hell I can't explain it. I did the ball under the arm. She was facing me. Jumped on me at times trying to get the ball which was fine and she usually doesn't do that.. Hell maybe these things are good. Maybe it's more signs of excitement since I'm not correcting her now everytime.. Man I wish I would of known that a year ago.. Hopefully I can get some drive back.

I use food much of the time to introduce a new behavior & then move to a tug or ball.

My male is such a lunatic for his ball & can get very hectic when the ball is presented so that to teach him to heel(fuss) I had to start with food in the house. Outside was even too much for him. Outside to him means his ball. I started with teaching the heel(sit beside me) position. Then taking one step & then 2 etc then backward or move to my side if I change my position. (find the leg)I started in the kitchen using the u-shaped counters as a wall to keep him straight in a confined area & then moved to going up & down the hallway. Once he was able to walk up & down the hall heeling I took him outside & started him against the fence with food. (my backyard has a 6' stockade fence) Then I switched from the food to the ball. I then taught him to go to the heel position from a formal front(heir) position (which he has known since he was a baby) That is what it took to turn him into a HEELING FOOL!!!

Sometimes you just have break it down into baby steps & use what works for the dog. OTOH..I was able to use a tug or toy with my female right from the begining & work her outisde. And she is very high drive. Much more than her is. Different dog. They are all different as to what will work. That's why cookie cutter training doesn't work for many dogs.

ETA....with her I held the toy under my arm...with him, I held it out in front of my chest. He needed the visual aid, she didn't. He will do just about anything for his ball. She will just do what I ask, for me...but loves her ball & tug too.

No corrections needed.

Thanks Anne. I'm just having some problems getting her focused on me. Mainly heel..But I did it all wrong to start with...So maybe this time it will get better. I started working this focus thing last night after talking with you guys. Today I tried that facing me thing that Steve had on his video. I had the ball tucked under my arm, she was on a 6 foot leash...By the way. where did you get that leash steve? She was doing good. Really focused I would tell her to sit. Take step back, I made a slight come call, she came and set...i relaesed the ball..the whole time she was locked on the ball under my arm. Several times after I stepped back she came forward and jumped up on me trying to get the ball....I did no corrections at all. The witch neighbor came our and she became 10 times more exicted...like it was an instance switch that gave her motivation. If she would do that every time during training it would be awesome. The neighbor also let her dogs out which even made more or a distraction....she still listened but it was sloppy....she was way excited....she doesnt like anything about those neighbors. lol lol Also after watching that video that Mr.Ellis made about sitting fast and whatever else....Meeka is used to pattern ....While doing that face, after the sit several times then i threw in a down after the sit. She didnt budge.....lol...I need to start making my commands more random. like from the down go to a sit. visa versa....but we are still at the stage where i still make her sit then down. ....

i forgot to ask you Anne. When I get my next dog it will be a male. Do males and females usually get along better? I think you said you had a male then got a female. Was you male already mature when you got your female and did you run into any problems.? Seems like i read somewhere that a female/female there tends to be more fights...might of been on this site.

Well no more physical activities at all until i get a hold of a orthopedic vet. I've been keeping her running very limited but even tonight with no running. She got out of the car trotting the weirdest I've ever seen a dog. I first thought it might be a sticker in her paw...nope ....nothing....Man I want to go punch that breeder right in the throat...Hopefully its sore muscles..I will go ahead and call them and I will see how it goes. I'm hoping they can use the same X rays,,,,but they were taken when she was a year. I'm curious to see how it has progressed up to this point. So i will prob go ahead and request new films...Keeping her couped up and limited is the hardest thing to do....It kills her and us. After i seen her trotting weird she seen the ball in my hand and acted normal,,,I'm sure her drive kicked in and she prob didn't even notice the pain...I'm guessing. I was watching her very close and she seemed to be dragging it a little. Thats good enough for me to realize. Doesn't seem like mild hip dysplasia to me....I might have to get her on some rimadyl ....she wasn't wanting to down at ALL tonight...and she is usually flawless on it from a sit.....she didnt one time tonight...right then i knew something was up...so we loaded up and left...Anyone know of a good orthopedic vet in Oklahoma? I think Stillwater has one at the OSU vet clinic.......

I'm going to contact The oklahoma State vet med hospital monday...hopefully they have someone that specializes in this...you would think so being a major college vet school....

I hope its just some soreness from the work being new Jeremy. Keep something in mind about where the toy is when he's in front of me. Its under my chin. If you have it off to the side when you call her to that front position, she's not going to come in straight.

That line I'm using is a nylon long line I think I got here. It used to be 15' but now its about 8 or so.

True Steve. I had it under my arm....damnit.. Under the chin makes more sense. and easier for her to see. Yeah last time i noticed her doing it Steve was about 2 weeks i think...I let her rest for a couple days and it was fine. I also went to my vet and she thought is was soreness with her not being used to the physical strain. i will give it until monday and see how it goes....thanks man...

Call your vet and ask about giving her Ascriptin for a couple days. I don't remember how much.

Okay i will Steve... Thanks Steve...I know the other option will empty a check book very quickly