With my dog Dale, he has to chase it and carry it a couple of times before I get that good focus. I do use as many different locations as possible at different times too. I also let him catch it sometimes and toss it once in a while when I'm building drive so its more of an intermitant reward. You could also try depriving him a little. If he's distracted you can start off downing him there for a while or if you are using a crate in your vehicle, put him in and let him watch you for a while. At 18mos though, be patient.

Dale, similar issues with Sasha. Be patient. She is 3 and I think the lightbulb just came on. Slow learner like her dad.

Mike brought up an interesting comment. I've noticed that when we go to a place she has been before, she is alot more calm focused. New place...does the word nut-job bring any visions? Guess every dog is different. Video you shot looks great. Keep up the good work.

First of all I want to say thanks to everyone for their comments. I really appreciate them. We have been using food alongside the drive building and focus and sometimes with the high value food reward yes he is good, and sometimes he is as you guys have put it 'a bit of a nut case'. He was socialised well as a puppy with a shepherd club puppy school and a mixed puppy school so he knows there are other friendly dogs outside his own breed. He can be a bit of a nervous dog and I try to get him out to new and interesting places as much as I can, I think this may just come with time. I think you are right Mike, he needs comfort to work, which is the reason that I got hold of the Drive and focus DVD's in the first place. This may just take time.
I am hearing from you guys that around 2.5 - 3 years of age the light bulb may start to go on. I am keen to hear from anyone else as I am very much new to this and put in a lot of time with him. For those that liked the clip (without sounding to much like an obsessed parent over their children) there are other clips of him as an 8 week old pup, 4 months, 6 months and a year on youtube. Go to http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=dcrap492&p=r

He is cute and I will be patient (and I am a little nuts over my dog, but then again I think we all are to a degree...)
Thanks again

Dale;
I would like to see you raise the level of drive in your dog by rewarding more frequently (less misses) and playing tug with him before you move to other places for obedience. The reason, we play tug is that the ball is the "vehicle" with which we interact with our dog. So the actual reward is playing with us. This makes for a fantastic relationship. I would also, play first and not correct by popping on the leash, it is bringing the drive down without changing the position. I would like him to not drop his head and move away from you once he has his toy. By bringing his drive up in this way, he will be able to handle distractions without corrections that are going to shut him down further. Let me know how it goes. Happy Training!

Thanks Roni, I will give it a go and let you know how I get on.
Many thanks

Roni further to the above, I have been playing tug with him as suggested but no major impact. I heard a reference to yourself on a training DVD by Steve White on using police k9 training techniques where he says you play tug and when he moves away you bring out another identicle one and make it the most wonderful toy so he wants that one and then play tug with that one and so on. Much like the 2 sticks that Sheila Booth refers to in her book (I think). However when he has the ball, he would rather go away, lye down and chew on it. He couldn't really care less what I was doing. When he does out it (maybe once only when we play), he still has no real intensity in the ball with an extreme desire to get it and play tug. It seems more of a good chew toy. He has only 2 chew toys when I am not around and doesnt include the ball we use for training (the one in the youtube clip).
I will be persistent but any other tips/ tricks on bringing up the intensity in his desire for the ball? I use the horse whip with the ball on the end http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buCpg1SB1vU however this seems to be the only real thing that does it every time. He is quite mouthy also.
Any other suggestions? I really appreciate your help.

Ok,what remember you are now changing the rules of the game. He doesn't know that you are fun. When you out a dog off of the toy the drive comes down, so now you have to back slide a little.
Don't let go of the leash, whip the ball with your wrist, just like you are doing, DON"T make the dog sit, but pop the ball to the dog, reach down and tug with the dog, moving backwards, tug, tug tug, (rythm here, and set of 3)let go, grasp rope again, tug tug tug, backing up, then run in a circle, don't out the ball, whip another ball out of your pocket and repeat.
FAll on the ground and die from exhaustion. LOLOLOLOLO If you have noticed, I am not having you do any "obedience" exercises yet. This game teaches your dog that you are the source of joy,
it builds the relationship, you as leader, but as a great one and also builds intensity and mental stamina. I have a little video that I am trying to condense for youtube and I can show you
how this maifest itself. This may take awhile but a very short time in the long run. Try this for just 3 days, 3 minutes at a time, and believe me your dog will come out wanting to play with you.

Roni,

Please post that video when you are done! I have the same problem with my puppy, he would rather play with his Orbee by himself than with me. I am not as fun!

Roni I will give it a go. I am really keen to see your video also. You can actually go to a section on youtube where you can install a small exe file to upload large files, up to 10mb I think.
Thanks for your help and will get back to you on how I get on.
Cheers

OK I have been doing this about a week and his drive for the ball has noticably increased. As soon as i bring the ball out he is running for me and when i bring the second out, he drops the other and comes after the next one. I think I will carry this on for a few more weeks unless I i need to add something in along the way. He is definately enjoying the tug, tug, tug things that we have been doing although still hesitant by pushing it into my hands to play. I feel he is still a little nervous about losing it from my mistake of having him out it so much earlier on. the other thing is I think he is going after it to get it off me rather than play as he wants what he doesn't have. Any suggestions?

Thanks heaps, I really appreciate everyones help!