Robert very nice work, it appears that you spend a lot of time with your dog and you guys have great engagement. IMHO, I say the training I noticed did not seem to have a clear direction. You were doing some nice work, with the exception of the things that are mentioned previously. Were you doing drive building or obedience.

I"m not an expert by any means but I would suggest keeping obedience and drive building separate until you dog had a true understanding of the both. I too like the Flink videos and some habits are hard to break. I think by utilizing some of Flinks and M. Ellis training methods you will have a very nice dog, which your training looks like it is well on its way.

Nice work!

Looks very good!I personally would also let him parade it a little more too. Hold on to the leash, keep him moving, and don't let him go to the ground with it. Then, I would encourage him to come back again for a little more of the fun part (tugging). Giving him a chance to parade without ever going to the ground may help him realize that it is more fun to bring it back than not being able to go to the ground to tear anyway. He might not be getting the chance to learn that and also gives you a chance to give him some good praise for his spurt of obedience and biting.

I always like to think of tic tac toe when i play tug with one my dogs. If I start the game, make the rules, and end the game I still remain in control overall (in the dogs' eyes as well). But, we will both enjoy the game by having individual wins during the whole game. Therefore as long as you dont allow the dog to go away and tear up the paper you are in good shape. Think Im losing myself here! lol!

awesome dobe btw! Love watching them in any kind of action!

Thanks for everybody's responses they're very encouraging.

Reggie, That's an interesting thought i may be blurring the lines between drive promotion and OB too much. His drive is really high when we work i could probably do well to make clear distinctions between the two. So if I understand the drive promotion is without asking for behaviors and just working on Drive and engagement and than when i work OB I ask for a behavior, tug for a short time, out him, and repeat or move on to a new behavior?

Mike, I will try giving him a chance to run around a little with it and then call him in, and see how that works too. The tic-tac-toe is a good analogy. I definitely made him a little possessive, by not giving him a proper reaction when he tugged or attempted to counter... i should have let him win the tug momentarily, or made him feel he had an affect on me by doing so. This work is so much more complicated than it look lol.

He is an awesome dog with more potential than i know what to do with... he's a real trooper for putting up with my learning curve with this whole training in prey drive thing. I love watching the dobes work to... elegant, fast, and strong.

Take care and thanks again for the amazing advice guys

Rob

If you see your way around it, can you take some of your weather back? We're quite done with it now

lol... i see what i can do

 Quote: Robert Kirkwood

This work is so much more complicated than it look lol.

No truer words were ever spoken... makes you really appreciate the folks who make it look so natural and simple! You are doing a great job, however and be sure to post another video as you progress. :-)