Jenny:
I already do a similar version of get-to-the-end-of-the-leash and stop as you describe. I do C/T though for any display on his part in acknowledging me. ie: just an ear turn in my direction is enough to C/T. As Ana mentioned, there must be a treat for the click. Depending on what behaviour he offers and what he may be trying to get, I'll use Premack (no click involved) and let him go sniff the post if he offered eye contact etc.

I guess it's just the balance of his short attention span now (age, hormones etc), his give or take attitude with a food reward (this is not a dog that lives for food...he's all about movement and scent right now) and his tug reward (which can easily put him over the top at times) which I'm trying to juggle!

Ana:
"Marker training and positive reinforcement" I have been using this a lot.

Although recently he has taken to barking and lunging at people. Mostly barking and I cannot get him to stop unless there is great distance. And he is a puller on leash. Tried a front-clip harness when he was much younger, but it did nothing but irritate his armpits. Have used a halti, but he'll still pull with full force.

 Quote: nancy mcphee

He gets tethered-to-me sessions in the house and is always on leash or long-line when outside.

"If you bring him out and he does not engage with you put him up and try again later." No luck there. Tried it and he is simply too keen on sniffing/marking and or scanning the environment. Usually a toy/tug game will get his attention, but even that won't interest him if the sniffing's better (in his mind anyway!).

Try not using a long line. If he is on a 6 ft. lead there is only so much sniffing he can do and no marking (peeing) since you have total control. This combined with only training when he's hungry (I always use my dogs actual meal as her training session) and he will engage eventually - for lack of anything better to do!

 Quote: Nancy McPhee

It would be nice if I had an empty room to use, but that is not an option.

A boring room will work. You want nothing more interesting than YOU in the room.

 Quote: Nancy McPhee

... I'm aware of the DVD's, however funds are tight at the moment as I recently purchased the Tug DVD.

I want to mention the huge variety of FREE video clips. I bring this up because I think (as Ana mentioned) that maybe I'm reading a practice of giving empty markers ... maybe some confusion about how marker training actually works (the mechanics) ... ?

http://leerburg.com/flix/searchResults.php?searchfor=marker

 Quote: nancy mcphee

Ana:
"Marker training and positive reinforcement" I have been using this a lot.

Although recently he has taken to barking and lunging at people. Mostly barking and I cannot get him to stop unless there is great distance. And he is a puller on leash. Tried a front-clip harness when he was much younger, but it did nothing but irritate his armpits. Have used a halti, but he'll still pull with full force.

I'm reading more "needs focus on YOU" here.

This means marker work at home, out of any distraction, to build up bulletproof ob and engagement -- get focus without distraction before gradually adding venue changes and distractions.

 Quote: Nancy McPhee

... Although recently he has taken to barking and lunging at people. Mostly barking and I cannot get him to stop unless there is great distance.

I would read the desensitizing threads here, and keep the distance needed, while you work with him at home where there is not reactivity trigger.

I would be scanning the horizon right now and keeping the dog out of reactive situations. If I found myself in one, I'd march along calmly and briskly and not allow the dog the chance to get focused on the trigger.

Connie: "A boring room will work. You want nothing more interesting than YOU in the room." I have a very small house so I work with what I can. Generally he has times where his attn is better than others depending on the house activity.

"that maybe I'm reading a practice of giving empty markers ... maybe some confusion about how marker training actually works (the mechanics)" I have taken clicker training classes with him since he was 8 weeks old with a Karen Pryor certified instructor. Also I have read all Karen Pryor, Morgan Spector, Pat Miller, Jean Donaldson, Patricia McConnell, Turid Rugaas. Lots of reading, good class time, just really struggling to apply and work it through with a high drive Mal!

"This means marker work at home, out of any distraction, to build up bulletproof ob and engagement -- get focus without distraction before gradually adding venue changes and distractions."
This was the reason for my original post. Everything was going okay until his hormones kicked in. I understand no/low/gradual distractions. However if I truly implement that, then he will get zero exercise and zero walks. Meaning there is no way to avoid people or other dogs 100% unless he goes from the house to the yard and back inside the house. It is a struggle to balance his physical needs and his mental needs. I walk in the wee hours (ie 0300, 0500, 0030 etc), we hit less travelled places, but his hormonal interests and lack of food drive do not help.

"I would be scanning the horizon right now and keeping the dog out of reactive situations. If I found myself in one, I'd march along calmly and briskly and not allow the dog the chance to get focused on the trigger."
I do this at all times...he just became more focused on people at 8 months of age. Which is why I was wondering if possible it's a phase that's contributing somewhat? Engagement and food was not an issue prior to 8 mths of age and hormones.

"I would read the desensitizing threads here"
I'll try a search for these threads, thank you Connie!

"that maybe I'm reading a practice of giving empty markers ... maybe some confusion about how marker training actually works (the mechanics)" I have taken clicker training classes with him since he was 8 weeks old"


Yup, going back I see possible empty markers in Jenny's post -- not yours.

I'd watch some of the free videos, because the dogs being trained are so frequently drivey Mals just like yours.

Engagement is a good search word for you when you get into the video clip section.