I think I'm having a bad writing day, what I meant was at the start I will always stow the tug and replace with a High Value Treat, ie Herring and praise. After that seems to come across, I will stow the tug and give a toy, then stow and give a handful of kibble, and finally randomly give any of the above or nothing. Finally usually nothing, but then they are old enough to get it.
Sable did that for no food, I mean she would run back throw the ball at me and get ready for next toss , no food. The only dog I have ever had that had Zero food drive, seriously.
And yes Steve at the point a pup would be driving it back into me I would have no problem with her carrying it back to car .

Lol, it could just be my inherent need for absolute simplicity is in conflict with your desire to overthink. We could probably say the exact same thing and not have a clue we were.

It's been a slice Steve, I'm out of here. Shame I think we could've shared some knowledge, but c'est la vie

 Quote: Billy Shaw

It's been a slice Steve, I'm out of here. Shame I think we could've shared some knowledge, but c'est la vie

Ok???

Lee;

What everyone is desribing here are all elements of teaching the dog the game. You want the dog to continue to initiate engagement during the game. At some point, when you are developing (promoting) the dog's prey drive, possessing the tug (making prey, defense of prey) will become important. It's easy to see both in this video

http://leerburg.com/flix/player.php/190/Ed's_Puppy,_BART,_Doing_Bite_Work_on_2-28-10_with_Michael_Ellis/

As you noted earlier, you definitely want to end on a high note. I prefer my dog to finish in prey drive. I'm not sure that I understand the purpose in capping the prey drive and transitioning to food drive.

I finish all my training with a fun game of fetch. Nothing formal. Just chase it and bring it back to my hand.
When I say "ok" they know training and/or games are over.

Bailey and I have our set routine for ending our play, regardless of what toys, tugs, or balls we're using. When play is ended, I simply say "OK, we're done". I then say "Let's go put it away". That's her cue to carry whatever we were playing with to the car or to the closet we keep all her things, where I then give her the "give" command. Usually, she will beat me to the spot where she is to give up her toy. She willingly gives the toy to me and I'll mark and reward with a treat. The routine never changes and there is never a battle of wills to have her give up the toy. It all ends on a very positive, successful note, with a little affection or celebration after the treat.

Thanks everyone. At training class it's not a big deal, he will carry the tug back to the car and I will sit there with him until he gives it up. Usually he wants some water or gets distracted a bit because he wants to go back out on the field, then I slip the tug out, end with "all done!" and treats/praise and his water bowl.

He sees me as his dad and pack leader, so he knows the toy is mine. The only time he gets the tug is when I allow it (training sessions made to be fun).

At home is where my main question applies. His out is rock solid thanks to the ME tug video. Right now I end the session by letting him carry the tug back inside the house. Once inside he will still be tugging like crazy, so I can either wait until I can slip it away from him (this could be awhile... ) or give him his out command and then give him treats/toy/praise, none of which he cares about as much as the tug.

So... you people that posted that you let the dog carry the tug inside (Steve, Duane, etc.) what exactly do you do once you are inside and need to end the session?

Thanks for all the great info!

If I let him take it into the crate, I just out him and then give him his water. I don't think of a bunch of little high value, low value, details with it. Its just such a simple routine that they get it.

Thanks Steve! I was worried that outing him to end the session once we are inside would make him not want to obey his out command ("oh no, last time I did that you took the tug away!") but if I follow it up with the "all done" and lots of praise for a good session I guess I don't need to worry about it.