thanks everyone, i have taken all your points on board and Bob, i will move it away from him, that makes sense.

Many Thanks Everyone

my names' not bob lol

Yo, "Names Not Bob", I see the same thing in the video. Brian, when you release, let the dog come into the tug, not vice-versa. This increases his drive for it. Let him leap a little for it too, once he figures out where to bite it (you will polish up his targeting later, when you get deeper into the tug video). Let the dog do the getting, and it won't tax your energy as much.

Brian, this tug video proves that you have a dog who is nuts for engagement and will work for it. I'm sure you have noticed the improvement almost immediately (much better body language than in the recall video). You see how obedient he is when he knows more tug is coming? This will (if not already) GREATLY improve your relationship with, and how your family lives with, this dog.

I would still watch the marker dvd first. You are learning quickly, and seeing the foundation set from the beginning will help you a lot.

I foresee both of you getting a lot more exercise in the near future!!

Regarding his main meal:
They way I ended up doing this with my dog was to mix his food, then have him sit and stay, then I put the food in his crate. Then I go back to the dog and release him to go into the crate and eat.
He stays in there until I am ready to walk him, 10-15 minutes sometimes. I do not pick up the bowl ever as my dog always seemed suddenly interested in remaining food he'd been ignoring as soon as I went to pick it up: seemed like guarding the bowl was right around the corner.
If you use a plastic bowl-at first-or a Frisbee for a bowl--they can learn to bring you the bowl to have it filled. My guy does this. More NILIF.

Tug work!
Your almost shoving the tug into the dog's mouth. As Bernhard Flinks would say "The rabbit does not jump into the dog's mouth".
Show it to him. When he looks at it give a marker (yes, click, whatever) then MOVE AWAY from the dog with the tug held out for him to grab it. Your movement away will create prey drive. Stepping into him and shoving the tug at him can put him on the defensive. Some dogs would see that forward movement towards them as threatening. Presentation of the tug is very important.
His out is looking good!

thanks guys, will continue to work on it, Sorry Ian my mistake.

You are right Duane, i do feel that the relationship is improving already and when i do throw the ball for him now he is bringing it to my feet. Great result so far. Will do a little more this morning, even though it is pouring down heer. Sunny Manchester, i knew there was a reason we were all born with webbed feet.

I have changed the way i am doing it already Bob, so hopefully that will get better quickly.

Hi Betty, he doesn't always eat his food straight away, may be 10 mins etc before he will eat it, i suppose i was happier with this, as when he came he couldn't eat it fast enough. Not sure if i am doing this right.

I have also ordered a tug toy i can put in my back pocket like on the video clips, , should be ok changing toys after a couple of weeks shouldn't it?

Many Thanks
Brian

Couldn't you guys, just move to Manchester, it would be much easier. Lol

As long as you don't mind the weather that is.

Now that you're building his toy drive, he'll pbly flip for ANY toy/tug you present to him. Give it a whirl; can't hurt.

Also, backchain that hold and release for the fetch, as Connie outlined, and add that to his retrieve instead of dropping the ball at your feet.

Thanks Duane, will give it a go.

Quick question: He is now outing it pretty reliably and i am now moving away from him with the toy, which he then makes a lunge for, so thats working ok. But if i let him have the toy and run backwards calling him, its a half hearted trot after me and will then stop just out of range of me. How can i make this a bit more intense, so he chases after me. I have been putting him on the lead and pulling him towards me as i back off, telling him to come. is this correct?

On another note, i practiced him heeling this morning holding a treat in my left hand which he followed trying to get it, so he was right next to my leg, saying heel as i moved, i then said sit, which he did next to me and i said YES and let him have the treat. This was done in my lounge. Am i doing this correctly. Seemed really good to me.

Now for something that might make you laugh, must admit though, i didn't. I went upstairs for about 15mins this morning and when i came down, he had taken the stuffing out of part of my couch, there was fluff every where, he looked really pleased. BLESS HIM.
Crate next time. School buy error on my part. Never mind. Its all back together albiet a little lumpy.

Having him on the lead and pulling him back is NOT the way to go. It's probably confusing to him.

Border Collies are very sensitive to any sort of body pressure from you so that could be why he's stopping - in a working situation with the sheep they aren't supposed to get right up there in your face close.

So I'd get a longer fleece type tug that you can whip around a bit so he can chase after it without being right in your face. Once he gets into the game and understands it better, then you can shorten the tug up a bit and he'll be more willing to really jump into your space to get it.

Here's a youtube clip that kinda shows what I'm talking about http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijvt_-zqD04 Shee how she's moving away from the dog in a way that encourages it to follow along? And then when she brings the tug out she whips it around so the dog can chase it?