Quote:I disagree that this only works on borderline dogs.

I agree with you, I said it works well on borderline dogs. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Right, OK.

It works well on good dogs and borderline dogs.

Crate the dog for 4 hours prior to every training session.

For the next few weeks limit your interaction with the dog. You only play with the dog during very short and high energy tug sessions.

Limit the dog's exercise during this period as well, no long walks no playing and running around with other dogs, etc.

Don't give the dog any free toys to just play with.

This is exactly what i had to do with my young dog(Rottweiler), She was about 10 months old, had almost zero ball/food drive our trainer suggested i follow these steps to build frustration and hopefully bring out her drives,it worked a treat!! also what we did was to take my other dog(pet) with us to the training field, we'd get my pet dog out of the van, play with him with the ball, while my young bitch was in the van crate watching, she'd end up going crazy to get out... so then we'd put my other dog back in the van and get my young bitch out, who was by then crazy to play, we'd play for a minute or so, not let her get the ball and then put her away while she was still wanting the ball and crazy to play, we did that for a couple of weeks and Now she has fabulous drive for the ball(she's 14 months old now) and doing some lovely obedience work for the ball <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> also, The Building drive focus and grip DVD helped a great deal too.
Hope this helps, Good luck with your dog.

Vancamp, it seems to be working on my borderline dog. Today he played crazy ball outside for the first time. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I still feel sorry for him as he keeps climbing the stairs leading to the house and whining. I guess I need more training to be as hard as you. Unless it's genetic? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

In the years I have been training dogs, 70% of the reason I am able to do the "hard" thing is watching other people not do it and fail over and over.

Most dog owners tell me what a "great" dog their dog is, right before they then begin describing a nightmare, "but he really is a great dog!"

It sounds so much like the guy from fear factor that talked about how he was going to smoke this guys time in the water event............until he actually entered the water and remembered he couldn't swim. (I probably would of let that guy stay under! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />