My pup will be 12 weeks on Wednesday.

I have been working with her using a couple old towels to play tug. She bites just about anything she can get into her mouth.

I purchased the medium Orbee on a string, but it was WAY to big.

I purchased the small Orbee and a 4 foot whip from a local feed shop. I tied the Orbee to the whip and she will chase that around all day. The whip allows me to get her tired and it saves my hand from even more damage from those puppy teeth. Should I take the Orbee off the whip and put it on a string? Or should I keep using the whip in addition to a ball on a string?

I want to start some more focus work and bite work. I have the Drive/Focus/Grip DVD and I watched it all the way through once. I think I get the point of all the focus work now. I’m not sure which tugs are the right timing and size for my puppies training.

I found another post that recommended this progression:

Leather Rag > 2-hand mini tug > Med tug > Young soft sleeve > Double Hand sleeve > Puppy Jute sleeve > Big sleeve

Most of the people in the DVD were using the single handle tug. It seem like that is a much better “prey” item because you don’t have the second handle swinging around causing movement.

I like the looks of the Mini Bite Pillow. But I don’t know if I should just skip that and get a sleeve. I don’t see that the bite pillow can replace the tug because it is too big.

I’m not sure how far I will take Starbuck through the protection training, but I would like to have the “right” equipment to see how far she can go.

Thanks
Keith

Hi Keith,

The two handled tugs can have the advantage of a place to put your hands but you are right that the dog may target the second handle, be it by accident or purposefully, so I don't prefer them myself.

As far as a 12 week pup.. it sounds like you are doing okay for now. Just work on building the dog's drive and desire to chase and bite using the horse whip and ball, and a rag (leather if you have one available). Right now expecting the kind of focus from your dog that you witnessed in the video is an unrealistic expectation, remember that Starbuck is still only a baby. Right now just focus on bringing out his prey drive, but be sure to end the game while he is still in drive; i.e. don't tire him out completely using training games.