Bella is having trouble containing her excitment when I try to get her to choose which toy to play with. I am doing it just like Bernard does, having her sit in front of me, then I hold both toys up and pass them in front of each other to see which one she will follow with her eyes. Well, she will just get excited and whine, while looking at both toys. Eventually, she will break her sit and try to snatch one of the toys out of my hands. I remember Itor would just sit and watch the toy that he wanted calmly. What can I do to remedy this?

Sounds like an excellent opportunity to work on her sit with distractions. Maybe for the short-term change the focus of this exercise from choosing a toy to proofing her sit. Once she will sit solidly with 2 toys moving around in front of her, then you can go back to the original exercise.

JMO

I don't think choosing a toy is an obedience exercise. Does she consistenly break and go for the same toy? Instead of putting her into a sit and then having to correct her for breaking it, try just holding them up where she can't get them (not issuing a command) and letting her choose. See if she consistently chooses one. If not, she might like them equally, and there's nothing wrong with that. If that's the case, you get to choose the one you prefer (easier to hold, better grip, less slippery, whatever).

Remember though: Choosing a toy should take a few seconds, be done once a week (if you want) and isn't an OB exercise at all. It's just...choosing a toy.

What you're describing is building her Focus, which happens after you've chosen a toy, and is the subject of the latter half of that video (as I'm sure you know). You teach her that she won't be rewarded by her own action, only by attentive focus on the prey object.

Sarah is right, it sounds like this is a GREAT distraction to proof her OB on. But I'm not 100% sure that proofing OB and working the Flinks video go hand in hand. (Simultaneously, that is)

Sounds to me like she likes both toys. GOOD! Now, choose which one you like best and get to work!

I do recall that portion of the DVD. Flinks is saying that some dogs clearly prefer one toy over another and it's useful to know which one will drive them bananas and get them into drive. He then demonstrates this with Itor. As David said, it isn't an exercise, per se, just a demonstration.

Fortunately, Bella loves both!

If momory serves (not a given), isn't that where Benard talks about which tool/toy the dog prefers, a tube or a ball?

Now refer to what David said. Ob is a different exercise from builing focus and focus in drive.

Benard prefers to use the ball. Your dog doesn't care. Which do you like? Use that one.

Now refer to John. Get to work!

And now from me. Have fun!
Randy

Thanks for your opinions, everyone!

I definately need to proof her on the sit. And I agree this shouln't be done with the drive building.

As far as her liking both toys equally, I am not so sure, but she knows what is coming when I get the toys out, the game, and she is always game!!

So, my plan is to proof her on the sit during obedience training. Also, I will work on her focus more while playing the game. Thanks for the help, all...