i am in a similar situation with my dog. he is in his kennel except for training, eating and socialization. his drive seems great at home. at the training field he does get distracted, and the guys in the club seem to think this is pretty normal since he is only three months old. i just got the drive and focus tape yesterday and we have started on it. he seems to be doing well. a few questions: with new places, won't age and socialization help? also, his drive starts strong and fizzles out after a few minutes, would this be an age issue as well? his retrieve is good (consistant at about 10 yards so far) for about 10 throws or so. would a "high drive" puppy still go non-stop? i am new to this as well and have only worked with older dogs, so i am not quite sure what to expect from puppies.
thanks,
brandon

Brandon, chill out on your expectations of a 3 mos. old. Ten retrieves is a good way to bore the puppy with it. If your pup is standing in the kennel all the time except training, eating and socialization, it's no wonder that he gets distracted at the club. He needs exposure to the world, not to stand in a kennel. Take him everywhere, introduce him to the house and let him hang out some with you after you play, so he's kinda tired and will settle down. The key to building drive in the long haul is to ALWAYS try to force yourself to STOP the play when he is at his highest peak. Don't let him go down in drive (which is normal for his age) before stopping. It's hard to do, but make the toy suddenly disappear right in the middle of his peak play. That way, you are classically conditioning him to want more and more; his memory of the game next time is of how incredibly fun it was, not how boring it had become.

thanks for the advice, by socialization, i did mean taking him with me to certain places, but i am waiting on his last shot to take him everywhere. he's pretty much in his kennel when we aren't doing "something," being playing training, whatever. thanks for the advice on when to stop the playing, i have been judging it a little "off."

I'd say keep up the Obedience training and add in some chase the rolling ball, or the kong filled with goddies game. Get a rag that loose and limp and shakwe it and see if he pays attention to it, it should all be fun and games right now. At 3 months he just a baby.

When gets six months test his play drive and at 9 months test his prey drive. If you work with him/her and keep it upbeat and fun. You may see the results you read about. Right now you are rushing in your judgement of a puppy in a new enviorment with all kind of different smells and distractions. Give him a chance to grow, like the board mentioned. All this to say I agree with the board reply. You are too early to judge, without your help. Maybe you should be judging how good a trainer am I, do I need help, not the puppy. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Just a thought!!! back off on the OB. Yep, the pup is proberly under too much stress. Are you correcting him with a choke or a prong collar? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
Try backing off the OB and have fun with your -6-month old pup.

Try a rag with some penut butter smeared on it or a rag with bacon dripping soaked into it. You will see a big difference in his wanting to play. keep sessions short as to not let the pup lose interest. JMHO for what it's worth. It might just work!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

i am positive that if i have any problems with this pup, they will be my fault. that is why i ask, you guys will keep me in check. thanks for the advice. i don't plan on using a prong for my pup for a while. i do very simple obedience with him, only for treats, no compulsion at all and not very often. everything is made into a game. i do think i may be doing the drive training a little too long. he's great with the rag, and a kong, so i will keep the session shorter.
brandon

the past few days paco (the 6month old APBT) has been really exited to play and shown improvement. at this point should i keep working with him normally or change to rag with good taste/smells (bacon drippings etc.) on it? is it necessary, or better yet what would determine if it is necessary or not? i still think he is going to lose interest at the barn becaues no matter how fun it is at home he is very 'scent-oriented' and smells drive him nuts. one concern for me is, if i train him to play with a rag or tug that smells and tastes good, isnt it going to further his obsession with things that smell good, furthering the problem? and then when he wins the toy i have no doubt in my mind he will chew it all to hell in the 5 seconds it takes me to get it back, and speaking of getting it back, wouldnt this force me to take the toy back before he has even had a chance to enjoy his win?

oh yah, no he doesnt ever get corrected during play at this point. he wears a prong on walks, but there is little need for correction as he generally doesnt pull while he has the prong on in the first place. he wears a wide flat collar at all other times.

Blake it has only been a couple of weeks slow down. Keep up the same training if you change anything try doing the same without the smell, start a tug of war for a couple of seconds (telling him good boy and patting him/her).

Let the dog win the tug, then present it with the kong or a treat to get the tug back.

So you are distracting the puppy with something else in order to start the game back again. I'd would try shaking the kong in front of his face and then throwing it a short distance when he gets it call him back to you.

Pat him and praise him with kong still in his mouth. Then grab the rag and shake it drawing his attention to the rag again. This is foundation building he learning to have fun, with you.

You are the center of the rag moving and the kong throwing making the puppy think you are swell guy to have around. Keep it short and upbeat, quit before he starts to tires. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

a couple of weeks since what? i didnt start using any smelly toys yet, and he has been playing well at home with the tugs. i think he is starting to understand what i want from him and i need to give it more time. i am not sure if he will grow out of his obsession with exploring that barn, only time will tell. thanks much for your advice. i just re-read what i wrote earlier and i think i see the problem. when i said "the past few days paco (the 6month old APBT) has been really exited to play and shown improvement. at this point should i keep working with him normally or change to rag with good taste/smells (bacon drippings etc.) on it?" i didnt mean everything has changed in the past couple of days; it hasnt much at all. i mean from here do i need to further stimulate with smell or should i give it more time with the conventional play? one note: i have been praising him more when he shows enthusiasm ini chasing a toy. it has made a big difference, and i am also improving my judgement of when to stop play, for whatever thats worth. thanks for your help, keep the advice comming <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />