Advice needed - I've been training dogs for over 15 years and have never seen such incredible food drive as that of my new 11 week GSD pup.

Problem -- Normally, I reward with a 1 inch long bone shaped biscuit treat -- Unfortunately, this pup will nearly bite your fingers off -- literally.

Does anyone know of a safe (and precise) way to reward with food without fingers getting bitten?

I don't like spitting the treats because puppies can not catch well -- Also, tossing on the floor is sloppy and often distracts from proper obedience positions.

Any ideas?

I teach my dogs the "easy" command. It takes some time to master but after a while an infant could give a treat without getting a scratch.(not that I would ever experiment with an infant!) Just hold the treat in front of the dog while he is in the sit position and say "easy" over and over again. As the dog lunges for your hand, pull it away and say "no!" As the dog sits back down say "easy" again. You may have to do it several times. After a couple of days, it will only take one "easy" command and the dog will not be ripping your fingers off. This has never failed to work with me. Sure, I have a sweet lab and a Golden, but I've also used this years ago with the two Shepards that I had. It works for me. The dog will become super soft when taking food out of your hand.

I push rather than pull with the treat using the easy command. If you pull the treat away the puppy will lunge faster to get it as it moves away. If the puppy is gradding too hard I push my hand in to the mouth so it is uncomfortable for the puppy until the puppy pulls away and give the easy command. The big point is don't let them have the treat until they take it nice. If they get the treat by biting hard on the fingers you are rewarding that behavior and it will continue. With older dogs I use softer treats (hot dogs) and only give a little at a time off a big piece. Just so they can barely get the front teeth on it and nibble a bit. The other thing I do is ball it up into my hand and force it into the mouth like with a puppy. The decision of which tecnique to use is based on how many fingers I think I may loose forcing my hand in to the dogss mouth. If you push far enough the dog can't really bite too hard becasue the jaw is at the ends of the range of motion and they can't get as much muscle pressure going to get started.

I used this with a 9 weel old last night and it only took one time to teach him not to bite me. He still chewed on everybody else, but not me.

Here’s another technique that’s worked for me. I use the same “easy” command but instead of pulling the treat away or pushing it into the dog to get a soft mouth. I make sure the dog sees the treat in my hand and then as he moves forward to take it, I make my hand into a fist, with the treat inside.

I hold it closed until the dog realizes that he can’t get to the treat. If he starts trying to nibble to get to the treat, I say, “Easy.” And move my fist away from the dog. When he calms down move it back in front of him.

Quickly he’ll realize that he’s not going to get it and he may wander off. If he does show it to him and as he comes back make your hand into a fist again. Give the "easy" command again. After a while he’ll realize that snapping doesn’t get him the treat. As soon as he’s steady give him the treat. But don’t hold it up and have him take it from you and don’t shove it into his mouth. But DO give it to him affirmatively so there’s no mistake that he’s going to get it.

I have a different spin on this. Why try and reduce his food drive? Work it to your advantage. If my dog had this drive it would be a gift. I would use it for the recall. Or something else that needs high drive. Becarefull of two things one is bloat and the other is that you might not be able to use it for all types of work. When a dog goes too high in drive then it causes too much of a distraction. So put on some gloves and thank your breeder.

All this of course depends on whether you have a house pet or sport dog. I can see not wanting to mess with his drive for the later of the two.

Work on bringing his prey drive up. Don't reward with food until he can catch it from your mouth. It will not diminish if ignored. Then when he is older you teach him that food comes from your face and you will knock them dead with his attention presentation and recall. Trust me besides bloat you have no problems only a bright future.