Hi,
I am at 8 months now with my pup. He loves playing with balls. Well one type of squeeky ball in particular. I can get him to do anything for a play with it. Better than tugs, but he does like tugging a lot. Do you think this is a reward worth transitioning too in the outdoors for training a REAL Service dog? Is he old enough? The description describes it may be good for an older dog. Is 8 months old enough? Can I work it into my marker training? Just a newbie with a lot of questions. Thanks.

i'm a newbie with this kinda training too! from what i've learned if your pup is more interested in a toy vs food, or JUST as excited for a toy as a cookie, it is a good time to switch and use it as a reward..and marker training is awesome from as young as you can bring them home. my pup is 8 months old too and works real nice for his ball, but would jump through fire for his frisby. so we started rewarding OB work with his toy he most loved. then had to switch to his second fav toy, becuause his frisby was waaaaaayyyyy to high of value to him to get him to pay attention and think lol. i guess it would depend on how well his focus is on you and/or his toy, to start him in the real world. i think a lot of people would say to start in your home, then back yard, then on walks, and maybe then a public park and so on. and IMO any reward anytime can be working into marker training.
example:
sitz, dog puts his butt down, YES (or click) followed by his reward *cookie, tug, ball ect*
it's soooo much less expensive to reward with toys too!!

this video REALLY helped me!
Michael Ellis Video
http://leerburg.com/flix/player.php?id=226

 Quote: Ken Eric

Hi,
I am at 8 months now with my pup. He loves playing with balls. Well one type of squeeky ball in particular. I can get him to do anything for a play with it. Better than tugs, but he does like tugging a lot. Do you think this is a reward worth transitioning too in the outdoors for training a REAL Service dog? Is he old enough? The description describes it may be good for an older dog. Is 8 months old enough? Can I work it into my marker training? Just a newbie with a lot of questions. Thanks.

Do you have both the Ellis Food and Tug DVDs, Ken?

Those are two I do not have. I have been using tug as a big reward and general play with my pup.

If you think it will help, I don't have any problem picking them up. I have read all the articles you have on the same.

I am mostly training with treats and YES as a marker. They don't cut it anymore, so I am on hotdogs now to jackpot and for really good performance.

I would absolutely get those two. I'll bet money you'll be happy you did.

Also, you might check out these clips: http://leerburg.com/flix/searchResults.php?searchfor=ball and http://leerburg.com/flix/searchResults.php?searchfor=food%20or%20tug? and http://leerburg.com/flix/player.php?id=733

Connie,
OK, so don't get the Building Drive & Focus DVD? Get the other two first. The other DVD can come later? I have been training with food for 6 months now. The DVD has finer points that will be helpful?

I have the Flinks DVDs, the Balibanov DVDs and the Ellis DVDs.
Ellis, hands down, runaway favorite, no holds barred, is the best and easiest to follow.
Michael puts the !DUH! moments in his explanations of how and why.

I threw in markers for fun and got the package deal. I watched all the mpegs on the previews, and I got something out of them again, so I decided it was time for more family movies....oh how they hate your DVDs...

Ran into a Trainer at the local PetCo....I had to get a crate for my dog, for the hotel.....jogged me out of my stupor from another post. I didn't know I needed a crate for a hotel. Makes sense... She was an Ellis trained trainer. Gave me some pointers with my dog right there.

I put a small squeaker ball in my treat bag (similar to his favorite Big ball). The dog finds it to be a much higher reward. She was great...we went through it right there in the store. A squeak of the ball and his attention is totally mine, even with great distractions from other dogs in the store. (My biggest problem at this age) Very helpful... You Ellis people are everywhere!!! She called him the happy hippy of dog training...