Not sure if this really belongs here, so Mods, please feel free to move.

My 2yo GSD will charge in hard for a bite, but when he gets close, he kind of puts on the brakes instead of hitting the sleeve with all he's got. Is this something that I have caused or is it something to do with his level of drive? I would love to see him charge in like the Mals I have seen in the KPNV Videos.

I think its more like nerves then drive John. They get there and at the last minute, its kinda like, "uh oh, what am I doing?"

There's things you can do like have him drag in all the way on a very long line or bungee. The helper backing away. Sending him different ways, more like an escape bite. But he's not going to hit like those mals. Mainly, you need a good helper to work on it.

Thanks for the input Steve.

Mainly you need a good helper John. There's things separate of the long bite too, its a package deal. But if he was going to launch like a Mal, you would have seen it right away.

You can definitely get improvement though, give him time with a good helper. Huh oh, I'm repeating myself. Sorry bout that.

No problem (about repeating yourself)! I will have to search out a good helper around here. My big issue is time or rather, a lack of it, to go out and work with a club. I've got 2 daughters in sporting activities and my business to run on top of everyday stuff to deal with.

A lot of the GSDs seem to slow down that last couple of steps before launching for the bite on a long bite. Most mals & dutchies, not so much. Maybe some of it is training...but I think it is just more the breed. As a whole GSDs don't have the same lack of self preservation(for lack of a better description) fed by their drive, that you see in most mals & dutchies.

My female (GSD) will launch like a mal & hit fast & hard...no slowing down at all. But then she has crazy drive & no self preservation at all. LOL One of the males (GSD) that I have had did slow down just a hair on the last step, but not like a lot of GSDs seem to do. The other male I have did slow down that last couple of steps.

I think a lot of it is the dog's drive propelling it forward no matter what. But I also think that proper training can make a difference, too. A dog that has learned that it can get hurt (even if not badly & especially in early training) if not 'caught' properly...will have some issues about charging in no holes barred for a bite.

NOT all decoys are GOOD decoys, even though they may think that they are. I have been to a few clubs that had decoys that I would not let catch my dogs (especially my female) from 10 feet away...never mind a long bite. And these were clubs with supposedly good decoys.

^^^
I've noticed that too...GSDs *tend* to be more careful about preserving themselves.

Not only are Mals and Dutchies rammers, but some will punch the helper with their front paws when they hit (instead of just hitting with their mouth)...if the tug/sleeve is held high enough. Logan does that, I only let him get it from the side...even held down low he rams his head into me.

If you want the dog NOT to slow down, I guess you could try and instruct the helper to pull back right as he slows down...but it will only help a little, the first time the dog hits hard when the helper doesn't move, he'll slow down again probably.

To add to the good advice you've already received, there's a section on teaching the launch in Ed's video with Bernhard Flinks. I've also heard ME address it (possibly in the "Advanced Concepts..." video, but I can't recall for certain). There are techniques that you can incorporate in your games of tug to help in this area.

I agree a lot with what Steve said about uncertainty and nerves. My dog doesn't have strong drive for the tug, but as I got her to play more, I worked on her launch and she has been good, both with me and in her bitework. However, the first time she was sent to a helper that was fleeing, she hesitated right before the strike and took the bite flat-footed. IMHO, it looked to me like she was a little unsure about the new set-up, and she didn't have the timing down.

Thanks for the input everyone...I am glad to see that it isn't necessarily something I have done to inhibit him. I will review the ME vids that I have and see if I can't work on those techniques to help with his strike (realizing it won't be like the Mal's)

I believe it's as much about genetics as training. GSD, IMHO, are more of a thinking dog and the Mals are more reactionary.
I've seen many, many good dogs that don't fly in like many Mals do.