I have a few Questions concerning training drive and focus.

I have the DVD and I am using it as a means to do more with my working line GSD pup (9 months) and to help get more out of his obedience responsiveness, but I do not have any plans to do any bite work with my dog.

1. In the video it says not to do the out training until he has a strong grip that isn't chewy. How do I get it back if I don't make him out (which I have been doing because I started before finishing the video)?

2. I have been using the "Drop it" command since he already knows it. Should I bother changing it to "out" since I don't plan on doing any serious Schutzund work? I started to change it by saying drop it out and was thinking to phase out the drop it. Is this necessary or a good idea for any reason?

3. My dog is crazy mouthy and (while I am inexperienced) I believe he has a lot of drive (he certainly did have a lot of drive for sheep herding which I have done with him a few times). However, he is sloppy with his mouth and misses and hits my hand or body sometimes. DO I correct this??

Also, since my ultimate goal is not bite work do I need to be concerned that his grip is chewy?

Since you aren't doing bite work, I would correct him. I'm of the belief that dogs don't accidentally hit us with their mouth. Very seldom anyway!

It does not matter what words you use for OUT - DROP IT is fine - HEY STUPID is fine - it just does not matter what que you use.

When a dog puts its mouth on you then you need to correct him. It does not matter if its a sport dog, a police dog or a pet. It ALWAYS requires a correction of some kind. Now some dogs work fine with a FIRM "NO" - the harder dogs need to have their but kicked - in other words you really need to get after them. If you are going to get your dogs respect a major part of this has to be him learning that biting you (no matter what the reason) is NEVER A GOOD THING. They will learn.

Fact is iuf you correct too hard (because he is a soft dog) and he will not go back in drive - dont sweat it. Put him away. Let him think about what a stupid thing he just did. Then next time you may not want or need to correct that hard. Noi matter what - before the correction give a NO command. By doing this you are teaching the dog the meaning of the word NO. You will then be able to use that command throughout his training.

Thanks for the tips. I'll correct him when he misses the tug and hits my hand or leg.

Any thoughts on the "Out" question. If I am building his drive and focus before I start "Out", how do I get the tug back? Sometimes I can yank it out when he has a loose grip and this helps build his drive, but how do I get it back if he isn't letting go, but he is not ready for the "Out " command?

Also, I started doing the exercise demonstrated by Bernhard where you build his drive and then put him in a sit as you hold it over him. Then you slide over (just in front of him) and slowly move the prey item to the left and right to get him focusing on it before you drop it.

Early in his training, I started and continue to do the "Watch" command. I'll put him in a sit and have him watch me, and I'll distract him with various means. One is to wave my hands. Another is to put a treat in front of his nose and then move it to the side, and he needs to stay watching me and not the treat.

I think he is confusing this with focusing on the tug. He focuses dead on it, but when I move it side to side he stays staring at me. Occasionally, he will start to look to the side with the tug, but he quickly focuses back at my face because he thinks he needs to watch me.

What should I do? I don't want to ruin his watch?