I have searched all over the net for training videos, they can be found, but they have one major problem....they are always the finished product. not showing a dog that is in training, but a dog that has already been trained. i would like to find some that shows a dog/ handler starting from the begining, so the process can be seen step by step...how am i suppose to get to the finished product if i don't know the steps to get there? i think it would be helpful to see the dog and handler make mistakes then show how to correct that mistake. so ive decided to kinda try and make my own..

Julie

Second thing I noticed was that you are concerned with the heeling, yet you never rewarded or marked a correct behavior for the heel.  You made the dog go into a down then you rewarded the dog.  What I'm saying is that you have to mark the correct behavior.  If the behavior we are talking about is the heel, then it shouldn't be rewarded after the dog has done several laps around the yard and in a down position.

One thing that I would do is get the dog more motivated!  He seemed to be lagging behind quite a bit.  Don't do long heeling patterns.  Pump the dog up and do prey building between exercises. 

Also watch the ball on your chest.  I hate to use a reward to get focus from a dog.  You can teach the dog to look at you and not the reward.  It shouldn't matter where the tug is, the dog needs to learn the focus.  Besides, do you normally walk with your hand to your chest?  You can't do it in a trial.

In the bitework, don't do too many or any long bites.  The dog will do it and you are only asking for an injury.  Do shorter sends to target the dog.  Be aware of the bite and don't slip if he has a garbage grip.  Always let him counter and re-grip.

The first thing I noticed is that you are a fine lookin gal!  Boss is a lucky boy!!!!

 Hello,

Nice dog . For the bite work you have to be harder on him, you are too soft with the tug. He is a working line dog and seems bored with the bites. Play harder with him on tug. More side to side grips, also not so many outs, let him have it more. He should be on sleeve now. Also now start him on agitator or on pole to make your dog start the train. Also when I train the fuss I train in short lengths, maybe ten feet then twenty feet always rewarding with tug...Then brief fight on tug then fuss. Do the train for fuss maybe 5 minutes a a day so he get the attention to your eyes. Play on tug maybe five minutes but more intense (I will show you how I play tug)Then put tug away. Some days I will take out tug and get dog really excited and maybe only let him take one bite. Always end the tug session with the dog wanting more.Two people here helps. Let him bark and go nuts trying for the tug . Then put away. 

As for the ball and the tug, I would only use the tug so he is focused on it more. If the tug is his only focus they do better. I use the ball on rope for exercise or obedience reward.  Feel free to contact me and I will send you video of a dog in training and after training. Also how to get dog more exited on bites and to increase your dogs drive. Are you training for schutzhund or protection?

Great looking dog,

thanks both of ya.....i know i really gotta find some help cause i suck at this

don, i agree i gotta break that habit of holding the toy to my chest....bad things happen>>>>

( notice what happens right before i cut tape)...lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7NOmXUPUnQ

iluvmyGSD, I think there are some videos that show the process of training:

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=schutzhund+training&sitesearch=

Anything here that'll help? www.k-9classifieds.com/k9_dvds.php

Good job Julie.  Boss has just kept getting better.  You've already gotten good advice here so I won't even try!  BTW, I can relate to the "ouch!" 

thanks for the links yall...

thanks animules...

Here are a couple clips from training over the weekend. These dogs are a bit more advanced but I thought I would share!!!!!!

Julie:  If I were you, I would take germanguy up on his generous offer to help you.  It seems to me, everyone is giving good advise here.  You need to train Boss to focus on your eyes, not on the ball.  This is a very important issue, and part of the basic foundation you must build with the dog before you go any further. 

I think you are doing great, especially considering you do not have a club near you.  Correct me if I am mistaken, but didn't you say there was a club you liked but it was a couple hours away?    I would still encourage you to go to club, even if only once a week,  it will really help you and believe it or not, that is not an unusal distance to have to travel in the USA.

sue--

yep, i completly agree...everyone has givin me great advice....and the pass few days i have gone back and started over on his focus......he is doing great........im no longer holding the toy to my chest but down at my side...making him look at my eyes before i reward...before i was to easy on him, just happy that he was walking at my side....in a few days i will make another video so yall can see his progress....

today i also got more intense with the tug with him as germanguy suggested...it was really fun and boss really tightened his bite on it...i guess I was being boring with it so boss was getting bored with me.......i have also been making the mistake of leaving the tug in the yard with him...i think it's not as exciting for him if he can have it any time he wants...

when i made those videos, i should have posted them as a question on depression in dogs....for the past few weeks he just hasn't been himself....i don't know if it's got to do with him turning 1 year old, ( do dogs go through a change at this age where they may seem a little off for a few weeks?)....

so i havent been working with him that much lately because of it, he just acted like he didnt feel up to it, he did it- but wouldnt seem as happy about it as he normally did...

also, he has had alot of changes the past few weeks...

i just recently got my drivers license, ( which is why the club was to far away for me, didnt have my license and 2 hours was to far for my hubby to drive me to after work, as soon as i am comfortable enough to drive that far i plan to call that club up..)....anyway, since im finally able to take myself, ive been catching up on dr. visits that ive put off for years, ( i actually had to go get blood work done today, a MRI on my shoulder last week, and have surgery / biopsy coming up for a growth- prob just a cyst)..not to mention dr. visit for my kids who both got sick past couple weeks..but my point is..ive been gone from the house ALOT, which is not normal for me,BOSS is use to having me here 24/7....

also ,we did end up getting an electric fence for his new yard...he had gotten out twice one morning- put the electric fence up that evening...dont think he was to happy about it....but he is aware of it now so i think he is ok with it , well atleast he understands hes ok if he stays off the fence...(i think at first he thought we were the ones actually hurting him, he got zapped a couple times  trying to jump on the fence while we were near it)...i felt so bad...

but i DO think he is over whatever was wrong with him...he has been acting like his crazy ole self the past few days...

Congratulations on getting your license!    Julie, I think you have a really nice young dog, and you show great promise as a handler.  This is why I keep harping on the two of you going to club.  If you do, I am confident you will be able to title Boss and have a lot of fun doing it.  

I've never had a dog behave as though he was depressed for more than a day or two, so off the top of my head I would guess he might be reacting to  changes in his environment with you being gone more than usual.  Hopefully others will chime in and let us know what that behaviour is about.

It sure sounds like you have a lot on your plate what with the kids and all.  I sure hope everything is OK with your shoulder.

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=31478833

Here is a video of my 8 month of female learning bitework.  She is on an intermediate sleeve. More videos of other dogs on the site....