German Shepherd dog

We are trying to figure out a new way to motivate Chaos during training.  He's not really food motivated or toy motivated!  I entered him into obedience for The Premier, along with his Conformation.  I am going to start training with a friend to get him ready and she said I need to figure out something new to get him motivated.  He's so damn laid back, I don't know what to do with him.  What do you use or do to motivate your gsd?

My GSDs are generally very high energy, and most strongly motivated by play and affection. But I used to have a rottie that wasn't motivated by much of anything.

She was a very laid-back girl with almost no motivation other than pursuit of her own satisfaction.

I found *braces for flaming* that physical methods were the best with her. I'd say "sit," then push her rump down. "Lie down" was accomplished likewise. She was taught "heel" by means of a heeling-stick but modified the use so that I would present it infront of her instead of tapping her hip. Seeing the stick she would automatically back up to position, then I'd praise and reinforce. Recall was accomplished by short-lead, long-lead, then enforced off-lead via throw-chain to redirect her attention to me... if I was outside and I didn't have a chain, a rock or stick tossed near her worked just as well.

I do not support actually throwing objects at the dog, that seems overly cruel. The idea is to get the dog's attention, not hurt it. She never needed forceful corrections; she just needed to be reminded that it was easier for her to do what I asked of her, rather than try to get out of it.

Eventually she went on to become a therapy dog and canine reading-partner in elementary schools. Her laid back personality was a definative asset for that program.

and I make work play, there is no difference... everything we do is fun, I am fun!! My dog will do anything for her ball or a tug toy or a stick or a wadded up leash but her rope ball is her favorite...

Years ago, I had a dog who I competed with in AKC obedience.. not motivated for anything.. finally I found he liked bubbles (yup, and he LOVED the word as much) and then found I could spit water at him (very attractive!!) soon after that he decided food and other toys were good but I had to work at it and make him want everything so bad.... 

I do play wrestle with Chaos to get him going and excited about something and he does react to that.  The rougher you are with him the more he likes it, lol.  But you can't do that in the ring during a obedience trial if I remember right.  We did a obedience trial today along with his conformation.  He NQ when he got up and followed me around the jump that he was suppose to do the recall over!  And on the off leash, he didn't stick with me at all, lol.  lag lag lag......  and then took a short cut.  My fault for not working with him off lead!  Guess I need to work on that before Premier. 

Some one brought dog cookies to the show this morning and Chaos would have knocked her over for them and took him all if I had let him, lol.  She said she got them at MVPets in Portage.  They have apple and something else in them.  I'm going to stop and check them out.  They aren't the soft ones, they were crunchy.  He really liked them though!

Shepherd Woman,

If you can get more of these cookies, and use them sparingly so Chaos doesn't get bored, I think you might've found the ticket. Good luck

I'll use liverwurst too at times.  They go "ga ga" for that.  Hot dogs, natural balance rolls. 

As someone else had mentioned, it's important to have a hungry dog when training with food.  Though, for one of mine, she's highly food motivated, so it doesn't much matter!