comments anyone??? - Page 2

It looks to me like you are having to do this all on your own. I applaud your efforts and think you are doing just fine.

Couple of things. If you are having to do this all by yourself....

1.) I agree you ned to come up with something better for the dog to bite. It will be easier on you as well. Get a bite pillow or tug. If they are too hard for the pup to bite go with the rolled up towel. Try to put it on the rope or whip like you said.

2.) Again if you are doing this all by yourself. Try to find a pole in which to anchor the dog. I use a tether ball pole and it works fine. Either slip the handle of your leash over the pole, or get one of the "police style" leashes with multiple d-rings. This way, you can encourage a carry VS having to take the sleeve from the puppy.

3) So you have the dog anchored to something and with a leash set up that enables the dog to run around the pole in a circle. Tie your tug, towel, pillow, whatever, to a leash or rope. Whip the toy back and forth in front of the dog to get him riled up. He seems to be a nice drivey pup, so you don't have to over-do it.

4) When he is nice and wound up you can either let him get the toy or pick the toy up, play and give him the bite. Don't worry about using your body. Play a little tug and then let him have the toy. Tug a little on the rope and try and get him to run around the pole in a circle carrying the toy. You want to try and avoid having him drop the sleeve and start mouthing it while it is on the ground. After he carries it around a bit, trade him for something else. A piece of food better yet, make two toys that are the same with the rope. Let the first toy go dead, then fire him up with the second toy just like you did the first time. He should forget about the dead one and want the active one. The whole point being is you do not want to be taking the toy away from the dog, he works to get it so he wins.

Con't

5) he is not confident in his bite. It doesn't look like he is biting all that hard and I believe that is why he is putting his paws on the sleeve. I know he is teething but with his drive, I think he would still be biting a little harder. He needs to work a little harder on the grip to win the toy. Try pulling and tugging on the toy a little bit to make him have to bite down to get it. He is teething so just a little bit. When he does that, give up the toy and then try and get him to run in the circle.

Don't worry much about him actually biteing something off your body.  You need to build drive and get him to bite harder first. Right now you are not moving your body enough. When you get to that point, you need to really have some experience. You can do all this stuff with a tug or bite pillow even when he is like a year old!

Look around on YouTube for some young dogs being worked. When you see enough of them, you will be able to tell when it is being done right. He is a link to my account which has alot of videos of the pups I have been bringing up at different stages. Remember though these are very good puppies and I have been doing this a long time so do not try some of the things you see witht he stick and the bottles and stuff. But it should give you some ideas. You will see that the pups "win" the toy and carry it off. This much easier to do with a handler.

 Right now I feel your pain cuz I am having to do most of my work all by myself. I am lucky to know some very good trainers who help out but I am still having to do most of the stuff myself. Most people have to scrounge up decoys. I have to beg borrow, and steal for a handler

You will make mistakes. Your doing just fine. Keep it up. If you do gwet the opportunity to go see and/or participate with some clubs do so. I have a feeling though you don't have that option.

I'll try to look out for some of your posts. You are welcome to PM anytime.

Good luck

ooops, forgot the link

http://uk.youtube.com/profile?user=bretta1970