Glad you are broadening your horizons Shawn. One really doesn't understand what goes into dog training until they watch a string of dogs being trained all day long. Some have more potential than others or more problems to be worked out and they all respond differently. Most of the stubborness has been bread out of the current crop so you have more intelligent animals which previously were considered "soft". Soft dogs have more cranial capacity and require a thinking trainer as opposed to one who in the past would use harsh methods. It's a thinking trainers game now and a thinking dog.
Case in point; Yesterday, we took an 8 month old puppy out for water marks that has not been collar conditioned. She has a tendency to run around like a wild indian with a bird or bumper after she picks it up. Yesterday she was classic and the owner was extremely pissed about the lack of obedience. I refused to let him loose his temper or put the puppy up instead opting for attaching a 15' check cord to finish out the marks.
Next set of marks she exited the water and promptly came to heel by his side and held the bumper firmly. This is the same dog in the force fetch video posted here. Sometimes you have to think a couple steps ahead of them and make it their idea.
