Karen is also an active member of both Mono and Inyo County SAR teams. He comes from a long line of field trial champions, and my breeder chose him for search work because of his bold attitude and personal charm. . . seriously. His nickname is 'Ever Ready' and his obsession with the game of tug is inspirational. Karen, like several WOOF handlers, learned the hard way how critical it is to select the right dog for the job. Starting out with high drive makes the trip smoother.
Positive reinforcement builds confidence, and confidence reinforces natural strengths.
Any actions taken from this position of strength allow for mistakes and rectification, as a natural part of the learning process. Since none of us are perfect, I'd rather error on the side of too much reward. You may need it later. It fits this lab pup, who has tremendous drive.