Wouldn't it be better to throw the treat to one side instead of bending down and putting it on the floor? If you throw it, the game increases in speed which makes a dog more excited and willing to participate. Putting the treat on the floor is (a) hellish for the human's back and (b) far too slow to keep a dog's interest and get it excited about the game.
I do an exercise like what you're describing in the Impluse Control video. It is from Deb Jones & Denise Fenzi's Impluse Control & Engagement Book. This exercise (Ping Pong) is from Leslie McDevitt's Control Unleashed program. Both develop impulse control, engagement, but in different ways. I use both exercises but usually in different contexts depending on the situation. For a lot of the CU games I use them for dogs that are easily over aroused and as you see, even with a rather well balanced and low arousal dog, she stays engaged with the exercise.
Throwing the treat will increase arousal, so it depends on the dog you are working with, pattern games is a conversation, listening to the dog is a must. You have to know the dogs' threshold.
