Retrieving Daze

It's a typical fall day in the Midwest - in the low 50's, light rain with a breeze. Perfect Sheltie weather but not so good for training outdoors! So I thought I'd take advantage of being indoors to work on our retrieve and some smaller training blocks.
First, I realized I'm going too fast on teaching the Front. He really doesn't understand what it means so I've back-chained to where I'm just inches away and lure with food. He's got better control of his rear now and I saw that now he is able to do a nice tuck-sit straight. Moto learns really fast so I need to do this correctly from the beginning. So far he's coming in and raising his head - I don't need the famous "Sheltie bonk" nose touch! I need to do this a few times a day before we can move forward. No call to front on the recall for awhile.
The retrieve: oh, dear. Moto really doesn't care to play with toys. I brought out one he'd never seen before and while his eyes brightened seeing it for the first time it took a LOT for him to chase out and get it: I had to make it move a lot, let him chase it a bit like a cat, then threw it out. If it went too far (3 feet seemed to be the deciding factor) he would not go get it. I'm using the flexi to bring him back quickly and had to re-throw quickly or he would lose interest. Couldn't do this more than 3 times. If I use food as a reward his desire to retrieve drops to zero. Then, I tried to engage him in a game of tug. He'd play politely but seemed to do it just to please me rather than be interested in the actual game. Rolled around with him, roughhoused and again he played but it was very polite and not real active play.
We didn't work for more than 10 minutes but he was done, wanted outta there and back with the pack.
If this trend continues I will probably isolate him when I'm at work, then we'll train and play when I come home, THEN he can see the pack.
We'll see what tomorrow brings. More than heeling or anything else, I need to be his treat, not the pack.