What am I doing wrong?...

 Explain what you mean by not getting excited and what it is you actually want the dog to do.

 I have worked with some strange dogs, but they usually get exicted about something. How much does he weigh, how often is he fed, and what does he do with his meals?

 Does he express his excitement in a way that you are not used to?

I have yet to see a dog that isn't  a bit hungry express some vague interest in food. 

I once taught an overweight overfed american bulldog to track. I couldn't get his handler to cut down on the huge amount of food that he was being fed, and he was in compete denial of how obese he was. What i did notice was a faint flicker of interest in birds moving. So we set up tracks that went towards groups of ducks. it worked and he was a slow but reasonable tracker.

I would like for him to act more like a dog....play tug-war, be passionate going for a ride, instead of watching me shift gears and staring at the froor-board. or lying on the seat next to me. he is slowly beginning to fetch, but I can tell he would just as soon be sleeping. Even when some stranger comes to the door, he trots over to meet them stifleing a yawn. I need tip/tricks of the trade to increase his prey drive. I have tried confinement, stake out, and fasting. Though I admit maybe not for long eneugh. He has always been a little "reserved' and somewhat fearfull of sudden movements especially when it makes a noise. That said, I wouldn't describe him as a fearfull dog

How are his hips, knees, and elbows? Any health complaints, otherwise? It sounds very unusual, to me, for an 8 month old puppy to have so little interest.

Thanks for the response. I consider him to be just a tad overweight two or three pounds maybe? his ribs don't show as much as they should for a pit bull in top condition, but I don't worry about it because A. he sleep all the time and B. he is still a puppy

I give him all he can eat once a day, in the morning and then small treats during the day,

Good question, I will examine them closely, however this pup is so lackadaisical i can drag him across the floor by his front feet or his back feet and it doesn't seem to bother him, Plus the vet didn't mention any problems.

You asked about his meals (sorry, I forgot) He is a standup eater, if that means anything, and he eats it all in one sitting, His stool looks normal, He does occasionally drag his behind but the vet says he is just expressing his glands....thanks

More info: I don't know the dogs history from bith to twelve weeks and he has no papers, But I am a little afraid he may be the result of show breeding. He is a red-nosed, blue eyed perfectly built pup (I think) with four white sox and a white tipped tail, etc. Could it be that he is a genetic freak?

Good plan, he loves loves loves to play with otherdogs. I would be happy if he would give me 25% of that passion.

But...I don't have access to other dogs on a predictable basis. I try to teach him to look out the window when we pass a dog but he is always looking the other way or....sleeping of course

Sorry... I just realized that your names don't automatically appear in my response, My bad...wont happen again, thanks to all of you!

I'm curious if you have seen this lack of response since his early puppyhood?  Many dogs that have never been encouraged and rewarded for fetching a ball or playing tug, etc. at an early age, never really learn to enjoy playing with their owners.  You mention watching you grind gears which leads to think maybe you and he spend quite a bit of time on the road.  Perhaps he learned that being laid back and quiet were the desired, rewarded behaviors?  That's a big assumption on my part but just a thought as to possibly why he's the way he is.

Have you tried any clicker training?  Training tricks is fun for most dogs because owners enjoy the results so much and transmit this to the dog. 

Thanks Jackie, you may be onto something....I am going to try to find out more about his early life and yes I think I have unconsciously taught him to inhibit his drive by not giving him his food antil he lies down. I do this by moving the food closer when he starts to lay down and moving it farther away when he starts to get up. also I am 65 and pretty lazy and layed-back myself and he may be copying me. I will think about this line of reasoning. Thanks again

Yes, he has always been this way, and its not that he wouldn't chase the ball, he just was not that into it. Also when I first got him...for purposes of houstraining.... I kept him and a stray "cow-dog" type bitch in the back yard at night until the weather turn cool (texas) she was a young adult that was VERY hyper and energetic, she may have overwhelmed him, causing him to learn to be still to keep from getting chased and run over etc. not that she was mean, she would always let him eat first etc. (I re-homed her when billy was six months old)

tex123

Thanks for the response. I consider him to be just a tad overweight two or three pounds maybe? his ribs don't show as much as they should for a pit bull in top condition, but I don't worry about it because A. he sleep all the time and B. he is still a puppy

I give him all he can eat once a day, in the morning and then small treats during the day,

 HiI don't know much about Pit Bulls, but i sure know that even with poodles they don't get the food they want.As for Labs, no way !! I tend to keep even puppies quite lean, and much of the food that i would stick in the plate is earned for doing stuff.

Some one else might be able to help here, but dogs need to earn their food, they have a need and a desire too, and often humans stuff it up. IN my case the food gets used with pups for heeling, retrieving, recalls that kind fo thing