Hi, i am Izzi, and I have a black Labrador called Orry. I would like to train him on a whistle, because when I go into the park where I walk him, alot of other dogs come into th e park and it is the only park that I can let him off in which is in walking distance. I can never get him back when another dog comes in and I cannot shout because I just get a sore throat whenever I call him, Orry of course wants to be dominant and the dogs end up having a dog fight. He is nearly 5yrs old in July, Is it too old to train him to the wistle? I cannot go to obidience classes because the woman that runs them is very bossy and just shows off with her dogs and shouts at you if you cannot do something.
Overall he is a loyal, obidient dog, his behavior just changes from placid to dominant when I walk him.
I don't feel safe letting him off the lead,please help
Thankyou
Izzi

If you don't feel safe letting him off the lead, I don't think you should. Have you tried using a long training line? I would start training Orry in the garden first. Put him on the training line, blow the whistle and if he doesn't come give the lead a tug and guide him in. When he comes into you, have the most tastiest treats in the world! and give him lots of praise and hugs! Then let him go off and play, then blow whistle and reward if he comes. Keep doing it until he's got the idea then remove the training line and try it off lead in your garden. I would do it for a few weeks off lead in the garden until he's coming 100%. Try doing it in the house aswell, and blow the whistle before he gets his dinner. When he's coming perfectly, try him in the park WITH the long line attached for a few days incase he doesn't listen. Finally when you trust him enough to come to the whistle, do it without the lead. Dog's are learning all the time, they're never too old to learn! Good luck! :)

Hope this helps!

http://www.apdt.co.uk/list_trainers.asp

Hopefully there is not just one obedience class in your area, perhaps the above link will help, otherwise gundog training may help you more if you want to get your dog to come back to you outdoors; failing that a good, 1:1 trainer, as in the link.

It is never too late to train a dog to do anything; however if he is self rewarding each time he bogs off you will have to find something a lot more interesting in order to tempt him to return.  If playing, duffing up, teasing other dogs, or hunting etc is his main motive then you are going to have provide something far more interesting

If you don't feel safe letting him off the lead then don't, as your dog may find himself in a great deal of trouble if he goes for the wrong dog; there will always be one bigger, stronger and faster than him around the corner; not to mention the grief you could get into from the other dog owners! 

Thank you for your advice, i think that I will go with your advice Thank you.
Izzi