How come even though we try look after our dogs and do everything according to the book i.e. consistency with training do we get it wrong? This is our second dog and she has really started to pull on the lead now - just as our first one did - and won't come back when she's off lead, just seems to switch off the hearing aid when called, goes mad in the house although she's exercised and played with regularly, yet when I see some dogs (usually mongrels) walking beside their masters without a lead hanging on to their masters every move and know that some of these dogs would be bought on impulse and never had any training it's really disheartening (I'm not trying to belittle anyone, I'm sure this isn't the case with most of them), but I really envy them and sometimes wish I hadn't gone for a pedigree dog. If we didn't bother doing any training with her I'd understand why our dogs have been like this, are we trying too hard?

How old is your dog and what breed? Every dog is different and it is nothing to do with the fact the dog is a pedigree as I see many non-pedigrees who misbehave as well as pedigrees. You cannot treat every dog the same what works for one may not work for another. If her recall has lapsed then go back to basics. Long lead and do recalls reward and away. Do you recall your dog only when you want to put her on a lead? This tends to be a common problem as dogs soon learn that whenever they are called back they go on the lead. Best to be unpredicatble. Call them back send them away, call them back put on lead, let off lead and so on changing every time so they dont know whether they will go on lead or not. Also dont put the lead on at the same point of the walk.

I agree with Bec's advice; also is your dog at that teenage hooligan stage? As they do grow out of it you know, and often go through phases of not coming back. Don't lose heart! with consistency and lots of patience you will surely win through :)

LINDSAY