As alot will no Ollie has been quite ill for a few weeks but hopefully on the mend now. We left him with my parents for 2 weeks at the beginning of August as we had a holiday booked. It was a tough decision going but my parents are great with him and he would actually get the peace and quiet whilst he was recovering.
When we came home he was very, very pleased to see us and he had slept at night by their front door as if waiting for us. He had been very well behaved and due to being ill had slept alot.
He is picking up alot now and his energy is coming back. I've noticed now though that he pulls much more on his lead than he ever did before and he has had a couple of dodgy recalls, where he used to be really good. yesterday instead of walking past a dog on our walk he ran back after it. I dont normaly have to use my whistle cause he doesnt go to far in front, but yesterday he was right out of sight. He did come bounding back (after a while)but it wasnt straight away. I have started recall training from basics again, calling him back and giving him a treat when he does, but as for the lead pulling i havent a clue.
I stop and bring him back to heel, then say heel and start walking and he bolts forward again. Its probably me not being consistant as i do let him off the lead everyday, and somene pointed out i reward him for his pulling by letting him off.I am in the process of booking with Alex from Languedoc Labradors for some training and hopefully this would help. I would go to puppy school again but i found he just wanted the treats left on the floor.

Have you tried making a loop in the lead and whenever you feel the sligh-*test*-('") pull dropping the loop and walking in the other direction so the dog is forced to follow? It's hard to explain without seeing it demostrated but we had amazing results with Billy. We also read somewhere that wearing a harness gives the dog more strength to pull as they're pulling from their shoulders as opposed to their neck when they are on a collar but to be honest we kept with harness as personally we prefer it to a collar choking him when he pulls. We're getting there with him but it takes massive will power not to give up and just let him have his way!

trying to picture what you mean by putting a loop in the lead, do you know any internet sites that show this.
I took a good look at how i react to him today (trying to pretend a trainer was there and what they would say). and i came up with the conclusion that i start off well, making him heal keep bringing him back and back(about 50 times!) then i get near the walk and let him off cause, lets face it its easier!!
His recall was good today though.
I think a trainer will be telling me that the problem is me and i can accept that as he is a quick learner in all other things.
Tommorrow im going to be positive and not let him off if he pulls me all down the lane again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What lead do you use? I use a slip lead for Poppy I was given my first by my trainer at our first lesson, before that I just had a normal lead. It made a big difference to our walking, also for a while I didn`t walk in a straight line for ages. Everytime she pulled I changed direction without giving her notice, she soon got the message and kept close and looking to see which way I went next.

Good luck with your lesson, you will find it very informative and helpful, but you need to keep up with the homework Alex will give you

following on from this earlier thread i posted i have been quite fim with my lead training and not just all off lead walks. It is hard work and to get 50 metres i could be bringing him back to heel dozens of times. Ive kept at it and yesterday after 10 mins or so there was no pull on the lead for the journey home. Today he didnt pull at all and when the lead went tight i didnt have to correct him he just slowed up and looked at me. It felt bloody marvellous and if this continues it means i can take him to places where dogs have to be kept on leads and have a nice day instead of being dragged around.
Im hoping it wasnt a one off and that later on his walk he will do it again. Clever mummy, i mean clever Oliver!!!!!

Thats great news well done both off you it always feels great when you acheive things.