After Vic making me look like a complete moron at dog training for about 5 months (while being a complete angel at home, swine) during the past few weeks he has come back to being a very good boy during training again, so much so that today the trainer suggested that we start trying off lead next week. I'm not convinced though! I'm pleased with him but nervous about next week now, I know what he's going to do, he'll be perfect doing heelwork then have a mad zoom around the enclosure when he's meant to be showing everyone how hard I've worked on his lovely recall

Hi Pookin,

How old is Vic? - I'm still waiting for my Digs to exit the Kevin phase and he'll be 2 at the end of April.

I know it's easier said than done but try and be as un-nervous as poss (good english!) as Vic will pick up on this and if you preempt the running off when it should be a recall...your jumpiness may make the running off even more likely!

Good luck!

Helena

I know, I think I made him worse at the beginning because in the past I've only ever had 'good dogs' so was a bit shocked at some of his antics! I think I'm going to start really close into him on the recall when we try, give him the least amount of time to think about running off to play. Vic is coming up for 2 in may time

I'd question off-lead training unless you've done long-line recall, recall in an enclosed space, off-lead training in an enclosed space. 

If your off-lead training is going to be in an enclosed space the worst that can happen is that your dog doesn't respond immediatley but can't get hurt, if so I'd suggest you try to relax and have fun with your dog

It's in an enclosed space but one with other dogs and owners in (so I worry about him barreling into someone else's dog for a play), he's fine on the long line but then I've found dogs know when they're on the long line and when they have their freedom. Am definitely gonna try to relax and enjoy, and I will have to arm myself with lots of super exciting better than usual treats

Pookin > I worry about him barreling into someone else's dog for a play< be glad he only wants to play - others are pretty good at getting out of the way especially if your trainer/behaviourist is worth their salt - they'll make sure the dogs yours has access to can cope.
Let us know how you get on.

Update, there was no dog training this morning! I got up and went out with Vic and it had snowed in the night, we were the first to make any tracks in it and we had a nice walk, when I got in the trainer called to say it was off because there was snow there too. We are both up back roads in the stix so don't get grit.

It's all starting to melt now though so it would probably have been ok, which is annoying because I was and am feeling very confident, but I guess it means I get to fit in an extra week of training so unless he does anything disgraceful in the interim (I'm sure he wont) my confidence in him can only grow, so silver linings and all that

> so unless he does anything disgraceful in the interim (I'm sure he wont) my confidence in him can only grow,

I think your confidence already has fromthis comment - I love your positive attitude.  Shame about the trianing miss.

I finally gave Vic a bit of a go off lead at dog training, and he was such  good boy! Spend the first half doing obedience and heelwork and I kept him on the lead for that because he was only being half good; his heelwork and obedience were great but he decided he was going to sing us all a lovely song while he was doing it and he normally only sings if he's quite excited so I didn't feel he was 100% focussed.

Anyway he eventually stopped being very annoying and later on when we used the agility equipment the tunnel got brought out and that was his moment of triumph! I had to let go of his lead for him to try the tunnel at full length. I was expecting him to do a u turn inside and escape into all his doggy friends but he was great, he waited for me to get hold of his lead again at the other end before finishing off with some lovely jumps and turns. Next week I'm going to try him leadless at some heelwork since he did the exciting tunnel quite a few times and still stayed in control I think I feel ready.

Unfortunately when we got home he managed to poke my neighbour in the eye with his nose, she was bending over to say hi to the little dogs when Vic rushed forward to make sure she knew he was a good dog too, he planted a giant lick on her face and his nose stuck in her eye. She was very nice though and pretended her eye had not been poked even though I had seen it all.