I'm a bit perplexed as to how to move things on, and I feel in need of another little breakthrough soon, to keep me motivated and optimistic.
Blue has cottoned on to 'heel work' on the cut de sac, and will stroll up and down it all day long with a loose lead. However, as soon as we get to the end, close to the main road, his nose goes down, he pulls like a mad thing, and he is no longer interested in my sausage, cheese etc., nor does he listen to anything I say - he just wants to sniff, sniff, sniff and pee, and nothing else matters!
Also, he discovered that he can jump over the wall between our house and next door, where they have a 5 month old collie pup and an older collie bitch, both of which are playmates. The wall is only 18 inches high at our side, but because we're on a steep slope, there a 3 foot drop at the other side, and he can't get back into our garden by himself (even if he wanted to, which he doesn't!
).
Three mornings in a row I've had to barge into next door's garden, and sheepishly frogmarch him home, past their enormous bi-folding patio doors, averting my eyes in case they're all sat there in their jim jams, munching cornflakes ...
This means a) recall has disappeared completely, and b) he can't be trusted off lead in our garden any longer, so progress to proper walks really needs to be expedited.
Any tips folks?
On the plus side, his sit & stay are really very much improved, and we've totally cracked the door etiquette, which also works to stop him leaping from the car as soon as the door is opened.. He will also sit and stay whilst favourite people and doggy pals walk past, which is amazing!