Reassurance Needed

[Danni and Freya]

Life with Harvey is getting me down. Ok maybe not all of it but his legging it at every oppurtunity at the farm and on walks. He just goes and theres no stopping him. Yesterday he ran onto the promenade, off of the beach at full speed. We were right down near the water, its a blooming good distance from the prom and he just turned tail and ran.
At the farm he keeps squeezing under the fence and going into a neighbours front garden, round to their back garden and into their house  Because of this he is tethered when we are doing the yard and can't keep an eye on him but I let him off to come across the fields with me. He follows on brilliantly but before I have the chance to tether him when we get back, you turn and he's gone. I'm mortified, the neighbours were very understanding to begin with but I am sure are getting decidedly peed off now.
The solution at the farm is going to have to be that he is tethered all the time, which I don't like, but these neighbours can't take much more and I really don't blame them. He found cat food there once and so now keeps going back  I was gutted to find in a matter of seconds thats where he ended up again today and I only knew thats where he was by seeing him being shoved out of thier front door.
Walking is now going to have to resort to a flexi lead I think, I can't risk his episodes any longer.
Really all I need is some reassurance that things will improve. He will one day improve. I know he is only 6months but this is all completely new to me. Freya was my first dog and an absolute angel  in every way, never had an issue with her, always perfect recall etc so I have never had to tackle these issues before.
I will crack on with the whistle training as I have been meaning to and long line or flexi lead him where he can't be trusted. Please tell me dogs that are this difficult at his age do mature and improve because its really getting me down, i've been in tears several times in the last couple of days 

[Nicola]

How much individual walking and training do you do with him? Really they need that every day when they're young, I do all my dogs' walking and training individually when they're young but even if you can't do that they need at least some individual work. He sounds like a fairly typical 6 month old working Cocker who's got the opportunity to get away with stuff and push the boundaries. If they're doing things like this they can and do get better but it takes time and a lot of work on training and keeping him close to you.

[Crazy Cocker Gang]

I have Seth whos a similar age and I have only just recently started to let him go for just the loo run with the other dogs.

Training is fun but intense for him and hes out for 20mins at a time.

I really, really keep on top of him as I learnt the hard way that some dogs if you give an inch they will take a mile.

I am knackered after walking Seth as im constantly running around playing with him.

He has never been allowed to run up to anything and i have worked really hard getting him to be completley focussed on me and only approaching other dogs/people when i say he can, which of course i do let him as socialising and down time are important.

I have been really strict installing the basics and its only a empty beach Seth is allowed to run around freely on.

When were walking hes not allowed more than 15ft from me unless I have told him its ok and hes playing with another dog. Because I want him so close I am constantly entertaining him so he wants to stay close.

Working cocker pups can be really easily over stimulated too so its best to make sure they are getting quality quiet time

[Danni and Freya]

Thanks for the advice, maybe I am giving him too much freedom too quick. They usually play together and have a great time, but just recently he has been doing his bolting acts. I haven't done any seperate walking as i'm single and live alone and hes only happy being left with Freya. I suppose I should take him out alone as Freya is happy to be left. I know thats the advice, could that be contributing?

[Crazy Cocker Gang]

Thanks for the advice, maybe I am giving him too much freedom too quick. They usually play together and have a great time, but just recently he has been doing his bolting acts. I haven't done any seperate walking as i'm single and live alone and hes only happy being left with Freya. I suppose I should take him out alone as Freya is happy to be left. I know thats the advice, could that be contributing?

Honestly yes its the major factor.

If i took Seth somewhere like a farm and just let him run around he would be off and I wouldnt blame him.

If im not entertaining him hes going to make his own entertainment which i think is fair enough.

99% of Seths walks are individual, its just what has to be done.

Its not fair for me to expect 100% of Seths attention if im not giving him 100% of mine.

The adults do get walked together but there all at a level im happy with and even with them 90% of their training is done seperatley.

[Sarah1985]

Sounds like Dexter at that age.   Except I was lucky in getting the naughty dog first so I coud give him my undivided attention

The main thing to remember is you need to be the most interesting thing on offer to ensure he keeps coming back.

So Id keep him on a lead whenever you go somewhere really interesting and only let him off in really boring area so your increasing the odds of him coming back. The problem is the more he does it can become a bit of a habit so you ca easierly end up on a downward sprial.
I also agree with Nicola that seperate walks might be the way to go when you are planning on letting him off. He'll be much more responsive if hes got your undivided attention.

Think about what motivate him and use this only for recall reward. If he loves a ball he only has it for recall. Start from stratch with attention to name exercises, and small distance leaded recall and build it up.

Dont be disheartened. You just need to keep working on it till he gets through this difficult period. Set backs at this age arent uncommon and unfortunately you just have to take a deep breath and start again.

Good luck

Nb I posted at the same time as Crazy cocker gang. Sorry if i repeated anything

[Danni and Freya]

Ok   I will have to get on that then, thanks so much for the advice, it gives me something to try and hopefully see the benefits. I have been feeling such a failure 

[black taz]

You could have been writing that about Taz - give him an inch and he will take 3 miles!  I have to manage him quite carefully, i only let him off lead if we are somewhere i feel confident that if he does do a runner he cannot get himself into trouble.  Please learn from my mistake and make sure you get recall sorted asap, otherwise you will have this problem forever. 

[Danni and Freya]

You could have been writing that about Taz - give him an inch and he will take 3 miles!  I have to manage him quite carefully, i only let him off lead if we are somewhere i feel confident that if he does do a runner he cannot get himself into trouble.  Please learn from my mistake and make sure you get recall sorted asap, otherwise you will have this problem forever. 

Thankyou for this advice. I am going to try and stamp it out now as its causing so much stress and worry. I have to get it cracked