Jasper

Thanks for your reply Yes I'm used to using a long line with him. That's how I did the "this way" training. I also still use it if we are somewhere like an open beach where there are many distractions, other dogs, to attract his attention but he can still run around. He is most definitely still in adolescence stage. My previous schnauzer loved other dogs too but not to the same excitement level as Jasper does. He became "sensible" in realising he got to say hello by staying calm a week before his 2nd birthday. It was weird it was as though he woke up one morning and lightbulb got turned on. I think Jasper will take longer than that, he loves life to the full. As you say I think the best course of action going forward is keeping him safe on lead or longline and working on more focus training while out. Hopefully when his hormones calm down he will be allowed off lead again.

My boy is 17 months old still intact and is very active and finds everything exciting when out and about, still very much a puppy. If there is just me and him in a quiet area and hes off lead I tend to keep using "this way" command and keep changing directions to help keep him focused on where I am. This works really well The other day we were in fields he was just walking about I decided go in opposite direction so said "this way" he was about to turn but picked his head up sniffed and bolted in the opposite direction, and I mean top speed. There was no point in recall as he'd just ignored a command that is proofed. 2 fields later in a car park I caught up with him. He was jumping all over this dog that was on lead. Apologising profusely as I got closer I found out it was a dog walker. She said the owner had let her come with her today and thought the bitch was coming into season as a male dog she picked up later has been whining all the time in the van. I explained my dogs behavior and said she was probably right. He has never done anything like this before and the speed and distance he went he could easily have crossed a main road and got knocked over. He was only focused on one thing even when I caught up with him he was glazed over not taking any notice of me. Then last night he bolted out of the front door as I was putting something outside into pitch darkness straight up the drive and into the road and was away for around 10 mins, again he has never done this before. thankfully the roads are quiet where we are. I'm really not sure what to do. All help appreciated