Hi Carol,
I apologize for this lengthy reply! Wow! Guess, I am feeling a little stressed over my foot loose fancy free shepherd and want to say I REALLY appreciate so much your sharing and helpful advice having your own experience with your Mal running off too.
First let me say--- Konan does pretty much rule the household. This hasn't always been the case until I became ill six months ago stopping short of my Architectural degree after YEARS of hard work of college preparing for a good future. Previously, when I was well, Konan NEVER once strayed. He was always fiercly protective of me, the car and house. What concerns me is, last night, at 2:47 exactly, my newly adopted humane society and recovering once handicapped lab/pit mix barked fiercely at something downstairs and raced into my teenager boy's bedrooms pushing open their doors to wake them up. My husband snored and my shepherd; not even the slightest concern--SLEPT! Cautiously following Skippy down the stairs, I am certain of seeing a flood of light bouncing through the den windows. Perhaps it was the neighbor's car coming down the dirt road? Will he ever become protective again?
Back to the question of crating. Konan's been spending alot of time inside it lately and even seems to enjoy it for some reason even though it seems small to me. I put him in it after when he totally ignores my command to come, after he turns his head slight and gives me that 'You know where you can put it' glance and gallops off to the distant hillsides, ravines and who knows where else!
I spend alot of energy I don't easily have, playing retriving games over a 10 acre agility course constructed of fallen trees and greens for him and tracking excersizes exceeding two hours a day just to tire him out. Lately, he has no interest but instead rushes off picking up scents of wild animals tracking after them. Sometimes, whenever my husband and I are in conversation and we turn our heads for even a second---he'd vanish! Disappearing into the woods like a dark shadow out of sight and sound but eventually come out of the trees after a good long calling for him.
Forgive me for being kinda dumb on the subject of some of the training techniques---but what is meant by recall? Is it the time it takes the dog to respond to a command? If that's the case Konan has none. Sometimes, I can see he thinks about obeying. Mostly just sails on by with his tail held high having his own agenda regardless of the situation.
Regardless, I do feel I waste my time teaching him to come when called on a 15' lead. He did well when snacks were involved. Now he's just tired of it all.
Also to mention, within the last couple weeks he has fallen into some deep hole of depression and even refuses to be in the same room with our family where he loved to be. Instead he goes upstairs on his pillow bed moving SLOWLY upstairs to sleep away from us. He shows no interests in activities or toys.
When I was well half a year ago, I had good control over him and while I attended college. Konan spent alot of time socializing at doggie daycare, going to parks and stores where he was always the focus of attention craving the attention! Since that time he decided to either take over alpha rank or is becoming insanely bored and miserable with my downward health.
I have always been the pack leader; as best I know to be is, always myself being first making him sit at the doors, at street curbs while walking and while greeting people and other dogs. I give the toys out and take away. Let him outside when I decide too, give him the okay when he can play surpervised with his best friend a female Jack Russell that lives down the road. Before he eats, I give the command to sit, down and wait before eating. I give affection when I want too or when I think he deserves it and NEVER baby talk or wordy. I do give praise for doing good encourging good behaviour not always verbal but alot through my eye expression. I try to ignore the bad however and bite my lip alot and maybe give too much praise for a good job to encourage the good.
These are basically all I know about alpha. There's alot of studying to be done on this subject; as well as, time learning from other's on this thread like yourself since I am new to this thread. Alot of knowledge to be learned from here.
Finally, I just want to say, I have always had german shepherds from a small child and throughout my adult life. I have never had a shepherd that would take off and leave me. Infact, years ago, I adopted a five year old shepherd from a kennel. Actually, he picked me out. From all the vicious appearing shepherds behind bars ready to shred me apart, he was the most georgeous one and stood up on his legs wagging his tail.
One day being six months pregnant and in danger of falling through snow along a river bank while crusing timber with my ex-husband; my 110 lb.' Bob-Dog' was so concerned about me that he literally inched along beside me with each step letting me use his back to even my balance to get out of danger. He never once strayed from me or my small children.
I too have thought about getting an e-collar whenever he takes off after the cat or whenever he gets the urge to run wild like a free spirit. In all, I also strive to treat my new dog Skippy in this manner where I am alpha and to him, I think he is just so greatful to be alive and adopted that my little 60 lb. Skippy is not an ranking issue but wants to curl up in a ball on top of my feet or nestle close into me any chance he gets.
If you made it through this long e-mail I thank you!!! Your help is really important to me and Konan. Julia
E-Fence/Underground Fence/Invisible Fence
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Geesh, labs.....worked well for the other dogs while we were out in the yard though....I like going out and working on my flower boxes and being able to have a dog out with me. 
Brenna
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