In my opinion he isn't over-socialized (can a dog be over-socialized?) but rather he is under-trained. You need to start a firm, fair, consistent training program with him. It sounds like you were on the right track earlier in his training, just keep it up. Good luck!

Good point Tara, and might I add that one thing Flinks says at his seminars is that you cannot train a dog you cannot control (correct). Your scenario falls under the obedience under heavy distraction category. Use a long line or an ecollar. JMO

Thank you for the replies. I agree I do have to intensify the training and be consistent with it. I'm using the long lead now and resuming the hot dog treats and training in the doggie area after dog-hours (dog smells but no dogs).

I'm on vacation so this week he can get daily training, but then it's back to regular schedule next week. How do others fit in training in their busy days?

For me the question is how do I fit the rest of my life around my dog training? LOL The dog training always seems to get done...work, school, and social life...uh, it eventually gets done. LOL

Hey, its really tough, seems like there are not enough hours in the day!! My animals come first, there rest falls into place, whenever. Family and friends seem to understand. It helps having a very understanding spouse!!!

Well 2 months later...I reinitiated the training during evening walks, still not as consistent as during the fall though.

Annoyed as hell with the recall yesterday, put him in a sit stay and walked 40ft away. command down, dog downs. command sit, dog sits...then bolts for the big open lawn, runs across the street <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> the runs across again...luckily it wasn't a busy street (stupid me).

Anyway today I used a 50ft thin line (in addition to his leash),take him back to the same spot...after a few sit, down (at distance) I approach him and he thinks okay game time and tries to take off, but this time I had the thin line, and stop his flight and give him a correction. He attempts two more times and each time I stop him and correct. After that I put in a sit stay, from a distance (thin line in hand) and approach he quietly goes into a down...I would like to say he's learning but to be fair I'm the one learning how to properly get the mssg across.

After dinner I take out in the hall for play/training. On the long line I throw the ball and have him go for it. After the 3rd throw I command HERE and pull the line, he responds. 2 more times and he kinda doesn't go for the ball expecting a recall. Remove prong and line, throw ball, as he's half way there I command HERE he stops obeys...big praise...2 more times same thing.

Sorry for going on about this it's just that after a fustrating hair raising session to finally figure out how to do it "right".

In answer to my question for the next few weeks I will confine play to a long lead (30ft) until I get a 90% recall rate.

Patrick. I agree with what Tara and John have said and just wanted to add one thing. You may want to try completely separating work time and play time until he's better with distractions. Don't do them in the same place. Roxy and I play in the backyard and work on walks around the neighborhood. That way he will know that he gets to play after working, but he doesn't get to decide when that happens, you do by taking him to a different location to play.

what I do with Maggie and Max is run them on the bicycle before I start training. It takes some of the pent up energy away and I can start the practice. when I was training for the long down/stay I really ran the heck out of them first. just a suggestion, I'm just a newbie with a couple of GSD's. good luck.

If the more experienced trainers think this not the way to do it, please correct me

agree with the differant places for training and play

with berlin there is a big field i use for training and the back yard is for play.

the second she sets foot on the field she knows it is training time. i do a little bit of work with her in the back yard but for the most part that is play time

good luck