Alright, I have a 1-1/2 year old male APBT and lately he's being a big pain in my rear!! I have the Basic Obedience DVD, and worked with him prior to ordering, and still do every single day at least once. He knows his commands and is typically VERY consistent.

One example, our neighbors are idiots and let their shitzhu roam the neighborhood. We have invisible fencing, so the dog ran into the yard one day. My dog took off towards the little one (he's not dog aggressive, but I still don't allow him to play or really interact with dogs outside of the house) and I just yelled "wait" and he dropped into a down midstride and stayed there while the other dog was barking at him and causing a ruckus.

All of a sudden though he randomly decides he doesn't want to listen. I have agility equipment in the yard and have been training him in it, which he loves. But suddenly he'll just take off and won't come when called. In the house he's fine, it's just in the yard. I have put him back on a short lead and started over with him, but once I add a little distance (say 8-10 feet) it goes down hill. I've brought him back to the beginning 2 months ago and there is NO improvement. He thinks its a big game, and no matter how stern I get he just doesn't care.

Any suggestions? Do you think I should get an E-Collar?

 Quote: TiffanyGriffin

Any suggestions? Do you think I should get an E-Collar?

An E-collar or prong collar and a long line(20ft+)while training would be your best bet IMO. Sounds to me like he needs to know that when you say sit/down/stay/wait/come you mean it. One and a half is still a puppy-just reaching adulthood-and he's trying to test the waters(and your patience). Don't be discouraged, you two will fall into step and he'll realize he needs to listen to you no matter what is going on.

Thanks for the reinsurance. He's actually 2...don't know what I was thinking lol!! It's been a LONG night. I know, he's still young. It's just frustrating, all of the other dogs I've rescued or raised from pups never went through this type of thing. I'll try to put his prong on and work with him like that. I do want to get an E-collar eventually because I want to compete in agility with him and that way I can be sure he knows to stay in the ring in case he gets curious during practices.

it may very well be worth having him wear his prong collar most of the time so he doesn't figure that he only has to obey when it's on, ie, don't just put it on him when you're about to go outside and work the "heir", etc.

I never have the prong on except for walks, so will start having him wear it in the house when he's supervised so he doesn't just behave with it on. Thanks guys :-)