We had Cookie trained on the 'come' command perfectly. No problems, she'd listen and come and knows that it also means that she has to sit down next to me and look up at me.

Then puberty came along and we've to start all over again. And this time it's so much harder to get her to listen. We train every morning and afternoon, and we're getting there slowly but surely.

For me it's important that Cookie follows me. I go bike riding a lot with her. She's on a springer till we reach the country club, than it's off leash and she can run/walk freely. We train to come there as well, and as long as there's no water for her to see, she'll come. Otherwise the seal in her shows up and takes over

This morning we had an encounter with a Great Dane who was on a leash. Since we walk with a group of dogs, all of them are off-leash. One dominant Australian Shepherd went over to check the Dane (just sniffing, nothing else). The owner kicked the male in his stomach and accused the owner of not taking care of her dog and he was going to report her to the police.