Carrie...thanks SO much for the email! I won't be able to read it until Monday when I head back to work, but it will give me something to look forward to when I get there

I am not fond of Flexi leashes either but I mainly use it because it not only looks better to the other residents in my complex (leash laws, you know) but also, that darn dog is hard to see in the morning before the sun rises, and in the evening after the sun sets... I just can't see him...and it's the only way I can keep track of him. Like I said, he will not go to the bathroom while on his regular leather lead.

Graham would never behave this way while on his standard leather lead. He always walks with a loose leash, and would never lunge at anything that crosses his path, but he does look at whatever it is VERY intentlly...until I order him to "Leave It". He knows better then to test me, he is a perfect gentlemen on his standard leather lead...but he is trained not to go potty while on his std. leather lead. I need to be able to trust my dogs, all of them and at all times. I have always been strict (but with a gentle hand) when training, and I don't ever take any bull poo poo from Graham or any dog I have owned. They mind me or else they suffer the conquences. I would never hurt any of my animals, but the training they have gotten has always been very constant and, some might say, strict because I don't let them have their way if it's not what I want...not ever. If I have to train Graham for the rest of his life then so be it...I will keep at this until I can trust him.

Graham does recall perfectly...normally. When he is off lead and hot on the trail of a possible hunt, he gets so obesssed that it will sometimes take 2-3 recalls to get him to finally pay attention to me. The tone in my voice is VERY serious on the 2nd recall because he KNOWS that he is supposed to DROP whatever it is he is doing to come to me when I call...and he is very responsive to me all other times except for when he feels like killing. I always bring treats with me but he is only interested in killing, he will eat the treat, but he's not overly food driven, so he could pretty much care less. And he is even less toy driven. I just usually praise him quite a bit when he comes to me on the first call, give him a small, tasty morsel, and praise, praise, praise. He could care less. He only wants to hunt. I could walk away and leave him and he would not notice I was gone for possibly a half hour. Oh well...I will read what you have to say on Monday and I'll see what I can do about this. If walks have to be a drag for awile because of this training business then so be it. When Graham ran off after that animal last week with Dan, he could have been kicked by a deer, sprayed by a skunk, bitten in his face or eye by a rodent, found by someone who sold him as bait for pit fighters, hit by a car, or found by someone who did not want to give him back, regardless of his ID tags. I am so thankful that Graham decided to come back, otherwise I may have never seen Graham alive again. This just can't happen. I would never forgive myself, because this is a preventable problem, no matter how much more difficult it may be then teaching just basic obedience.

Thank you so much for anything you are able to help me with. That Graham is such an important part of my life and I can't lose him like this. He's my angel and my friend and my protector. I will do everything in my power to see that he will live to be a very ripe old age with me...as my family.