Poor behaviour.....Is it my fault???

BT, firstly it's not you ,Alfie is trying it on !! ,and he's been with you long enough to work out what he can get away with ,training is a constant curve , yes the training lead is a good thing 

you will soon have him understanding you again

You'll probably need a couple of years Brian, a nine month old dog is still very young. Use the lead and try again in a spaces where you wont lose him. He'll gradually get the message. 

We have two dogs, a very obedient mongrel and a terrier who, when she picks up a scent is oblivious to any recalls, She is on a long lead nearly all the time now because she has also become deaf in her old age.

Hope all goes well.

A nine month old dog is the equivalent in human years to a 15 year old lad

That should help explain

You've made a brilliant start with him so just keep going

Agree with HD,  don't think it's your fault Brian, Alfie is still a young dog and training is on going. We used a long training lead and found it worked well. Our Collie's recall is good, but  if he spots a squirrel before we do, he chooses not to hear us.  Am sure you are doing all the right things,  hope it goes well.

I think it's just a question of perseverance, Brian.  Lizzie is our first dog and it took us absolutely ages to start with.  She's still not good at some things, but I know that is down to us.  The worst thing about her is that she has 'separation syndrome'.  We can't leave her at home alone, she gets very stressed and sweats so much from her paws that the bottom half of her legs can be soaking wet.  I think it's partly the breed.  She's good at coming back if she's off her lead, but even so, very rarely strays far from our side.

David 

don't be too hard on yourself, its a dog and furthermore its now a stroppy teenager (as someone earlier mentioned) ALL dogs are capable of none compliance given the right scenario. Try having a cocker even my so called trained gundog has moments of deafness .

my dog never disobeys a command said no man ever.

get out to him pop a lead on frog march him quietly but firmly back to were you gave the recall command, give the recall command again and give the lead a slight jerk, give the command again. Take the lead off but not before telling him to wait or stay whichever your command is, back away from him five yards (if you can) then recall he should recall so give lots of praise and treat with food or his favourite toy. If he legs it when you take lead off get after him rinse and repeat.

Ps

udo you have a release command that you use to tell him to go play if not get one, the dog must know he is only off lead playing because you let him.

Brian - I am by no means an expert since Meg, our Cockapoo, is my first dog.  However, what I will say is that in this last six months, I have noticed a dramatic change in her behaviour.  She is just coming up to three and whilst she has been reasonably well behaved, she was still 'having her moments'.  She has been coming back on the whistle (most times!!) since she was about 4 months old - but there were other times when she was 'as mad as a box of frogs' - presumably the spaniel bit of her breeding! - and I was getting so frustrated and blaming myself for not being able to exercise proper control. As I said - this last six months have seen a noticeable change in her behaviour and I would say that she obeys my commands for 99% of the time - whilst still maintaining that playful behaviour.  (I hate to see dogs that are 'over-trained' and have had all their spirit taken out of them). She knows that when I say "Meg - here" in a certain tone of voice - there is no room for argument and she comes back straightaway and I am sure that given time, Alfie will develop in the same way.

Keep going Brian it certainly not your faul. Alfie is now getting to an age where he is trying to push the boundaries. Just keep training him as you have done and he will come out the other side. Scooby our 2 year old Labradoodle is still full if mischief and still pushes the boundaries. We still maintain our consistancy with her telling her what is not acceptible. She knows full well she is being naughty and she does it on purpose lol

BT, it is you. Not from any mistake but from Human nature. You are justifiably proud of Him, you took your eye of the ball. You thought He was trained, He ain't. You never stop training a Dog, it's just that after a while it only takes reminders as opposed to full on training. It's in a Dogs nature to push the boundaries, with maturity you click, He will understand & accept the rules. I had a Retriever who was the most intelligent Dog i've had. It took 2yrs solid training to get Her to act as I wanted. After that it was top ups, She was adorable. Good idea Mucker-back to basics. Don't take Him for granted

Thank you all for your varied and most interesting replies. I have taken on board differing points from all of you, it's so reassuring to have different views that are positive and constructive without being patronising.....Again, to me, this is what CT is all about.

Yes, Alfie is now a stroppy teenager, what threw me was the fact that at home and in the garden his behaviour was, and still is, very good. I think this is where I've taken him for granted, I've accepted his good behaviour as beng normal and not rewarded him for it, in doing so I've made myself less fun for him to be with, which has led to him looking elsewhere for his fun when out and off lead. This lack of reward has been corrected by me over the last two days... I now keep a bag of treats in my pocket all the time and reward him constantly for his efforts. Mrs bt said to me that my attitude to Alfie over the last two days has changed back to how it was when he was a young pup. I thanked her for telling me, not realising how I had been taking Alfie for granted... Alfie must have noticed that as well, hence his non  response off lead.....That was my first lesson learnt, one I won't forget.....