Can I retrain 6 yearold cavalier

[Whatwhenhowwhy]

He is super friendly soppy playful loving and funny like all cavaliers and loves all dogs and humans but quite over excited at times. He has a game where he gets a ball stick or whatever waits for you to approach then barks and runs off he loves this game and absolutely will not give the ball/stick back or drop or come when called and when you tell him off or tell him to stay wait or come he runs in the opposite direction.... Always at the end of our walks and Nnoying and embarrassing but he thinks it's the best fun in the world he doesn't drop either doesn't seem to understand this command he's quite good most of the time but when he decides he doesn't want to be he just does his own thing so any tips?

He will sit wait liedown twirl beg kiss etc etc when there's a treat involved at home but has no interest in treats whilst out and would rather play

I used the book total recall. Can you use a longline for now?

My guess is that this playful and fun loving dog has been chased (playfully or not) to catch him, get the ball etc. This is a game - so stop playing it by the same old rules .

Two balls: lots of bring back one ball and swap it for another all through the walk so that bringing it back to you never means losing it. Or one ball ut a surpise new toy in your pocket that you suddenly produce mid walk when he comes back to you. Swap for the ball.

More unpredictability when the walk might end: change you patterns of behaviour so that it is harder for the dog to guess when the walk is over.

Switch the game around: the dog no longer gets followed to clip a lead on, get the ball etc. Now, when you want the dog to come to you, run away, calling him. If he catches you, he gets a throw of the 2nd ball you have in your pocket. If you walk with someone else, then split up and do lots of calling the dog between you - make it a game to run bac and forth between the humans.

This dog sounds like they love playing - so turn coming back to you into a game he cannot resist playing

Thank you that sounds like a good idea will give it a go

We have a cavalier and our puppy class teacher explained how different dogs are motivated by different things - so some Puppies in the group responded well to treats on walks and others were much more excited by toys. It might work to keep a squeaky toy in your pocket and produce it when you want him to listen and come.