We got a border collie from a rehoming centre about 5 years ago. At first, he couldn't be put on a lead and walked properly, he would scramble about but now he's a lot better. Anyway, I just have a few minor problems and I was wondering if anyone here would be able to help:

1. When he sees another dog, he will lie on the floor from quite a distance away and refuse to get up. I've tried breaking his stare (putting my hands infront of his eyes), trying to distract him with doggie treats, trying to pull him in the opposite direction etc all to no avail. He sees the dog, lies down and if I pull the lead, he will let himself literally be dragged. Still refusing to get up.

2. He won't come back if we let him off the lead. After a couple of instances where he ran miles away we decided to build it up slowly. Firstly taking him on a long walk then letting him off to come to us from short distances away (with doggie treats - although if he's outside he doesn't care about them). We gradually build it up to bigger distances. Then one day even after he was tired out from a long walk we let him off and he ran away. Again. And we had to spend hours looking for him. He was too tired to run far and only ended up in a neighbours garden. Since then we've never let him off for fear he'll get himself run over.

3. He pulls really hard on his lead. We were told to get a 'gentle leader' which tightens slightly around his mouth if he pulls too hard. And although he is much much improved with this, he's still a big puller. If I'm jogging with him, he'll still pull really hard regardless of the gentle leader. And I do feel a bit sorry for him because a couple of times its rubbed a little hard and around his mouth has been a bit inflammed.

My dad took him to dog training classes but because the dog couldn't calm down, they basically asked him to separate him from the other dogs into another room. After weeks of classes there still wasn't any difference in his behaviour. Anyway, just wondering if anyone had any good advice?