This is a dog who won't come back but will lie down on command! But sadly, not long enough to get hold of him. This weird behaviour happens every so often and past tactics, like making him jealous by petting other dogs doesn't work any more. He avoids other people and their dogs. Normally he's only too happy to play with other dogs. Nothing appears to spark this behaviour off - suddenly he's a metre away and not coming home. It took two hours to get him back (by ignoring him and then eventually trapping him in a pincer movement in the dunes - this only worked because he was tired).

I'm knackered and just a little bit hacked off.