I teach my dogs to pay attention to me, all the time, and I do that in part by teaching them that I am not predictable. They have to pay attention to me because I don't always walk in a straight line. I stop, I turn, I turn a right or left corner for no reason, turn around and go in the reverse direction, zig-zag on a little used street, change my mind for no apparent reason, ask them to sit, tell them to wait, etc.
When I stop or change direction, and the dog is not paying attention, the dog goes to the end of the elash and pops herself. At which point, I call her to me, voice full of sympathy: "What happened? are you all right? Come!" and I give my dog a reward for coming directly to me when she I say come. I do this so often that the dog learns to focus on where we are going together: indeed, it is better to be alert because there is no telling what the crazy lady might decide to do. Most dogs learn how to do this after just three stops or changes in direction.
Dogs are smart: they know when they have to pay attention to you. If they can lunge off toward another dog, pulling you along behind them, then they know that they don't have to pay attention to you. But if you gently and repeatedly change directions or stop moving, they learn that they have to pay attention to you.
The other thing I do is operate on the rule that they are never too old for classes: obedience, agility, freestyle (canine dancing), tracking, whatever appeals to you. Don't think that the first six week class is it: you must continue going to classes if you want to train your dog to be the companion you want to walk on a leash. There is nothing like a large novice obedience class for learning to deal with the distractions of other people, other dogs, weird noises, etc. And when you can go and learn something like agility, freestlye, herding, or frisbee or some of the other fun dog sports, you will help your dog burn up so much energy and has so many new things to think about that those old distractions will pale by comparison.
This combination of lots of walks in many different places and lots of classes, at least one a week, keeps my dogs on their toes and eagerly working with me. The great thing about this approach is that you build an incredible bond with each dog, and they are much more interested in you than in anything else.
For whatever you do, you need a collar that enables you to communicate what you want with your dog. No matter what collar you use, you do have to learn how to make it talk to your dog so that the slightest pressure on the leash gives the following information to your dog: be aware--we are about to do something different (go in a different direction, etc.). Whatever collar you decide on, be sure to get good information on how to use it to communicate. You want to communicate without yanking your dog and without your being dragged along behind an out-of-control dog.
And keep your mind on the goal. No making excuses for distractions. Just keep your mind on the idea of your dog walking so easily beside your left leg that you could walk her off lead and s/he would not run off after something. When your dog has eyes and ears for only you, you will have built a remarkable relationship: You’ll be able to do fun things with your dog that you never dreamed you could do.
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