dont matter whats in the dog mate, aslong as it works for you, like you said it looks like a full staff in them pics, maybe its halfx bull patt, but like i said, who cares if the dog does what it wants, and as for the letting off lead, try to keep his attentin abit with a toy or something, then when he starts to wonder off raise it and say his name to get him to look at you he will see the toy and come running, i done it with my staff and still do sometimes to refresh her, her favorits a golf ball, skimming the ground she loves chasing it and its small and quik, shes a pure staff that looks