Just an FYI for you @Chasaway and anyone that may not know, dogs should not be taken on long monotonous runs before they are at least 18 months old. That is the age where their growth plates are closed and they won't damage their growth patterns or growing bones. Regular dog-type running, chasing ball, squirrels, etc is of course fine. It's the long distance with rarely a pause or change in direction or pace that can cause damage. Also, several friends in the dock diving world tell me that there is a high injury rate with dock diving. You wouldn't think it, but things get stretched, twisted, etc and they find their dogs start getting a little hitch in their giddyup that is easily taken care of with some chiropractic or, if you ask your vet about it they probably call it "VOM" veterinary orthopedic manipulation.
First of all, I don't do long monotonous runs! Mainly, 'cause I can't do 'em. LOL.
We walk if we do anything. The cool thing is that Seamus is better behaved off leash than most of the other dogs in the neighborhood are ON leash. He's terrific at heeling and if he's a long way from me a "Seamus! Stay!" command will drop him to a down position. Then he'll stay there until I release him. I've had him 100 yards away and a car appears to be heading our way and I'll drop him like that.
Re deck diving: Well, I hope I haven't broken him, but he's been running off the deck and swimming since he was 3 months old. I haven't seen any issues, so far.
Swimming and retrieving are far and away his favorite things. All I've got to say is, "Seamus. Do you want to go swimming?" and he goes nuclear! He rings the bell on the door like it'll give him some crack. Once we're out on the deck, he opens the bin where the dummies are and gets one out. When we're through, I tell him, "Put it back!" and he brings the dummy to the bin and drops it in.
If we're going for a walk, I'll say, "Seamus. Do you wanna go for a walk?" and he goes crazy. "Leash, Seamus. Get your leash!", I'll say, and he'll go dig his leash out and bring it to me. Then, he'll sit until I get his leash on him. Usually, I only have him on leash for the first minute or so, to make sure he's still dialed in on following instruction.
The long monotonous thing is no problem. The deck diving he's gonna do. 'course now, he's over 1 1/2 years old.
I love the input, though. He's so eager, I'll work with him on almost anything. Maybe stuff that's not so good for him.
Love ya, Roos!
