Re: swimming & off-lead ?'s

[Gina Heitz <brier@oregonsbest.com>]

Lyn and List,

I agree with Linda very much so on her great advise on this topic in 
general.  Monza is what we refer to as PUPPY FROM HELL!  It's all your 
fault naming him after a fast car though... <VBG>

All kidding aside:  I also would like to add that finding balance is 
important.  These guys are just 6 months old they need lots of free 
exercise, daily controlled but free exercise.   Swimming is great but  can 
you find a pond?  Geeshe as I was reading your tail I was biting my nails 
Monza does Lake Superior!   I see it now on the National News!

  I also understand and agree you need to have control but allowing these 
pup's to have freedom will as well serve you best.  Find an area that is 
safe and let them just run.  Don't call them, wait them out.  Let them run 
off their steam.  A long time ago when I lived in a more urban setting and 
had my first golden Gambler I thought I was going to go nuts with him.  Now 
Gambler was by no means a hyper dog just a active normal puppy.  Where I 
lived we had leash laws and that seamed to be fine till he hit about 6 
months old.  After that, Wonzza,,, I had to find places to take him.  Now 
living in a suburb of San Francisco that was a challenge but I found 
places:  School yards after hours, tennis courts, broke the law at parks, 
<grin> took him to the nude beach.  It was so hard for me to let him go and 
to not call him back but I zipped it up and in a few months (yes a few 
months) he was probably the most reliable dog ever.  But at 6 months I 
thought he was hearing impaired.

The hardest part of finding balance is letting go of some of the 
control.  Never on your training leash but on your long line or Flexi or 
better yet totally off leash.

On the pulling on leash I think I would look into clicker training.  I 
don't think Monza is focusing on you and the tasks at hand.  But also train 
after he's had his run for the day.  When he's 8 years old a leash walk 
might be enough but not at 6 months. :-)

I hope this helps too?

Gina