We took Chase to the park today. I was leery, because I wasn't sure how he'd react to runners, birdwatchers, mountain bikers, and other dogs all at the same time. My dissatisfaction with dog owners who don't control their dogs in the park made the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - I wrote an op-ed piece years ago complaining about a Harlequin Great Dane who jumped on me, nearly knocked me down, and covered me with mud while I was running there. Check it out here: http://www.post-gazette.com/forum/20000205edstewart3.asp I didn't want to be the bad dog owner who disrupted other people's day in the park.
It was a beautiful day - 40 degrees and sunny. We took Chase to the Hot Dog Dam, an off-leash area with a creek running through it and a small pond created by the eponymous dam. On the way from the car to the dam, Chase behaved beautifully, sniffing other dogs but not barking or jumping up on people. We took him into the enclosure and took off his leash.
He had the time of his life. He was the only dog at first, so I left him with Vaughn and did a few miles running. When I returned there were about five other dogs. He was running with and after them - we realized exactly how appropriate the name Chase is.
After Chase had been there almost an hour, the other dogs and their humans left. We knew it was the right time to get Chase back on the leash and go home. Unfortunately, there is a hole in the fence around the off-leash area and Chase used it to chase after some of his new doggie friends. I grabbed the leash and gave chase myself. Fortunately, those dogs' human caught Chase and held him for me. I attached the leash and headed towards the car. As we walked back, Chase calmed down some. When we got home, he ate a big lunch and is now sound asleep on the couch.
At this rate, I'm pretty sure we'll all meet the weight requirements when training camp starts up.
Here's a bad video - taken with my phone, and offering a few close-up views of my thumb. But it's Chase in all his glory.
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