Pastimes
Walk
Run
Play keep away
Play
Agility training
Shake
Playing in the snow
Milo loves everybody the moment he sees them, but he doesn't seem to get strongly attached to anyone. He's an equal opportunity dog and perhaps a bit of a narcissist. He's bright eyed and cartoonish in his behavior: he trots instead of running, he'll throw toys for himself to fetch, and he's a loud mouth to any dog regardless of size. The drawback with this boisterous and outgoing fella is that he backs a lot (and loudly!), is a voracious hunter of small creatures (voles, moles, squirrels, rats, etc.), and, if on the hunt, will become aggressive toward anyone who attempts to separate him from his mission (his destiny, really).
Because Milo is so welcoming of strangers, getting him leashed up and out on the sidewalk is effortless. He runs right up the moment the door is opened, sits upon command, and heads on out. He's good about walking at a reasonable pace and is well trained with his leash skills, but he does frequently make stops to sniff things, and he will go absolutely wild at the sight of another dog or skateboard and will attempt to charge toward the offender barking loudly and without succession. When these outbursts occur, picking him up seems to be the only solution. Once in your arms, he stops baring instantly. Also, if it is warm outside of if the walk is particularly long, he will occasionally stop walking completely, lay down, and refuse to move any further. There have been several occasions in which I've needed to carry him the rest of the way back to the house. He's a pup who knows what he wants.
Perhaps because of his unconditional love for everyone and his lack of attachment, Milo is not a candidate for off-leash play unless it is in a fenced environment. He's a fantastic candidate for dog parks, but the moment he's let of the leash in an environment without a barrier he will run to no end. He loves running in huge loops until he tires himself out and suddenly plops down panting.
He's a very good family dog, a fantastic and easy travel companion (in size and disposition), and a fantastic source of amusement. Because of his barking, lack of off-leash skills, and his adamant desire to hunt small creatures, he is should be paid close attention to. For shorter walks on mild days, he's unparalleled.
4 years, 4 months ago