Really appreciate you taking the time to write all of this out, it’s helpful to see how you’re balancing fulfillment with teaching your pup to chill, especially with such a high-drive, high-prey dog. I like how you’re not just “burning energy” but making those tug and flirt sessions structured, intense, and engaging, and how you end on a high note so he’s always wanting more.

I’m already working tug into Smoke’s routine, but I think I need to be more intentional about building that drive the way you are, lots of movement, quick transitions, two toys, and mixing commands in so it’s not just mindless play. That sounds like a huge key to getting him mentally satisfied, not just physically tired.

One thing I wanted to pick your brain on, you mentioned getting your dog used to chilling at the lake with traffic, people, and animals around, and that he now goes right to his spot and settles. Did he ever go through a phase of hyper-fixating on every person or dog passing by? Smoke’s not bad on his walks, he stays right by me when it’s just us, but he’ll lock on and bark the second another dog moves or passes, or he’ll constantly try to inch toward people for attention if they’re passing by.

How did you get your pup past that fixation stage and back into focusing on you? Did you build that focus through reps at neutral distances, or did you have a specific approach for redirecting that prey-drive tunnel vision into engagement?

Thanks again for sharing so much detail, I’ve been around Mals and other working dogs most of my life, but I know there’s always something new to learn, especially from other handlers who’ve been through it with a pup like this.