Obsession
I took the dogs to a new park today and was excited to see that there was a nice dock. A nice empty dock! I had brought along a toy for Vito and decided to try some dock diving practice. We got in one fun rep.
And then on our 2nd attempt Vito landed right on the toy and it was enough to sink it under the windy waves. :( Moment captured in bluriness....
Saddest Toller. Really Sad Toller. Obsessive Toller.
Luckily Vito did recall back to shore without the toy. Something that just a year or two ago I would have been terrified of Vito spinning in circles in the middle of a lake forver and ever until he drowned. But recall he did. And then immediately went back out. Repeat until I finally got him away and tried to go for a walk.
Will a stick make you happy? Ahh, crazier face! And then right back to looking after having obsessively fetched it.
And then Vito went feral. Well maybe not fully feral, but only semi domesticated. Wanting to range far and looking frantic. Recalling, but still no brain to stick around in his allowed range distance. So we turned back. And eventually needed to be put on leash for our return as now we were headed back in the direction of the lake and his long lost toy.
Sorry buddy.
I've lost one of those toys to the river too- I hate that they don't float (or at least, don't float well or stay floating long). I use one of these toys for Koira at the beach as a "binky". It pretty much just gives her something to do so she doesn't bark at us to entertain her, doesn't jump on us, and doesn't continuously bug any dogs we have with us.