This might give you a chuckle.
Well, the pups and I went on a bit of a hike today since the weather was nice. Long story short. Echo (my 12.5 year old lab) jumps a pheasant. It sails off and Bella (my 1 year old lab) is in pursuit. I let her go for a couple hundred yards since I really want to encourage the "hunter" instinct. Anyways I call her off at that point. She is flying flat out back to me. Just before she reaches me she looks to the side. Then back towards me just as her nose comes in contact with my knee straight on at full speed. So we have 72#'s conecting with 250#'s. Can you guess the outcome?
We're both on the ground. I think my knee is done for and Bella's crying and bleeding out both nostrils. In short order I figure out I'm OK. In time I am able to get Bella's nose bleed under control. We finish the hike and all I can do is chuckle about it. Whatever possessed her to look to the side while at full speed is beyond me. You got to love the mind of a young lab.
She proved me proud of her today also. When we got back to the parking lot with cars and cyclists going by both pups were at heel. They waited paitiently for their turn to get into the truck. No leash needed. I had their full attention. The early obedience training really helped with Bella (and Echo being there being steady as a rock didn't hurt either).
Here a pic from this last winter of today's hiking partners for reference.
