[flyballmom]

Well,hey, it sounds like Teazle had a WONDERFUL time! Seriously tho, 9 months is awfully young to expect an off-leash dog in the woods to not run amuck. The sights! The smells! Things that YOU may not even see or hear...I do tons of hiking here in the summer-my dogs are on leash (a Flexi works great for hiking) until I am as sure as I can be that 1.) my dog will stay relatively close, and that 2.) they have a reliable recall. With Charleigh (Rott) that happened when she was around 2. With Omen (Pit)...well, if he went chasing after something in the mountains I'm pretty sure he wouldn't come back. He's almost 3. He may NEVER hike off leash. Oh yeah, my guys LOVE to swim, and when we hike, I let them. And they DO get filthy. I carry an old towel and some water in the car for a quick clean up.