After a week of strict exercise routine he has calmed down a bit. He will always be a high energy breed and being high caliber it would be impossible to exercise him to his fullest without employing him in some 9-to-5 job but the solid hour and a half total of exercise a day of focused running, jogging and walking has made a marked difference. Another thing I have noticed with his increased exercise his appetite has increased healthily and he is eating more regularly now than he was at the beginning of the board and train.
He is still toiling with placemat and I have decided to use his blanket instead of his bed. His bed is a bit puffy and I think he gets overhot. On his blanket he is more content to lay there and be still though if he gets bored he will start rolling and flopping and entertaining himself.
One thing he has become a champ at is off leash leisure walks. He is never on leash anymore when he is outside unless he is sprinting next to the bike. He enjoys a good romp around the farm but knows to stay close and to come back and "check on us" periodically. He also understands the farm boundaries, that he is never to cross the fence line or enter the woods and he does not break those rules.
Levi is a dog who really tries to do the right thing but sometimes does not understand the question. This can be frustrating to him and sometimes frightening if he doesn't understand why he is in trouble. But once the command is understood he is usually pleased to comply, even if other dogs are not working around him or a kitty decides to rub up against him at that moment.
Tomorrow we are taking his go-home video and his glamour shot for the website. The purpose of the go-home video is clear with this boy because he will be so happy and excited to see his people that the video is necessary to show what the commands look like for him and also to reassure his people that he does understand the commands, just in case he gets a bit ornery at home.
He has been very quiet so far tonight and I am about to give him his last chance to go potty before tucking him into bed.