Can't remember if you changed his food, from what to what, and if so, when you did that. Could that have something to do with his energy level? Maybe he needs more protein? Just a thought.

Another thought, how well does he do in the snow? Can he stay out for quite a while, maybe he's staying out too long, getting cold, etc? Is the snow deep where he runs, which would tire him out faster? Not even speculating, just thinking out loud.

It's so great to hear he's happy, though. It could very well be you've done a good job with the exercise and other things and he's just getting tuckered out. He's liking something you've been doing All in all, unless you suspect some medical condition (vet and blood work), he may be coming along just fine.

I'd still like follow-ups Michael, never know when I'll need to implement whatever changes you've made, or conditions you become aware of.

I switched to raw in Dec. and had to switch to THK after a bout of HGE. Now we are moving back to raw. Which brings me to another thing I have been thinking about. First of all he always acts like he is starving, which I know he isn't.(his weight is staying good even with tons of exercise) I wonder if the jumping up and anticipating my every move is him seeing if I am going to get food. I think this because he is doing this with my wife too who never plays with or exercises him, but sometimes feeds him or gives treats. After thinking long and hard I think the "down in the dumps" attitude really started getting worse while he was waiting on me to get food ready in the kitchen. And the whole time he is eating he is hunched over his food with his tail tucked and when he is done he starts this search all over the yard and house like he is looking for more food. I keep talking about the tail being tucked and the ears flat because this is not what he was. He usually has an almost arrogant swagger to him especially since all of the motivational training we have done. I have done alot of work to help him to be confident. I'm giving all this new info because I want everything on the table to make sure that it is behavioral and not nutritional because I for the life of me can't find anything that different in our routine.

He's had blood work done recently that looked great. If it was nutritional wouldn't it show up there? I am kinda starting to doubt my ability to put a diet together to keep him healthy. I have been doing everything by the book on his diet. I do my best to not let this consume me because I know that he can't handle all that undue attention, but I wonder if I might be doing that too. Hopefully none of you will call local authorities and have my dog taken away cause it probably looks like I don't need a dog.

Oh yeah, that pic was in Colorado. We ain't got no snow in Arkansas.

Oh, Arkansas - gotcha

I don't know if blood work would show a nutritional deficiency. I almost doubt it unless they were specifically looking for something in that area - even then? Others may know the answer. Sarah? Connie?

I'm going to stick my neck out here and say if a dog is acting like he's starving, maybe he is missing some key element in his nutrition, something important enough that he stays hungry all the time. I've read different things - if a dog acts like he's hungry all the time it's cause he's not getting enough to eat and when he gets enough he'll calm down; another is certain dogs are hungry all the time and if you feed according to their hunger they'll get fat.

And regarding this: "Hopefully none of you will call local authorities and have my dog taken away cause it probably looks like I don't need a dog." That was a joke right? The concern and care you give your dog is to be admired.

Just one more example referring back to my previous dog Sierra. At one point I was so terribly sad and distressed knowing I would lose her cause of the kidney disease - she still felt well enough to play and chase balls at that time but she became mopey and blue which was a complete change from her happy self. It took me a while to relate her mood to mine (I pretended to be upbeat on the outside - didn't fool her). So I stopped my worrying and her mood changed back. They sense your concern and feel something is wrong but don't know what it is.

I know it seems I'm reaching for straws and maybe I am, but a dog's mood is so tied in to our mood, it's worth considering with your dog.