I'm no expert, but I'm thinking your dog needs more training sessions instead of exercise. With all that exercise you are building up his muscles and stamina. You are creating a dog that can keep going and going and going...

Training exercises the mind, which (at least in my breed of choice - border collies) is much more "work" for the dog than physical exercise. Maybe instead of just playing ball or frisbee, hide the object and make him find it first before throwing it or tugging it. Or go through obedience routines throwing the ball as a reward (sit, down, stay, etc).

Chris,
Have you considered putting an eye-bolt in the bottom molding of the room where your family settles to watch TV, or read and putting your dog on a short, (he can lie down comfortably) chew-proof, tie-down when you are in that room? He will be contained, you can see him and vice/versa and he can learn that it is good to lie down close to the family. Make that his spot and ween him from the tie-down when he is good with it.

A few suggestions:

Buy him a weighted vest & collar (twice the exercise in half the time)...

http://www.leerburg.com/792.htm

http://www.leerburg.com/798.htm

Practice Ed's Groundwork protocol with him:

http://www.leerburg.com/groundwork.htm

Get a copy of "Cesar's Way" by Cesar Millan, and also "The Dog Listener" by Jan Fennell -- Your dog will calm down <:-)

Already have and do all of that (vest, groundwork and cesar's excellent book).

We already do a couple of training sessions a day. He has to sit or down or stay or come. Sometimes we play hide and seek. Sometimes we play "pickle" with him by tossing the ball between us and letting him run back and forth. Thanks for the other game ideas.

Thank you for all of the advice.

I guess having a cattle dog/husky mix as a first pet was probably not the wisest of choices. There are many GREAT things about my dog though: he doesn't chew, is housetrained, doesn't bark, doesn't beg (well he begs once and we tell him no and then he just lays down hoping we drop something but not harrassing us), walks well on a leash (almost perfect, doesn't always know when i am turning but anticipates stops well and sits), will sit, down and come.

I am just the type of person who wants a great dog.

Hey Chris,
Well having a cattle dog or any high energy dog is not really a bad thing, after all you are doing great ground work with him have been working and getting him a bit calmer and that will just take time. After all you could have a dog that sits in the corner and wants to do pretty much nothing all day long, that will come with age but in the mean time your dog has done you a lot of good, just as I know you have done your dog a lot of good. I myself love these high energy dogs, yes can be some what of a pain but what a good pain to look in the mirror and see all the weight that has fallin off of you, not only have you extended your dogs life but your own as well. So have fun and keep up the good work with your dog. Yes it is a lot of work but know that folks like yourself who rescue these dogs make all dog owners look a bit better in my eyes. After all we take the rejects of the world and give them a new hope for a life that is much better than the one they had. So keep up the good work with him, he will settle with time and of course your good and continued pack leader ship.

Thanks Jay for the advice and the encouragement! I know it is hard work, and will take some time. I have already extended my dogs life by 3 months...just 120-180 more to go. Cesar Milan said we get a certain dog for a reason and I needed this dog to get myself back together exercise wise. Ours really picked us - we initially went to the pound to get an older female small breed (like a Chi or poodle mix).

I can also see why he was a stray and at the pound. Someone probably got him as a puppy and the last time he chased a squirrel out of the yard they didn't bother to look for him. My wife and I are the type of people that a) don't give up and b) want the best.

So in this case his obedience has improved since my first post on the board (thanks to everyone's help). Now I just need to find a way to get him to be calm like he is outside when he is indoors.

edit: Oh yeah, I don't hate my dog and I knew he was high energy when I got him...funny how you can overlook those things though. Wouldn't change it for the world. If I wanted something "easy" I would have gotten a hampster.