Today, after 6 months of stressing over and working on Astro's various issues (resource guarding, terrible loosh leash walking and focus, etc.), I finally got a glimpse of a light at the end of the tunnel. We had an impromptu playdate with one of his favorites, an older Border Collie/Lab who is still a puppy at heart and very willing to play gladiator-style as Astro likes. He walked so well on the leash walk over there, I could've held his leash loop with one finger, and he walked just as well back, which is crazy good considering he's usually only MORE amped up after playdates (even when the other dog is d.on.e. and he should theoretically be tired himself). He even let the other dog share a stick with him!
And now he's laying flat on his side, panting, looking directly up at me with this soft and happy look in his eyes. I now remember why I like pushy, crazy dogs like him....the puppyhood is hell but I'd still rather to bottle up energy than dredge it out, and you get moments like this where you feel like your work has finally paid off