That's great news - it'll be worth waiting for to see her running free, I'll never forget seeing my dog loose in a garden after I moved to  a smaller house, with a smaller, completly fence in to 6' garden - it was lovely

I used to have a dog who would be on a chain when he was in the garden (this was back in the 80's mind you).  He was NOT chained outside all the time - he would be on his chain if we were outside with him, or for short periods to do whatever he had to do....  Most of the time he was inside with his family.  He had an hour long walk every day (on a flexi lead).

I don't think I'd do it again - I'd work some way of keeping him within a smaller secure area (our garden was 150' long and we couldnt' afford to fence it all in to over 6', which is what he would have needed). However, in the short term, as you've described, I don't have a problem with it - plenty of owners take their dogs (and other animals) caravanning and restrain them with a screw in peg and a length of chain or rope - just make sure the chain itself isn't too heavy, and that the dog is on a swivel connection at both ends, so he doesn't end up strangling himself....

Just to add that shedding of coat and weight loss SHOULDN'T have anything to do with each other, but they may be a symptom of thyroid problems..........

I don't th ink  you need to worry too much about garden ponds, especially at this time of year.  Blue Green Algae is a very particular beastie and very distinctive in appearence. I've tried to find some photos on the net, but none seem to show the real difference between a normal pond and the one with the algae - probably because of the polarising effect of sunlight/reflection  It normally only blooms in the UK after several weeks of no rain and very warm temps (and I don't think we're in that situation at the moment   )

Poor old Max - I hope he's soon making a good (if supported ) recovery.

Greatest Tips For Getting Your Dog To Return To You

Don't keep calling once your dog appears to be ignoring you - your just teaching him to do just that!

Just a thought, I've heard of some puppies who do this, and on investigation find that the owners haven't increased their food ration from what the breeder told them to give their 6 week old pup when they collected it - I'm sure this isn't the case, but thought I ought to mention that a pups food requirements will increase as they get older, and if they don't get it, they will often increase the 'attacks' particularly at the face as this is what they would do to the returning bitch to get her to regurgitate for them.........

Funnily enough I was talking about the same subject to a friend at the Wag and Bone yesterday - so many overweight dogs - particularly Labs and Golden Retreivers, but also the odd Dobe, Weim, Dallie and Collie - the dogs who have distinctive waistlines.

As to wether I would mention it to an owner?  Would depend on how well I knew them (and if I wanted to keep them as friends ).....

I'd be a little concerned about the biting frenzies on the pups own feet and tail - this can be an indication of allergies - dogs are particularly sensitive to the fragrance products we use on our carpets - try and limit use of this kind of stuff if possible.  It can also be caused by an allergy to certain things in his food - what is he being fed at the moment.

Ofcourse - biting anything else that isn't part of his body is typical puppy behaviour, and the best way to discourage it is to say 'Ow!' in a hurt puppy kind of way, and ignore the dog, when he comes to see why you aren't playing - offer him something like a ragger that he can chew and play with WITH YOU!