My big mistake was thinking that my new, young, rather wild, Golden would have the same temperment of my previous, 15 year old, disabled dog! I had him at work the first week we owned him and I took him outside, behind the plant, on a long leash. (bad idea)
I sat down on the bench of the picnic table and gently rolled a tennis ball towards him. This young, healthy male took off like a rocket; and I tried to hold him back with the 25 foot leash, to no avail. I was in a panic because there was no fence behind the plant, and the nearest attraction was a school yard (also with no fence and children playing) across the street.
He pulled me right off my feet and into the muddy grass. But, I hung on because I was afraid that I’d lose him if he ran over to see the kids. I brought him inside and signed him up for obedience training a half hour later.
Obedience training was the best investment in a dog that I ever made. And the cleaners fixed up my clothes as good as new.
OK, after the full story I am not laughing with you. That must have been very frightening. I am glad to hear that it worked out in the long run.