Mine is still energetic. He plays ball every day after work and still chases rabits and runs up to 14 MPH for 2 Miles nearly daily.

Is the howling because the noise hurts his ears - Even shooting a blow gun he will bark any time a "projectile" is pointed. from guns to slingshots to blowguns etc.

He also is starting to bark when you cast a fishing line and run arround sparaticly.