Puppy imagination

Question
Hi Susan,
Thank you in advance for your time. I appreciate it. I have a 6 month old Pomeranian puppy. She is very playful and loves both other people and other dogs. But she has a really funny habit and I want to know if it's normal puppy behavior or something I should worry about (this is my first puppy). She has a schedule of sleep and play times that you could almost set your clock to. Around 3 o'clock she wakes up from her afternoon nap, I take her out for a potty, and then she is full of energy (my husband and I call it her second wind.) She will start playing with her toys, chasing them around... sometimes I will join in, and she gets extra excited. Then, she gets this almost elated look on her face, and she begins to run around the house, making playful growling noises, seemingly chasing something that doesn't exist. She runs as fast as she can, under the table, in between chair legs, using some creative acrobatics in the process. After about 2 minutes of this, she stops, drinks (so fast sometimes that she sneezes and water comes out her nose), and then she lays down, looking at my husband and I, happy and content (almost lie she's saying, ha, i won). Is she playing a pretend game of some sort? Is this normal, or neurotic? It's become such an entertaining ritual- I just want to make sure it's not harmful in any way. Thanks so much!

Answer
Hi Emily, You darling dog sounds charming. This is perfectly normal canine behavior. Our dogs will do it each and every time that they get a bath. Sometimes it is dangerous though, as the dog can crash into things and get hurt. Although she is small, frequent walks at the heel will exercise her body and mind. It is the very best thing we can do for our relationships with our dogs. She will love you for it if you can give her a walk at least once a day (preferably in the morning and at the start of her "second wind").  Enjoy her! Leave me some feedback and a follow-up. I would love to hear how she responds to the training. Warm Regards, Susan