My 6 year old Choc is a perfect lady despite her field background -- she hasn't been 'out of training' since she was 10 weeks old. And my 16 month old Black will get there . . . eventually. She already has her CGC and is in training for hunting retriever. She'll start agility in a few weeks.
Both of them were pups in a wide-open environment -- the Choc in an outdoor paddock with a 'manger' for shelter, the Black on 40 acres of fenced property. Outside in all weathers with their moms and littermates. When the Black came to us (from Wisconsin), she had the fullest, plushest, heaviest coat you can imagine. She lost that pretty quickly in GA!
Either one of them would have been a disaster for somebody who wasn't willing to put in the time to train. But right now both of them are sacked out on the study carpet like a couple of dog rugs . . . although the Black has one eye open to see if I'm going to do anything fun . . . .
My daughter did agility and obedience with her dog and then left him with us when she went off to college. As he got older he really preferred just hanging out in the house. He lives with her now in TN, and really prefers to stay indoors - especially if there is snow on the ground!
My dog likes to go out and run, either by himself in the backyard or with my younger daughter. We have to be careful to not let him do too much because he gets very sore. He's twelve and the vet says that too much activity aggravates his joints.
We are waiting on a litter of aussies to get a pup for my younger daughter - things are going to get pretty lively here!
LOL