He then sits by either door with the ball in his mouth waiting for me to open it so he can go out. He never goes out alone.

The first thing he does is check out the fence by the front door. Then he either races out back - usually when I say out back and he tears off to navigate the entire yard on all sides. He may check out the fence along the front road above the retaining wall then head out back.

Once he has checked to see if any deer are next door at A's he either backs and runs back and forth along the fence where the deer are in A's yard. If none there he continues his check and ends up by the road while I feed the birds, etc.
Then he goes inside to eat breakfast.

Charlie doesn't play really. He hunts and guards. But when he goes out around 10am or so he has the ball and he runs around drops it in one of his favorite spots - of which there are a number - backs up for me to pick it up and throw it. But he often grabs it before I can pick it up and he runs around the yard - which is big - and chooses another spot to drop it and waits for me to pick it up or not. I get a lot of walking done when he is in his "lets tease mom mode."

Finally he gets serious and allows me to throw the ball in any direction so that he runs like a crazy dog after it. This goes on for a while... until I ask him if he has to potty. He then looks at me, with his ball in his mouth, as if I am insane thend rops his ball to be thrown. If he is ready to go in and rest or eat - depending on what time it is - he heads for his potty area and does his business. Then he heads for the back stairs, climbs them and waits for me to open the door.
With his ball in his mouth until he gets inside and drops it on the floor. It gets pretty muddy nowadays so I have to clean them.

Never have I had a dog that is so attached to his ball.

Odd thing - if he sees a dog or a deer or cat - he will violently shake his head, growling with the ball in his mouth. I can only think he is venting his frustration at not being able to chase what ever he is seeing.

I then send him home by saying "Home Home." And he goes home usually. Sometimes I have to follow him around the yard - still with his ball inhis mouth - until we get to the front or back door and I tell him home in my Mom's voice and he goes to the door waiting for me to open it and let him in. As soon as he is inside he drops the ball and jumps on my bed. If it is before his meal I then feed him unless he already ate then he gets his mini treats. Followed by a nap.

He is religious in his actions. None of them vary he does the same route of the yard every time we go out. He is a very intense dog.

He is still in bed and tucked under his covers. His head is exposed. It is only 3:45 am so soon he will come to me for his breakfast. We keep early hours. I have coffee - he has breakfast then goes back to bed till 6ish! I either sleep some more or read, check the news etc. Our day starts when I get up, have something to eat, prep bird/squirrel food. Once sun is up we do the bird feeding thing - while he roams off leash. Our Day has begun. Talk about ritualistic behavior - LOLOL!