Hi, there. Well it certainly sounds like you have reason for concerns. If your vet says that jogging is safe, then it probably is. Have you looked into aqua therapy? It places the dog in harness and submerges them up to the shoulder in water. There is a treadmill underneath them, and they do water jogging. Its great because there is zero impact on the joints/spine, while allowing the supporting muscles to grow and develop correctly. It also expends tons of energy. If this isn't an option in your area, you might want to just try swimming if you can find a dog beach in your area.
As for being bored in the apartment, it sounds like you two need some quality bonding time together. I would purchase some kind of "puzzle toys" like kong which dispense food/treats while you are gone. While you are home, simply just sitting with him and stroking him doesn't seem to be what he needs. Think about him as a toddler, needing play/learning time. Take 30 minutes to work on his obedience training every day, but make it a game using treats. Teaching him new words is also very stimulating. Teaching him the words for his paw and nose can be fun for target training, and helpful when you go to the vet. You can also give different names to his different toys and teach him to retrieve them on-call. Then once his brain is throughly exercised take him for the walk. He is likely to be more relaxed, has just had a meaningful bonding experience with you, and is more likely to listen to you and not pull (especially if you take a few small treats with you). As for the harness question, I would definitely go with a head halter like the "Gentle Leader". This would put zero pressure on his spine, and many dogs respond immediately. My brother's goldie would pull him up and down the street until they started using a head halter. It literally worked instantly.
I hope this helps at least a little, and I will keep my ears open for anything else that is helpful.
As for being bored in the apartment, it sounds like you two need some quality bonding time together. I would purchase some kind of "puzzle toys" like kong which dispense food/treats while you are gone. While you are home, simply just sitting with him and stroking him doesn't seem to be what he needs. Think about him as a toddler, needing play/learning time. Take 30 minutes to work on his obedience training every day, but make it a game using treats. Teaching him new words is also very stimulating. Teaching him the words for his paw and nose can be fun for target training, and helpful when you go to the vet. You can also give different names to his different toys and teach him to retrieve them on-call. Then once his brain is throughly exercised take him for the walk. He is likely to be more relaxed, has just had a meaningful bonding experience with you, and is more likely to listen to you and not pull (especially if you take a few small treats with you). As for the harness question, I would definitely go with a head halter like the "Gentle Leader". This would put zero pressure on his spine, and many dogs respond immediately. My brother's goldie would pull him up and down the street until they started using a head halter. It literally worked instantly.
I hope this helps at least a little, and I will keep my ears open for anything else that is helpful.
