I wanted to send you an update as to Max’s progress since we adopted him last January (or he adopted us…I’m unsure which way it truly is). He has adjusted well and seems to love living here on the farm with Silver, Lee and me.  We are quite the little family. He and Silver have their own dog door from wince they can come and go as they desire during daylight hours.  They wear an electronic collar and can run all 3 acres at their will. Max has learned to be a social and nice member of both the human and nonhuman society….(due to much time working with an electronic pager and a 20 foot lead!).  He actually responds much better than Silver at times….(and I don’t think she cares a bit!)

He does have to wear an electronic pager at the doggie play grounds or when I run the two of them on public paths, and allow them to be off lead.  Unfortunately, the little dogs still love to pick on him, and he does not like to back down from a good fight.   (So….I just use the vibration mode of the transmitter, and he responds immediately…this devise is wonderful for a bull headed beast like Max.  It allows him plenty of freedom, and it doesn’t hurt him a bit.  Since I have begun using the pager, he usually listens to my voice better when he is in “I’m going to make you wish you did NOT pick on me you little bastard” mode.)

He no longer initiates trouble like he did when I first met him, however when approached abruptly by man or beast, he does not back down easily.  He still has a jealousy thing going with me, Silver, or Lee, but we don’t allow him to be rude to anyone (human or nonhuman), and even though he does not like it, he will back away and show submission.  (I don’t blame him for his actions, but he is very strong and very powerful, so we continue to watch him closely.)    He seems to love children and is getting better at moving more cautiously around them.

He weighs in at 88.2 pounds now, and is very healthy.  His hind quarters are very strong now, and he can run and jump efficiently.  He continues to improve in his agility, for Silver puts him through his paces daily over hill and dale through the woods and meadows.  He can’t outrun her, but he does keep up better now, and tries to outsmart her by taking short cuts or hiding from her so she comes to look for him, then he springs up and jumps on her in a play like fashion.  He is a giant puppy!

Every day we thank the Gods that Max came into our lives, and we also thank those people (each of you) that played a part in his life before he came to live with us.