9/13/05

With a low rumbling warning "Woof" Max introduces himself.

I am, as of today, - 7 months, 63.4 lbs., and (apprx) 30" @ the shoulder, neutered male. Yes, I will be a big boy. My mom was a beautiful Golden Retriever and dad a handsome standard Poodle. Guess who I look the most like! Actually, my head and tail are retriever with the remainder of me being poodle - even to a high shine coat that a family friend said "looks like crushed black velvet". For the record I am called a "GoldenDoodle".

My new "parents" received a call over the Labor Day weekend asking if they were still interested in re-homing a doodle. The answer was YES! The wonderful Lady and son that had me since I was 2 months old & 8 lbs lived in a townhome I outgrow very quickly. The decision to re-home me was something that anyone could see was very hard for them. They had done everything for me - basic obedience, all shots, neutering, and (most importantly) love. Maybe they will take the standing invitation to visit whenever and as much as they want. I am adjusting but still miss my previous people.

I can "sit", "down" and "lay". We have some work to do with "stay", leash walking, chewing and nipping. The chewing is due to adult teeth coming in and, like any baby when "teething", I need my gums massaged, however my new Mom would prefer I not chew on the wood furniture. They have a large supply of chew toys & bones - I just prefer wood like sticks, lumber and the more interesting leg of the bed. It does seem to help that I now have a fair size backyard, that with some additional fencing (taller) and a dog door, allows me to now go out anytime to run, jump, chase squirrels (I haven't caught one), play, lay in the grass, and even chew the occasional stick. Also, my new "Dad" is teaching me to play frisbee and to retrieve larger balls. I love the frisbee!! I even race my smaller, older brother to them. Sometimes I even beat him to them.

To introduce the remainder of the family (besides my Dad & Mom) is - Amy the white female 4 lb. 12 yr old poodle mix & Scooter the gray male 14 lb. 4 yr. old shih-tzu. Shown in pic. It seems they just lost their older sister to cancer. She was Lady Wrongway a 14 lb. white Bichon and alpha female. Lady was a "smart" furbaby. She learned anything you wanted to teach in a matter of minutes. Amy requires lots of repetition and Scooter, who seems to learn fairly quickly, is stubborn and only does what he wants, when he wants. But since I came here to live, Scooter seems to want to compete, so now we are both learning!

My size did (& still does at times) cause some problems for Amy but since her nickname is "teeth" she quickly started teaching me to leave her be. But, I still want to play with her! Scooter and I are best buds and chase each other around the house and yard with me grabbing Scooter's tail and Scooter grabbing my ears. Or just seeing who runs fastest while making instant, unexpected turns.

I saw my new vet, Dr. Bell, last week. He was happy to see I was utd on shots, even had a few that weren't really needed. Oh well. At 1st he did not seem happy that Mom had gotten a "designer" pup; that is until he saw my papers and found out that I was re-home (whatever that means). Then he got happier, seems he does vetting service for furbaby rescues. I like him and his staff, they give good belly rubs. I will be visiting them again in Oct. for about a week while Mom and Dad go on a vacation.

Dad & Mom continue to make home improvements and get me things to play with. And Mom wants to take me to a dog park where I can really get a good run. Dad, I think, wants to take me to the beach to see if I like to swim, I like to get in the tub even when there is no water there. I even heard them talking about meeting another nearly year old furbaby, a standard poodle, who is a member of the family of some friends of theirs. Someone MY size to play with, yes!! Hope this happens soon (and that we get along).

Got to go. More later! Big, sloppy, wet washcloth-tongue kisses!!