Maxwell's a Silver Hammer

Ain't he sweet? He has no idea what is in store for him as we move to a small farm with loads of animals, especially birds, to chase! While only about 7 months, he seems to have reached his "terrible twos" with two dog beds destroyed in as many nights. We're consulting with BIL Ed who has had several dogs to see what are options are. I can't stand letting him sleep without a nice cozy bed! Maybe chain mail?

In the meantime, I've bought him a baby pool, thinking he would welcome it in these 95 degree days. So far he's gotten two paws in and then looked at me like I was crazy! Now what's really crazy is that I got in the pool with him to show him how it's done. Not a pretty sight I'll tell you. On the home front, we are going back with to Doyle for hopefully our last signing off on the removal of the restriction that Paul can run a business from home and that no neighbor will be allowed to place a junkyard on their property. Believe me, this is a community that does not need restrictions on gunfire, but restrictions on junkyards. Home sweet home! Maybe as soon as the next week or two.

Traveling with Maxi!

Last week we went to Greensboro, NC for P and a few other pro/ sponsored shooters to put on an exhibition/ gun range experience for a business called IonBond. IonBond coats gun parts with diamond like carbon using physical vapor deposition (someone correct me if I'm wrong on that!) - as well as many other enterprises.

IonBond has plants all over the world and this week their "big-wigs" came to Greensboro for a several day meeting. We were the entertainment since some IonBond staff don't know exactly how or why the product is such a niche market for precision firearms. Many staff were from Asia, Scandinavian areas, Italy and many other accents I just couldn't place!

The many of these fellas (one girl, but she was 8 months pregnant) had never touched a firearm before. With my gimp foot, I decided I would be the safety officer and keep a watchful eye on these folks with no firearms experience, etc. Everyone did well and had a great time. It was much fun and I hope we have the opportunity to more things like that in the future.

Now, Max. He came with us to G-boro and stayed at a La Quinta (pets stay free!). However, on the shooting day we boarded him at Lucky's Day Spa since he's not quite old enough to be exposed to AR-15's and the like. I admit I was jealous of his spa day until I got a big whiff of the kennel!

A great time was had by all! Thanks, IonBond - let's do it again when I'm not hobbled and let's get some girl shooters. In my opinion, girls learn better from girls - see Babes With Bulllets camp which I attended in 2006. A slumber party! With bullets and gun butter! Who could ask for more.

And Then Like Any Good Dog Parent

..... I drove away from home the said favorite new toy on the top of my car. I even tracked back to see if the ring could be found. Alas, poor dog ring. We knew him well.

At least I still have a giftcard for PetSmart.

6 Months

We've signed up for a companion for Max for hopefully in the fall. Rufnit Kennels has a new litter of beautiful fawn puppies with a female we really liked as a possible companion for Max. However we talked with Shari of Rufnit Kennels abut the timing and how that might affect Max, especially since we'll be moving soon - about the time the new puppy would be ready to arrive. Shari wisely said it would be a lot of upheaval for Max so we are going to wait for another litter - maybe X or Y. Can't wait to see the names for the X and Y pups!

Max is right about 6 months old. He does really well off leash - whistle trained pretty well, but he has a stubborn streak! He continues to start sniffing birds in the air. Hopefully we'll have a few coveys of quail soon to see what he does! He stands about 20 inches and about 30 pounds. And what a face he has! Such a beautiful little fellow! I can't get upset with him when he misbehaves since he is such a cutie, but train him (nicely) we must. I strongly recommend two books - one is called How to Help Gun Dogs Train Themselves by Joan Bailey and the other is The Dog Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training by Paul Owens and Norma Eckroate.

The new house has loads of space for him to romp and play - most cross fenced for horses or cattle but I have a strong feeling that will not contain dear Maxie. I spy digging under fencing in the future! He has an amazing ability to find snakes so we've begun the rattlesnake vaccine process. We'll be fencing in the back yard area so Max has free rein out there. He can romp in the pasture and gun range under supervision!

Who knew I'd come to love this little fellow so much? Superdog! I made one video with the theme to Hong Kong Phooey but can't post it here because of copyright issues, but here is another fun video - enjoy!


For some reason this supposed HD video came out terribly and took me four days to get it to embed. Go to my youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP8RgCe0c1Q for a better quality vid..... Or wait another day or two while I figure it out!

Running Dog!

Max at play in the pasture! He starting to sniff those birds!

Leash play! Max loves to carry his leash in his mouth - go figure!

5 month run

At 5 months! He's a galloping fool off leash! Looks a bit like a rabbit when he runs - back feet together but he is a fast little thing. Little is a but of a euphemism! He is stronger than me - hence the broken foot!

4 months