Hello

Max (previously Palomo) and I were in Sioux Falls on Sunday visiting family. Im pretty sure Max knew he was Max and not Palomo before we got back to Omaha the night I adopted him. Of course the interstate takes us right past your place, and I said Max stop and wave at your old home. But, Im sorry to say Max was too busy playing with my Mom and sister in the back seat to take the time to waive!

When I took Max home no one really knew what to expect, because his previous family had not left any information on him. We had a few rough moments as he marked his territory in the house. But its been a good month now since Max has had any issues. After about three weeks Max started to get very nervous around men. The vet said the best thing to do was take him around men more often. A little difficult to do, when your owner isnt dating anyone!

Max has been groomed, and acquired several toys and treats. He loves to watch TV with me and chew his rawhide bone. He would chew them until they were gone if I let him. When alone with me in the car Max goes in his doggy seatbelt, and we are relearning to walk on a leash. Max gets a little over excited about walks now that he knows what they are!

Max knows Im Mom, but shows my roommate Vanessa the same love and respect since shes the nice lady who walks and feeds him some days! Max still cant understand and probably never will understand that Vanessas cat Byron is never going to play with him! But my guess is that Max will never quit trying to be friends with Byron!

Max hates to be left alone in the backyard and if you leave him he will whine like no tomorrow. This has made house training easy! We go outside I say hurry up and he goes and wants right back inside. We have to play the hurry up game three times in a row so that he will actually finish going to the bathroom. Max likes to hold it for the walks he goes on. It actually took my roommate and I good month to convince him to do #2 in our yard instead of on his walk! Bummer for us as we missed out daily walk for a few days during this learning process!

Max loves other dogs of all shapes and sizes, and loves to talk to the neighbor dog Woody through the fence! Maybe if it would ever stop raining we could make it back to the dog park!

A few weeks ago he even had his first run in with the scream of a very hungry 4 week old baby! Im pretty sure he liked the smell of her much more than he liked the noise she made!

We have been to Primghar to visit my Uncle, cousins and Grandparents, and Max did great! Max got his first taste of people food since moving in with me while visiting Grandpa at the care center. The nurses and aides were shocked that Friday night when my Grandpa accepted the homemade Monster cookie he was offered, always trying to watch his figure! Well after a few minutes we realized that Grandpa got the cookie to share with Max. Max was in love! I was so proud of Max for not being afraid of the wheel chair, and sitting so nicely on Grandpas lap so that Grandpa could pet him!

My Uncles dog wasnt too sure of Max at first, but once she realized that Max would play with her they were best of buds! The second night there Cloe actually slept in the room on the floor next to Max kennel.

My parents came to visit from Casper WY this weekend, and so we had our first overnight guests in the house with Max. Max went to a softball game, and got to stay out of his kennel with my Dad for a few extra hours while I was at work! I think Max misses his new friends because he is still sitting at the bathroom door looking for them.

Yes, I said the bathroom door! When Max has met people they seem to not come in the front door but out the bathroom door due to the fact that I take Max outside and the visitors at our house will be coming out of the bathroom when Max gets back inside! I can say to him wheres Dick (my dad) and he goes and sits at the bathroom door!

After our trip to Sioux Falls Max has now met my whole extended family and their pets. Molly the 10 year old, 30 pound Yorkie was not a fan of Max, but loved to share his treats! Oh well, Molly doesnt like many people!

Well the short e-mail that I was going to send to tell you how happy Max is turned into a book!

Maxs next adventure will be to go to a little obedience training, and hopefully learn some tricks to show Grandpa at Christmas! We need to earn those treats!

My hope is that every time we head to Sioux Falls Max doesnt remember your building! Thanks for suggesting him to me when I was searching.

If I ever win the lottery Im going to have doggy DNA done on Max! Im just dying to know what kind of mix he is!

Thanks so much!

Mandy Garrod