11/8/08 - Max just left with his new adoptive family.  After a few growls on meeting them,  he was all wiggles and kisses and seemed to know this was his family.  Tom, Suzette.and their daughter Emily all got to walk Max and spend some time with him before they all left for home.  Tom and Max immediately bonded - but Max has always liked men better.  They are a great family and Max will have a wonderful new life with lots of attention and exercise.  It's very quiet here now without him. I miss Max but I'm sure my cats are quite happy he's gone.
 

11/4/08 - Max is pending adoption

 

10/22/08 - Maxie  had surgery to remove his lump last Friday and everything went well.  The biopsy showed the growth was benign but definitely something hat needed to be removed.  The staples will be removed in about a week and Max will be ready to go.  Have I mentioned what a sweet boy he is? and what a lovebug?  He likes to sleep on my husband's lap in the evening. Just what everyone wants a 70 + lb. lap dog.   Max is completely housetrained.  He had a couple of accidents in the house when he first arrived and wasn't feeling well but no problems since.  He is not a counter surfer and doesn't get into the garbage - except once in a while to retrieve a broken toy I am trying to throw away.   He does well in the crate most of the time but doesn't like to be crated when we are home.  However, whenever  my granddaughter is visiting he has to stay in the crate.  Max tends to want to dominate small children or animals and tries to climb on top of them.  He is quite overwhelming for a  little girl.  He wll need a lot of patience,  exercise, training and supervision to be around small children.   He is a good boy but also a big, exuberant puppy.  At night he sleeps in my bedroom on a dog pillow on the floor.  He is fine sleeping there and this keeps him  away from my cats.   So far he has not been invited onto the bed.   I'm still reinforcing my pack leadership.
Maxie-million  is looking for a person or family who will give him lots of attention and exercise.  In return he'll share lots of wiggles and kisses  - just stay out of range of his tail.   He'll also warm your lap on the cold winter nights. 

10/9/08 - Max has been back with us for almost 3 weeks now.  He  spent about 2 weeks at another foster home when my husband and I had to make an unplanned trip to Florida.  Our thanks go to his other foster mom for the excellent care he received and for helping out on short notice.   Max can be a handful at times but he is also just a big goofy puppy.

Max - Maxie or Maxie-million - is readjusting to my home.  He is probably one boxer in a million with his gorgeous flashy markings and a tail.  I had been advised to clear the coffee tables and wear shin guards in order to survive the tail but it isn't that bad.   Maxie is not a super excitable boxer so it is just a matter of staying out of reach of his tail.  However, he does  think it is his duty to chase any small creature that moves - cats,  small children,  spiders,  mice.  I don't think he wants to harm them - he just wants to play.  And it is really funny to see a 70 lb. boxer trying to chase a spider.  I am trying to teach him not to chase but it is a continuous process.  Maxie can be a very strong and stubborn boy.  He does know most of the commands - stay,  off,  leave it,  down,  come,  no,  sit  - but is selective about when he follows them.  He tends to want to be dominant so I have to constantly reinforce my pack leadership with him.  He walks nicely on a leash as long as I am in control - with his collar high on his  neck and kept close to my side.   I also have to be constantly aware of distractions so I can correct him before he takes off. 

Maxie is starting to learn to play.  My husband has been teaching him to fetch a frisbee.  Maxie had no problem chasing the frisbee - he just needed to learn to pick it up and bring it back.  He is now picking up more of the dog toys in the house and bringing them to me for play.  He is also eating more treats - he actually likes peanut butter and dog biscuits.   He will quickly head for his crate whenever I say "crate time" because he knows he will get a dog bone stuffed with peanut butter and a couple Wellness dog treats.  No more pushing Maxie into the crate!!! 

Maxie has a couple medical issues that are being taken care of.  His stomach problems are better and he is eating well - 6 cups a day- and has regained the weight he had lost.  On the last trip to the vet he weighed 70 1/2 lbs..  Unfortunately,  he was there because he was scratching his neck, face and ears almost raw.  The vet treated him for sarcoptic mange and he is doing better.  The other problem is a large growth - maybe a cyst - on his face and that will be removed on Friday.

Max is ready for his forever home.  He needs strong leadership to remain under control and balanced but he is a sweet boy.  He will be a wonderful addition to the life of some lucky person or family.   He loves to cuddle and loves to get on the furniture - I've sent a picture of him enjoying the recliner.  He even would like to sleep  in your lap except I have to tell him he is too big to be my lap dog.   Are you the person or family for Max?  Get you application in quickly!
 

9/13/08 - Max continues to be a very sweet boy but he is big and still very much a puppy.  I do not think he should be in a home with small children since he was not good with my granddaughter, Maggie this week.   He just wanted to play with her but he plays rough and was quite overwhelming for Maggie.  With proper training , enough exercise, and a child old enough to establish pack leadership,  I think Max would be fine.  
On a more positive note, Max walks very nicely on a leash - he doesn't pull at all.  He seems to know commands - sit,  stay, come, down, off - but will only do them for a treat.    We have been working on sitting and staying at the door before going out or coming in.  Pushing a 60 + lb boxer into a sitting position was a challenge - treats worked much better.   I don't think Max trusts us enough yet to follow commands without a treat -   or he is just very stubborn.  I could see Max becoming a dominant dog without a strong pack leader.  He does come when called and stays around fairly well when off leash.  He is not a big fan of the crate and will whine for a while when he is first put into it but eventually settles down.  He has gotten much better about going in on his own.  at first I would have to push him in - even with a treat inside - (not the easiest pushing a 60+ lb dog into a crate) but now he will follow the treat into it  on his own.  As far as treats, Max is a little picky.  He doesn't like dog biscuits or peanut butter but loves cheese and Wellness soft dog treats.  Unfortunately because of his stomach problems he can't have cheese right now.  He is also on a diet of bland (low fat) wet food - boiled chicken and rice at the moment.   His stomach problems seem to be getting better but he still on several medications.
Seems Max enjoys the good things - he has found my Lazy Boy recliner is the perfect place to sleep.  We are trying to discourage him from getting on the furniture without being invited but have spoiled him slightly because he's been sick.
Max will probably be moving to a new foster home this weekend.   He really needs a higher energy household than mine.   Also,  I've had to make an unplanned trip to Florida this week for family reasons and my husband may have to join me there soon - leaving no one to care for Max.
The perfect home for Max would be with a person or family who could match his energy level   Older children and another large dog Max could play with would be perfect.   He gets along with other dogs but he plays rough.   If  you think you are that family get you applications in,  because Max is a very handsome and loving  boy.
 

9/11/08 - Max has not been feeling well the last few days but is now doing better.  It only took a couple trips to the vet and some medicine to turn things around. He is now almost back to his old self.  He was very good at the vets and allowed them to poke and probe without even a whimper.  He weighed in at 64 1/2 lbs. so he has lost some weight - probably because he hadn't been eating or drinking very much.  I will update more later.
 

9/6/08 - Max arrived here Thursday after a long trip from Manhattan in the Mayor's Alliance van.  A trip made even longer when the van had a flat tire that had to be repaired.  Max is a big and very handsome flashy fawn boy.  He has gorgeous white markings - a white muzzle, forehead blaze, chest, neck ring and feet.  He is also somewhat unusual because of his long tail with an adorable white tip.  Never having a boxer with a tail, we are still getting used to it,  At least Max is not as excitable as some boxers so it is working out alright.

 

Introductions to my boxer Ellie, my son's boxer Candy and my 4 cats have gone well.  Max has not been aggressive with any of them but because of his size he can be a little overpowering.  He is curious about the cats and will chase them if they run but he just wants to play. However, he is a powerful dog so it would be best if he were in a home without cats.  Max has not played with many toys yet -  except briefly with a rawhide bone.  We haven't been able to get him to play fetch but he loves to run and chase other dogs.  Ellie doesn't play but he loved chasing Candy this weekend at our cottage.  I would have to say his favorite toy was Candy.  I've sent pictures from the beach.  Max loved the water!

 

Max has also been very good with my 20 month old granddaughter.  But because of his size and the tail he would need close supervision around young children.

 

Max is a very sweet boy.  Get your applications in for this boy.  He'll find a forever home very quickly - he's a beauty.