Max is such a gorgeous boy
I do believe dogs are very clever and know when we are under the weather.
Rosie usually races upstairs when I go up but since my op she has waited a walked slowly behind me as I go up.
She has to come up with me cos maybe someone might get me whilst I'm in the bathroom

We got him from a rescue centre, Appledown. Might as well give them a plug - they vet all prospective owners and deserve credit for how they did that.

He was then about a year old according to their vet and we have had him a bit over two years. He was picked up as a stray so we have no history prior to that. In the two years, he has matured nicely and is polite in the company of other people and dogs.

You may have read in my profile that I have an interest in photography. Mostly I take nature, clouds, trees, flowers.......but Max, I think, is quite photogenic so he gets his fair share of attention - and poses on command...........

And maybe a lot more than we give them credit for.

Yesterday we went to the hospital A&E.
Normally Max goes everywhere with us. But hospital isn't one of them. Somehow, he knew he was going to stay home. I don't know how.

Are you recovering well from your op?

I am doing really well, thank you. Much more mobile & less achy now.
I hope you are getting better too. Max is just very clever

Mandy, what was the op for if you don't mind saying?
My recent problem was shingles and now, some weeks after my hospital stay, I have a significant swelling above my left eye which they say is has resulted from the shingles. It isn't going away despite the meds in heavy doses. Dunno.

Yes, i think Max is quite a smart fellow. He learns. Not just from the odd word but what seems like deductions from our human actions/interactions. And we learn from him.

Excellent that you are doing well!
I think I'm getting better but still have terrible fatigue.

Yes, I think Max is a smart fellow.Mostly he goes with us everywhere But he accepts that there are times when he can't.
How he knows..............but he does. No fuss.

The last couple of days have been a bit of a milestone.
I took him on a route where we had to cross two roads.
No lead. The "wait" and "cross" worked just fine.

Next I'll teach him calculus.

The last couple of days have not been comfortable for me. I'm beginning to get a bit concerned that the shingles may be coming back................stuff happens.....

On a positive note, you'all know we quite like our big, hairy, handsome beast, Max the rescue dog. Don't we all? Other than teaching him a few basic commands, he hasn't had structured training.

He is off the lead almost all the time except when in traffic or crossing roads. But he has now got the "wait" and "cross" commands understood - and tested. So now he can be off the lead for that too. Another step in the right direction.

A little tale that might amuse....
My dear wife usually does the early walk at about 07:00. She takes the lead just in case. Max gets his flea drops around the beginning of each month. We take his collar off to do that. Next morning, my wife took him for a stroll - with the lead but minus the collar. Of course I teased her about it when she got back but it's a testament to his good behaviour that it didn't matter.

Further progress.
On our last walk, he had a look at two huge dogs like Huskies on steroids. Their owners, sitting on a low wall shooting the breeze or some other substance, were barely to control them on their short leads.

"Max, let's go" was all it took and we strolled on by.

Here we are with nearly another month gone. And I'm still recovering but it's a slow go. Like digging yourself out of a bottomless pit as I said to one of my relatives.

Onward and upwards.
Early this morning we went to Houghton Hall Park.
Lovely pics but the image hosting isn't cooperating...........
The park has really undergone a transformation in the last couple of years. The dog loves it there and it's a good long walk. Good for all of us.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ho...hrome&ie=UTF-8

Don't know if this will work...........