Max

My story

Max was discovered alone, on a remote road on the Navajo reservation at about 8 weeks of age. The great folks at RezRoads Rescue took him in and he was then transferred to BLC. He is now 8 months old and will likely grow to 85-90 lbs as an adult. Temperament/Personality: Max had a DNA test through Embark that determined he was about 50% Great Pyrenees and 16% Labrador Retriever, and it shows in his temperament. The Labrador Retriever genetics plays strongly in both his appearance and personality. Generally, he is very laid back and easy going, although being a youngster he also can be extremely playful, energetic, and rambunctious. He is completely unaffected by loud noises, such as thunder and fireworks. Max has no issues walking amongst a crowd of people or other dogs on leashes. He’s a little shy with strangers but warms up quickly. Max LOVES his people and trusts them completely. He wants to be engaged with his person or people as much as possible whether it’s playing, an activity, or just hanging out together. He’ll follow you around while you vacuum or work in the yard, he’d like to shop with you at Home Depot and yes, even provide any needed moral support while in the bathroom. His favorite place to sleep is on the bed and positioned to use his person’s leg as a pillow. There are ‘dog people’ who will make a blanket statement that these general behaviors constitute resource guarding, but that is not the case. He will gladly hand over anything in his mouth and does not care about other people or animals being close to you. The fact is he just wants to be with his people. He also loves playing with his dog pals and as a youngster this has been an important component of his mental stimulation. Health: Max is super healthy. He gets daily exercise which includes long off-leash treks in the desert where he does a lot of running around, sniffing, and gets to be a dog, as well as formal leash walks around town where he behaves like a gentleman. His daily diet includes a raw meal, raw chicken necks for a snack, and a raw beef neck bone to chew on. Max is the ultimate foodie and loves to eat whatever is in front of his face. He does not drink city tap water. With the science showing that sex hormones play a far more significant role in development, longevity, and overall health than previously understood, Max has not been neutered but has had a vasectomy. The goal is to find him a home that appreciates and supports this aspect about him. The health report from Max’s DNA testing indicates he has inherited one copy of a variant at the ATP7B gene that increases his risk for developing Copper Toxicosis, which is the accumulation of copper in the liver due to difficulty excreting it. This is strongly associated with Labrador Retrievers and explains the breed’s predisposition to copper-associated hepatitis. One copy of the variant presents a moderate risk level which should be manageable with diet. He is not fed any food with added copper, or food naturally high in copper. His pre-vasectomy lab work in September reflects normal liver health markers. His ALT level, which would start showing high as a first indicator of potential copper toxicity in the liver, tested at a very normal level. Periodic lab work to evaluate his liver health would be prudent. Max has been vaccinated for parvovirus, distemper, and hepatitis with vaccines made by NeoTech. He was also titer tested for parvovirus and distemper and he has appropriate antibody levels to prevent contracting the disease. He has not received a rabies vaccination. He has tested negative for heartworm antigen as well as the tick-borne diseases of Ehrlichia, Lyme, and Anaplasma. He has not been treated with flea or tick medications and has never worn a flea collar or been given anti-parasitical medications. He is given a daily MSM supplement that keeps his intestinal tract clean from parasites. He is microchipped. Obedience/Manners Max is a pleaser and learns quickly so teaching him obedience and general good manners has been easy. There’s no counter surfing, no resource guarding, and no interfering with other dogs while they’re eating. When a door or gate is opened, he knows to stay until he’s released to go through it. He knows the following commands: sit, stay, down, come, heel, place, walk, right, left, back, leave it, sit pretty, and up. Max uses the doggie door to go to and from the yard as he pleases. Max’s Wish List Max would like to be adopted by a family who is seasoned in raising dogs and has experience with juveniles. His family will be clear about how they advocate for their dogs. He would like to accompany his family on as many outings as possible and he would prefer another young dog in the family to be a play mate. Application Process Please send an email to bigluckclub@gmail.com if you have any questions or to introduce yourself and describe why you are interested in Max and may be a good fit for him. The application process may include completing an online application, discussion by phone, a scheduled meeting, references checked, and home check. There is no timeline or urgency for finding his family.

If you have any questions or would like to adopt Max, please reach out to the adoption group directly. PetSmart Charities does not facilitate the adoption process. Thank you.