Live Life to the Max

We lost our best buddy a week ago. Only dog people understand the very real trauma of losing a four legged companion. Dogs don’t live long, at least relative to humans, so if you’re going to keep dogs, you’re going to deal with loss. It’s never easy but this time it was extremely difficult. Max was special. I know, all dogs are special but Max was really special;>)

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”– Josh Billings

He was different than all the other dogs we’ve had the pleasure of hanging out with. I can’t really pinpoint exactly why, but he stole our hearts as a puppy and never relinquished them. He was a hellion. An energetic hunting dog, who required a serious amount of exercise and action every day. If he didn’t get it, he wasn’t shy about letting us know how disappointed he was, either.

He was an Epagneul Breton or French Brittany. Here’s the lead in at frenchbrittany.org:

“The moment you bring an Epagneul Breton into your home, life will never be the same. Renowned for their excellence in the field, these “little” dogs will capture your heart with their bright intelligent expressions and joyful nature.”

That was Max, he wasn’t that little however; 62 pounds of rock solid birddog.

A Hunter

He could read our minds and was pretty good at finagling the last piece of pizza crust too. When we hunted birds, it was like he was on a long invisible lead as he worked the field, never getting too far ahead, always looking back to check in. I could signal left or right and he would move in that direction, working quietly and efficiently until he caught the scent of a quail or pheasant.

Then he would go rock solid, statue stiff, before easing in on sight or scent, like a stalking cat. He was so beautiful, his golden, laser focused eyes on the prize. His broad chest, expanding and contracting as he slowed his breathing. He was quite possibly the handsomest dog in the Great Wide World. Max was stubborn though and let me know right off, that he was a pointing dog, a hunter, not a retriever. He preferred birds alive, not dead.

Max trained us well and taught us so many valuable lessons on the nature of life. Here’s a few of the important things Max taught us over the last decade:

A morning walk is a tonic. A magical experience that will improve perception, especially if you do it with a friend.
Be present – live in the moment. When a rabbit breaks from cover, chase it. Raise a glorious sound.
Life’s a lot more fun when you share it with a friend; four legged or two legged.
Love unconditionally – like a dog.
Life’s short. Enjoy it. Follow your heart, indulge your creativity. Be happy.
Patience; if a stubborn, thick-headed hunting dog can’t teach it to you, nothing can.
Sniff out possibilities and never stop exploring.
Biting flies suck, just go back in the house.
Drink plenty of water.
What you eat can make you stronger or it can kill you.

There are other lessons of course but the big one, the one we’re going to take into each day is: “Live Life to The Max.” That’s what he did, everyday. All in, no holding back, fully present in each moment, giving his best effort. Running full speed ahead, claws tearing at the ground, ribs heaving, ears flapping, eyes on the prize, tongue lolling out the side of his mouth. The dog spit and slobber would make foamy white streaks across his snout.

When it was go time, he went as hard as he could, no holding back – he went to the Max. It was the same when he rested. When it was rest time he rested. Naps on the couch in the middle of the day if he wanted. He could sleep for 16 hours in a row without thinking twice. It was the same with everything – He did it to the Max. Sadly, Max left this earthly plane, for the happy hunting ground earlier than most, maybe because he packed more life into less time. We’ll miss him but we’re so thankful to have had him as our best buddy for the short time he had here and we’re thankful for the lessons he taught –