Breed Selection- Max Glass

Name: Max Glass

Star sign: Gemini- an intelligent and fun-loving boy

Age: almost 3 years old

Interests: Walks on the beach and time with his family

Best features: Very loving and loyal to his family

Worst features: Does not cope well with unfamiliar situations

When we met Max, both he and his owner Wendy were a nervous wreck!

Max is a Maremma Sheepdog. Maremma's are an Italian livestock guardian dog that were bred to live amongst a flock of goats, sheep or similar and to protect their flock against predatory attack from dogs, foxes, eagles or anything else. They really are an amazing dog, which will happily live within a herd with little contact from people. They are starting to be used extensively around Australia because they are so good at their job as a herd protector.

Max lives with his devoted family in Agnes Water, and was a nervous wreck because his Agnes lifestyle was a long way from the fairly isolated lifestyle he was bred for!

When Max was a puppy, he looked just like a Golden Retriever and his owners fell instantly in love and took him home without knowing too much about his breed. As Max grew up, he became nervous around strangers and fearful in any new situation. His fear was sometimes displayed as aggression, and Max is a big dog and that’s why Wendy was a nervous wreck!

Today, after a course of medication and ALOT of work from Max's family socialising and 'de-sensitizing' him (and I mean a lot- they were very committed and worked hard- I'm impressed, and I'm hard to impress ! ) Max is a much happier boy. He now enjoys his walks on the beach and quality time relaxing at home with his family.

So the message in today’s critter chat is to research your pet before you add them to your family- and choose a pet that is appropriate to your family and lifestyle, because a pet is for life not just for Christmas(sorry, couldn’t help the Cliché).

Max is a truly beloved pet, but Wendy will be the first to admit that its not been the easiest road to get him to where he is today, and even now he’s not a particularly laid back pet. But he is a lovely boy, and Wendy should be proud of the progress they've made together.