Maximus is a family member, but he and my son Logan have a special relationship. Among Maximus's many other uses he can also be a heated cover, pillow, or bed. Maximus has been socialized well with children. Logan has always had Maximus to wrestle with and to turn to when in need of a furry mattress. Often Logan grabs two fists full of Max’s hair which is a demand to “Lay down so I can use you as a bed.” Max always lies down and soon the two of them are asleep.
One day Logan ( then he was 2YOA) learned how to unlock our front door. We caught him in the act. I told my wife, “Tomorrow we are going to have to do something about that.” That wasn’t soon enough, when I woke early the next morning the front door was open. Maximus, who sleeps in the house, was out. I went to the door and heard Max barking in the distance. My first thought was he had something up a tree. I stepped out onto my front porch and yelled for him to come, but the barking continued. Irritated, I took a breath to yell a second time when it dawned on me. My eyes grew wide as the worry swooped down upon me. I ran off the porch and down the hill through the ten acers of forest and into our front field towards Max's barking. When I found them Maximus was laying down upright with Logan sitting on him as though he was a bench.
Max could barely bark anymore and was relieved to see me. My first impulse was to scold the boy, but I lavished praise on the dog instead. Logan soon realized the praise had nothing to do with him. I scolded Logan, and Max went to his side. Logan grabbed Max around his neck for moral support and we all made our way to the house.
To date Maximus has located eight missing children in wooded areas. He has sniffed out many lost objects and kept me from stepping on snakes. He alerts me to anyone entering our long driveway or anyone in the woods behind our house. He tells me if our horses get loose and of anything out of the ordinary. When training he has always hit hard and bit deep no matter the pressure.
I have seen Max exhibit love and many other wonderful traits beneficial to my family that I didn’t intentionally train for. We have spent a lot of time, energy, and love on Max which has many times paid off. If one will spend time with, training, and love on their animal there will be a positive outcome.
I have no doubt that this dog will defend this boy and all of my children even if it means harm to himself.