One in a Maxy-million

Maxy is the perfect example of a maturing puppy settling into his personality – as a 10-month-old, he’s enthusiastic and curious yet well-mannered. Maxy was adopted the day after his day trip, but we still wanted to share how impactful these mini adventures are for the dogs in our care.

One of our goals is to provide an enriching environment for shelter pets while they await their future homes. We use a variety of enrichment tactics, from play yards to in-kennel fun, to help reduce stress in our adoptable pets. Doggy day trips are another enrichment strategy that allows our team and experienced volunteers to give dogs a break from the shelter while learning more about them.

For Maxy, the shelter can feel a little understimulating, which leads to some excited jumping and eagerness to get his energy out. Once he was harnessed, out of the kennel, and into the world, Maxy relaxed into a causal rhythm. Still learning about the world, he braved car rides with increasing ease as our day progressed.

We brought Maxy up to Sloan’s Lake for a fresh air sniff adventure. He wanted to greet everyone he saw, sharing his joy for life. As runners moved past us on the path, he mimicked their trot, leading us to believe he could do well in a home with runners.

Learning the ropes of life, we discovered Maxy could benefit from basic training. We appreciated his effort to understand “sit” throughout the day. He is treat-motivated but selective about his snacks. He said “no” to the extra special dog bakery cookie but chowed down on a lamb tendon and Hill’s Jerky treats!

While “sit” may still be a foreign concept, redirection came naturally to Maxy, even when he was interested in other dogs along the path, squirrels frolicking through the grass, and geese moseying about. His inquisitive style and responsiveness led us to believe he’d make a great adventure companion.

Maxy’s spirit is matched by his bark. While he only shared his voice once on our outing, his deep bellow has the intended effect.

You can’t help but smile while in this sweet boy’s presence. He loves love and is quick to give hugs before asking for belly rubs. Maxy also enjoys a roll in the grass in the middle of your stroll and paw benders from our friends at Good Times!

When we returned to the shelter, Maxy was ready to relax. We are grateful to be able to provide these experiences to our adoptable dogs. The time to decompress, explore, and be the center of attention is beneficial to their overall well-being. Doggy day trips alleviate built-up energy for dogs in our care and give us a better understanding of how a dog may behave in a home.

We wish Maxy a future as bright as his smile and as big as his personality!