Ciao Bambinos!

It's been a couple of weeks since the last entry and things at "McEllis Manor" are pretty much back to normal since our trip to Italy. Maximilllian was ably looked after by Grandma Celia (sadly no pictures were taken!!!) and it would appear that he was spoilt rotten, as we suspected he would be. Huge thanks to Grandma Celia for stepping in and looking after our menagerie while we were away.

Daddy, is the footie on now?

Two days before we left for Italy Max had his boy bits removed and, mercifully (for Dad No. 2 who was worrying!), it was a quick, easy and a pretty painless procedure. Our huge thanks go to Aunty Kay, who picked Max up, took him to the vet in Catford (even Max has to slum it sometimes!) and then brought him home to his waiting Dads.

Daddy, I think I'm picking up Radio Moscow...

If you remember back a few entries, Max received a bath but alas Dad No. 2 was not around to record the event.....well, we now have pictures. When out walking, Max likes to find something smelly and rotting and then roll his little body all over it....like his Dad (No. 1), he's dirrrrrrty! 

When I get out of here, I swear you two are getting it!

So now Max is getting regular baths and he HATES it, he's not a happy little puppy at all, but serves him right for being a stinker and rolling around in unquestionable messes and such!

And for my next impression Daddy, I will be a drowned rat!

Max and Les Girls training goes from strength to strength and he's doing really, really well. He still has moments (yesterday immediately springs to mind!) when the 'red mist' descends and he gets so uber excited and just wants to play, play, play with them. However, he gets strict training (when he takes notice of us) and he's doing brilliantly. 

Harriet and Max 'ignoring' each other

Nigella really has taken a huge dislike to him and goes out of her way to seek Max out and goes up to him, spreads her wings out and lunges at him. This is good for Max as it reinforces the fact that the Girls are not to be messed with, they WILL bite back!!! 

Tallulah taunts Maximillian

Harriet also lets Max know that he's not the Boss of her by just ignoring him and practically walking right up to him but not acknowledging him. They own the garden, not Max - as it should be!

Max and the Girls

And with predictability we reach the World Cup....

Dad No. 1 has suddenly become an Oracle of all things footballian (is that a word?!) and so, with this new found 'talent' (I use the word loosely!), he now feels the need to watch the England games and give his critique on each match (yes, it IS as boring as it sounds!). To add insult to injury, Dad No.1 thought it would be nice to buy Max a new toy, but not just any dog toy, oh no, an ENGLAND football dog toy!!!!!!

Max playing with his new toy "Wayne Rooney"....I kid you not!!!

So, not only do we have a very small dog, we now have a very small 'chav' dog and I await the England Team dog coat.....thanks go to Dad No.1 for orchestrating this miraculous transformation!!!

Anyway.....

COME ON ENGLAND!

Contains Nuts (but not for long!)

Now that we are having better weather it has given us the opportunity to spend more time in the garden and up the allotment, although I always seem to find a reasonably good excuse not to go so any hard work on the plot is predominantly that of my Husband, not me, if the truth be told!

Max is always watching.....

Max is, as is a puppy's lot in life, full to the brim with seemingly endless amounts of energy and it doesn't matter the time of day or night, if you show him his tennis ball he WILL play and will long outlast you!

Play. With. Me. NOW. Daddy!

It's crazy the amount of money we have spent on toys/chews/bones, etc, etc but all he can think of is his tennis ball!!!! As well as the allotment, we're now spending much more time in the garden, pottering around and generally beautifying the borders.....and Max likes to "help"....!

Max "helping" to lay turf!

During the winter months the Girls get the run of the entire garden and generally decimate every plant they come into contact with, including the lawn. So, we decided to re-turf the back garden for the summer before the Girls are let out to free range again and Max thought it his right to get stuck in and 'help'. I think even he was happy to have some lawn under his paws as opposed to the 'mud' that was there for the past few months!

Daddy, this Paeony is simply divine!

As I type, Max and Dad No. 1 are busy in the back garden in the marvellous sunshine playing with his tennis ball while the Girls are all sun bathing in their run (apart from Tallulah who wants to be broody!!!). I think I say it every year, but this year I think the garden is going to look super when everything is in bloom!

Max needed to cool down!!!

A week tomorrow Max's Dads are off on holiday to Italy with Aunty Bella and Uncle Muffin for a week of sun and relaxation, so Max will be looked after by Granny Celia (Dad No. 2's Mum) who arrives on Thursday......the very same Thursday that sees Max taken to the vet by Aunty Kay so that his boy bits can be snipped off!

Does my nose look big in this?

Aunty Kay is the lady who brought Max into our lives (Thank you!!!) and used to work for Dad No. 1 at the Zoo. Kay now works for Lewisham Animal Welfare (I think I got that right) and visits Max on a regular basis to see how he's getting on. Only last night Kay and her man, Jim were here for dinner and Max is always very, VERY happy to see her, so much so that he turned into a wee fountain and soaked Kay's leg!!! (the embarrassment!!!)

Camouflage bandana courtesy of Aunty Kay!!!

Max now has a proper little group of friends up the park - Freddy, Buddy, Sol and Stella and they enjoy a good run about and a play when they see each other. Max is the youngest of the group but by the way he carries on you'd think he was the Boss of them....we're going to try "Terrier Racing" in the summer.....Max is like a flash of lightning so we have high hopes for victory...fingers crossed!

Dog and owner at one with each other...or....a rare moment of stillness for Max!!!

I'll try to cram in an update next weekend when Granny Celia is here.....

2010 Election Special

VOTE Max!

The ONLY candidate with the MAX Factor!

Max Meets Nana (and other adventures....)

What a busy time it has been in Puppington World!!!!

Max sticks his tongue out at Dad!

Max has been very busy; not only having adventures, but also “helping” Dad No. 1 in the garden (if you can call trampling over the trays of seedlings helping!!!) and making sure that when in the garden he’s on guard and the hens are being looked after (he lays in the sun and sleeps but he’s definitely guarding them in his mind!).

Max likes to think this is Chicken Guarding

The first adventure since the last chapter was Bath Time. Unfortunately Dad No. 2 was not around when this momentous occasion took place (probably a good thing!) and so no ‘action shots’ were taken, however Dad No. 1 assures me that all went relatively well…..Max got wet and Dad No. 1 got wetter! Max needed a doggy sausage roll afterwards to help him recover from the experience and Dad No. 1 probably needed a Gin & Tonic I should imagine!!!

Post bath time treat

Our little boy is growing up so quickly! He gets walks to the park/cemetery and the allotment and regularly stops, sniffs and has a little pee. However, he has now started cocking his leg. Personally, when you’re the canine version of a Guinea Pig I don’t really see the point, but he does it and does it well and it’s very cute…Daddy is so proud!!! He’s also losing his puppy teeth, not as quickly as he should do or we would like but they’re eventually coming out. Any ‘puppy fangs’ that are still in when he has “the chop” will be taken out at the same time – heaven help us when that happens!

Max perfects his "Death Stare"

The BIG adventure was Cheshire….oh what fun (and mischief!) Max had over the May Bank Holiday weekend with us and Nana Joyce, but not before we all spent 5 hours in the car trying to get there on Friday night, a horrendous journey I have to say! 

Max likes to travel in comfort

First and foremost, he met Miss Penelope Ellis (Penny), Nana Joyce’s gorgeous Jack Russell for whom I have always had a soft spot. Penny is 12 years old and not as sprightly as she once was instead preferring the sedate, quiet life and therefore, I think it came as a bit of a shock when this cheeky black and tan flash appeared and basically turned her world upside down for 3 days. Penny did, however get her own back by playing with Max’s favourite toy and giving him hell when he tried to get it back!

Penny & Max take a break

Whilst in Cheshire we took Stella (one of The Girls) to Sue Feild, a chicken breeder friend who we got Stella from as a fertile egg - you can read more about this story on Hens In The City. Being around a couple of hundred chickens was just too much for Max and he was uber excited to say the least. While we were all having a cup of tea Max wandered around the lounge and didn't notice the danger from behind the sofa and was set upon by a cat. The poor dog yelped and shot across the room, nearly taking Dad No. 2 and his cup of tea with him!

Sue's Gold Laced Orpington Bantams.....I want, I want, I want!!!

A short walk from Nana Joyce’s house is Tilstone Lock (where Nana Joyce was born) which you get to by a lovely walk down by the canal from Bunbury Lock…..Max LOVED it down there, he’s definitely in his element in the country (isn’t any dog?!).

Max & Penny play by the canal (Is that a smile on Max's face?!)

As well as meeting Nana Joyce, Max met Rhys, Dad No.1’s young nephew who couldn’t get over how small Max was and also Uncle Richard and Aunty Kate (the Buckley-Ellis’s). As usual, Max turned on the ‘puppy charm’ and everyone he met fell in love with him, but it was Max’s turn to be captivated when he met Kai, the Italian Spinone! It has to be said, when Max picks them, he picks them well. 

Max thinks he owns Tilstone Lock!

Kai is a gorgeous, huge, fluffy, rough haired, lolloping beauty of a dog who towers over Max - he couldn’t take his eyes off her and when he saw her down the canal on our walk, he shot off and gave her a marvellous greeting, it was very, very cute. Kai lives 2 doors down from Nana Joyce and back at the house Max tried to let himself in to Kai’s house so that he could see her! (Dad No. 2 is wondering how we can fit an Italian Spinone in our house and could it get in and out of the dog flap!).

Max poses for the camera

Max’s next big adventure will be the first week of June when Grandma Celia comes to look after him and the Girls while his Dads go to Italy on holiday with Aunty Bella and Uncle Muffin (who own Max’s friends - Finley the Scottish Terrier and Archie the West Highland Terrier). Max has already met Grandma Celia and she adores him, so I am pretty sure that Max is going to be spoilt rotten and will no doubt get away with murder – note to Grandma Celia……..Be Strict!!

Look Daddy, I can fly!

As previously mentioned, check out Hens In The City to see how the flock are getting on (Dad No. 2 should really think about charging Dad No. 1 for all this advertising – has Max ever been featured in Hens In The City???? Methinks not!).

A gratuitous Big Cock shot!

I hope you’re all enjoying the blog and please keep checking for updates between now and June…..

I am Max, hear me roar

In other news, Dad No. 2 has just bought a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner and is very excited……how sad is that?!?!?!

Green Shoots of Recovery.....

After one of the coldest, harshest winters on record, Spring has most definitely sprung, with South East London enjoying the warmest days of the year so far this last week......it......has......been......glorious! The garden has finally begun to grow and the annual "spot the new growing tips" has commenced....everything has finally 'kicked in' and the rate of growth on a daily basis is always a surprise to me.

Tulips from Amsterdam...(www.crocus.co.uk actually!)

We took Max to the annual Crocus Open Day and he was loved and adored by quite a few people, mostly 'ladies what lunch' types - one woman called him "Maxi-poos"....I was horrified and Max just ignored her! There were a few hundred people there and Max just strutted about like he owned the place (as he does!!!), even trying to put the resident Jack Russell, Spike in his place...methinks our little dog has visions of grandeur that will never be realised but at least he's no shrinking violet! (notice the gardening theme there?!)

Max "lording it" at Crocus

Max was going to be bathed today as he is a little mucky (he is now being referred to as Mr. McStinky) but he has had a reprieve as the weather's not as warm and sunny as we were led to believe today, with a constant threat of more rain (good for the garden, not great for the dog who will just go and get muddy....and drag it through the home!!!)

Max was not feeling himself...

This week Max was also poorly.....we *think* he ate something in the garden that he shouldn't have done or he OD'd on chicken poo (why it's a tasty snack is beyond me!), but whatever it was it made him sick.....Now I know sick isn't the most desirable of things to clear up, the beige porridge-like substance he produced I could deal with but when he vomited bright yellow, watery bile on the white bedding even I was a little shocked!!! His poorly tummy and lethargic behaviour only lasted 24 hours and I am pleased to report that Mr. Puppington McEllis is back to his normal, naughty, wagging self!

Is that chicken poo I see???

On Friday Max is coming with us to Cheshire for the Bank Holiday weekend to visit Nana Joyce.....let's see what trouble he can get himself into with her Jack Russell, Penelope!!!!!!

Miss Penelope Ellis

I'm off to look after my Husband who is experiencing a very bad 'attack' and needs TLC....send him love and get well vibes please

Was there Life before Max???

Two months ago (how time flies when you're picking up poo!!!) a sad little rescue puppy from Sydenham came into our lives. He was a responsibility and obligation I was not  ready to accept and I gave my darling Husband a list of reasons why we couldn't and shouldn't have him - at work all day, the hens, holidays, etc.....the usual stuff.

Max is a proper sun worshipper

There are times, such as 2am this morning (the little bugger!!!!), when he is nothing short of really annoying and I am a stone's throw away from phoning Lewisham Animal Welfare and asking them to take him back, but then I see his furiously wagging tail and those cute puppy eyes staring at me and I melt and I wonder how I even thought I couldn't/wouldn't want him.

Max has a hard life!!!

Don't get me wrong, Max does have times when he is nothing short of naughty and both of us do give him a good ticking off (not that he takes any notice!!!) and I have to remind myself that he is receiving training rather than a telling off....it's all a learning curve for him, after all he's only 6 months old.

Max 'testing' the Girls

With age comes experience and Max is finally (I cannot tell you how relieved I am) toilet trained and is using his dog flap on his own with no guidance/assistance from us, it's all on his own terms now and we couldn't be more happy and proud of him...I would however, prefer it if he didn't use the dog flap around 5:30am and then tap on the bedroom doors from the garden because he thinks we should be up to let him in rather than going back in through the kitchen!!!!

Concentration....

He is also absolutely trustworthy with The Girls now. I 'forgot' the other evening that he was out in the garden and when I remembered I rushed out and found him IN the chicken run with The Girls but not once did he try to harm them. He does get very excited when he wants to but they either ignore him or in Harriet's case, give him a whack on the head with her beak, Max soon learns his lesson. And that's another thing, he's very quick to pick things up and learn, he's a very intelligent little fella!

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz........

So, after maintaining that I didn't want him, that we couldn't and shouldn't have him, I must admit that I wouldn't, couldn't and won't be without him. I am very much in love with Maximillian (except in the early hours of the morning!!). He brings such energy, joy, happiness, unconditional love and the "waggiest" tail ever into our lives and for that I can only be grateful to my Husband for persevering  and knowing deep down that Max was, of course, the right decision.

Husband - Thank You from Both of Us! 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Max Goes On Holiday

The BIGGEST Adventure yet.....

Max arrives in Cornwall

For Easter we arranged to visit the God Children and their parents in Marazion, Cornwall and so on the evening of Thursday 1st April we drove down. Max was fine most of the way although he had a couple of sick moments, probably due to my driving than anything else! We arrived at approximately 10pm and were greeted with much excitement from Heather (God Kids Mum) and Daisy, their dog (Max's new Best Friend!)

Playing on the beach in front of St. Michael's Mount

Good Friday was spent on the beach for the most part, with Max having tons and tons of fun. We weren't sure how he would be with sea and sand as he'd never seen it before but he was brilliant, running here, there and everywhere and falling in the odd rock pool!

Chasing Miss Daisy

He was more than happy on the beach and interacted with other dogs very well indeed, however he only had eyes for Daisy and would chase her and follow her everywhere.....they really did get on well....

Max achieves flight!!!

Most of Max's beach experiences were on Marazion beach which is the location of St. Michael's Mount for those of you that don't know....and also the location of our God Children's Dad's Kite Surfing business. Check it out here http://www.oceanhigh.co.uk/Home.html and why not book a lesson or two.....you know you want to!

Follow the Yellow Brick Road......la la la la

As well as the beach, Max also discovered the woods and a river for the first time too and he again LOVED it....running in the leaves and grass and generally getting very dirty and having tons of fun at the same time!

Looking very cute coming through a hollow tree

He was off the lead for the majority of the holiday and was completely trustworthy, we didn't worry (ok, I did!) that he was going to run off, he was very good. He did decide that everyone he met was going to get a little woof and growl just to show them who's Boss of course.....he thinks he's a German Shepherd!!!

The new Duchy of Cornwall (or so he thinks!!!)

On Easter Saturday we visited Logan's Rock which is on a bay opposite the Minack Theatre on the Atlantic Coast and he was running around the top of the cliffs like he'd always been doing it - a very confident, happy little fella (not that Dad No. 2 was worried or anything!!!).

Us at Logan's Rock

Max will definitely be returning to Cornwall in the future, the God Kids loved him (as did their Mum & Dad) and he got on very well with Daisy.....all in all a fun, adventure-filled, successful holiday and one that will definitely be repeated!!!

The Boys in Cornwall