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Dear Readers and faithful friends,

After a number of years of wonderful blogging, this blog has effectively become dormant - except for occasional updates regarding my book, MAXDOG. I have left this blog as a legacy to my dog and a place of sanctuary where we can reflect upon his life. Take your time, peruse the pages spanning Max's 18 months in cyberspace. Feel refreshed and uplifted because his story is an amazing one of..."LIVING LIFE TO THE MAX!"
My activities have now moved on to my new blog entitled "LIVING LIFE TO THE MAX". Please join me there where you can read about my family and canine companions. I also invite you to visit MAXDOG's FANPAGE on FACEBOOK. You can follow the specific links by clicking below:

* 'LIVING LIFE TO THE MAX: click HERE
*MAXDOG'S FACEBOOK FAN PAGE: click HERE
* MAXDOG, the book: click HERE

If you would like to follow me on a deeper, spiritual level, then I invite you to visit my more personal blog:

May God bless you and thank you for following me!
MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

MAXDOG's CHRISTMAS TRIBUTE

Monday, September 28, 2009

JUST SNIFFING OUT THINGS AND THINKING.

mmmWOOF!
GREETINGS FROM A SUNNY SOUTH AFRICA!
...and Hello to all my furry friends!
MAXDOG here...

It is a typical Monday. Mom is busy doing all her Mom-tasks around the household. She's emptying out cupboards and throwing things away. The place is chaos, so it's best not to disturb her.

Tammy and I went sniffing in the garden. It really is beautiful outside...although the weaver bird is having some domestic problems! The poor bird built a whole lot of nests (just above where Tammy & I are standing), just to have them ALL stripped by his fussy wife!....WOMEN!!!

Anyway, during Mom's cleaning frenzy, this interesting eight-legged little chap popped out from under her washing machine!.....
(Now guys, don't shriek...look at him carefully and rather allow me to tell you about him!)

He's called a SCORPION spider...and REALLY...quite beautiful!
But what is he REALLY?

Is he a scorpion, or a spider???

Actually, he is a SPIDER!...who pretends to be a scorpion!
He holds his front legs in such a way that it looks like the pinchers of a scorpion.
I find this really facinating! Why does he do that? Can't he just be who he is meant to be?

It's kinda similar to us dogs. Some of us are involved in all sorts of activities, but are we allowed to just be dogs? You know, parents of human childen sometimes say...
CHILDREN DON'T HAVE TIME TO BE CHILDREN ANY MORE!
Is this the case too with some of us dogs?

Anyway, while Mom gets on with her cleaning stuff, I will just have a snooze and ponder that thought!

With all my training over the years,
have I been allowed to simply be a dog?

Lots of licks
MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

28 comments:

Dexter said...

EEEEE! That spider freaked me out!

Sure, there is lots of time to just be a dog and it is important. In fact my momma and master strive to learn from us to enjoy the many pleasures the world has to offer.

Slobbers,
Mango

D.K. Wall said...

We have total fun just being dogs! So much smarter than humans, since we make humans feed us and clean up after us and . . . grins.

♥ Tiffykins ♥ said...

You made mom scream looking at that spider, that is one of the only things she is afraid of! Rumer is nice enough to try and kill the spiders in the house for mom. How big is the scorpion spider? Mom is not so scared of bigger spiders since that aren't as good at being sneaky.

Kali

Angel Tucker, Daisy and Leo said...

Hi Max

Our Mom is glad that spider wasn't under her washer. We think that you can be a well trained dog and still just a dog. You do a good job at it.

Tucker and Daisy

Maxmom said...

Hey there guys
Kali & Rumer wanted to know:
That spider is small...about 4-5cm
MAXDOG

Scout and Freyja said...

Max, with all of your training - that's what dogs do to be dogs. Dogs love to be trained and to have jobs and to help their humans. When we come to visit with you we see a furry happy dog who is furry much loved. So, Max, we think you are a dog that is getting to be a dog in the best way possible.

TwoSpecialWires said...

So, "it's a dog's life." Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Moma says it probly depends on how old the person is who's saying it. Does it mean "it's a cushy life?" Or "things are ruff"? Consider: things are going to the dogs, I'm dog tired, and dog eat dog. Seems to us that those things oughta be maybe avoided.

This is too much thinking. Guess we'll just go "be a dog." That's encouraged around here. And we love it.

(Can't even begin to comment on that spider...ewww!)

Love,
Drowsy Jake and Already Sleeping Fergi xxoo

Jan Mader said...

You can be trained and be a dog too, Max...that's what you are and what you should be. I've got a feeling you live a pretty balanced life! Your mom takes good care of you and wonderful photos too!

You need to talk to Tango. Even though I show him, he's a horse first. That's why he's always dirty!

As for the spider...Y I K E S ! !

Sally Ann and Andy said...

That is s pretty scary looking spider.
Sally Ann

Hero said...

My mom and dad are afraid of spiders and scream like sissy girls whenever they find one. They aren't used to bugs since they grew up in Iceland where there are so few. In the Azores we have a lot of spiders and centipedes, which always has them on edge. That spider of yours looks particularly scary.

I think training is fun mostly because I consider it to be bonding time with my hoomans. Nothing is better than having the undivided attention of your hoomans.

Sierra Rose said...

Woowee! Scorpion spider! Beautiful, but eeeeeeek!
Yes, be a dog...relax, chill, sniff around, play!

Hugs and snaggle-tooth kisses,
Sierra Rose

The Army of Four said...

Hmm. Mom says I act like a cat a lot of the time... and fortunately she finds me MUCH cuter than that s-p-i-d-e-r. That gave Mom the heebie jeebies! Ha roo roo roo - way to go! ;)
Some of the birds here use our Sibe-fluff to line their nests - pretty cool, don't you think?
Play bows,
Zim

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Khanines are soooo furry khlever fur choosing the lives we have!

As fur the spider, Mom and I enjoyed seeing it furry much!

We aren't spooked or freaked by such things so BRING 'EM ON!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Unknown said...

Yikes! We have some scary bugs down here in South Carolina but that spider - yeeeeeee! We did see the resident alligator the other day while out for a walk - he's now about 7' long so I hope he keeps hiding so the Parks people won't move him. For some reason, Mom finds your scorpion spider scarier than our gator!

Ah, life in the wild kingdom!

Your pal,

Petey

P.S. Be sure to check out the golden retriever girl on my post today!

Bumpkin Hill said...

Hi Max, you are a gorgeous chap :) Greetings to South Africa. Hugs, Catherine

Cloud the Wonder Dog said...

Max, that's a very interesting spider. I'm glad you got to spend some time just doing Dog Stuff. We all need that! :-)

Luv,
Cloud

Asta said...

Max
I'm glad you and Tammy wewe able to have a lovely stwool on such a pwetty day.
Despite my silly pawties and viwtooal dwessing and stuff, believe me, I get to be a doggie 100% of the time..Mommi and Daddi wouldn't have it any othew way.I love my walkies and sniffing and wunnigna dn chasing my ball and playing bitey face wif my fwiends and little 1/2 bwuvvew, and of couwse those aftewnoon snoozettes when I too pondew the meaning of life, hehe
I hope that spidew doesn't hust anyone. mommi would have fainted dead away. she's useless awound cweepy cwawlies
smoochie kisses
ASTA

JD and Max said...

Hi Max - eeek, we'e glad that was just a photo! But how fascinating, nature is just amazing! And that was a very deep thought at the end of your post - phew! - we'd need a snooze too if we contemplated a thought like that! We're just little puppies - it's a bit too much for us, he he he! Schnauzer snuggles - JD and Max.

YD, sometimes with ♥June and ♥Angel Samantha said...

Hey there Maxdog,

Some training is good for us doggies. Just like the humans, they need to learn things to keep their minds sharp, the same goes to us doggies.


Sam & June

Samantha ~ Holly and Zac ~ said...

Eeek.... our human doesn't like spiders...they are so creepy. Yours looks like one that would make her yell eeek aswell..hehe

You look very relaxed on that last photo, you look in really deep thought, maybe planning your day?. :-)

Holly & Zac...XX

Clive said...

Hi Max

Great spider - terrified the not-so-little man but his Mom loved him!

I enjoy both my working life and my 'just dog hours' but if I had to chose what I would prefer to do - without question - its working!

The trainers in the Guide Dog centre were only commenting to Mom at the weekend about how much I get from what I do and how content working makes me.

Thanks for the comments on our post today - unfortunately the not-so-little man is terribly 'black and white' about things - one of his autistic traits and his emotions are either always very high or very low. He doesn't do 'neutral' at all which is why I am so beneficial to him - I help calm him, reassure him and generally make him happier when he's upset and suffering from an overdose of emotion.

Take care
Clive

the magic sleigh said...

Wooos! That spider was cool! Are they fun to chase? I like to get things like that around the yard, but Moms get mad at that stuff, I think she gets worried I will get hurt.
I like your idea, dogs should be dogs, we are all here to do just a couple of things, eat , sleep and walkies!
-Kira The BeaWootiful

Two French Bulldogs said...

Hi Max..yikes be careful of that ugly spider. Moms are always doing all kinds of stuff. We snore when she ignores us
BOL
Benny & Lily

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

What interesting things you have to ponder today Max!

Smileys!
Dory

Lorenza said...

Hi, Max!
Poor bird!
That spider is very interesting!
I am happy being just a dog!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Audrey the Photographer Dog said...

Scary spider! My mom would have freaked, but I would have attacked!

Enjoy being a dog! It's the best way to be!

Yas said...

Hi Max, dats a beautiful spider! Mommy and me really enjoy looking at it. Me luv luv luv being a dog, as long as i still have my loving family and furfriends with me!

Cheers,
Maxx

Anya said...

Hi Max
Ooppsss...
A spider yummieeeee
I love spiders :))))
My Mommy not she is afraid for spiders ;(
hugs
Kareltje =^.^=