June, 2008.

I adopted Brando (was Brandon) two months ago (4/20/2008) and find that we are more and more alike every day; the match couldn't be better! He quickly adjusted to his new home (literally in about 20 min.) and has finally found a partner in crime that needs as much exercise and adventure as he does. We have a fairly strict regimen of walking in the morning, running during lunch, hiking in the evening and exploring bigger areas over the weekend. He has found a job too, as a water-boy, during our shorter weekday hikes and lunchtime runs. On longer adventures he simply carries his own food and water - all possible using his new backpack, which he took to immediately and carries with pride. I crate trained him for the first month, while I was at work, and he adjusted to that quickly as well; now I don't latch the crate when I leave but often find him in there anyway when I return for lunch or at the end of the day - this has been a great thing for traveling!

Speaking of that, we recently finished a 4 day road-trip up to Montana then to Utah and back - He travels like a champ and slept nearly the entire time on the road (30+ hrs.)! He is also becoming an accomplished backcountry skier and just took his second trip to Berthoud Pass yesterday (6/10), I think he's already excited for next season. Recently, he was introduced to the wonderful lifestyle of camping, with me and his other favorite person in the world, Rachel. He loved the close quarters of the tent, but is still investigating the strange, invisible barrier to it (a.k.a. the screen door). We have many adventures to come and too many thus far to list here, just realize that this little guy is getting a run for his money and loving every minute of it!

By chance one day, we were taking a quick walk while waiting for the dryer to finish at our local laundry-mat and happened to run into his old trainer & friend Marla from the maxfund champs class; they both recognized each other from about a half block away and the excitement and emotion exhibited between the two was a sure compliment to the care, attention, and devotion maxfund and its volunteers put into their cause. Without their work over his unusually long stay at maxfund, I know that my job and successes as his alpha would have been a much harder endeavor than the reality, which can only be described as joyful and smooth - Thank you!

Around town, he is improving on many fronts. For one, we rarely travel on leash anymore (only in the most busy or distracting areas) as his attention to voice commands is becoming quite reliable. Further, he was once labeled as a hater of other dogs; now he can meet, greet, and move on without aggression or bad attitude about 80% of the time (a percentage that goes up every time he is corrected as he is a quick learner). He is a constant source of both humor and affection, and is finally exploring all of those adventures that maxfund once advertized him to be ready for. And he is.

Thank you all at Maxfund and good luck to all those hoping to find their personal partner in crime, I guarantee there is one there for every type. Ciao.

Justin Tully

Geologist
Anschutz Exploration