7 Dog Years Later

Well a year has gone by since Ol' Max posed for the top picture. The bottom picture was taken yesterday afternoon about 5 pm or so. Max looks no worse for wear, but he has certainly slowed down a lot since those purple flowers last bloomed. He still gets just as excited to go to the cabin, but it takes him a lot longer to run in than it used too. About a year ago I stopped letting him out at the first gate and started waiting till we got to the second gate, to cut down on the distance he'd have/get  to run and to keep him from having/getting to run up the steep hill-which incidentally is a lot steeper since the road washed out last summer. He also now needs a K9 "ramp assist" to get in the Tahoe or truck instead of just jumping up there like he did in his younger days (back when he was 10). I have to hold him back from jumping out until I get the ramp in place or I'm afraid he'd hurt his shoulder joints from the jar when his 105 pounds hits the ground all at once.
Since he recently turned 11, I decided to not let him in on any of this for fear he might think he's getting old and as a result start acting like it. So far, we've both managed to stave off anything that resembles that; at least anymore than we have to.
As for Old Max E. Pad....I'll keep you posted.