Dear wee Max (short for Maximilian) ... not the ideal start for the little guy with not too much handling, meaning he's been really wary and nervy about everything around him. He's a little sweetie though, and showing more of his personality the more I work with him. He came out of the 2010 Muster in-utero and was born on 4th November 2010 - just 3 days after Camdin!!! I hardly touched him for a couple of weeks when he arrived from a Nth Island handler as he seemed so "out of it" and I sensed he had had enough of humans! I left him to learn my routine and gradually he became curious about me, because I did things different I suppose, in that I didn't try to catch him!
He learned in 2 days that I would withold his favourite bucket of food until he let me touch him - thats all it took, just 2 days, and he was presenting his shoulder or hindquarters for a quick touch, before moving off. I was satisfied with that for now!
As the weeks rolled past I lead him down to the laneway, where he was over the fence from Magee and Bailey. He spent a few days there and on impulse one day I let him through! I had planned to take it slowly, as I was concerned that I might not be able to catch him again, but threw caution to the wind and opened the gateway ... lol ... The risk paid off as we watched the 3 of them run and play around the track, with Max leading the charge!!! Interesting!!! Bailey soon gave up - too much for the old fella - had a roll and left the youngsters to it!
Today (4th June) we are at the stage of draping a towel over his back, neck, and hindquarters, in preparation for a cover coming on. I expected him to freak out, but he didn't, and I was just so pleased at his calmness. He allows me to rub his back legs down to his hocks, and front legs down to the ground and lift for about a second or two before needing it back ... thats ok, for now! And afterwards, he followed me around the track with no lead clipped on, to meet Magee and Bailey on the other side - awesome result!
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