I checked in early and hated most of the pictures. I took a quart of dill pickles to our neighbors tonight and my buddy Max (50:50 pitbull:german shepherd) gave me a very luke-warm reception. He barked and jumped around letting everyone know WHO is at the door, but generally he runs out as soon as the door is opened and has to bring me back something to throw within a second or two. If I threw everything Max has brought to me, I would need rotator-cuff surgery and perhaps a shoulder replacement. Tonight he came out and rubbed against my legs and let me scruff up his head, but then he wanted to be in someplace really dark and cool.
It seems that he has gotten sensitive to some environmental triggers (his current vet says that he is allergic to all mites of any kind, which sounds stupid to me) and I think Max needs a better doc. I love that dog, and I don't want to see him losing weight, with rough, irritated skin, etc.
If anybody has suggestions, wing 'em in! Thanks.