Dear Max,

You have been in my life now for around 11 years. I don't remember a lot from when my family first got you, but I do remember we had trouble naming you. We were stuck between the name of a coffee brand and the name of the quarterback from my dad's favorite football team- which coincidentally enough was the same name as the first guy who would break my heart years later. Looking back, I'm glad we chose the coffee brand.

From teaching you to respond to your own name to disciplining you each time you pooped in the house, you caused us trouble quite often. You eventually became housebroken and learned a few tricks like "sit" and "paw". However, one thing we never taught you was how to act around other dogs. I am sorry the only decent experience you have had with other dogs has been when you are in the pet hotel. I guess the good thing is that you have always been great with other humans, offering up kisses and a wagging tail in exchange for a few belly rubs, even if you only just met them. Every guest we have brought into our home you have been eager to greet, never failing to jump onto their lap the second they sit down, despite my parent's best efforts to get you out of our guests' faces.

Although we only have a handful of pictures together, we have countless memories. You watched me through middle school, on to high school, and you moved with me 400 miles south. You were there through every good time and every bad time. If my family was arguing, you were there. If I needed a running buddy, you were there. When my sister got a rabbit, you were a little jealous, but you were there. Through every tear and heartbreak you have been here to lay on my lap and you have listened to my rants about how dumb guys are over and over again. Even though I know you probably never understood a word I was saying, I felt as though you were trying to give your support the best way you can, just by keeping me company.

Over the years you have tried to run away multiple times, darting for the door each time there was an open one. This is the one thing I never understood about you. We feed you, give you a shelter, love, take you on walks, and you'd still rather risk getting hit by a car. It's probably just the adventurous side of you though, so I won't hold a grudge.

As you aged, your ears became much more sensitive to loud noises. Every time someone's phone would go off, the dishwasher would beep to start, or the blender would be turned on, you go crazy. You bark and bark and pace around even minutes after the noise ends. The Fourth of July is a guaranteed sleepless night for us because your ears can't take the fireworks and you seem to have mini panic attacks with each burst of light. Nowadays, we have to be careful about letting you jump off of the couch because we can hear you groaning from your aching joints. Every week we have to give you a shot because you developed a severe allergy towards the one thing you are in contact with daily: grass. Basically, you're pretty annoying and a pain in the butt to keep up with, but it's okay. We love you anyway.

If there's one thing age can never take from you, it's your playful personality. I am positive that no matter how old you get, you will never be able to resist the temptation of a squeaky plush toy. You have probably gone through at least 20 of those things in your lifetime.

I know you're probably wondering why we have spoiled you so much over the last few months. We have been feeding you specialty dog food and we bought you two brand new dog beds, one for both rooms you spend most of your time sleeping in. We even bought you clothes. Clothes! You have two sweaters to wear for when it gets cold and you have a short hair cut. You see, Max, we aren't spoiling you. Rather, we are showing you how much you mean to us. We know your last days with us are coming soon, and we want you to live the good life every day until then.

I guess you really are like an old man, Max. You have had many experiences and you have even travelled a little. You've met many people and you've been here for me each and every time I needed you. I was afraid that when I moved away to college you would forget me and treat me like any other new guest, but each time I came home to visit, I knew you knew it was me.

I know I don't let you sleep on my bed, but I hope you know that you are special to me. I am sure I will never meet another dog like you. You may not make it to see me graduate college, but that's okay. You have lived a long and eventful life and I'm glad you've been a part of mine.

Thank you for sticking around all these years, Max.

You're the best four-legged companion I could've ever asked for.