When the Mills family lost their 17-year-old Terrier, Bailey, in May of 2025, they felt an incredible loss and needed time to heal. In late March of this year, they weren’t sure if they were ready, but they decided to visit Pets Fur People to see smaller dogs—at the very least to get their “puppy fix.” Just as Bailey was mixed in with the larger dogs 16 years ago due to overflow, the puppies were mixed in with the small dogs this time. “That is where Jeff and I found Max, or rather, where he found us,” the Mills share. “We visited with three puppies that day, and Max came directly to us and put his head in my Jeff’s lap.” From that very moment, the Mills knew, and Max became part of the family.

Max is a Great Pyrenees and German Shepherd mix. At three months old, he was 29 pounds. Today, only two months after he joined the Mills family, he weighs 59 pounds. He not only bears the size of a king, but wears a kingly name as well. “When Max walks, he looks like a lion, so we looked up various lion names,” says Mechele. “Our final choices were Simba, Leonidas, and Maximus. We ultimately chose Maximus Decimus Meridius, after the main character in the movie Gladiator. When he gets the zoomies, we call him Mad Max.” Max’s name is a perfect fit. The Mills remember when they watched Gladiator with him for the first time; as the crowd chanted “Maximus” at Russell Crowe, Max Mills stared right at the television, knowing they were chanting his name.

Max is a playful pup, loving to play with any toy or puzzle he gets, but Mechele says he loves sticks, rocks, and ice cubes the most. “He thinks the ice maker in the fridge is a treat dispenser, so he will sit right there and wait for a piece of ice to fall out,” she says. With his size and coat, an ice cube is the perfect way for Max to cool off in the Texas summer heat.

Though he’s only five months old, Max never really had a puppy bark. “He already sounds like a full-grown, giant dog,” Mechele says. “It's quite scary.” But don’t let that scary bark fool you; Max is a big softie. “Max loves everyone, but we have several younger children in our cul-de-sac,” the Mills say. “He always wants to stop by their homes when we go for a walk, even if they aren't outside playing.”

Just as when he listened to the crowd chant his name through the TV, Max loves attention. You can often find the Mills at True Vine on the weekends, where Max basks in the adoration he receives there. If Max could go on any adventure, he’d just want to be where there are lots of children, with Mechele saying he is “naturally drawn to them.” Despite his significant size, booming bark, and regal walk, Maximus Mills isn’t really “Mad Max” at all (zoomies aside). He’s a sweet boy, gentle with children, who joined the Mills family at the perfect time: when they expected him least and needed him most.