Tuesday, December 22, 2009

At six months Maggie has finally learned that the swinging door between the kitchen and dining room is not a barrier for her. It happened one day when we were eating in the dining room. We saw her nose push the door and before we knew it she had joined us in the dining room. She was sooooooo excited! Happily she has been house trained and I can only hope this will continue. She loves roaming around the house and smelling things that are new to her.
On the negative side my freedom has been compromised. Maggie follows me throughout the house and at night she loves to lay in bed with me and watch tv.
It is a struggle to get her off the bed at night and put her downstairs in her crate for the night. We will see whose will is stronger, but I have a feeling I already know the answer to that!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

It's been awhile since writing in this blog. Maggie is approaching the six month mark. She is acting like a big girl, really understanding what is going on around her. We have started to let her roam more freely around the house. I kinda wonder if she is thinking, where did this part of the house come from???

She certainly likes having more freedom and likes to be with us more then sitting in the kitchen by herself. We have not gotten to the point of letting her wonder the house if we are not home. I would be afraid that she might make herself too comfortable and get used to sleeping on someones bed. So I checked on her when things got a little too quiet and discovered her eating my dried flowers in the living room. I can't imagine they tasted good, but she decided that it was her afternoon snack and I had quite a mess to clean up!
So much for giving her some freedom !!!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

We took Maggie to the dog park in Radnor today. I have seen this park for quite some time and decided that Maggie was ready for the socialization and the running that comes with the territory. When we got there Maggie was a little unsure at first but quickly realized that she was free to run and sniff the dogs that were there.
There were a lot of dogs. Most of them were larger breed dogs and full grown. At first Maggie went after the larger dogs but quickly realized she was not the leader so she made her way to a different area that was occupied with smaller dogs. She made friends with one particular dog, a small white one named Dexter that appeared to be a mixed breed. They ended up running around together quite a bit.
I grew tired and sat down on the grass at one point and many different dogs approached me, dropped their tennis or football and waited for me to throw it for them to chase. Well, how can you resist these adorable and playful animals so before I knew it I had a game with two different dogs going on.
We had a nice hour and when we were ready to go I could tell Maggie was disappointed. We then took her to the pet store and bought her treats. I now realize we will have to visit this park on a regular basis

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

So I took the plunge and bought a harness to use when we walk Maggie. She is getting bigger and stronger and tends to pull on the leash. Even though we are in the midst of training Maggie to walk besides us instead of pulling us I decided to give this a try. So this afternoon I took Maggie for a walk. She didn't love the harness but she didn't hate it either. But I did notice she was unable to pull the leash like she has done in the past. It is a little confusing how to place it comfortably onto Maggie, but I hope in time it will become a no brainer.

Friday, November 13, 2009

How can one dog get so dirty? I know stupid question! Maggie was just at the groomers. She came out with a nice haircut and CLEAN fur. Today she spent a good part of the day outside and of course most of that time digging in the dirt (not to mention eating everything in sight). So once again we are faced with the dilemma. Do we give her a bath? She is getting bigger and it is harder to get her to stay in one place as we bathe her. I know dogs don't care if they are clean or not, but it would be so easy to have her shower or bathe by herself once a day like the rest of us humans. Wishful thinking!!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

I was talking with a friend yesterday. We were discussing how much a puppy's life is like a child's. I realized that with Maggie we are out of the baby stage and more into the toddler stage. At five months she has grown tremendously and learned a lot. Her training is going well and she looks to us for direction. A good natured puppy she still gets a little hyper at times (just like a toddler) and has to be reminded to behave properly. But all in all it is hard to believe she has only been with us for three months. It feels like she has always been a part of our lives, and I can't imagine life without her.

Friday, November 6, 2009

I'm really not liking the restrictions put on me for the hidden fence training. And of course since I KNOW Maggie is brilliant I decided to take matters in my own hands. I was sitting in the front yard with Maggie. She had her special collar on and was not on a leash. I was told to give it a couple of weeks before letting her loose, but I nixed that as well. She was doing really good when all of a sudden two dogs passed by our house and she ran right through the hidden fence. The sensation she felt was a slight buzz from the collar, but it didn't seem to phase her at all! I guess she isn't really ready to be on her own.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

OK, so everything is really good and the new Maggie continues to be a pleasure. BUT we had our first lesson with the instructor from the hidden fence company and I think I am more confused then Maggie. He showed me how to train Maggie by taking her up to the flags (which represent the hidden fence) and once Maggie and I hear the noise (and she feels a little tingle on her neck with the special collar) I have to pull back on the leash while saying "back,back, back." This teaches her to recognize the sound as well as the sensation through the collar. I have to take her along the perimeter twice a day for a week. OK, not so bad. What is totally confusing is that in order to take her down the driveway for a walk, we need to remove the special collar, put her walking leash on and either carry her down the driveway or drive her in the car down the driveway. I am told that eventually this will teach her that only when she has the walking leash on she is allowed to bypass the hidden fence barrier. I hope she gets this soon because I am so confused!

Monday, November 2, 2009

MAGGIE'S HOME!!! I was not sure how she would react upon seeing us but she was thrilled!!! She looked bigger, but still jumped into our laps and gave us lots of kisses! The ride home was pleasant, no crying like in the past. Would this be an indication of the new Maggie? The instructor at the puppy school handed us a list of instructions for us to follow. We were told not to worry for the first twenty-four hours in case we screwed up. I admit is was a little worry some, but when we arrived at the house we saw glimpses of the new Maggie. She waited for us to give her commands, she sat when we told her, and if she attempted to chew on our hands the minute we said "no" she actually listened!
What a pleasure. I instantly felt puppy school was worthwhile. We go back next week for a follow up lesson and I am curious to see Maggie's reaction when we return.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

It is now a week since Maggie went to puppy school. The house is very quiet. I keep wondering if she misses us and if she is learning anything from being at school. Can't wait till Sunday when we can pick her up.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Maggie has been in puppy school since Thursday and we are missing her terribly. They had a picture of her on their website and then sent us individual pics as well. She looks healthy but kinda sad. I keep wondering if she thinks we just left her there. I hope she won't be mad at us when we pick her up!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Today's the day. Maggie goes to puppy school. I wasn't sure how I would feel about it, but as the day grew closer I realized it is bitter sweet. A much needed break from getting up so early to walk and feed her, but her presence has changed our lives so much that she will be missed. Hard to believe it will be ten days without Maggie. I worry she will think we have abandoned her. Will she be angry when we come to pick her up after ten days?
Looking ahead there are a few aspects of Maggie's personality that need to be changed. She loves people, which is good, but gets so excited around strangers that she jumps all over them. As she has gotten a little older she has become more independent and therefore does not always listen to us. When she is outside and we call her to come in she looks at us and then turns around as if to say I'm not ready yet. She needs to improve on her walking skills, she is all over the place and will not walk by our side. She also needs to understand it is good to chew on a toy, but not good to chew on one's hand.
Overall I think i was a good decision to sign her up for puppy school and I am hoping the ten days will fly by for all of us!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009


Maggie got another bath yesterday. It wasn't like I really wanted to but after frolicking in the backyard she came in caked in dirt! Her face and all four paws were covered. Lucky for me my daughter was home to help(since this was a two person job) and we lifted her into the laundry room sink. The last time we attempted this she was twelve pounds lighter and significantly smaller. This was a bit of a challenge! But we were successful and after rinsing the dogie shampoo off she looked like a different dog.


Was this our Maggie? With wet matted fur she looked like a skinny and sickly dog. Kinda scary. We thought about using the blow dryer to speed up the drying process, but decided not to scare her anymore then necessary.


For being so cooperative I gave her a new rawhide bone and she spent the next hour chewing it. By the time she finished her fur was almost dry and she looked more like herself again!

Monday, October 19, 2009

We found Maggie's first tick and promptly removed it. I first noticed a small black bump on her head and when I showed it to my daughter she took a closer look and decided it didn't look right. On further scrutiny we determined it was indeed a tick and pulled it off with a pair of needle nose pliers. Maggie didn't seem to notice or care. She hadn't been scratching it so it was a fluke that we even noticed it at all. Of course now we are paying closer attention to her fur and looking through it as much as possible.
Maggie spends some time in the back yard among the bushes and ivy so it is no surprise that she picked up a tick to begin with. But then again when we go for our walks she runs through the bushes and ivy around the neighborhood. I guess it doesn't mater where she picked it up as long as we found it and were able to remove it.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Maggie has reached twenty-five and a half pounds at four months. I was told to double that number to figure out what her adult weight will be. So, she will be a relatively big dog! She got the last of her shots at the vet and this is the first time she became lethargic from them. Maybe it was the rabies shot this time that affected her but your heart goes out to a pup who wants to sleep all day.
While on our daily walk we met Pepper, a three year old goldendoodle. He reminded me of Maggie's siblings so I asked where he was from. Turns out he does come from the same area as Maggie, Brogue, PA and actually from an Amish breeder that I had contacted originally but didn't have any pups available at the time. Lansman!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

So Maggie found not one but two dead mice on our property. I hadn't realized what she was going for except she kept ending up at the same spot. On further scrutiny I noticed something black and squished. Well, I nearly screamed from disgust. I don't like dead animals!! Maggie on the other hand does not seem to mind then and even enjoyed chewing on it for a few seconds.
My question is, if she had been successful in consuming the dead mouse would anything happen to her? Would her cute little body allow her to digest it or would she have thrown it up?
I cringe at the thought of it.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

An interesting thing has happened with Maggie. My daughter was giving her a piece of ice that we use as a treat (yes, she loves ice!) and she told Maggie to sit. She pushed Maggie's butt down while she said it. Well after only a few such incidents when we tell Maggie to sit (even without a treat coming) she will listen. Amazing. Who would have thought it was so easy to train her. It was kinda by accident we found out that we could even train Maggie. In addition, there are a few key words we use that Maggie will recognize. "Treat, hungry, outside and walk" are some of the words she recognizes. With Maggie set to go to puppy school in a few weeks I feel confident that she will be a quick learner.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

We had a little incident yesterday. There was a very big bug in the kitchen. I don't have a fear of bugs, but I simply don't like them. My daughter who was home with me wasn't any help either. I thought about leaving it hoping it would disappear but then I realized that Maggie would eat it. So I put on my brave face and tried to get rid of it. The only problem was that during the process I let out a loud scream which in turn scared Maggie. She went running out of the room right into the back yard. I hadn't realized I had screamed until Maggie came crawling back into the kitchen looking very scared. I tried to console her and let her know I was not mad at her.
I hope I will not have to go through that process again but nobody ever knows. Maybe I will luck out and Maggie will get to the bug before I notice it!!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Although Maggie has gotten a little better with taking a walk, she still had to be coerced at times. We switched to the extend-a-leash and she seems to be doing much better. Maybe she feels she gets more freedom on a longer leash. But whatever the case it seems to work. We have increased the amount of time we are out walking and I have picked streets that are not too busy so she can walk without much limitation. When I ask her if she wants to go for a walk she runs to the laundry room and looks at the shelf where we keep her leash happy to be going out. With a longer walk she comes home exhausted and is ready for a nap. It helps us both. She gets more exercise and when she naps I get more done around the house!

Friday, September 25, 2009

Well it finally happened. Maggie threw up and it was not pleasant. I have been waiting for something like this to happen. Why you ask? Because this dog eats EVERYTHING!!! Whenever she is outside she will eat anything from dirt, rocks, grass dead bugs and on the occasion a live bug if she can catch it!!
I walked into the kitchen and she was sitting calmly on her pillow. I glanced over and thought oh no what does she have now. So on a closer look I realized she was looking confused as she looked at her dinner that had come out of her mouth. Along with her dinner was a piece of paper, some grass and some broom bristles that she had managed to find.
She continued heaving so naturally I took her outside and what did she do proceeded to do? Eat more stuff!! Frustrated I took her back inside. I called my neighbor Robin who has experience with puppies and asked her if she had any suggestion for a dog that was throwing up. Her response....keep her off your carpets! Thanks Robin!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

So Maggie had her second visit to the vets. At 13 weeks she is 20 pounds. She is going to be pretty big. Anyway, on our 15 minute drive in the car she whined the whole time. She was sitting in the middle section of the car, saw me, heard me and if she wanted to she could even touch me, but she still cried the whole drive. She definitely doesn't get the concept of a car, The fact that she can move around and look out the window. I guess I have to drive her more places so she can get used to it.

At the vets we were lucky (or unlucky) to get the same nurse who helped us last visit. Heidi, if you remember from a previous visit was not amused to hear we had considered her name for Maggie. So this time I got smart and didn't open my mouth and I have to admit the nurse was a little more pleasant. So the vet told me because she is now 20 pounds we have to cut her meals to twice a day. I have to increase her morning feedings and slowly decrease the lunchtime ones. I don't think this will be very easy. Maggie loves to eat!!!
After two more shots she was declared to have a clean bill of health and growing nicely. For less them $120 I could have told you the same thing!

Monday, September 21, 2009

So it really is true mailmen do carry dog treats in their bags. While out for a walk today I met our new mailman or should I say mail woman. After introducing myself to Cheryl I introduced Maggie to her as well. I figured it would be a good idea for the Cheryl to get to know Maggie in case she is out in the front yard when the mail is delivered. After the introduction, Cheryl asked if Maggie would like a biscuit. When I replied yes she pulled a milk bone dog biscuit out of her mailbag. Maggie ate it promptly. Well that was it for the walk! Maggie just wanted to follow the Cheryl, her new best friend. Maybe I should have let her and then I could have asked Cheryl to deposit her on the front step when she was finished with her deliveries! Heh, maybe we could arrange something and Maggie could keep her company on a daily basis!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

So we have established that Maggie loves to play with other dogs. My question is if Maggie hears a dog barks she shakes in terror, puts her tail between her legs and darts for the house. Does she not understand that the barking is coming from the same dogs she plays with? When she hears the dogs bark she looks at me with a question in her eyes. Kinda cute! Is she worried I will be afraid as well ,or is she simply confirming the fact that I am still by her side and will protect her? I guess when she is older she will be able to make the associaton between the dogs she plays with and the dogs that bark.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Maggie had her first play date with Shaina and Molly two of my neighbors dogs. They are eight year old bichons and a little tamer then Maggie. We took Maggie for a walk and ended up sitting in their yard for an hour. Shaina was a lot more receptive to Maggie being on her property. Molly was a little more protective and growled if Maggie got too close to her. It was a nice visit and I realized that this is a good outlet for Maggie. She needs to be with her own kind every so often.
Later in the weekend I took Maggie for a walk and met a neighbor walking her dog. Snoopy is two and quite honestly I don't remember what breed she is. But once again Maggie was thrilled to see another dog. It kinda reminds me when my kids were little and we had play dates with other children.There is definitely something to be said for getting together with someone at the same level as you. There is a meeting of the minds!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

This weekend I was sitting on our front porch with Maggie at six in the morning. A pleasant hour just light enough to see but with most people still asleep there was not much activity in the neighborhood. I was reading my book and Maggie (not on a leash) was sniffing around the porch. Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement and to my surprise a small fox came up the front yard. At the same time I noticed this fox Maggie sensed it as well. She looked at it and looked at me. I proceeded to yell, more out of surprise then to scare it away, but my scream did scare it down the front lawn. At the same time I yelled for Maggie to come with me and thankfully she listened and we ran in the front door.
I have spoken to friends in the past and they have told me they have seen foxes in our neighborhood, but I couldn't imagine I would encounter one myself.
I was freaked out about the whole experience and I now have to ask myself if I am prepared to change my lifestyle and not enjoy being outside with Maggie? Will this be a onetime occurrence and if I walk Maggie at night will the same thing happen? When did our neighborhood change and become a place for wild animals to roam?
First thing Monday morning I plan on calling the township and finding out what can be done about this problem.

Friday, September 11, 2009

OK so today it is raining. No, actually it is pouring like a monsoon. Well I was trying to figure out how to handle taking Maggie out in this weather. Although we have had a little rain since she came into our lives it has been awhile since she has seen it and never this bad. So this morning as I took her out, umbrella in hand, she ran to do her stuff and couldn't understand what kept landing on her. She looked around and looked up and still couldn't figure it. Well she finally did her stuff and although I don't think she understands the rain she was more then happy to return to the dry house.
It should be an interesting day!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

I know I keep saying how smart Maggie is and here is another example. At 11 weeks I would like to think she is more then on her way to being house trained. (Although as I write this blog I feel a small regret creeping into the back of my mind. Am I setting her up or an accident today???) But anyway last night I was the first one home and at 10PM took Maggie out. After she peed I opened the door and tried to bring Maggie back in. Well she refused to go and just sat there. I thought for a minute and realized she was probably telling me she was not finished her business. So I walked her around the yard again and sure enough she had more to do!
Now how smart is that!?! If she had verbal skills she would have just told me she was not finished, but I guess in her own way she really did! As much as she is learning about us we are learning about her as well.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

So we are debating between an electric ( hidden) fence versus a basic wooden fence. I can't seem to make up my mind. Everyday I wake up I have a different opinion. Maybe my mind is still stuck in my childhood backyard where a chain link fence was the norm and seemed sufficient for my dog. Most of my friends that have a dog love the electric fence and tell me how freeing it is. One even claims her dog is so fit because he has the ability to run in the yard and if it were not for the fence the dog would not get so much exercise. I do have my second fence company coming out later this week for an estimate. I really was not impressed with the first fence company. The woman that showed up was not prepared for our type of yard and with the area I want the electric fence to cover. She didn't seem to work very hard for my business and left after showing me what the collars look like and promised to send her partner out to talk to me at a later date. We do have time however, because I know the fence can not installed till Maggie is at least 4 months.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Although at times Maggie can be a handful, she is really a lot of fun (not to mention cute!!)

Thursday, September 3, 2009

We've checked out different puppy schools for Maggie. There are many schools out there with many different philosophies. One in particular has caught our interest. The teaching goes in two phases. First they board your dog for 10 days and teach them basic commands as well as socialization etc. This seems to be the standard for most schools. The next step is what has caught our attention. After the 10 day period the owners come in for 5 separate sessions and learn how to deal with the newly trained pup. What I really think is that first the school trains the dogs and then the school trains the people. This is a very interesting process. Their success rate is very high (don't remember what percentage that rate is), but if it works then what the heck!
What I need to find out is if you own the pup that does not graduate then do you get your money back???? Or more importantly if the people who own the pup do not graduate then what happens???

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Maggie had her first visit to the vet. It was a little overwhelming (for me) learning about all the shots and treatments that are good for a pup. She received a shot, a nasal spray and heart worm pill and a flea treatment. I didn't know that flea collars are basically non existent today so I had to apply a gel directly to her skin. The atmosphere was pleasant and I thought Maggie would be a little more nervous. She handled everything pretty well. That includes the rather monotone nurse who was not very kind when I mentioned that her name Heidi had been on our original list of name possibilities for Maggie.
But overall I learned that we are taking care of Maggie pretty well (although we didn't realize she needs to be fed three times a day not two). At 10 weeks she weighs a whopping 13.2 pounds. She will be a large dog. I keep thinking little dog little poop, big dog big poop!

Monday, August 31, 2009

Well we are back from the shore. What a washout of a weekend. It rained, no it poured (more like a monsoon) for two days straight. It was really hard to take Maggie out in the rain every two hours. Hard enough because of the rain but harder because of a stubborn dog. When she doesn't want to do something she just sits down and looks at you as if to say "what are you going to do about it?" You can't help but love her. She is really cute and her personality is emerging and there is definetely a stubborn streak about her. Wonder which side of the family it comes from!?
We sat out with her on our covered front porch and she made a lot of friends. People actually had to talk to us because Maggie is so cute. Who would have thought a conversation could be started based on looks. I thought you weren't suppose to judge a book by its cover!!!
Anyway, we decided Maggie is just too young (or we are too weary) to try to attempt another trip to the shore this season. We have resigned ourselves to staying at home with our fenced in back yard.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

I didn't realize there is a whole other world out there. It is the dog world. When walking Maggie I get stopped constantly to ask what kind of dog she is and to ask her age. When talking with other people who are dog owners, you become engrossed into the "dog world" Nothing else seems as important as comparing notes about your dog, her habits, her traits etc. The rest of the world just disappears! I didn't realize what I had been missing all these years.
We took Maggie down to the shore. I realized that this might not be a good idea because she has just acclimated to her new home, but the summer is almost over so we took advantage of the beautiful weather. So after she peed and pooped in the house I am having second thoughts. This is a lot of work and it might just be easier to have stayed at home.
Tomorrow we will introduce her to the beach. I am curious to see if she will like the sand.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

While doing research for the golden doodle breed I came across an article that said these dogs can be trained to ring a bell on the door which notifies it's owners it needs to go outside to take care of business. Well yesterday I was in this upscale dogie store and this worker asked me my dog's breed. When I told him she was a golden doodle he brought me over to the bells to hang on the door. So of course I bought one. I brought it home and hung it on my back door. The object of these bells is to ring it say the word "outside" to condition your dog to associate the ringing of the bells to the word outside to actually go outside to pee. Well when I rang the bell and said "outside" Maggie just looked at me. Okay, I thought this may take a little while to sink in. So all afternoon I rang the bell said "outside" and took Maggie outside. Well she did pee and occasionally poop, but she views this as a toy rather then a training method. By this morning she was chewing on them (of course).
Well this should be interesting. I do hope she gets it or we will be going out a lot for no reason!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Our first attempt at bathing Maggie was successful. Although it took three family members to bathe the pup, she is now clean and smelling like a baby courtesy of baby shampoo. We bathed her in the laundry tub so needless to say our laundry room looked like a disaster zone filled with water and many towels not to mention how we looked! Although I doubt Maggie will stay clean for long it is a good feeling to be able to say we accomplished this one feat.

Monday, August 24, 2009

We spent our first significant amount of time away from Maggie (not to worry she was in the capable hands of another family member). I found myself thinking about her and wondering if she was looking for me. Or maybe she is too young to really miss someone and just focuses on who is present in her life at that particular moment. Well distance does make the heart grow fonder. I really missed her and even though by the time we got home it was late I wanted to play with her and connect with her!
She did better overnight. We left her in her crate and when I woke at three in the morning I took her out. She peed. I put her right back in the crate and she lasted till six am.
I'm hoping this is the beginning of a routine being established.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Well the weekend is here and we had a lot of family and friends come meet Maggie. The house was pretty full at times and Maggie certainly got a lot of attention. She has definitely acclimated to her surroundings and loves to play fetch with many of her new toys. Her favorite spot is on the front porch first thing in the morning listening to all the new sounds and smelling the dew on the leaves.
The art of training a dog to pee and poop outside is tiring. We try to take her out every two hours and immediately when she wakes from a nap. But of course there is the trial and error phase and a few accidents in the house are expected. Although every dog is different I would love to know what time period we are talking about. If I could just put it in my head that is will take ? weeks or months it would make my life easier. But then again if I wanted my life to be easier I would not have adopted a dog right?!?

Friday, August 21, 2009

Our first full 24 hours with Maggie. As she settles into our home her personality is emerging. She has a playful side and will chase a toy if we throw it. She does not like the collar and we are only putting it on when we take her for a walk. She also does not like to walk. We managed to walk her a total of four house lengths. Hope this will improve as she grows.
We are learning to praise her when she pees and poops outside and learning to reprimand her when she manages to mark the house (she seems to love the kitchen floor!!) But overall we are adjusting to our new life as she adjusts to hers! Her love and devotion can be seen when she looks you in the eye. You can just melt. She is soooo cute!!

Thursday, August 20, 2009


Well Maggie is now home. After a long but pleasant ride to brogue pa. we have brought our bundle of joy home. Meeting Maggie's mother and four remaining brothers (there was a total of 11 pups in this litter) I felt badly for separating Maggie from her family. But I realized if it wasn't our familyadopting maggie it would be another family.

Watching her explore her new surroundings I wonder what is going though her mind. How long will it take to settle in to our home and establish a routine? I wonder if she misses her familiar surroundings?

After sharing my news with friends and acquaintances I opened myself up to some unsolicited advice. Many people thought I was crazy for changing my life. But the true pet lover had only support for me. We talked technique in training, information on veterinarians as well as doggie school locations. Once her shots are updated I even have offers for playgroup!!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

D day, or should I say MD day. As in Maggie the Dog day. Today we pick up our beloved Maggie. One might ask how you can love a dog you have not yet met. Well you will see when I finally post her picture. No she is not Miss America, but she certainly is close.
We assembled the dog crate, filled it with comfy old towels, set aside the chew toy, the treats, and of course the camera. The excitement is mounting. I woke up this morning at 3 am and while I was thrilled to be able to go back to sleep, I kept thinking this is going to change. When I wake agan at this ungodly hour will I find myself checking on maggie? Comforting her, soothing her as she thinks about her parents and siblings? How long before she recognizes that we will be her new family?
Wish me luck!!!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Ok, so we went to pet smart and paid too much for the much needed supplies. Bought a crate, a collar, a leash, some dog food some treats and a much needed chew toy. What I relaized is there is a hugh market for unnecessary "things" for people to buy for their beloved animals. Why does it cost $10 for a chew toy for a mid size dog? It probably cost 10 cents to manufacture. Oh well, I was sucked in like the rest of the population! Why not? doesn't this beautiful animal deserve the better things in life?!?
We haven't picked up maggie yet and are already out over $200. Heh, from what I understand that is just a drop in the bucket.
48 hours and counting!!!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

maggie the dog

I alternate from being very excited to being very scared. What possessed me at this age to consent to getting a dog is beyond my comprehension. Is it the mid life crisis I am entering or is it the fear of the empty nest syndrome that is just around the corner. Whatever the reason I feel I will not change my decision. I am a person of my word (so I like to think) and although it might be a change in my lifestyle it actually might be a good one.
We are entering the countdown to picking maggie up and we have 72 hours left.