Maggie has a new bed!

We've finally found a bed Maggie likes - - the "Plush Sleep-ezz". Oh geez!

To ease her into this bed we put her towels on top, but the minute she stepped on it she knew something was different. She hasn't woken up since ;-)

While she's been enjoying her new bed (ie, sleeping) we quickly ordered two more beds (one for our bedroom, and one for Michigan). We're glad to have this task accomplished.

Maggie's doing great. Her skin and coat are much healthier thanks to her diet and supplements. Her coat has become shiny.

Steve has been clear from the beginning - - no doggy clothes. BUT, he didn't say that she couldn't have seasonal collars and leashes, so . . . ;-) Maggie's currently wearing her spring "Groovy Girl Collar and Leash" http://www.walkewoo.com/item.asp?ItemID=45 Steve thinks it's too pink. I think it looks adorable! Her fall apparel - a Chicago Bears collar and leash - has already been purchased. We're even.

Maggie met some of her cousins this past week (Jordan, Katie, Rachel, and Nick). They gave the newest member of our family a warm welcome and the word "cute" was used a lot during the visit. Maggie was on her best behavior and entertained her cousins by getting up to go outside and "get busy". . . and she did it with four pairs of eyes watching thru the blinds. Good girl!

Well, it's time to wake up Maggie for her last turn-out so we can get to sleep.

Well, it's March 22nd and we have like 6-8" of snow in the yard again. We're tired of it, but Maggie loves it. Last night she was probably the most playful yet, running around the yard. She even wagged her tail a few times - I'm sure by accident. She still likes to play it cool with her parents.

Here's a pic of Maggie and one of the bones we got her last week. We're giving them to her in short stints, since it upset her stomach last weekend, but she really loves them and it keeps her occupied with something.

After she finishes a tasty treat, Maggie likes to lick her paws and do her own hair. She's done this a few times but we've never had the camera handy to capture it. Last night we finally got a shot of the Maggie-do. Basically she gets drunk off of the bone and thinks this is a good look.

Of course 99% of the time Maggie likes to catch some Z's. As she becomes more comfortable with us and the house she's really sprawling out...

Last Sunday we took her to the school yard again, and this time let her off of her leash briefly to see what she'd do. There was one other dog there, a friendly Mastiff playing ball. Maggie wasn't too in to the ball or the Mastiff. She wasn't really scared, but just disinterested. She had a little fun with us though. We walked and ran around the park, and she stuck right next to us all of the time. People who see her with us comment on how well trained she is - if they only knew she just came this way!

She's gotten really good with knowing when it's her time to go out, she gets up for the door. And if we're just going in or out for something, she knows it's not for her and doesn't rush the door. She's also gotten good at knowing when to go upstairs for bed. She's a very smart dog. Today we're going to teach her Sudoku.

Well, it's official - Maggie now knows "Get busy!" means to get up and head for the door. Three times yesterday she did this, so it wasn't a one-time fluke. She still doesn't get it when she's upstairs, but eliminating just one place where we had to stand her up and pick her up is great. Actually, I think when she's upstairs she knows what we want - but she's really not a morning dog so she just doesn't want to move. I can't blame her.

Possibly even more amazing than her standing up, was that she wanted to play in the yard. Maggie has played in the yard by herself before, when we had a bunch of snow. At that time I tried to play with her then by running around the yard. It didn't go well. She put her ears back, tail down, looked at me like I was insane and ran to the door.

Yesterday, she ran up to me with her front paws down, butt in the air and ears up - lunging, jumping, running around. I thought I'd go with it and we've discovered a new game. Maggie now loves to play tag in the yard. The game is this - Maggie wants to get up on the deck, and I chase her around as she tries to get around me to the deck. She's pretty fast when she wants to be. Once she gets up there, she comes back down to the yard for another round.

This is a HUGE step for her to play with us. What a difference a day makes! We can't wait to see what surprises she springs on us today.

Speaking of things changing quickly with Maggie - today was the first day she got up on her own from her spot to go outside! Frankly, she surprised the crap out of me when I unlocked the door and then she was standing there next to me. Let's hope this is a new pattern and not just a fluke.


Maggie was great at her nail trip. We no longer here her claws on the ground, so we've made some progress in shortening them. On the way there, she really seemed to enjoy the car ride. I didn't think to bring our regular camera, but I was able to snap these with my phone.


We got her some raw bones at the pet store today too. I think we found Mag's new favorite treat. Her mom was a little grossed about by the raw meat, but she'll get used to it. I think Maggie won her over when the bone slipped off of her towel onto the floor - Maggie quickly grabbed it and put it back on her towel and made sure it didn't hit the floor again. The bones are great though, since she still doesn't play with anything, it gives her something to do.

It's been a while since we've posted some photos. Here are a couple Kat took a few days ago. The snow is almost gone now, so Maggie is getting a feel for an actual yard instead of just a pathway.

Maggie is still great on the leash and we've been going for some longer walks now that it's above freezing. Several people have stopped us to mention how adorable her "prance" is. Miss Maggie is very prim and proper while out for a walk, and likes to avoid getting her paws dirty at all costs - something that makes her mom very proud!

She's learning so quickly, it's hard for us to keep up on her latest progress - we've learned we have to exchange notes often on the latest hurdle she's overcome. She still won't come into the house on her own, but now once she's in we can point either to her spot on this level or point toward the stairs and she'll go to the right place. Sure beats carrying her around everywhere!

Today we're going for another paw-dicure to keep up our progress in taming the claws.

Stairs = DONE!

Maggie has mastered going down the stairs. Steve and I are so proud of her. Our backs thank her.

We conquered this challenge by putting Maggie down a few steps from the bottom and gradually worked our way up to the top. Now she's a pro.

We'll continue to work on "UP" and doorways.

ONE MONTH AND COUNTING!!!!

Just one month ago today we adopted Maggie. Our lives have changed a lot in a short period of time - - all for the better. Last Saturday Steve and I went out to a nice three hour dinner. When it was over we realized we had spent 2 hours and 50 minutes talking about Maggie. The other ten minutes were dedicated to politics. Can you say "Yuppy Puppy Parents"?

When we researched rescue dogs we knew some of the challenges we may face - - resistance to potty training, aggressive behavior, destructive behavior, etc.

Maggie's biggest challenges are doorways, getting up, and stairs (she's made big progress on the house stairs this week!). We could put a pizza on the coffee table and leave the house without her even getting up to take a peek or a sniff. Maggie was potty trained in a day. When we go to bed at night I leave my slippers on the floor between our bed and hers and she's never even glanced at them. We love to spoil Maggie, but in the end she has spoiled us. She has made the transition to doggy-parenthood very, very easy for us.

Inside the house Maggie has a "comfort spot" on each level that she won't move from unless we physically pick her up. Our basement remodel was completed this week so we took her down there to explore. She kept looking at us like, "Where did this come from?" On her second visit to the basement she found her "comfort spot" - - right in the middle of the sectional looking at us (Maggie doesn't like anyone to be behind her). Adorable!

In time we hope that Maggie will feel comfortable enough to get up and explore the house on her own. We long for the day we come home to a wagging tail. Maybe one day she'll come up to us to be petted. But, we have to remember that it's only been 30 days and given how good she is we don't have the right to ask for anything more.

We think everything Maggie does is adorable, and as each of you meet her we know you'll think the same - - or we'll cease all ties with you ;-) No, seriously.

In this blog I thought I'd share some Maggie-isms . . .

- Maggie likes to nap with one ear in her water bowl. It weirds us out, but considering the conditions she came from it's probably a step up for her. It's pretty funny when she wakes up in a sleepy-haze with one ear soaking wet.

- Maggie doesn't like the mean dog that is often tied up outside of Starbucks. Steve and I don't like the owners of the mean dog that is often tied up outside of Starbucks.

- In general, Maggie doesn't like ill-behaved dogs. She's watches "The Dog Whisperer" with a disgusted look on her face.

- Everywhere we go someone wants to correct us about Maggie's breed. She's a Labradoodle. She's not a Wolfhound (people - they're like 10 feet tall). She's not part Terrier. She's not XYZ. The Labs and the Poodles were also rescued from the puppy mill (our friends adopted the Labs). It doesn't really matter what she is, she's adorable in our book.

- Maggie's not a morning dog. She prefers the weekend when she can sleep in. We find ourselves laying in bed on Saturday and Sunday mornings waiting for Maggie to wake up. Since she's a light sleeper we've developed hand signals to communicate things like, "Don't breathe so loud or you'll wake her up!"

- She clearly likes yoga and is the queen of Downward-Facing-Dog.

- Maggie likes to be brushed, but does not like to have the "sleep" under her eye removed.

- Maggie is her cutest when she brushes her own hair with her front paws. It looks like she stuck her tail in an outlet.

- Maggie loves her sleep. Maybe a little too much (and for those of you who know how much I love to sleep you know that is a bold statement from me). Yesterday she nodded off while eating her breakfast and her head landed in her bowl. We're not sure how much she sleeps during the night (her clock may be reversed). She didn't sleep much when we first adopted her, but now she really stretches out and sleeps - - a lot.

MY tail is between MY legs.

Just two days ago I called my sweet Maggie a faker and a diva. I take it back. Maggie has mastered the deck stairs (all five of them!). Up and down, up and down, up and down. It's exhausting to watch. She's on her own agenda when it comes to the stairs - - she won't go down or come up when we ask (and we ask VERY politely). It's another sign of progress and it gives us hope that one day she'll walk down the steps in the house. Our backs hope that day is soon.

Today was a fun day for Maggie. After her breakfast we went to Kriser's to get her nails trimmed (Jacqueline did a wonderful job!), and to pick out some more treats. Maggie was a big hit with the staff and other customers at Kriser's. We literally had to fend off one woman who kept asking how she could adopt Maggie. Exhausted by her fan-base, Maggie needed a nap before a walk to Blockbuster to return "Gone Baby Gone". Maggie gives this movie TWO PAWS UP. After her walk Maggie needed another nap. She just finished her dinner and she's already taking another nap. Maggie has a tough life - - Breakfast, a nap, a pedicure, some shopping, another nap, a light work-out, a nap, dinner, a nap. Raise your hand if you want to be Maggie in your next life ;-)

Tonight we're going out to dinner and will be leaving Maggie in the family room / kitchen area to see how she does. If you're putting money down in Vegas the safe bet is that she never gets off her bed the entire time we're gone. If anything else happens you can count on us mentioning it in the blog.

So, today is my 35th birthday. Today also marks three weeks since we adopted Maggie. I am really looking forward to this year and to watching Maggie come out of her shell. Just her being here has made this day special for me. She is truly a gift.

As many of you know I check my horoscope every year on my birthday. Here's what it says:

Today's Birthday (March 1). Your successes this year lead you to make new friends. You'll be running with a more experienced crowd. You're coming up with brilliant ideas, and they're interested.