Happy 4th Birthday, Maggie!

Happy Birthday, Maggie!

Today is Maggie’s 4th birthday!! To celebrate her b-day Steve and I have decided to both blog about the big occasion (Steve's post is below).

I have to start by saying, “I CAN’T BELIEVE A YEAR HAS GONE BY!” I remember the early days so clearly that it seems like just yesterday we brought her home. Maggie was so scared, sore from being spayed, and uncomfortable with an ear infection and UTI. She was too afraid to walk, sleep, eat, or go to the bathroom. Those were the days we called her “Stinky Magee” because she had never been bathed.

A lot has changed in a year. Maggie is healthy and clean! She’s still a very reserved dog, but I believe she’s happy. The process of her coming out of her shell has been slow, but when I look back at where we started it’s nothing short of remarkable.

Steve and I have changed a lot, too. Our whole world revolves around Maggie and her happiness. I’m so in love with her I can’t even put it into words.

Speaking of Steve - - he’s so good with Maggie. He spends so much time with her and has never once griped about walking her in the cold and snow. When we first talked about getting a dog I know he really looked forward to a playful dog who could fetch, etc. - - that’s just not Mags - - but he doesn’t mind. It’s very sweet to see the two of them together - - at least it is to me ;-)

So many people ask about Maggie and how she’s doing. There are some questions that get asked a lot so I thought I’d do a little Q & A . . .

Where does Maggie sleep at night?
Maggie has a bed in our bedroom located on my side of the bed. She’s a good sleeper and pretty quiet in general. Her nightmares, which were a daily occurrence, now seem to be a thing of the past. Sometimes she does some late night grooming, but if I just tell her to go back to sleep she will.

Maggie is not a morning dog. She is full of dirty looks when the alarm clock goes off and on the weekends we are usually up before her.

Do you still use the crate?
No, the crate has been packed up and stored away. Before we put it away for good we tried setting it up next to her bed and letting her pick what she wanted. She picked the bed.

What’s with the brown towels I see in every photo?
The day we got Maggie we had nothing and I picked those up at Target because I knew we needed to give her a bath. Since we had nothing those became makeshift beds and blankets and we quickly learned that they were a source of comfort for her - - like a safe spot. I’ve stuck with them because they are easy to clean - - just shake them out and put them in the washing machine.

Does she just walk around your house?
Sadly, no. When called she’ll go “upstairs” or to the “basement”, but she never just gets up and strolls around the house. Her new bed that you’ve probably seen in photos hasn’t helped . . . she loves that couch / bed!

Is she good?
She’s very, very good. She has no behaviors that we need to discipline (which is good because the few times we’ve had to tell her “No” she’s taken it very hard - - she’s very sensitive). All of her good manners are self taught. Maggie has made our life very easy - - she has spoiled us.

Does she bark?
No, she does not bark. She did bark once in her sleep and it scared us all.

How many puppies did she have?
There’s no way to tell how many litters she has had. I would love to meet some of her offspring - - if they got her stubborn streak I bet their owners have their hands full.

Is Maggie stubborn?
Yes. Mags is on her own agenda - - she’s not going to do something she does not want to do (but since she is so good this is rarely an issue).

Have you tried training her by rewarding positive behavior with treats?
Maggie is not food motivated. We tried to train her to overcome her fear of doorways with treats. Even when she’d eventually come in she’d turn her head away and refuse the treat. Maggie takes treats when she wants to take treats (see the question above).

What’s her favorite treat?
Her very favorite treat is Kraft Singles - - which is funny because we’ve spent a lot of time and money to research and purchase the very best dog treats available.

Does she still go to daycare?
Yes, Maggie goes to school two days a week. She runs around and plays and when she sees us in the window at pick-up time she jumps on the fence in excitement. School makes her happy, so it makes us happy.

Does Maggie like going to your place in Michigan?
Yes, Mags loves Michigan. She loves to ride in the car and the general quietness of Harbor Country suits her personality. Plus, she gets lots of walks and trips to the dog park while we’re there.

Do you realize that Maggie is a dog and not a child?
Ha, ha. Yes, we know.

What is Maggie getting for her birthday?
In celebration of Maggie’s birthday we’ve made a donation to the organization that made this all possible - - Animal Education and Rescue (aear.org).