Entered: 11/02/2014
Status: Adopted
Age: 2
Color: Black/White
Weight: 39 lbs.
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Goochland, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, benefiting from a low dose anxiety medication, treatment for a urinary tract infection complete
Temperament: Good with people as young as teenagers, good with dogs, will chase cats
Update 12/16/2014: “Working with the vet, Maggie was started on an inexpensive anxiety medication that is making a lot of difference in this sweet girl’s life.“
With no kitties to chase in her new foster home, it seemed hopeful that Miss Maggie’s biggest worry would be laid to rest but, as she and her new foster mom became acquainted, it was apparent that anxiety about her world was taking too big of a toll on Maggie. Working with the vet, Maggie was started on an inexpensive anxiety medication that is making a lot of difference in this sweet girl’s life. She has calmed down and has been very well behaved and is much happier. She loves to run and chase the other dogs in her foster home now; life is becoming good for this beauty!
To assure that Maggie continues this progress during transition to an adopting home, her forever family will be required to keep her on her medication for at least six months after adoption. MAESSR will also be requiring that her adopting family complete 2 series of obedience classes within six months of adopting her. This will hasten bonding between Maggie and her new family and ensure that Maggie continues to practice being a good girl.
A little work with this one? Yes, but this little girl is worth the extra investment of time. If obedience training is new to you, not to worry. Humans in obedience classes often learn as much as their doggie companions and have a lot of fun from week to week as new skills become routine. If learning alongside Maggie is a good place to begin your new year, ask about meeting her now. She’s almost ready for “school!”
Update 12/05/2014: “It seems that she finds chasing felines is a fun pastime! Not so much for the kitty cats…”
It has been discovered that Miss Maggie would do best in a home without kitties. It seems that she finds chasing felines is a fun pastime! Not so much for the kitty cats…Perhaps a dog-savvy cat that does not play that running game could live amicably with Maggie, but her foster mom is not so sure about that!
Maggie has completed her treatment for a urinary tract infection which must make her feel much better. She also changed foster homes recently through no fault of her own. Her foster mom sustained a broken toe which prevented Maggie from receiving her daily walk. Fortunately the MAESSR family of loving foster homes is large and flexible. More news will follow on sweet Maggie as she adjusts to life in her new foster home.
Update 11/24/2014: “Although she positively quivers from all of the smells, sounds, and sights she encounters on a walk, her leash manners are very good now.”
After just a short time in her foster home, Maggie is improving her impulse control. Although still not 100% “four on the floor,” the jumping up on people and doors has decreased tremendously. All it took was a water spray bottle to discourage her bouncing around! Her foster mom reports that her “wait” response is so much better now and she’s so very proud of Maggie! She’s still working on her “sit-stay” by increasing the distance and time every day. Maggie gets a gold star for effort!
A structured day has helped Maggie to calm down. An over-the-counter supplement has been helping, too. Overall this little girl is a pleasure to have around. Although she positively quivers from all of the smells, sounds, and sights she encounters on a walk, her leash manners are very good now. After her last outing of the day, Maggie goes into her crate by herself to wait patiently for her bedtime cookie. Good girl, Maggie!
Her prior owner reported that Maggie does not like to be groomed. For whatever reason, that appears to be true and she will need a patient family to help her overcome this obstacle. While in her foster mom’s care, she has made progress here as well; but she’s still skittish with her legs and feet being handled. Being the eager-to-please dog that she is, one can assume that this will be a thing of the past in no time.
It’s been discovered that Maggie is an excellent watch dog! She is very alert to the goings on outside and will alert appropriately; she settles once told that everything is as it should be.
Maggie’s training is progressing quickly and she’ll soon be ready for her forever home. Can’t you just picture this sweetie in your home for the holidays? Ask about Maggie…you wouldn’t want to miss out on this little gem!
Original: “This little girl never had to grow up, so she is still behaving like a puppy at times. Again, poor impulse control is one of the main issues in her behavior.”
Maggie came to MAESSR because there were many changes in her Maryland owner’s life that required a complete reinvention of Maggie’s world. This may have had to do with her developing some behavioral issues. Maggie’s owner and family did not think they had enough time to devote to helping Maggie overcome her idiosyncrasies and they decided it was best for her to be rehomed.
Since arriving at her foster home, Maggie has shown herself to be housetrained and crate trained, able to signal when she has to go out by going to the door, and trustworthy when left alone. She sleeps in her crate at night without any problems. Generally, Maggie’s house manners are good – she doesn’t get into the trash or chew on things. However, she tries to get on the furniture on occasion and puts her paws on the counter to see what’s there.
Maggie is also quite excitable which leads to her putting her front paws on people and things when she’s riled up. Her foster mom is working with her on the “four paws on the ground” concept and reports that Maggie is learning quickly.
Enjoying the outdoors, Maggie loves to run around and go for a swim. She has lots of energy! She has been trained on an e-fence and does not dig in the yard or jump fences. If there is a squirrel around, it better watch out! She is quite the hunter and is very focused on the smells and sounds around her. She actually comes from distinguished hunting bloodlines so if her forever family is interested in hunting, Maggie should do well being trained in this field. And if not hunting, perhaps she would excel in nose work.
Maggie already has a good repertoire of commands such as “come,” “sit,” and “down.” Because she is very impulsive, “stay” and “wait” are hard for her, but she tries to be a good girl. Car rides are one of her favorite pastimes. Her previous owner reported that heeling or walking properly on a loose leash were also difficult, but now with the help of a Gentle Leader, that problem has been solved. When meeting others on walks, whether canine or human, she behaves appropriately.
This little girl never had to grow up, so she is still behaving like a puppy at times. Again, poor impulse control is one of the main issues in her behavior. When she wants to play, she wants to play right now. When she wants to go for a walk, RIGHT NOW please. When it’s time to eat, storming to the bowl and inhaling food is what she does. Or should one say “did”? If she doesn’t want something done to her, she resists. This makes visits to the vet and groomer difficult. Her foster mom is working very hard with Maggie on teaching her to control herself. She now has to wait to go to her food bowl until she is given the signal. Maggie also had to learn to wait at the front door before going out until the signal is given. Although she’s only been with her foster mom for one week, she is making great progress as she is very smart. Maggie has some resource guarding behaviors that still need to be addressed, as well as conflict resolution issues; however, her foster mom has high hopes for her.
Once Maggie is declared ready for adoption, she will need an experienced owner, lots of exercise, but also time to relax and cuddle. She is already the queen of kisses, cuddles, and loving! Are you the experienced dog person who can help Maggie blossom?