...our new rescue dog.
We wanted a dog to enjoy life with Corky, who is not quite 2 and can get a bit tiresome for our two old ladies. I wanted a pup but Steve prevailed upon me to accept a rescue because it is the right thing to do.
Maggie is from Ireland. She is about 1, and you can see she is a Springer/Border Collie cross. Those eyebrows! She is collie like in her demeanour and quite obsessive about being close to her people, and the pack dynamic is all over the place - poor little Corky is as shocked and distressed as any 2 year old when a new baby comes into the house.
The good: she is obedient, eager to please and good natured. She responds very well to quietness and being left alone (I reached my phone under the table to take this picture), She would love to be playful with Corky: they've had a couple of fun games together and we hope that they will be good playmates soon. She is quiet in the car and was quiet as a mouse overnight. I took her to the vet yesterday and she was confident and brave.
The not so good: She's a bit uncertain about where to wee, but that's understandable. I am sure she will get the picture soon.
She is mouthy and will use her teeth to indicate affection. We can sort that, as she is very very responsive to pleasure or displeasure from her handler.
Also she would like to be dominant, I think. Mollie, our senior dog, dislikes her and is determined to keep her in her place. Fair enough, but this morning Maggie nipped Mollie's bum (a very collie nip) - she looked astonished when Mollie turned round and let fly with a series of very sharp air bites - you know, the sort that look bad but don't actually make contact. I think Mollie won that round but I expect this will become a bit of a saga.
Maggie has also put her teeth into Corky a couple of times in play - I wonder if this is a collie trait. Poor little Corky is so soft and such a gent, he just looks worried and upset.
So lots of change, which dogs typically don't enjoy, but Maggie is a lovely dog and I am glad to have homed her. She smells awful at the moment - our vet said, "the kennel smell" - but that will soon change. The adoption agency were utterly delighted for her to be homed by an adult couple with 3 slim healthy spaniels.
Watch this space. Dog agility maybe?
We wanted a dog to enjoy life with Corky, who is not quite 2 and can get a bit tiresome for our two old ladies. I wanted a pup but Steve prevailed upon me to accept a rescue because it is the right thing to do.
Maggie is from Ireland. She is about 1, and you can see she is a Springer/Border Collie cross. Those eyebrows! She is collie like in her demeanour and quite obsessive about being close to her people, and the pack dynamic is all over the place - poor little Corky is as shocked and distressed as any 2 year old when a new baby comes into the house.
The good: she is obedient, eager to please and good natured. She responds very well to quietness and being left alone (I reached my phone under the table to take this picture), She would love to be playful with Corky: they've had a couple of fun games together and we hope that they will be good playmates soon. She is quiet in the car and was quiet as a mouse overnight. I took her to the vet yesterday and she was confident and brave.
The not so good: She's a bit uncertain about where to wee, but that's understandable. I am sure she will get the picture soon.
She is mouthy and will use her teeth to indicate affection. We can sort that, as she is very very responsive to pleasure or displeasure from her handler.
Also she would like to be dominant, I think. Mollie, our senior dog, dislikes her and is determined to keep her in her place. Fair enough, but this morning Maggie nipped Mollie's bum (a very collie nip) - she looked astonished when Mollie turned round and let fly with a series of very sharp air bites - you know, the sort that look bad but don't actually make contact. I think Mollie won that round but I expect this will become a bit of a saga.
Maggie has also put her teeth into Corky a couple of times in play - I wonder if this is a collie trait. Poor little Corky is so soft and such a gent, he just looks worried and upset.
So lots of change, which dogs typically don't enjoy, but Maggie is a lovely dog and I am glad to have homed her. She smells awful at the moment - our vet said, "the kennel smell" - but that will soon change. The adoption agency were utterly delighted for her to be homed by an adult couple with 3 slim healthy spaniels.
Watch this space. Dog agility maybe?