Introducing Maggie!

[Helen]

We've had some changes around here over the past couple of weeks.  So I thought I should  give you guys an update!

First of all, Archie has gone to live in a new home.  At this very moment, he is tearing around a huge yard with SIX other Standard Poodles.  Knowing Archie as I do, this boy is in doggie heaven!  Nothing he loves more than to play at Full Throttle!  We've struggled with this for over a year.  We love Archie, but he was simply TOO MUCH to handle in our quiet home.  Archie is a Happy Maniac.  Since we have my husband's patients coming to our home five days a week, Archie (and therefore Poco too) was having to spend all work hours in his crate.  If he was loose, it was chaos.  I know he needed tons of exercise and play.  Much more than we could give him.   So just before Christmas, we sent Archie back to his breeder.  He ADORES her, which was clear everytime she came to groom him.  He waltzed out the door without a backwards glance, and I was torn between blessed relief and horrible guilt. 

I worried about him so, but found out on Saturday that he's at this other lady's house now and having the time of his life!  I am SO happy for him, and can now enjoy the peace here without feeling like we betrayed that silly boy.

Well, I was really wanting my husband to wait on getting another dog.  He always gets a new one immediately and I don't think it's good for him emotionally.  But he's been in contact with all the Poodle Rescue ladies here and in Tucson.  On Saturday we adopted "Maggie".  Maggie is a 12 year old standard poodle.  She's brown, and is deaf, and has severe cataracts.  She can see, but not real well.  She's an old sweetheart who just likes to hang out and be quiet.  My husband is already crazy about her.  He tends to like wounded things.. like our other rescue poodle who had Addisons.   Maggie already follows him everywhere.

We also picked up the dogfood she's been eating.  It's called "Canidae" and it's a super healthy natural kind.  The rescue lady says that it's amazing at growing hair.  She has given it to other dogs who were old and balding and the hair came back in all thick and rich.  I went to their site to find a store near us and was reading the testimonials.  This sounds like really good stuff!

Here's a couple of pictures for you.  Maggie was trying to nap, but Poco woke her up!






Helen

[bkitchen0406]

My two cents. I hope it doesn't make you mad. I have found that because poodles are smart they like training. They love to work with you. If you have an active dog, spend time training him in any way you want. I believe that this bread likes mental stimulation. This is my opinion and does not mean I am right. Obviously the owner of the above dog did the right thing in my eyes, however I thought I would mention the above for those that have the same problem. I have a puppy. He is very active. My parents are older and had a very hyper Britney spaniel. Sorry if I spelled that wrong. When I trained the Britney with a Frisbee he became much more tame. Now all my 58 year old mother has to do is toss a Frisbee around. She can stay in one place and does not have to chase after him. I did get a very long retractable lead for her.

[zefi]

Helen, firstly I'm sorry you had to part with Archie - its always such a horrible sad decision... but you know what, he IS happier where he is tearing around, I'm sure of it. In the end they let us know when they are ready to move on and with whom. Remember when I rehomed Scooter? I wasnt ready to give him up emotionally so for months I put off looking for a home for him. I mentioned it to one person that if the right home came along I'd rehome him and she told someone and I got a phone number. It took me 2 weeks to call them and when I arranged for them to come over I planned on them coming to meet me, meet Scooter, then I'd go to their home and see where and how they lived yada yada. Yep. Scooter sat on their laps the entire visit and when they left he left with him, with his toys and basket and bowls and leads and everything. He never looked back. He adores them and they adore him. They thank me constantly for the joy he's brought into their lives and I feel I owe them eternally for loving him and giving him a better home than I ever did.

I look at Pagan sometimes and think she'd be happier in a home as queen bee to be loved and pampered on her own and I prepare myself that if the right home came along and she chose to go home with someone else I'd have to let her. I dont want to, but I'd have to... If you breed and show you cant just keep adding dogs to the house without affecting the care you can provide to the ones that you already have. Sometimes I think Billy would be happier as a lap dog in a house without all these tall dogs standing over him... sometimes someone else can actually give dogs a better home than we can no matter how much we love them.

Congratulations on Maggie and its so wonderful of you to do that - take in an older dog like that. So many people dont want older dogs but they are so noble and beautiful. I met a girl once who said she liked old dogs best, not puppies, cause old dogs had given a lifetime of love and now it was our turn to give it back. I've never looked at old dogs the same since.

I understand the home/work environment constraints. My girls would be terrible as work or shop dogs. They bark at things and wouldnt be quiet. Pagan is better but Montana is a pain! LOL I'd have no customers in a shop guarded by Montana! LOL Billy on the other hand is the kind of dog you can put on a pillow and he'll sleep there all day! LOL

Lovely photos. She is a beautiful girl.

[Roland]

Sorry you had to find another home for Archie.  I agree that physical stimulation does not seem to be enough for Oden, he needs to learn too. I understand though about having the right home for the right pet. I had to find another home once for a cat that I rescued. He had come from a house bound man, and with me working allot at that time, and leaveing him alone he was miseriable. I gave him to a friends home bound Uncle, and Mulberry and Al became constant companions.
I think that it is WONDERFUL you adopted Maggie, not many people would take in a dog of that age, with those problems, and it sounds like she's a better fit for your home too. Congrats.

[Helen]

Thanks guys!  I'm so glad you understand.  It was really hard to rehome Archie.  I felt so darned guilty.  But he was really way too much for us.  Not fair to him or any of us.  I'm thrilled to pieces to hear about all the fun he's having now and I'm so happy we did this.  It was a decision we did not make lightly, and now I'm so happy to feel reassured it was the right one. 

I remember when you had to rehome Scooter, Zefi.  What a great decision it was.  Honestly, so often you have to put aside your own desires and do what is best for the dog.  That's how it was when I gave my toy poodle, Papi, to a new home.  He was sooooo sad after we lost Teddy.  They were the best of buddies.  After Teddy died, Papi just laid on the couch and looked sad and lost all the time.  When he fell in love with the husband of one of our patients, it was a no-brainer that he should go live with him.  I never regretted that decision, even though I missed him (and still do). 

Poco is happy now because he doesn't have to be crated during office hours.  He's being such a good dog now.  He loves to lay by my desk just like Chula used to.  And Maggie waits on her bed under Richard's desk while he's with patients.  Everything is calm and peaceful.   Maggie is adjusting to her new home.  She's not even yelling at Poco anymore.  He's learned to keep his distance, and she comes to touch noses with him now and then.  Maggie is so sweet.  I love how she wags her tail so happily when she sees us.  She's got a great wag!

The Rescue folks were so happy when we said we wanted Maggie.  They'd had her for 2 months and were having trouble placing her.  Yah, she's old, and she's not very pretty to look at... but she's a darling and I"m so glad she's going to spend the rest of her days with us.

Helen

[zefi]

I love you for taking her in Helen. Its a wonderful to give love to an older dog.

[Fluffy]

So glad to hear Archie has found a great home and that you have given one to Maggie - what do you mean not pretty - I think she is beautiful.

[Helen]

I'll tell her you said so, Fluffy.     I agree.

She's recovering from someone cutting all her hair off.  I'm looking forward to when it fills in a bit more and we can get her a nice haircut.  especially her tail... they did something very weird to her tail!  But all that is fixable.  She's also got cataracts, and so both her eyes look kind of spooky... they are round silver disks.  They thought at first she was blind, but she sees okay.  Not great, but good enough.  The deafness is a little more to handle, although kind of funny.  We keep laughing at ourselves for forgetting she can't hear us.    My hubby is filling her with special supplements and using his alternative medicine gadgets on her.  He's determined to help her hear better and feel better.   She's moving more quickly already.  Even dragging him back to the bedroom after her let her out last night!  hahaha!

Helen

[Fluffy]

She has certainly found the right home - look forward to pics of her in the future with a gorgeous haircut to show her off.

[Roland]

http://www.deafdogs.org/training/
I'm sure you already did this, but there are a bunch of sites on the net to help with deaf dogs. Poodles are so smart, I am sure she will learn and commads real fast. There are also tools you can use, like a vibrating collar, to get her attention, or let her know you are coming up behind her. 

[Helen]

This is great, Roland!  Thank you!  It hadn't occurred to me to look for info on dealing with deaf dogs.  This is so helpful!  With my husband being blind and Maggie being deaf, it's a little tricky to deal with.  He can't see her and she can't hear him!  He's put bells on her, but she moves to gently that they don't ring that much.  Ordinarily our dogs learn quickly to move out of his way, but since she doesn't hear him coming, I'm worried she'll get stepped on, or he'll trip.  But he is aware now that she tends to lay down and sleep any old place she happens to be, so he's being careful as he walks around.  But we're getting there!  I'm going back to finish reading your link and then look around at what else I can find.  Thanks!

Helen

[Helen]

I thought I'd check in and let you guys know how well our Rescue, Maggie, is doing.  We've had her 3 months and she's the Queen of the House.  She's pretty funny actually.  She loves to sleep and flops down wherever she happens to be.  We did put around a bunch of beds for her too and she cozies up in them looking SO happy!  She still keeps Poco in his place so he won't be rough with her, but otherwise seems to like him well enough.  I'll see them touch noses and wag a bit at eachother.  But he's careful with her.  He keeps an eye on her too when she goes outside and makes sure she makes it back in okay.

With the good food that my husband has been giving her, she's put on some weight and her hair is getting much thicker.  She finally got a "real haircut" on Monday (rather than my inept snipping and trimming) and I wanted to share a picture of her.



She's looking good!  This picture doesn't really do her justice.  She has lovely long legs and a very pretty face. 

Also, I'd noticed that her toenails were severely overgrown.  Some of them curved all the way under her feet.    They were so long I was scared to do anything with them (plus she hates to have her feet touched).  The groomer got them all trimmed back and she's walking like a completely new dog now!  No wonder she kept slipping and tripping.  Poor thing. 

I love her new look!  She's gone from an aging "sheep" to looking like a Poodle Grande Dame!

Helen

[WhippetsOwnMe]

What a beautiful dog... they both have such gorgeous coloring. I am new to poodles and clueless, but they are so unique looking. Congrats!

[Helen]

Thanks Whipp!   

[zefi]

Helen she looks lovely. Such a sweet girl and I love that happy smiley look her face. It brings tears to my eyes thinking that someone gave her up cause she was old... Thats so sad.

What a difference to the skinny badly groomed girl you brought home. She looks happy and loved.