Maggie: A Good Meal, Great Home - 3 Years of Happily Ever After!

Maggie’s road to freedom took another turn on Mother’s Day 2008.  She may not have known it yet, but she was home.    Maggie was a little nervous that day.  She laid down on a small rug and pretty much didn’t move.  She was not interested in exploring.

But when she heard her dinner being prepared, she lit up and did a little dance.  We had never seen a dog so happy to actually have food!  It literally brought tears to my eyes.  She relaxed a little more every day after that.  Guess she figured if we served food too, then maybe she would stick around.

Men have been a challenge for her.  It took almost 2 years for her to open her heart to my husband.  Today, she is pretty much a Daddy’s girl.   She still does not appreciate our son’s visits but she has learned to tolerate them better.

Our biggest concern at her adoption is how she would do with children as our Granddaughter, Lauren,  was 3 mos old.  No worries!  Maggie mothers that child and I do believe “Maggie” was Lauren’s 1^st word.  Of course that was a response to Maggie carrying off Lauren’s monkey but Lauren got her words out!

Maggie still has fears but it is amazing how relaxed this little girl has become.  And “happy tails”, let me tell you she does not stop at a simple tail wag . . . . it is more like a butt wag and the fastest tail in the land!   And for no other reason other than I walked in the room!   Maggie is a special little girl and she could not be loved more!  Thank you Colonel Potter for her freedom!

Bob & Cindy E (KS)

CP kids Maggie & Star

Star Burns Brightly and Celebrates Her Gotcha Day

In November 2008,  we participated in a transport for CP Tick and offered the 1^st night B&B.  We were in the process of a CP search for a new dog but I told my husband when we agreed to the B&B that she was a puppy (10 mos) and we agreed we didn’t need a puppy so do not fall in love.  When she got here, Bob set up her accommodations and gave her some toys.  She picked up the 1^st one and dropped it by his feet, he threw it, and before you knew it, the toy was back.  Say again with me Bob, “we do not need a puppy”.  We were both pretty amazed at how important people were to her and her fetching skills were already remarkable.  Star pretty much did not leave Bob the entire time she was here.  But he reluctantly said good bye the next morning and I continued with the next leg of the transport.  She ended up in Wisconsin in the middle of winter.  We continued our search for a new family member, and Tick constantly entered our conversations but we were concerned that her personality might be a little much for our current CP resident, Maggie.   When she was listed on the available Cairn page, I told Bob and he just lit up.  OK fine.  She had left an impression on both of us.  December 5, 2008, we traveled to a very cold and snowy Minnesota to meet her foster parents and retrieve Tick renamed Star Bright in honor of the Christmas season.   As it turned out, Maggie could not be more thrilled.  She was very happy to see Star and Maggie immediately assumed the Alpha role.   Star had no interest in leadership.  Star would rather be the class clown.  These two could not be better matched.  Bob and Star remain pretty much inseparable.  She is exceptionally smart and very loving.   She is a tad OCD which either provides our comedic relief or downright frustration because she can’t forget about that bunny that may or may not have been on the other side of the fence.  Thank you to all CP volunteers that brought Star into our lives.

Bob, Cindy, Maggie & Star E

Emporia, KS 

Maggie and the Snow

Here's Jo Ann's Maggie celebrating the season. She's too cute enjoying a cozy fire after a chilly romp in the snow.

Maggie's Monumental Day

Happy Holidays to the group! I am basically just a lurker so do not post much. I am the proud Mom of Maggie (fka Obama) and Star (fka Tick).

Maggie is a typical puppy mill momma with some of the familiar fears. She by far is not the most scarred but still her transition from the scared little dog we picked up in May 2008 to today is remarkable. She never ceases to amaze us and it has been a rewarding experience.

The most frustrating thing that we have had to deal with though is her relationship with our Marine Son. He does not visit much and he is not much of a dog person. Strange in itself as my husband and I are! We know Maggie is not comfortable with men and her response is generally just stay away but no - not with our son - instead she barks and barks and barks.

Last Christmas we were prepared with toasted hotdogs and made Patrick sit still and make her come to him to get this special treat. And it did work unbelievably well. She did calm down. Not completely but it was bearable.

Now to my news!! Patrick returned home from his deployment last night. He has not been in this house for a year. It was midnight before we got home and we had also brought our 2 year old Granddaughter home. I did not have the strength to deal with Maggie and a sleeping child so although this sounds really rude, I asked Patrick if he could just quietly sneak to the basement while Maggie was outside and we would deal with her in the morning. Quite the reception for a returning Marine but it was the middle of the night!

So this morning he quietly climbs the stairs. Yes both dogs barked but Patrick extended his hand to Maggie and she quieted. He gave her some cereal and although at first she declined, she eventually did accept. The barking was over in seconds!!

He is able to move freely and although there is still some resistance and a bark here and there, it is absolutely peaceful! Yes, this is a monumental day!! Now if we can just get Maggie to stop carrying off our Granddaughter's toys . . . . !

And as for Star, she does not like strangers. She warms up quite fast but does not jump in their arms at any point. She had her initial bark or two but she is fine. She let him throw her ball but would not take it back to him. Not yet but maybe by the end of his stay. Merry Christmas everyone!

Cindy E in Emporia, KS

Happily owned by Maggie and Star

A Senior Sweetheart!

It’s hard to believe that in just three weeks from today, it will be a year since a little red-headed Cairn came into my life, flying in-cabin with me from Pensacola , FL to my home in Oregon ’s Willamette Valley .

I worried that the relatively cold and rainy climate would be a big adjustment for her, but she has no hesitation going out in the rain – it doesn’t seem to faze her.

We took our first road trip shortly after she arrived, spending several days at the coast,
then crossing the Cascade Mountains to the east side to visit family.

Maggie is a great travelling companion. She settles right down in the car. Once in a new place, after determining there is no food to be found on the floor, she curls up in an out of the way place, usually under a table.

Maggie’s a senior at approximately 13 years, but there is still a lot of life and Cairnitude in her! She loves our twice daily walks, and barks excitedly to hurry me along if I’m being too slow getting out the door. She is very enthusiastic about car rides and if she senses we are about to go on one, she will try to hurry me along. Sometimes, while I’m getting myself together to leave the house, I go ahead and let her get in the car. Alone in the dark garage, she settles right down and waits for me.

Maggie has a history of skin problems due to allergies to wheat and corn, as well as many other environmental allergens. She gets immunotherapy injections twice a week. The hardest thing about giving her the injections is keeping her still enough; she knows afterwards she will get one of her favorite treats – freeze dried liver.

Maggie quickly and easily became an integral part of my life, one I can’t imagine without her. She brings love and joy into my life every day. If there’s a senior Cairn out there in need of a home, you could be as lucky as I’ve been. Go ahead and fill out an application right now! You could have a loyal companion to love in time for Christmas – and give the best Christmas gift ever to a Cairn in need.

Spumoni of Illinois is now Maggie of Oregon

Ron Kowalski, Spumoni's Foster Dad , who couldn't be more thrilled with Spumoni's new family, sent this photo and update . She was adopted by Christine and Norman W in Oregon. Spumoni, nka Maggie is their second CP furkid.

In the picture, beginning on the left, Maggie (the black brindle). Next to Maggie is Billy (fka Brexton adopted in '08) and on the right is their mini-poo sister, Brandy.

Christine said that they are so very happy with Spumoni that her husband talked about getting one more Cairn but Christine isn't going for it yet. They are really enjoying having a little pack.

When Norman takes Maggie for a walk in the morning Christine will ask for a score on how well she walks, he gave her an 85 the other day. They are having fun with her!!!

Maggie - A Different Dog

Hi everyone. I am the proud Mom to Maggie (fka Obama). Maggie has been with us for a tad over a year now. She is a great little dog.

Oh, she has had her “issues” for sure but we have worked through them. My husband and I look at her from time to time and realize how far she has come in this past year.

The fears she has overcome are many - from the can opener to a full flight of stairs. Thunderstorms are still the worst but we just have to accept that and move on.

She pretty much owns the dog park and must tell anyone and everyone hello.

Oh no one is allowed to touch her but she still must bounce up to them, tail wagging, to welcome them to her park.

Today, however, it was also quite apparent how comfortable she has become. My parents came to visit. Maggie has obviously met them before and has always respectively kept her distance. She might give them a conciliatory sniff and once even allowed my Mom the very brief opportunity for a quick pat on the head but that is about it. But today—what the heck—she crawled up on the sofa right next to my Mom, completely stretched out and took a nice little nap. We were all amazed. Not even the resemblance of an evil eye! Nope!

No more hiding in the corner for this one. The little accomplishments that make us all smile! We are so proud of her!

Cindy
Emporia, KS
Mom to Maggie and Star

Maggie & Stewart - Earfdogs Extra Ordinnaire!

Dis is your boi Stewart, here. We had a berry exciting weekend. Maggie and me gotz to go OUT OF TOWN!You see, Aunt Nancy told mama about an earfdog play day for Saturday. And LET ME TELL YOU, it was da best! Furst we drove and drove and drove and DROVE! Maggie sat in her seatbelt, but I rode in a cwate. (I getz carsick in da seatbelt.) Den, when we gotz dere, I wuz such a good boi. I sat beside mama and lets people pet me and was berry polite to eberybuddy. We met Brenna and her sister Skyla and her mama from up near Chicago. Brenna used to be Skye when she wuz at CP. She eben let mama say hi to her. Dere were cairns, a schnauzer, a couple ob dachunds, a few white cairns (huh!), border terriers, and more dat wanted to be earfdogs! Outside dere wuz dis nice man standing in an expen in da shape ob a bone wif a wooden tunnel it da skinny part. Da man had a lazy ole rat in a liddle box and Mags and me gotz to sniff and snarl at da rat. I growled to show him I wuz berry dangerous! Eberybuddy said, "Good dog, good boi" when I barked at da rat. Dey never say dat when I bark at home!Den dey put da rat in a hamster ball and I gotz to push it frou da tunnel! Maggie didn't want to go in da tunnel, so I pushed it for her too. She went frou jes fine wif me. We went back and forth and back and forth. Dat was fun!Den finally da nice man put da lazy rat away and got 2 rats in one cage, one black and one white. (I fink I scared da other rat! he, he,!) He had a tunnel in da ground and at da end wuz da rats. But I took one look at dat dark hole an had SECOND THOUGHTS. So Maggie saved da day. She said, "Now this is the REAL THING." She zoomed down da hole, right to da rats! So den, ob course, I had to do it, too! Eben when da nice man made it a little harder and added another tunnel wif a turn in it, Maggie and I still just ZOOMED down da tunnel to get da RATS! One ob da rats tried to bite at Maggie frou da cage! Well, you know how SHE is. Dat jes got her dander up and she REALLY let loose. She told dem dat she wuz going to eat dem for lunch and she prolly had dere brudders for breakfast! (She was berry fierce!)It wuz a berry fun day. Mama sez we can go again sometime. She sez sometimes dere are tests for earfdog, but for now, we're jes playing. Eberybuddy kept telling us all day, "Good dog, good boi (or good gurl fur Maggie)! I lob it wen dey tell me I'm a good boi! Dey said we wuz berry good earfdogs and we had POTENTIAL! So watch for more news from da earfdogs extra ordinnaire - Maggie and Stewart! Lots ob Lobs an Kisses, Your boi Stewart p.s. My birfday iz in a couple ob weeks - April 17th. I'm gonna ask for a hamster ball and hab mama put rats in it to push around da family room. Wouldn't dat be FUN???

Maggie and Star's Greeting

Hello All. This has been my first year with Colonel Potter. We are proudly owned by two CP kids adopted in 2008. Maggie (FKA Obama) was adopted in May 2008 and Star (FKA Tick) was adopted in December 2008.

2008 also brought us our first grandchild, Lauren Gray Rogge. I know you all love pictures so I have attached a link to our family. Maggie (age 3) is a more typical puppy mill survivor. She has a few more quirks then the very young Star (10 Mos). Maggie has been much more of a challenge. As long as you have a throwing arm to throw Star's ball, she is perfectly happy.

Maggie is quite shy and is not greatly fond of men. She has come leaps and bounds with my husband but he still is not allowed to pick her up or even put her harness on. She is thinking about it though so I expect it to come one day. She does allow and demands an endless amount of "skritches" from him though.

Although Maggie dislikes men, it usually amounts to just keeping her distance from them. However our visiting Marine son, Patrick, posed much more of a challenge for her. The first two times Patrick visited, Maggie barked at him constantly. Her total dislike for him was obviously apparent. Before he came home for Christmas, I sought help from Maggie's foster Mom Alice. Thanks to Alice Bartlett's Garlic flavored Microwave Toasted Hot Dogs, Christmas went a lot better. The second Patrick walked through the door, Maggie's hair stood on end, and the constant barking started.

Poor Star had no idea which end was up!! Star is NOT much of a barker but she even barked at him. Patrick sat down and I gave him a bowl of those toasted hot dogs and made Maggie sit between us. Patrick moved very slowly and very gently and made her work for every morsel. The barking quieted very quickly. Did she ever learn to like him during the week he was here?? Not really but she didn't bark constantly. Patrick is very fast and pretty noisy so that bothered her. She still barked some but I think more to get his attention hoping for another bite of something.

I hope you all have a wonderful 2009!
Bob, Cindy, Maggie and Star
Emporia, Kansas
Click here to see the pictures: http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=bjx2qew.bjlvlkww&x=0&h=1&y=-tq2kg&localeid=en_US

Permission to flunk...granted!

Maggie/ Ghali, the 12 year old gal who was returned to the SPCA 5 times is in her forever home. We just received official permission to flunk!
The girl who "couldn't be housebroken" mastered the dog door in her first few days and hasn't had an accident in the house for 10 days.

Her reputation of "can't get along with the resident dogs" seems to be in error as well. She gets along fine with everyone here and sleeps back-to-back with our 17 year old Soft Coated Wheaten.

She is hand-shy, but another breakthrough: This morning in bed, she initiated playing - nuzzled under my hand so I roughed up her face. She did body slams with her tail wagging at full speed. When I kept my hand still, she pawed and nuzzled under it. Not bad for a dog who up to a week ago wouldn't let anyone touch her mouth or muzzle.

She follows us like a shadow and loves snuggling in the recliner. Steve, my marshmallow-hearted husband said "I don't think anybody ever gave her half a chance. She's a GREAT dog!" She's got some medical problems that we're having evaluated and treated and we're praying she has a few good years left. The minute Maureen told us this old gal was available, we KNEW she'd become a beloved member of our pack!

Keeping another of the good ones for ourselves,
Cheryl (back to a baker's dozen and loving it!)