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

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 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