Not My Dog After All

   

     Nine months ago I pulled money out of the bank, addressed an envelope and made a life altering decision I was not 100% about but knew it was now or never. 

     On June 2 2013, I woke up like any other morning, grabbed my phone and read my personal newspaper called Facebook (you all do it don't lie).... I saw that my friends dog had puppies! Well he was the father at least. They were perfect and adorable pure breed golden retriever puppies...! I instantly commented inquiring details not sure if I wanted one or could even handle a puppy. It was the last thing I needed for the busy summer I had ahead of me.

     I did some research found out about training for a companion dog and what that would cost, if it was doable and if that was what I wanted. One week later I placed that addressed envelope in the mail and knew 11 weeks later I would be busy potty training a puppy.... Truth is I probably would have agreed to anything and found everything I "needed" to find because I desperately wanted a dog again and knowing I could ask for the personality that would fit our family was a winner also.
     Maggie drove me NUTS for a while. There were plenty of times I thought I made a huge mistake and I needed to find her a home. I was so tired and felt like I was getting no where. Soon after she came home Charlotte needed open heart surgery, Maggie went to stay with my friend (thank God for good friends willing to help me out) and I felt like every little progress I made was going to be gone. We made it through the situation and she was even better in ways when I got her back.
     A few weeks later I had a huge scare, Maggie was on her death bed with what the vet and I feared  was parvo.! I cried a lot thinking I was going to lose her and she was perfect..... 12 hours later she pooped out 3 socks... brat came through. Its safe to say, seeing her like that and thinking I would lose her is what made me love her that much more..!!

     I started her training right after this, basic training, puppy class.... She did great of course. She met her best friend Kona in this class and really showed me how smart she really can be (and that the socks are an unhealthy addiction at this point). 

   

     However, shes in her third class now and things are a little harder then I had expected. You see I LOVE dogs... I love petting them, playing with them, loving and training them. I have a great love for animals. This is a problem with Maggie.... I got her as companion for my daughter and she is doing so well with that training, but she is so young she can't yet determine "off time" and loyalty to Charlotte with me being the lover I am. This is so hard for me. The trainer said its the age now that will determine her making the cut which I need her to make. The only way I could justify getting her was to train her so she can go to OHSU with us, go to the Ronald McDonald House, learn to detect seizures and be the one constant thing for Charlotte with all her ups and downs. What I was not prepared for was taking me out of this equation. I think I must have not noticed that part while reading conveniently...

     Let me explain real fast what I mean by this. No more evening cuddles, no more sitting for hours petting her, limited play dates, constant redirecting, no exited baby voice from me to her, Charlotte now feeds her, she now sleeps with Charlotte and no longer with me. This is what I was not aware of, but this is what is needed to help her succeed in becoming a companion dog. 

     I was not aware of how sad this would make me. I subconsciously got her for me. I knew this when I mailed the check but thought it would be okay. 

     I have now brought Charlotte into the training, into the life of making HER dog perfect for her and helping her. Though my heart breaks for me (I really wanted a dog damn it) its full of joy for her. These two are two peas in a pod already and I can only imagine the love Charlotte feels for her when she lays next to her after a seizure, or brings her "honey bunny" when crying, or her newest gives her the inhaler. 

     Here are a few of my favorite pictures of the two....

 Sock addiction caught.... 

 First trip to the beach 

"Maggie DOP"