Maggie

It has been a week since Maggie arrived.  She was dumped at a friend's house so we have no idea where she came from or what kind of life she had.  But when they couldn't keep her, I volunteered to take her since I've been looking for a dog and finding that she was a German Shepherd mix was perfect as I wanted a German Shepherd.

When they brought Maggie into the yard and let her go, she immediately took off like gang busters to see the cats.  Well, that didn't go as well as she planned as several ran for the trees while a few brave ones hissed and spit and ran towards her.  So then it was off to explore the new surroundings.  She had to check every corner and every inch around the fence, the outer shed and buildings and then moved back towards the house.  She hadn't discovered that there was more yard on the south side of the house.

Her attention was brought back to the cats.  Now, she only had good intentions.  She saw them as playmates but of course they saw her as a threat and since this was their territory, they were going to hold it and let her know they were in charge.

The first day was her day to investigate and that she did.  She finally discovered the whole yard and when I would go check on her, she came running, so glad to see me.  That evening, as I went out to water the Cherry tree and shrubs, she climbed up on the golf cart with me and rode for a ways.  She didn't seem to mind it but when I got off, she got off.  She had to help as I filled the watering can.  She thought the water was for her and tried to drink it from the sprayer.  I think she must have some Lab in her as she sure loves water.

I wondered how she would do that first night as I had not heard a whimper or bark out of her since her arrival.  She was so curious about those cats and learned in a hurry that she was not to invade their territory.

When I got up the next morning, I had to go to the store to get some food and I wondered how I would get the car out without her running out the gate.  I did find out that she knew a few commands, one being "Stay" which she would move away from me and either sit or lay down until I moved and then she would come to me.  As much as I hated to do it, I knew I had to let her know that the open gate was off limits.  So I got the BB gun and it only took one pop to the hip and she didn't come near it.  Now, all it takes it the shaking and she knows she has to go back and stay away.

When I returned, I managed to get back inside the fenced area and when I got out of the car, I could hear the cries of a kitten.  I went to investigate with Maggie walking along side of me.  I saw the kitten high up in a tree, along with two other cats who were a little older.  Two of the mama cats were on the ground, worried about the crying kitten so high up.

Maggie felt safe by me but as I walked closer to the tree, the mama cats didn't like her being there at all and came at her.  I heard a loud yelp as they both got to her.  She tripped over the cement blocks that were stacked up from my daughter's trailer spot and as she got up, the two females cats went after her as she ran for her life around to the back of the house to hide somewhere.

I came inside, put my groceries away and went out to give her some of the puppy food I had bought.  She was being very cautious and had learned to make a wide berth around the cats.

The one thing I have noticed was that Maggie never does anything slowly.  It is fast and faster.  She will run and not walk, unless I am with her and she has to walk with me.  The rest of the time, she is on a trot or run.  I found some dog toys that I had from my other dogs and gave them to her.  The favorite is a rubber bone that squeaks.  She will run back and forth with it, not wanting to play catch, but just running back and forth until she drops.

She was still trying to get those cats to play with her but due to the heat, she found a cool place and spent most of the afternoon into early evening lying in the cool spot.  We went out to do the watering and I decided I wanted to see how she would do on a leash.  No problem.  She walked along as if it was the most normal thing ever.  I was really pleased but still had a doubt since I had not heard her bark and I was concerned that maybe she couldn't bark.  I wanted her to train as a watch dog so I was trying to think of something that would make her bark but nothing was working.

That evening I went next door to visit my neighbor and parked the golf cart near the walk through gate between our yards.  I told Maggie to stay and she sat down next to the golf cart as I went through the gate and over to the house.  I was about ready to step up on their porch when I heard her bark.  I was pleased but hoped she wouldn't bark the whole time I was there.  She didn't because when we came out a little later, we found her in their yard.  We still haven't figured out how she got there unless she got onto the golf cart and jumped over the fence or gate.  But she was there waiting for me to come out.  She came with me and rode on the golf cart on the way back to our house.

Since then, it has been a daily routine of feeding her and then the cats and making sure she understands that she has her own food and has to leave theirs alone.  She rides with me to go water and we have play time in the evening.  And she has barked a few times since then so I keep hoping with some training, she will learn to bark to warn me if there is danger.

She knows her name now and when I tell her 'no', she seems to learn after a couple of times, except for the jumping but today she was better so again, maybe we are making progress.I think one day we will be close friends and will understand what each of us wants and will have a great relationship.  Just as she is working towards one with the cats and has made friends with a couple of them. Again her only problem is that she comes up on a run and they aren't sure what her intentions are so are on the defensive, but I'm sure that will end soon too, once she realizes they don't like her running up to them or maybe they will just get used to it and ignore her and she will stop.  I'm leaving that up to them to work out as I don't want to be in the middle of a mad cat and a playful dog.

I admit I'm not a person with patience and since I'm not a real big dog fan, this is a trying time for both Maggie and me, but I will say this, she isn't going to leave me alone and demands my attention and maybe there is a soft spot in this old heart because I may get angry with her when she is being kind of bad, but I can't help but love her.  I know she loves me.