I have been wanting to take Maeve to the groomer's for some time now, but she so dislikes certain aspects of being handled and having things done to her that I have put it off again and again. I've tried to do the best I could for her at home, but she really needed a thorough, full-on professional grooming. So, I called Sally, who has groomed Maggie for years and took such good care of Teddy, (whom she deemed "the hairiest dog ever," despite owning three golden retrievers of her own)...Sally, "you ain't seen nothin' yet"...

Things a groomer should know about Maeve: She hates getting wet and is highly suspicious of water squirting out of anything. I have not successfully trimmed more than two toenails in a single day on her when I have done it myself, and the last time I took her to the vet to have her nails trimmed, it took forever because they needed three technicians to get the job done. And she has double dew claws, so that means more nails to trim. She is also deeply offended by any activity that involves moving her tail to accomplish it. Too much of any of these and Maeve goes into sulking mode in her crate for a while. 

So, we arrived at the vet office where Sally does the grooming, and she asked me if I would accompany her to take Maeve down stairs to the grooming area. Sounded like a good idea. And it was necessary, because once Maeve got to the landing in the stairwell, she decided she wasn't interested in going the rest of the way. So, with a little pulling from me in the front and a little pushing from Sally in the back, we got her where she needed to go. A little more pushing and she was in the wash tub. I was worried. Sally was worried. I had to leave. I told Sally to just do what she could, at least it would be a start.

Less than an hour later, I got a text from Sally, with this photo:

and the message that the bath went well and the hair dryer went well and Maeve was wonderful. Relief! Then a couple of hours later, another text saying that the nails were no problem and declaring Maeve to be "a great girl"! After an afternoon of more drying, trimming and lots of brushing, Maeve looked even more beautiful than usual (and slightly smaller with much of the undercoat gone) and Sally was in love with her. So all my worry and fear for nothing. Isn't that always the way...Look out Maggie!! You're next...

One year ago today we signed the contract to make Maeve our very own fluffmuffin. It has been a year of sweet snuggles, quirky surprises, funny stories, more quirky surprises, lots of love, additional quirky surprises, some solid squirrel protection and enough dog hair to choke a horse...and we couldn't be happier! So we celebrated with the best kind of car ride possible...the kind that results in ice cream (well, frozen custard, actually). Enjoy!

Maeve does not like rain. So much so that she will hold her business until the drops stop falling from the sky. She will ask to go out and stand by the door wagging her tail, but once the door is open and she takes a few steps out, she will stop, turn around and head to "her couch," giving us a look like, "Are you crazy? Water is falling from the sky..."

So, on our first snowy day--really snowy, and really cold, we wondered...will she go out? Or will she hold it? Until spring???

Well, no worries! She loves the snow, and the cold. She pretty much treats it like a warm spring day...

Maggie...well...she likes some snow, but the bitter cold brings her running back inside pretty fast.

The only problem with Maeve liking the snow is finding her when she's out in it.

With this in mind, we welcome Maeve. She spent the first year of her life unwanted, discarded and wandering. Someone finally called animal control, but in rural Kentucky, controlling the stray dog population usually has a pretty grim outcome for the dogs. But someone was watching over Maeve, and rescue swooped in (www.stopthesuffering.org). Maeve's future prospects grew brighter. She came to Ohio in February and had a loving foster home with a lovely lady, and for the first time, she had a soft place to lie down at night and food that was given to her every day, and medical care, and baths, and loving attention. And then I saw her on Petfinder. I wasn't looking for a Great Pyrenees. I was looking for a Golden Retriever, but Maeve kept coming up. I even requested an application from another rescue for another dog, but there was a delay, and that dog disappeared from the online list, so I inquired about Maeve.....and now she's here. She can't be officially ours until next week, but we feel like she's ours already. I know she appreciates the soft beds and the regular food supply and the big yard and her new little buddy, Maggie, but the thing she likes best is love and attention, demonstrated by belly rubs, neck scratching, and head rubbing. She is relentless in her pursuit of affection, and once you start petting, she tries her hardest to never let you stop, and she is pretty irresistible. So, if you come by to visit her, be prepared to stay a while. 

Welcome to the family, Maeve. We love you already.