Winter Stinks

We are OVER the cold weather and snow around here.  Maisie's little fleece coat wasn't keeping her warm enough, so we got a heavier waterproof one last week.
 

 "Can you quit taking pictures and let me outside now?"

It wasn't easy, but I managed to shovel some paths for Miss M so she can do her business as usual in the yard.

It's so cold that the whole process is generally pretty quick.  But today, Maisie heard her friend Barkley outside in the yard next door.  We haven't seen him since the fall, but unfortunately we had no time for play this morning.

 "Barkley!!!  Let's plaaaaay!"

It took some treat bribing to get her back inside, but once there Maisie was content to resume her usual position on the couch.  Stay warm, friends!

p.s.  for frequent Maisie updates with lots of pics, please "like" our Facebook page if you haven't yet!

Lazy Leafy Sunday

While I don't often have time to post these days, every once in a while I find myself with both adorable pics and a little time on my hands.  Like now!

In typical Maisie fashion, she woke me around 8am on this Sunday morning wanting to be fed and let outside.  Once those needs were satisfied, where did I find her?  Unsurprisingly, right back in bed.  My bed.

"oh, hi.  is there a problem?"

But shortly thereafter, a somewhat shadowy (but definitely canine-shaped) figure appeared in front of me.

Again in typical Maisie fashion, she wanted more.  As in another trip outside so she could sniff around to ensure the area was completely secure (security never takes a day off around here), then squeeze out a few drops of pee and therefore "earn" herself another treat.  Never one to discourage outdoor peeing (especially after the bedroom rug incident a couple weeks ago), I of course obliged.  Maisie immediately ran to the gate to determine if her next-door BFF Barkley was outside and available for a quick romp through the yards.

  "Barkley? Barkley? Ya there, dude?" 

 

Unfortunately for Maisie, Barkley was not there.  Perhaps he kindly allows his people to sleep in on Sundays.  

Queen of the backyard 

Hope you all enjoy the rest of the weekend...it really feels like fall out there!

p.s.  for frequent Maisie updates with lots of pics, please "like" our Facebook page if you haven't yet!

Training Hike

What's this, you say? An actual blog post?  Like, written down and published for others to read???

Yes, Maisie lovers it is true.  While work and life have left me with little time to blog, today I was inspired to do so because Maisie and I tried something new that I wanted to share with all of you.  We did our first training hike.  That is, a hike with a trainer and her dog to help get my dog back on track as far as working on leash reactivity, among other issues.  When I asked Maisie if she wanted to go on a hike, she seemed a little confused about exactly what it meant as well.

 "huh?"

"whatchoo talkin' bout wif dis hike thing?"

I'm not gonna lie, I was really nervous.  I have not kept up with Maisie's training and rarely even walk her on leash now that we have a backyard.  But when she snapped at a very nice man picking up his dog from daycare as we were walking out a couple weeks ago, I started thinking it's probably time for both of us to get a refresher.  So we met up with the lovely Hannalore of Boston for the Dogs.  Hannalore offers training as well as dog walking services, and an hour-long private hike sounded like a great way to get back into training.  Hannalore brought along her dog Luka as a canine companion and potential distraction for Maisie.  A short drive to a nearby wooded trail and off our quartet went.  I was again, very nervous that Maisie would react badly to another leashed dog in such close proximity, but Hannalore had it all under control.

Luka, Hannalore and Maisie

I used just minor corrections (Maisie wore her prong collar) to keep Maisie close when she wanted to wander, and in check when runners and bicycles went by.  Amazingly, she had no freak outs and did not bark or lunge once.  She even remained calm and walked nicely beside me when Luka was allowed to roam off leash and Maisie's leash stayed on (though she did let out a short, low growl when he came right up to her).  We walked and walked until I got a little too warm and needed to take a break.  Maisie seemed pretty content to soak up some lovin' from Hannalore as a reward for a job well done in the meantime.

Even I was feeling pretty calm and more confident at that point.  A bit of rest, some grass grazing from Maisie, a couple more photos to document what we'd achieved thus far and we were ready to move on.

Thanks for taking our pic, Hannalore!

By the time we reached the end of the trail, we had two very tired dogs.  Maisie snoozed the whole way home...she also farted in a particularly noxious manner throughout the entire drive, but that was probably unrelated to the hike.  Unless it was a result of all the grass she ate! 

Sleeping and farting.  Ah, a dog's life.

So our first training hike was a success.  I'm excited (but of course nervous) to do it again with maybe two other dogs or in a busier area, to test Maisie's skills a little further.  I also learned a valuable lesson beyond training tips, and I'll definitely use bug spray next time because the mosquitoes really got the best of me today!

p.s.  for frequent Maisie updates with lots of pics, please "like" our Facebook page if you haven't yet!

Hot Dog

Hello Maisie lovers!  It's been a while since I've posted here (hopefully you've been following us on Facebook in the meantime), but as the video below shows, not much has changed.

Maisie has always loved being warm.  When we lived in Chicago, she spent the winter panting like crazy while sitting directly in front of the vents on the floor.  Our house now has ceiling vents, so that's no longer an option.  But Maisie's addiction to heat persists...when she finds a sunbeam she basks in it, regardless of the apparent discomfort it may cause.

You may or may not be able to see the start of a drool puddle on the chair at the end of the video.  Maisie proves once again that she is the reason why I can't have nice things!  ;)

Not Terribly Wordy Wednesday - Typical

Typical sights at the Maisie and Me Inn New England...

Long day at work/daycare followed by a little weeknight TV watching/couch snuggling:

 

Breakfast followed by quick trip to the backyard, espresso (for the human half), and email checking which results in Maisie's patented up close in your face "pay more attention to meeeee" move:

Happy hump day, all!

p.s.  you are missing out on lots of adorable Maisie pics and updates if you haven't "liked" our Facebook page!

Maisie Loves Fall (aka Raking is Overrated)

As in most of New England, there are lots of trees in our area.  The wind from Hurricane Sandy blew a ton of leaves to the ground all at once, and plenty of sticks came down with 'em.  Judging from the bags of leaves at the curb for garbage pick up, most of my neighbors have already addressed the situation in their respective backyards.  However, I don't own a rake.  Also, I am lazy.  As you can see, Maisie doesn't seem to mind.

 p.s.  for more frequent Maisie updates and pics, please "like" our Facebook page if you haven't yet!

Hell Yeah!!!

Bill S.2192 went into effect today.

Thank you Gov. Patrick, for signing this truly progressive bill.  First, it outlaws BSL in Massachusetts.  OUTLAWS it.

The legislation updates the state’s dangerous dog law so that it now nullifies existing city and town ordinances that focus on particular breeds, such ones that ban pit bulls or require them to be muzzled. Breed-discriminatory legislation has never proven effective at reducing dog bites, and it punishes all citizens living with a particular breed, whether they act as responsible owners or not. The new law requires municipalities to focus on the behavior of misbehaving dogs and their owners, regardless of the breed involved—for example, enforcing existing leash laws for all free-roaming dogs, which are the animals responsible for most reported bites.
-  Linda Huebner, Deputy Director of the MSPCA

Second, it requires training for all animal control officers.  I had no idea that was not already mandatory!

Third, it creates a statewide program to encourage everyone to spay/neuter their pets.

Finally, it allows restraining orders for domestic violence cases to include not just humans, but also pets.

We are so so proud of our adopted state and hope others are inspired and able to pass similar legislation!

This face will never, ever be muzzled.

 p.s.  for more frequent Maisie updates and pics, please "like" our Facebook page if you haven't yet!

 

Hey Kelly Ripa...

Does this look like a dangerous dog to you?

Although we are Chicago natives, Maisie and I currently live in the town ranked #4 on Money Magazine's 2012 "100 Best Places to Live" list.  No gangsters here...

It's been a tough week for us responsible pit bull owners, especially in the Boston area.  Will the negative perception of our beloved breed ever end when those stereotypes are constantly reinforced in the media?  The fight against ignorance continues.

p.s.  for more frequent Maisie updates and pics, please "like" our Facebook page if you haven't yet!

Slacker

Yes, I have been slacking on blog entries.  I promise I will try to get back to it soon!  In the meantime, you are really missing out on some adorable Maisie-ness if you haven't yet liked our Facebook page.  You wouldn't have seen her snoozing in a backyard sunbeam.

 

Or trying to figure out how to get back inside after jumping through a screen-less living room window.  It took some coaxing, but she eventually jumped back inside...I figured if she can jump over the baby gate to escape kitchen confinement, the window should be a piece of cake!

 

Or Maisie's happy crazy eyes during a puppy play date at my house (the tan blur is her lightning quick new friend Sadie).

Or Maisie forgetting what "boundaries" and "personal space" mean after taking Xanax before being crated since her separation anxiety has gotten worse...though the Xanax really helps, thinking of taking some myself!  ;)

Or unmaking my bed once again, without remorse.

Or resting peacefully on one of her dog beds.

 

Hopefully these pics (and the many others on FB) will tide you over for just a bit.  Happy fall!  :)

Snooze & Stretch

Maisie spends many a lazy Sunday snoozing the day away, and today was no different.

Once she wakes, she doesn't just get up.  There's a process.  First...the big yawn.

She takes a look around, and notices that I am there.

"oh hey.  hi."

Then she starts to think about her next move.

And the stretching sequence begins with a modified downward dog.

Then Maisie's back half gets a good stretch, while her front legs support the effort.

Finally, just one leg needs an additional stretch.

And she's off!  

Does your dog have a post-sleep stretching routine too?  Or is this just another example of Crazy Maisie?

p.s.  for more frequent Maisie updates and pics, please "like" our Facebook page if you haven't yet!

Disappearing Act

I haven't been posting much lately and I don't want you to think I've disappeared for no good reason.  So I'll share what's been going on...meaning this will be one of the few posts that's more about Me than Maisie!

This year has been tough for me, health-wise.  As I've mentioned, my MS started going crazy a couple months after Maisie and I made the big move from Chicago and it hasn't let up.  I've had two major flare ups thus far.  The first rendered my left arm and hand useless, the second gave me horrible vertigo followed by loss of hearing in one ear.  While there have been major improvements, some symptoms still linger and may be with me forever.  And there's always the fear of another flare up coming on at any time.

I was admitted to the hospital for the vertigo and was so grateful that the owner of Maisie's daycare was willing to come pick her up and also drop me off at the ER.  I was an inpatient for five days (one of which was the 4th of July), and being there without my usual support network of family and friends was very difficult.  Luckily, my brother had already planned a visit and was here for a few days right after I was released.  Hard to say who was happier to see him, me or Maisie.  She made sure to get in as much cuddle time with him as possible.

After my brother left, I was on short term disability for a week.  Although the vertigo was somewhat better once a week of resting at home had passed, I was still too dizzy to drive so I had to hire a driver to take me to/from the office and Maisie back and forth to daycare for a few days.  Two weeks later, I went on a vacation that I'd planned months ago with a group of friends from Chicago.  Even though it meant leaving Maisie again, I really needed to get away and relax...and the gorgeous view of the Atlantic we had in Maine certainly helped!

I will actually be leaving Maisie once again this week, as I am going back to Chicago for a few days.  It will be my first visit home since moving to MA and I'm super excited to see my friends and family.  I am feeling better now, but I know that this unpredictable disease can always surprise me with another episode without warning.  So I'm working really hard to reduce my stress and accept the fact that some things are beyond my control.

Maisie gave me a purpose when I felt helpless and hopeless.  There were days when I might not have gotten out of bed if I didn't have to feed her or let her out in the yard.  She kissed me when I was sad, snuggled up to me when I was afraid and stayed close to me when I couldn't do much more than wait for my brain to heal itself.  I value her companionship now even more than I did before.

"is this close enough?  want me closer?"

p.s.  for more frequent Maisie updates and pics, please "like" our Facebook page if you haven't yet!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - What a View

I've been sick with another MS flare up, this one caused severe vertigo and landed me in the hospital.  I spent another week recovering at home and though I'm still not 100%, I am appreciating small things like having espresso on the deck before work while Maisie gazes out at the trees and early morning sun. 

Wordless Wednesday - The Most Important Meal of the Day

Actually, Maisie considers all meals to be equally important.   Breakfast just comes first.

"breakfast.  good.  yes."

 "now I must rest and digest. wake me when it's time to leave."

Mondays Require Extra Effort

I was lucky enough to spend the weekend at a yoga/spa retreat in the Berkshires.  I was really excited to de-stress, but of course I was also very nervous about leaving Maisie. She stayed at her daycare for the two nights I was away, and it was the first time I've left her overnight since we moved here.

Of course, I called the daycare to check in and was told Maisie was doing great.  The wonderful owner told me she even slept downstairs on the couch so Maisie could sleep with her (she has cats upstairs and rightly thought it wouldn't be the best idea to let Maisie near them for an extended period of time).  Knowing Maisie was enjoying herself allowed me to enjoy beautiful views like these.

But since Maisie was on a different schedule (i.e. one not including me) for the last couple days, it was extra hard to get her to leave the bed this morning.  See for yourself...

I can't help but smile when I see that tail wagging.  She's adorable even when she's ignoring me, right?  ;)

p.s.  for more frequent Maisie updates and pics, please "like" our Facebook page if you haven't yet!

Car Rides

Maisie has a very dysfunctional relationship with my car, and therefore taking her for a ride is always an adventure.  She is uber-protective of the car itself, and barks insanely when anyone (strangers or someone she knows well, it does not make a difference) comes within ten feet of it.  This makes red lights interesting, as Maisie routinely scares the bejeesus out of pedestrians who have the nerve to innocently walk past our vehicle.  She also barks like crazy if I leave her in the car for a few minutes, like earlier this week when I had to run into CVS to pick up a prescription on the way home from work.  I left the sun roof open for ventilation and could still hear Maisie barking while I was INSIDE THE STORE.  *sigh*  As I said, always an adventure.

On the plus side, Maisie LOVES going for car rides.  As long as we are moving, she is perfectly content to take a nap, watch the world go by through the window, or just simply relax in the backseat.

And if she starts feeling that familiar urge to chew, there's always an antler nearby to scratch that itch!

p.s.  for more frequent Maisie updates and pics, please "like" our Facebook page if you haven't yet!