Maisie has adjusted surprisingly well and seems to like her new daycare out in the 'burbs near the office, though I have to admit it feels a bit odd to drop her off at a strip mall! But she actually doesn't act as scared going in as she did with the city facilities, maybe because this one is smaller with less open space and perhaps therefore less intimidating to her. Also, there are a lot fewer dogs...while at the previous daycares there could be anywhere from 20-50 pooches at a time, this one has 10-15 at most. So Maisie can chill out by herself when she doesn't feel like socializing (and I like to think that she receives more personal attention from the staff too).
As I expected, Maisie is happiest on the days she goes to our dog walker Paul's house. He has a yard and a big back deck, and Maisie loves playing with his three dogs (especially his pit bull Lila, shown below on the far left and adopted from the same rescue as Maisie). This pic of Maisie enjoying the outdoor space with Paul's pups (and a couple other client dogs) was taken in the spring of 2010, while I was on vacation in Mexico.
Besides Lila, Paul's other dogs are Clifford ("the big red dog" sitting next to Maisie)
and Buster (the giant Mastiff in front). that's a lot of dog for one person!
The white dog with the black spot is Dottie, a deaf pit bull (and another NLOL Chicago alum).
Yesterday, Paul gave marrow bones to all four dogs as a special treat. So you can see why Maisie wags her tail so hard that she almost falls over upon arrival there...I'm pretty sure that to her, Paul's house is doggie heaven.
Since things in the outside world have changed so much, I'm more attuned to what has remained consistent when Maisie and I are home together. I still encourage her crazy roll-y way of waking up in the morning.
And she still waits on the bottom step for her leash to be put on before we go outside.
She still tries to bask in the light coming in from the window.
But settles for hanging out on the futon when she realizes it's raining and there's no sunlight to be found.
She still lounges on the big chair in the living room (which she considers "her" chair...visitors be warned).
She still makes her orgasmic antler face.
And snoozes all snuggled up with an extra blanket when it's chilly.
I am very happy and relieved that Maisie has accepted the new routine more easily than I thought she would...definitely more easily than I have! I really miss spending so much time with her, but I try to appreciate the time we do have together even more than before. After all, we are still a team...team Maisie and Me.
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