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Earlier this spring I posted "My Life is Taking a Turn" and told about my taking in another collie to "house sit" for a few months while her owner got her life back in some sense of order. Well, it has been four months, and she has had a wonderful vacation. Learning all about camping (loves my trailer), daily doggie walks over to the lake or in the woods, wading in the lakes and rivers, going for an ocassional ride just for fun etc. And of course we have had our trials and tribulations, destroying one TV remote control, chewing on a couple of books, eating kleenex and fishing stuff out of the wastebaskets etc. I call it a "puppy stage" as she was raised and lived in a kennel and other than being inside when she was carrying pups, this was a whole new world to her. But she has adjusted. No more chewing everything and anythilnlg (except kleenex), loves the walks, loves to camp etc. And has kind of started forming a friendship with my one dog Tessa (her aunt).
Well, the time has come for Maize to return home. So this is her last day of vacation here with me. Tomorrow I meet her owner about 100 miles south of here to turn her back over. She will not be happy I am sure cause it's going to be back to kennel/show dog life. Her owner would like to breed her one more time and maybe show her through to her AKC Championship (she's part way there). Then she plans to put her up for adoption. I have the option of taking her back, getting a pup from her litter or doing nothing. This seperation will help me thing it over and see what happens. She is such a sweet dog and the problems I do have can be worked out over time with a litle more discipline, but I really think she should go to a home with chldren as she loves kids and thye could run her ragged and play and she would follow them to the ends of the earth. She's so affectionate. But three dogs is a handful and my two are 3-4 yers older than she is, thereby getting to the "senior" dog age. She's also debarked which turns some people off.
I'm not too sure though that she's not having a calming effect on Tessa. The other day Tessa was sleeping on my bed and started having a "doggie" dream. You know the kilnd where they shake a bit and move their paws etc. Well Maize bugged me to let her up on the bed so I gave her a boost up with us. She laid down next to Tessa and she promptly stopped her shaking etc. Maize looked at me and then just laild her head on Tessa's rump. Tessa looked at her and went back to sleep. After a bit Maize wanted back down. And this past Friday we had a strong T-storm come through. Tessa hates storms. She goes into panic mode big time. Well, just before the storm came through we went to bed. Tessa sleeps with me anyway, Maize isn't too crazy about it, likes her bed better. But she wanted up thre that night. She slept between Tessa and I. When the storm came through with a lot of lightening and heavy rain, Tessa never moved a muscle. All she finally did was climb over Maize and me and snuggle up against me in her usual spot and went back to sleep. Just once did she get a little panicky, but only for a few inutes. When storm was gone, Maize jumped off the bed and went to her own bed. Interesting. So I guess we shall see what happens after she's gone and a storm or something comes through. It remains to see where her future wil be.... This is Maize, aka Lyncryst Maize Mae

She really is gorgeous.

She's a pretty girl. I know this decision won't be an easy one, but the time without her will help you to make the decision that's best for her, whatever it may be.

It is so difficult to weigh the pluses and minuses of adding members to our packs.....good luck with the process....sometimes it is just a leap of faith. Witnessing the relationship between animals is very special.... and thinking that an animal that is so people connected has to live in a kennel....sigh. So gad that you had a good summer of fun to get to know each other.

Maize is now back with her owner. Was glad to see her when we met about 125 miles down the road. Was about even driving for both of us. I imagine she is busy investigating her new surroundings. Has a big fenced in area to run in and a new kennel area with a new barn (smalll) to sleep in. Will be insulated and secured so it stays warm in winter and she did put AC in her other one in summer. So I think she will be fine. At the moment her owner plans to keep her. I lucked out in that Maize is just coming into season, so I won't have to deal with that. Upcoming camping trips on the calendar. Don't think she will be bred till next spring as her owner just bred another of her dogs and should have a litter in October. Too many pups at once. Plus gives Maize time to readjust. The expectant mother will be put up for adoption to a "forever home" after she has the pups as she is now 6 years old and time to retire. She's a pretty AKC champion sable and white collie.

She would like to make a house dog out of Maize, but her youngest child (little girl) is a bit small for that big dog and between her and her brother, there are a zillion toys all over the floor. Maize would have a great chewing time. So she is better off outside for now. In time she will see what happens.

I did shed a tear when they left and it was a bit of a lonely drive home without a dog in the truck. Left my other two home rather than have them confined in the truck all day. Was supposed to be hot too, but never materialized. They sure were glad to see me when i got home and don't seem to miss Maize being around at all. Time will tell there. Sassy already seems more relaxed. And I have to admit that it is easier just having the two. We took a nice leisurly walk this evening and stopped to talk to neighbors. These two don't need leashes whe nwe go across the road to the lake or back in the woods. So I didn't have to go through the ritual of leashing up one dog etc. cause she would take off if something interestng came along, especiallly another dog. Maybe I'll gain a few feet of trailer floor space now...

That must have been a difficult trip. She is a beautiful dog!

Oh, that was a hard trip to make, but a good choice overall, I think. Things will get back to "normal" for your other furbabies now.

Yes, thngs are back to normal for my furbabies now. They are happy and content and don't eve nseem to miss Maize at all. They are enjoying being able to split my attention between just the two of them. We've been out taking nice leisurly walks in the evenngs now that the days have cooled down. Well, for a few days anyway. And next week they will be with me on another camping trip.

Maize's owner told me that Maize is adjusting well to being back in her new surroundngs but isn't too happy about being back in the kennel. Said she is tolerating it, for now... I said she is probably "Up North" dreaming of camping trips that she loved, the walks, the dips in the lake, the freedom of going from house to yeard, soft doggie beds to curl up in etc. Poor baby. But unfortunately that's life in the dog world for some dogs. Down the road if her owner decided she wants to place her and I am down to just one dog or something, then I may bring her back to a '"forever home". But we shall see what happens in time. My two are 7 & 8 and the oldest one turns 9 in January. I do however also have dibs on a pup if Maize has a litter later on.