The Result of Maggie Going "Her Way"

This is my dog Maggie...

Maggie is the newest addition to our little family and we love her terribly.  She has been with us for about a month and in that time, she has truly found her place in our home....which is usually right at my ankles or in my lap snoozing. Now...and I say this as only a mother can....Maggie is not the brightest crayon in the box.  Her HUGE heart makes up for her...well...less than huge brain.  All you dog moms out there know exactly what I'm talking about...  

This...is a story about Maggie that I just couldn't resist sharing...

One of my absolute favorite things to do is take a walk with my husband and my 2 dogs right around dusk.  I love walking slowly and holding my husband's hand and watching the dogs run and play.  On some way-too-deep level, I am against putting my dogs on a leash.  I mean, would YOU want to be on a leash???...I didn't think so.  So we go for walks and our dogs listen....most of the time, and its great. 

Two nights ago, we were on one of these glorious walks...chatting about our day and watching the girls prance along together through the cool grass.  As we are nearing the end of our walk, we have to cut through some brush/trees.  My husband has mowed a path for us so that we can end up in our front yard.  We live in a rural area and use this "short cut" to avoid the BEAST that is our driveway (more on that this winter). 

Anyway...Maggie decides she will be going "her way" not "our way" and runs up a different hill and out of sight.  We call for her and stand at the bottom of the hill impatiently waiting for her little white body to reappear...to no avail.  My husband says, "Lets just meet her at the top and cut through like usual.  She'll see us or get scared and follow us." 

(SURE SHE WILL)

We make our way back toward our yard, calling for Maggie all the way.  I can hear the familiar jingle of the tags on her collar, so I know that she is not far away. 

Our other dog, Lucy, is a diva.  She still wants all the attention and all the love and doesn't feel one bit bad about running over the littler, weaker dog (Maggie) to get what she wants.  As we search, Lucy....does this....knowing full well that SHE is not causing trouble and SHE is listening...

As my husband searches and calls out to Maggie, I turn in the direction of the jingle only to see her emerging from the thick brush/weeds/poison ivy/JUNGLE that surrounds our property.....and she is ABSOLUTELY COVERED IN NETTLES. 

Now...when I say "absolutely covered"...I mean, eyes-matted, paws-tangled, mouth-whimpering COVERED.

I pick her up and realize just how long it will take me to clean her up...and potentially how painful its going to be for both of us.  My husband...whose mind is elsewhere...wanting to go visit his brother...immediately goes for the scissors and starts cutting.  Of course, a fight insues about him not caring about her, and him being impatient...and maybe something in there about him not only making her look awful, but him making her BLEED...*not true*.  Remember...its all his fault...right?  LOL 

So, frustrated, he leaves me to my work and I find myself hacking away at my dog's fur all by myself with tears in my eyes...as she sits patiently, starring up at me saying,

"I know mom....I did a bad thing." 

This...is the result....of Maggie....going "her way." 

  Maggie will live....her hair will grow back...and the poison ivy I now have on my arms will go away... eventually.  But the lessons....oh the lessons that come from such trauma!  Gotta love the furry kids and the excitement they bring!