My name is Maggie!

Maggie was surrendered to Ugly Mutts when her family decided that since the kids were all grown and out of the house, they wanted to take this time in their live to travel and didn’t want the responsibility of having a dog in tow. She has only ever lived with the one family and it would appear that she was not often taken out of the home. She is learning that there is a whole world out there to explore and is really enjoying herself. She does like men better than women but she is friendly with everyone. She is approximately 5 years old and weighs approximately 25 – 30 lbs.

Here is what Maggie’s foster parents had to say about her:

Maggie is a sweet, gentle and loyal dog who loves to be with people. She seems to prefer male company and has become Trevar’s shadow, content to be laying next to him, but not demanding attention. She is quite playful and really enjoys running after a tennis ball which I think she would do for hours if she had a willing partner! She makes funny little noises that sounds as though she’s trying to speak to you, and she’s also pretty good at walking on her back legs – quite the character!

Maggie has a moderate to low energy level – she does enjoy going for a long walk and likes to run after balls but does not seem to require a lot of exercise. She is a very low-shedding dog and is in excellent health. Maggie is 5 years old and has recently had all her vetting updated including being spayed.

Maggie is fine with people of all ages and has not exhibited any aggression or shown any shyness with people. She will bark however when people come into the house or she hears a strange noise. Maggie has barked more often as she has become more confident in our home, and can be quite vocal. However this is only when she thinks she hears something, not constantly. Maggie is fine with other dogs in the home and also has no issue with cats. She will bark when dogs pass by the house but when we are out walking she has been fine when other dogs have been in her sight.

When we leave the house we put Maggie in a crate and she does bark, but settles down after a while. She is getting better with this all the time and is fine now when left in the crate at night. Maggie does not like loud noises, eg. when you drop something or bang something. She can be a little timid with strange objects but soon becomes used to them. She was also a little afraid of cars when we went on our first walk, but is gradually getting used to them also. Maggie loves to go for walks, play ball and she also loves to chew her kong. Just being next to someone seems to be her favourite thing to do though, she is definitely very snugly and loves to be stroked.

Maggie is pretty good around the home, she has not tried to steal any food at all, but she does like to jump up and look onto the counter tops – however I think that is just curiosity. She does like to chew and has destroyed two rubber balls, chewed the end off a red kong and has made a start on the black kong I got her which is supposed to be for strong chewers! She will also chew anything that looks like a toy (eg. a stuffed owl I had) and she will chew on paper.

Maggie knows sit and also how to shake hands. She is a bit stubborn when you ask her to come, depending on whether or not she wants to, but I’m sure that with a little training and time spent she will learn quickly. She is pretty well house trained but she seems to have the occasional accident and doesn’t communicate when she needs to go out, so you need to take her out often and be patient. Maggie was reluctant to go into the crate at first but has got a lot better about it. We only crate her when we are both out of the house and during the night. At bedtime she may bark a few times, as I’m sure she would much rather be snuggling on the bed with us, but then she quietens down and sleeps through the night. She is great on the leash and doesn’t pull – she is a pleasure to take on walks. She has not tried to escape from the yard and she doesn’t bolt out of the door either. When out in the car she tends to run from side to side and likes her nose out of the window and can be a bit anxious, but maybe she hasn’t been in cars too often.

Maggie is such a loyal, gentle dog that anyone would enjoy having her in their family. She is very sweet, curious about her surroundings and just a delight to be with. She can get a little anxious sometimes, but the more time she has spent with us the less anxious she seems to be. A daily walk is something she really enjoys, and as she doesn’t pull and is generally well behaved it makes it fun for everyone. She can be very playful when you have a ball to throw for her and occasionally does a mad dash up and down the living room, just for fun I think!

Maggie would make a perfect companion for someone looking for a gentle dog that just loves to be with their owner. She is cuddly and soft, low shedding and doesn’t have a strong doggy smell. I can see her with a retired , single person as she really is good company and so undemanding, but with a little cheeky side that makes her fun. I’m not sure that a boisterous household with a lot of activity would suit her at this time in her life.

If you think this pet would be a good choice for your situation, please visit our main website at http://www.uglymuttsdogrescue.com and submit an adoption application.