All About Maroo, a Tibetan Terrier story...........

Halloween....scary for some, but not my Maroo!

2010-11-04T02:31:00.001-07:00

I remember Maroo's first Halloween last year...he still was adjusting to meeting new people although he had come miles compared to the first few weeks after I had first brought him into my life. For many dogs Halloween can be a stressful night because not only are you dealing with a constant flow of visitors coming to your door...but most of these visitors are in costume! Through a dog's eyes this can be a very frightful experience and not in the spirit of a ghost and goblin filled Halloween neither! Since dogs primarily work on their two major senses when greeting strangers....sent and sound. Sight can be at a disadvantage when these goblins are dressed in costume. The majority of my pack will bark with gusto non stop until they feel safe and secure that this 4 foot "Frankenstein" is of no threat to them from a dog's point of view.

This past Sunday evening with Halloween upon us, the air was filled with much anticipation for both four legged and two as the events were about to unfold! Bowls overflowing with shiny wrapper filled candy...the scents of Autumnal candles through the house...frightening music playing non stop...yes it was Halloween in full bloom my pack and you were all about to experience it once it again...With thrills and chills as the doorbell rang and those little monsters and demons waited patiently for a handful of chocolate delight! Normally I would rotate bringing each dog with me to greet the Trick-r-Treaters at the door ..but with some of my girls still in "season" I was limited to which pack member I could share this experience with....I choose Maroo this year to be my doorway companion to greet the children since he has always felt safe around those just as innocent as he is...But innocence in costume might not paint the same picture as a greeting under normal circumstances. Since Maroo is my smallest and lightest Tibetan Terrier there is never a problem with me picking him up and holding him against my chest if necessary. But I filled my pockets with doggie treats none the less... just in case I needed an advantage if he became afraid.

With both pockets and bowls filled with treats for both four legged and two...I sat waiting as each ghoul approached the house. Maroo stood guard with me, not barking but almost a gleeful scream when he would see these visitors come close. Not once did he back away or stand behind me as he has done so many times in the past. Boldly he stood guard and checked out each visitor with sniffs and licks as they uttered those famous words "Trick or Treat" To my amazement he did not show once ounce of anxiety and if I did not know better, he was actually enjoying the job of handing out these treats! A few times he would stand up on his back legs and do his little prancing routine as much as to as to say..."look at me, I'm a kid too"...lol!

This evening proved to me once again just how far my little man has come since the days when walking on a leash in public was an issue for him....I never pushed this issue with him and decided at the start that I would just let time be our guide and allow things to happen when he was ready to accept new situations. If he was unable to, no sweat....he had more than enough entertainment just staying in the dog yard and house with my other dogs.

I was so proud of Maroo this Halloween, I think he enjoyed it more than I did....In my wildest dreams would I ever expect him to be so brave on such a horror filled night...Halloween is not for the weak of heart...only those brave souls can endure the thrills and chills this evening delivers....the sounds, the scents, the sights of pure evil had nothing on my Maroo....he just licked this horror away with a heart filled with love...and the courage of a lion :)

Saturday at Susan's

2010-09-25T18:55:00.000-07:00

Today, Saturday....I brought 3 of the boys over to my good friend Susan's house so that they could enjoy her beautiful fenced-in yard! This has become a pleasant outing for my dogs a few times each month...and I normally will bring 2 or 3 dogs with me, and rotate who I bring each time. Last week it was "girls day out" and this week it was "boys just wanna have fun" day :) I included Maroo with Nobu and Aiden for this special afternoon treat...

I have commented this past year about just how much Maroo has adapted and changed for the better in so many ways compared to how he was initially when I first adopted him...My God he was so withdrawn in those early days...and to see him now, running and jumping in the air on a gorgeous Fall afternoon at Susan's was so heartwarming! He loves to play with each dog he meets and of course the dogs in his pack here at home.... But to be honest here, Maroo just does not play.....he completely loses track of who he is and where he is...as if he is on a completely different level than just a four legged creature who barks and lifts his leg to pee...He transforms himself into joy itself....the smiles and love that radiate from his small little tail wagging frame is so obvious that it is almost impossible to miss! It is well researched and documented that dogs do have the ability to smile...and this research has shown many different types of expression ranging from a smile after a tickle to an all out body trembling laugh...if you can imagine that!

You can always tell by the dog's eyes if they are truly happy or not....and when the corners of the dog's mouth actually mimic what we as humans call a smile! With his tongue out and his eyes almost completely closed as two little slits....my Maroo is smiling!

This afternoon was a fun time for dogs and people alike....playing Frisbee and fetch...running after each other ( just the dogs did this :) and taking small breaks in the shade when they would collapse all fours and lay in the cool green Autumn grass under a shade tree. Once rested, it is back to the running and chasing again! All 3 of my boys had a wonderful time playing with Melody and Domino this afternoon...they love exploring new places with new friends, although Mel and Dom are actually very familiar faces to them since they are part of their extended family.

Yes it does the heart good to see such wonderful progress Maroo has made since those early days....he actually will go up to strangers now! He might not get as close to them so that they would be able to pet him...but he is close enough so that he can decide if this is what he wants or not. A year ago he would not even approach someone he did not know. He would stand to side of me or behind me between my legs trying his hardest to hide from what he perceived as possible danger...

Life was good today for Maroo....and I have a very strong feeling that it will be the same way tomorrow!

Another Summer....another season

2010-09-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

As usual I have been so busy I have not been able to return to Maroo's blog to update or add any new information....but as luck would have it, today I was inspired to do so. Well lets just say right off the bat that Maroo is doing awesome! He has pretty much left his old life behind him and has joined the ranks of the North Star group of Tibetan Terriers with proper status :) He has remained well liked by all of my dogs from day one...but instead of the pity in their eyes for him it has changed to admiration! His antics are always something to talk about at the end of the day by his human counterparts, me included....Antics like chasing his tail in the yard until he finally collapses on the ground and begins to role on his back! Another game he enjoys is riding the backs of the larger dogs like a circus pony...and with amazement they allow it! No fighting and no attitudes when it comes to Maroo and the others....they love him and he adores each and every one them! He finds his most enjoyment with the younger guys, "Aiden" and "Tara" just 10 months old themselves.. because of the similar size between them...he enjoys joining in with them on "running games" Oh they can run and run until the cows come home....and would run with them once the "Moo Machines" hit the barn too...LOL~ At night he settles in with the sophistication of a Champion Pekingese...on top of a pillow like a Prince among Princes...never demanding and always quick to lick the hand that feeds him....kisses come with ease from Maroo and he kisses often! You can always find him in the evening above your head on the sofa...wagging his tail to sleep, thinking I am sure of the day's activities behind him...falling softly off to that place where all dogs go in sleep...and me wondering at times, what is he dreaming about? Yes life for Maroo had become so much better I have almost forgotten how he was in those early days....running and hiding from anything that he did not feel safe from....leaving the other dogs at the fence to bark at strangers passing by....but now he is the front runner at that same fence, barking and barking and barking....oh how I love that sound.

Now that summer is over....

2009-10-02T17:51:00.000-07:00

Now that Summer is over and Fall is upon us, I can finally spend more time updating my Maroo's blog......I am amazed at just how far my little boy as come since this past March when he first came home with me! So much of what he does now and how he reacts to the world around him is so appropriate.....He still is an extremely loving dog who could spend an entire day just licking my face :) So....check back for daily, weekly, and monthly updates about Maroo and the world around him!

Summer Vacation....

2009-08-05T04:04:00.000-07:00

Well I have finally gotten around to posting on my boy Maroo's blog....It has been too long since I have written anything here and I honestly feel bad about that....One of the main reasons is that summer has arrived in full force and all that goes with it.....dogs arriving for boarding......new grooming customers....the continuing story of "Webster"...and a laundry list of other assorted chores and commitments....so it has been busy to say the least.....But I am very happy to report that Maroo is doing excellent! He has become an extremely happy boy...making new friends each week......and forming an even stronger bond with his best bud "Webster".....I will be writing more each week now that life has settled down here at the North Star home....

Guilt

2009-07-05T06:05:00.000-07:00

Well now that June if over and I have finally caught a weekend off from dog shows and work, and family obligations.......well not really off from work since my life with my dogs is 24/7 for the most part........but I do have a weekend where I can decide what I am going to do rather than the weekend deciding for me....But I have felt kinda guilty for not writing as much as I have wanted to......spending too much time on Facebook these days and not enough time here on Maroo's blog....And speaking of guilt.....Maroo has a new trick. I figured it would not take him too long but since my other dogs do this it was just a matter of time before he would start "giving me the eye" Oh it all started with my Liza who is an expert at parking herself right in front of you while you are either eating something that she of course wants........or there is a toy sitting out of reach from her and I can reach it for her. She would sit and stare at me and then if that did not work, she would proceed to lick my arms, hands, and work herself up to my face........all in the name of guilt. Well watching Liza and the others do this.....Maroo has figured out just how to get to my heart (like he has not already) and make his every wish come true at my expense :) He has also found a new game outside in the yard....It seems that he loves to hide from me when it is time to come in... This a skill that the others have also developed over the years.....Some call it "selective hearing" I call it just too funny for words........You can stand there at the door and call his name for him to come in and he will find a place to hide and just watch me as I continue to call his name.......finally when I bring the box of "cookies" (dog treats) to the door his attention is all mine again :) Funny how a little baked piece of dog goodness has worked miracles through the ages! But once inside all he has to do is park his little furry butt next to me and start licking my arm and giving me the look and it is back outside again with him..........As long as the day is light and the weather is beautiful I cannot see any reason for him to be inside anyway.......Oh guilt seems to be the name of the game these days.......but not in a bad way. I need to spend less time on Facebook of course and more time enjoying this gorgeous summer weather. I could bring my laptop out onto the deck and surf the web there but the last time I did that a very pretty blue bird flew over and dropped a present right on the middle of my laptop keyboard!!!! took me a half hour to clean it off carefully.............I wonder if that bird also felt guilty?

a busy month for running in the rain...

2009-06-23T04:37:00.000-07:00

I feel really bad that I have not been updating Maroo's blog these past few weeks but things have been so busy that I have not had the chance to sit down without any distractions to type a single word........But this morning I am able to.

These past few weeks have been very trying as far as the weather is concerned since the sun has not been out all that much and it has been raining at one point each and every day! The dogs who do not mind the rain have actually have had enough of it! My poor Sabrina and Liza who normally won't set foot on wet grass in the morning just look at me like "you have got to be kidding" when I ask them to go out and "go potty" :) Of course as usual Maroo loves all that water in the play yard......He will run in that yard for an hour getting soaking wet without a second thought! He tries to get the other dogs involved with his running through the wet grass but they only look at him like he is nuts........but he just continues, running and jumping with a huge smile on his face. Then when it is time for him to come in I have to practically put him on the grooming table with the blow dryer to dry his coat again...The other day I brought Maroo to work with me to the grooming salon and he had is weekly bath.....he looked so good and smelled even better. Once he got back home and ran in the yard he looked like he just stepped out of the bath tub......but he still smelled great :) I don't know what makes him different from my other dogs as far as the wet grass and rain is concerned....perhaps it is that he really never had this treat to experience when he was growing up in the puppy mill........God only knows what other things we take for granted that he would get a thrill over? I only know that watching him have so much joy in his heart running through a soaking wet play yard can make my day even on a day when I think I have nothing to smile about........Maroo always brings me back to who I am and why I am here on this planet.

Luna and Maroo part two...

2009-06-15T04:20:00.000-07:00

Well yesterday was another big win for Luna at the dog show......much to my surprise the judge gave her Best of Breed over the champions entered....We tried our best in the group but the breed rosette is all we came home with :) Maroo came along for the fun yesterday and since it was finally a beautiful sunny day he totally enjoyed himself playing with Luna before and after she showed.....One of the biggest steps he has taken recently is how he will interact with my sister when she visits.......In the beginning he would shy away from everyone including my sister Gerrill.......but just this past week I observed him going right up to her and giving her licks and kisses with no prompting......She has spent much time with him over these past weeks since she usually helps me with my dogs when I groom or when we are going to a show.......so Maroo is very familiar with who she is......But the fact that he is treating her as a family member now is very exciting! You have to remember that this is the same dog who would zone out when anyone would approach him in the past.....It is very difficult because when I have him with me in public most people want to touch him because he is so damn cute! He still remains shy with strangers but is slowly coming around with the people he continues to see on a regular basis.....I also wondered if Maroo made the connection between Luna, who he adores........and my sister who is Luna's mom? Who knows what language is spoken between our dogs that we cannot truly understand........Perhaps Luna is saying to Maroo........."oh she is ok, she's my mom".........That would explain why Maroo has begun to trust my sister and give her licks and kisses :)

Maroo's new best bud.....

2009-06-11T04:46:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago when "Webster" was returned to me I was very cautious when letting him play in the yard with the other dogs........There was no cause for me to be concerned based on any behavior he had displayed but when you bring a non-neutered dog into a pack.....even if that dog was raised as a puppy in that pack and left......things can become a bit dicey. Webby's temperament is lovely........he always interacts with other dogs very appropriate and I like to say he has manners! Richard his full brother and litter mate is very similar to him in temperament and personality.......the happy-go-lucky dog! But with 4 intact males in my pack, 2 being my almost 18 month old Nobu and Richard you still have to be very careful.....Of course my girls are perfect little ladies around new dog friends who are sharing the yard and house with them.........and with the boys they can be little flirts :) So I never have to worry about my boy crazy TT girls in the play yard.........And then there is my Maroo and his dad Archie (who I am still fostering)

Maroo, who is always looking for a new dog friend where ever he goes was very enthusiastic when he first met Webby.......almost to the point that I honestly think that he got on Webby's nerves a bit.........all that jumping and following him around and chasing after him if Webby decided to run.....got old real fast for Webby......Of course Webby did not become nasty with Maroo but would start to avoid him if they were in the yard at the same time........all of this mostly took place the first week he was back home with me. As the days passed by I noticed that Webby and Maroo started forming their own games while playing and Webster would be searching out Maroo in the play yard instead of hiding from him.....These past 3 or 4 days I have seen them running after each other switching who was chasing who every minute or so.........almost like a game of "tag" Maroo has learned when I let Webby out to play and with which other dogs.........If he is not included with that group, Maroo will become very vocal and let me know that he wants to be included with that group so that he and his new best bud can play together! If dogs could smile and most people believe that they really can, Maroo's face lights up when he is out there in the play yard in the middle of a game with Webster.....and of course Webster has found a new pal in Maroo......someone who looks up to him and can run as fast as the wind!

The picture posted above is Webster when he was a few weeks old.........A very cute puppy who has grown up to be a very handsome TT!

Well another long week is over....

2009-06-06T09:22:00.000-07:00

For some reason this week forever to become Saturday........since the past 2 days have been nothing but rain and today does not look so good, more rain most likely I am sure this is why the week seemed to be so long! Yesterday I brought Maroo with me to the grooming salon for his weekly bat and boy did he look great when I finished bathing and drying him! But as soon as I got home and let him run in the yard while the other dogs needed to be taken outside he was soaking wet!!!! I honestly do not think that there are enough towels in the world when you have a house full of wet Tibetan Terriers to deal with........I brought an entire stack of clean fresh towels up from the laundry room before I let the gang out to run in the wet grass and rain......by the time I towel dried each and everyone of them off before letting them back into the family room I had a load of wash to do! Of course I also had to load up my crated dogs with extra towels as well because there is nothing worse than a wet dog laying on a soaking wet dog bed inside of a crate! YIPES! Maroo I think was the most wet out of all of them since I know he has a passion for water and all things connected to water :) Remember he was the little guy who fell in love with the garden hose a few weeks back.....Oh he will do anything to take advantage of the chance to get his little feet wet.......which would also include.....his legs, stomach, head, tail.......actually his entire body! It is a very good thing that he is small and does not require too much time to dry off....unlike my Richard who also shares this same passion.........I really have to watch him during a wet day outside........he takes a very long time to dry since his coat is very profuse and has much length on it right now........Oh the joys of a raining day and a house full of TTs........there are few things that compare....except perhaps a house full of ducks!

June is busting out all over.......

2009-06-01T05:39:00.000-07:00

Well Memorial day has come and gone......Parades, cookouts, dog shows, friends, family, and most importantly...dogs! It was a great weekend and week for that matter....so much happening. Maroo has changed so much for the better over the past month...that once sad look in his eyes has been replaced with an actual sparkle! Playing outside with the other dogs he has become the fastest dog in the yard! No one can seem to catch him when he is running with a toy in his mouth. Oh they try but he seems to be able to maneuver himself in and out of bushes, around trees and patio furniture...up and down the steps of the deck...fast is the name of game with Maroo! Now that Luna, his heart throb has gone back home to my sister's house...."Sabrina" seems to be his new flame...They both are almost the same size which helps when you are chasing each other....The larger dogs seem to not be able to get around all those obstacles like smaller ones do. The weather has been perfect for all play yard activities lately and I know that my dogs are so happy about that.....nothing like sun bathing on a warm Spring afternoon just after having a wonderful meal or treat...chasing the hose as I water the flowers or spray off the deck.....or finding a bird or cat to study in the yard next door....Oh we are all very happy that June is finally here! Maroo seems to be busting out also...busting with excitement and happiness!

a dies ex abyssus or "a day from hell"

2009-05-27T19:42:00.000-07:00

Late entry, events happened on 5/20/09

Well what was suppose to be a very positive and productive day turned out to be somewhat of a nightmare! First I want to let you know that Maroo is fine and nothing that occurred today involved him in any way.......Wednesdays I usually work from home grooming my client's dogs during scheduled appointments....I was to have 4 dogs today that needed grooming....Since my first dogs owner works very early at a local hospital and I myself am usually up at the crack of dawn I allow her to bring her baby to me on her way to work, which is around 7am........no problem at all. "Denzel" is one of my puppies from my last litter in 2007 and is also the litter mate and brother to my "Nobu" Denzel is solid black with a small patch of white on his chest........and he is as cute as a button! On the small side for a male Tibetan Terrier but what he lacks in size he makes up in personality! He is a joy to have here during his grooming days.......my next 3 dogs were scheduled at 10am and 1030am to be dropped off.........The 10am dog scheduled was "Webster" who is another puppy from my other litter in 2007 and he is also the litter mate and brother to my "Richard"......Webster's owners have had issues with him on and off since he first went home with them over a year ago......I really am too tired right now to go into any real details about this family but I will say that it is NOT Webster's fault! We are talking about people who ask for help, you offer or give the help, and they do what they want to do regardless of the advice you gave them..........This past Fall they wanted to return Webster to me and I was all set to allow this to happen.....just became so sick and tired of all the mentoring I did and it all going in one ear and out the other..........Poor poor Webster to live in a house where no body could get their acts together for his sake! Well this morning after being 40 minutes late for Webster's grooming appointment the owner arrived and told me that she no longer wanted Webster! She stated that he has had many issues and has become very aggressive toward members of the family! I asked how long had this been going on and she told me that it had been for a very long time now...........NOW, I have spoken to the owner several times during the past 3 to 4 months..........even had Webster her for boarding and grooming on several occasions.........and NOTHING was ever mentioned about any problem that occurred in their home concerning Webster???? I asked why they did not contact me or contact a trainer to come to the home to work with Webster......and she told me that they had met with a trainer and she gave them some tips on how to handle Webster's rambunctious behavior.......obviously it was not working since he was still doing what they did not like.......ok, I don't want to go into too many details or we will be here all night :) the bottom line is that she dumped Webster off at my house this morning and even if she did want him back.........it just is not happening!

Also this morning my sister who will help me out with grooming on occasion agreed to give me hand all day with my scheduled dogs......She said that she would be there at 9am which would give us plenty of time to even grab breakfast at the local dinner up the street....very good food btw..........Well she showed up at 11am after I called her when she was not here at 9:15.........she over slept.

Well after my sister arrived and we started to groom "Melody" and "Domino", my good friend Susan's two dogs I realized that both dogs were matted pretty badly.......This was very strange because Susan is fanatical about brushing her dogs......but with the change in the weather and some rain that we have had it was understandable that both of them would be starting to "blow coat"......During the grooming of both of these dogs I realized that I would not have time to run to my doctor's office to pick up a prescription that he wrote for me so I asked my sister if she would not mind going while I stayed home and finished Domino............she agreed and asked if she could take my Van.......I said yes. While she outside of the yard near the driveway she called to me and much to my surprise she was holding Luna in her arms! She told me that Luna had gotten out of the yard!!!! I was shocked because the gate was closed and locked and there was no other way for her to exit? I asked her to bring her back in the yard and go out again to see if Luna does it again and to also find out WHERE she was escaping from? Well she left the yard, locked the gate and headed toward the driveway.......In a flash quicker than a blink of an eye Luna ran to the far corner of the yard near the driveway and escaped through a hole in the fence that I could not even imagine a rabbit going through!!!! The first time she escaped she ran right over to my sister but not this time.....she ran right past her and into the street! Well this is just not any street.....at this time of the day there are plenty of cars and trucks and Luna was right in the middle of all of them!!!! My sister ran into the street to block the traffic in both directions and kept calling to Luna to come to her......no such luck........Luna was free to run and play this very dangerous game she thought was fantastic! I yelled to my sister to stoop down and call her like she was playing a gamed........Luna finally came over to her and my sister grabbed onto her hair around her neck and secured her by picking her up.......Both of our hearts were pounding so fast and my sister almost started to hyperventilate once the episode was over.....she told me she needed to use the bathroom......no surprise there since I would have l lost all bodily fluids if this had happened to just me and one of my dogs!!! She brought Luna into the house and proceeded to go through the gate between the kitchen and dinning room......this gate is in place to separate both my "Luca" and "Adam" since they do not get along in the slightest and would fight with each other in a New York minute! While I was still outside I had heard some pretty intense growling coming from the family room....I quickly went inside to find both Luca and Adam standing up like two Bears in the wild ready to fight! I immediately grabbed hold of the first dog I could reach and lifted Adam above my head to bring him out of the reach of Luca........in the midst of doing this Luca had gotten a hold of my right index finger and produced a very painful puncture :( I honestly was not his fault since he and Adam were in the middle of a dog fight.......and I placed myself in the middle by removing Adam.......Once both dogs were removed and safe I took care of my finger by rinsing it and applying a pressure dressing on it........Once both my sister and I had calmed down she left for my doctor's office.........about an hour later she returned and things had calmed down.......at least we thought that they had :) I was in the kitchen when I heard my sister call me into the yard with a frantic tone in her voice...........I arrive outside and see my "Olivia" (the other escaped artist) in my neighbor's yard behind my house running with her dog!!! Now their yard is large but it is NOT fenced in.........I called to Olivia in a loud voice and she stopped running and stood there like a statue..........oh she knew she was in trouble.......but with what had happened during the entire day I was in no mood to even get upset about this at all.........I very quickly lifted the bottom of the chain-link fence up and called to Olivia to come over and get her cute little butt back in our yard.........she did with no problem! I did not even have the energy to scold her and actually laughed once I realized what had happened.......So, this was my day from hell........That night when I was all settled in and the dogs were all around me....I was able to reflect back on the events of day and thank God that no real damage was done.......except for my poor finger which was very sore to say the least.

Warning: Kleenex will be needed

2009-05-26T12:42:00.000-07:00

A few days ago Camille sent me the "slide show" presentation which will be shown this year at the National Specialty Tibetan Terrier show in Colorado....So far I have watched it about 4 times and each time I could not stop crying....I don't know if it is the pictures of all of those sweet faces, the music, or the sad fact that some of those babies are no longer with us and have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.......or all three! I do know that I am so grateful for each that Maroo brings a smile to my face and the tons of kisses he places on my face and neck when I am holding him.....Archie, his father is equally as affectionate and will lay on your lap for hours just loving every minute of it....both boys are so sweet! I meant to do and entry on Memorial Day weekend today since yesterday was our Memorial Day here in the states.......I had so much to write about which went on over the weekend....all good stuff! But I just had to make today's entry of Maroo's blog all about the slide show..........Camille did an awesome job and anyone who watches it will surely be touched by the bittersweet nature of the photos......Here is a link to the presentation.....I hope that you are able to watch it.........Thank you Camille......for all that you have done for these babies! and thank everyone else who has also helped out, you are all Saints in my book!

Link to slide show: http://animoto.com/play/vzNxGr7w5hKzg7liNLN0Og

Small dogs, big hearts......

2009-05-23T03:46:00.000-07:00

Well this weekend, Memorial day weekend.......I have my "Luna" staying with me. Luna is the cute little girl that I co-own with my sister........daughter of my Liza and Luca......sister to my Richard. Since my sister had to be out of town this weekend and Luna is entered in shows both Sunday and Monday it made sense for me to have her stay here so that I would not have to run back and forth to bring her to both shows.....Well.....Luna is no stranger to my dogs since she has been her many times before........and Maroo has met and played with her in the past. But for some strange reason this time I honestly think that there is a "Spring Affair" in the midst :) Both of them are showing very strong signs of puppy love! Yesterday I thought Maroo's sweet little brown eyes were going to bug out of his head when Luna arrived in the play yard! His entire face lit up with excitement.....You see both Luna and Maroo are about the same size, which makes it much easier for them to play together.........I have noticed this also with my "Sabrina" (Luna's full older sister from a previous litter).......Sabrina is almost a clone of Luna...same markings and size........but Sabrina is such a little Diva that she is very selective with whom she gives her affection to.......most dogs do not make the cut. Oh she tolerates Maroo and will play with him......but can be very bossy and very vocal....something that Maroo just does not find appealing. Luna on the other hand is very much a little lady.......polite, demure, and very sweet to the opposite sex :) A perfect recipe for two star crossed Tibetans on a beautiful Spring afternoon...........Last night when all the gang was resting in the family room after a long day of playing in the gorgeous sunshine.....both Luna and Maroo were cuddled up on the sofa together while I was watching some TV.....Maroo seldom settles down with another dog except his pal Adam......but he certainly settled down with Luna last night! It was just too cute to see how great both of them got along during the day......playing and jumping about.........chasing each other.....drinking out of the same bowl of water.......sharing a toy.........and now they are both sharing a quiet evening together. It is also nice to see Maroo relate to another dog so well, especially a dog who is the same size that he his....all of my other guys are larger than he is with the exception of the spoiled rotten Sabrina :) Well we will certainly have to see what today brings between the two of them....since love is in the Spring air :)

Just too sad........

2009-05-21T18:51:00.000-07:00

It is with great sadness that I am writing to let everyone know that little "Sadie" my Maroo's sister/litter mate crossed over the Rainbow Bridge early this morning.......I do not know the complete details of what had happened to her but Camille had written to me this week to inform me that Sadie was not doing well at the hospital where she was being treated.....I remember Sadie as a very sweet and bright little girl.......Just like her brother Maroo, Sadie craved love and affection. She was a total joy to visit when Susan and I would make trips to the kennel where the Missouri 18 were sheltered...I am certain that in the short time that some of us got to know her that she touched our lives for a very long time...........Rest well my sweet princess, you are finally free to play in those fields of green over that wonderful Rainbow Bridge......

"Playing on a Wednesday Afternoon" the movie :)

2009-05-15T04:10:00.000-07:00

This past Wednesday was a gorgeous Spring day....The sun was out, there was a gentle breeze, the temperature was in the low 70s........a perfect day to play in the yard! Normally I do not let all of my guys out at the same time to play because I become out numbered.....and cannot monitor who is pulling who's tail or ripping out who's coat while chasing each other......Everyone gets along just fine but sometimes the playing becomes a bit too enthusiastic! But on this Wednesday afternoon I through caution to the wind........or the "gentle breeze" so to speak.......and let everyone out to enjoy this awesome weather. Maroo was the in heaven with so many choices in playmates.........He managed to find a chew toy in the freshly mowed grass and ran with it! This engaged all of the other dogs to chase him and attempt to steal this treasure away from him.......no such luck! He was the fastest of them all......Now I do not know if this had anything to do with his size but Maroo managed to escape each attempt to tackle him and claim the toy..........he would weave himself in and out of the others.......between their legs......around the trees........up and over other obstacles......A pro football player could not have done a better job! I tried to capture this adventure on video but he and the others were just too fast for me........What I was able to film was some of the down time in comparison to the real fun! So for your viewing pleasure........North Star Tibetan Terriers present "Playing on a Wednesday Afternoon" .........Enjoy...........I know the gang did making it :)

Link to YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y7CatCxlgk

************************************************************

We love you "Archie", oh yes we do. We don't love any dog, as much as you....

2009-05-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

Well the North Star TT pack just grew larger yesterday afternoon with the arrival of "Archie"......the father/sire of my Maroo. Susan and I decided to share the fostering responsibility for Archie and since she was lucky enough to have him stay with her the past several weeks it is now may turn to enjoy this wonderful boy! She has called me a few times since yesterday to check up on him since she is very attached to him as well......The best thing is that she will still be able to see him since she lives very close and we both work together during the week at her office where she has her practice (she is an MD) I just pray I do not fall in love with him and not return him to her when she wants him back :) Sharing a foster dog is not an unusual situation since there is normally much care involved for one person to handle at times.......so this situation works out very well for all involved! Plus it gives Maroo a chance to play and interact with his father.........which I am sure that he misses very much since he left the shelter kennel months ago....The play that goes on between the two of them is hysterical! Maroo jumps on Archie and just does not let go......as if he is hugging him so tightly. My other dogs have accepted him with flying colors! I am so proud of the gang for doing this......At meal time Archie is polite and waits his turn........in the family room he finds his spot on the sofa to cuddle up with myself or one of the other dogs......He barks when something is there that is not suppose to be there....and he is just adorable sleeping like a baby after hours of running in the yard! Archie seemed to have a head start on the other rescue dogs from Missouri since he was the only dog who actually looked like a traditional Tibetan Terrier! His size was appropriate and he had a few inches of hair growth that gave him that classic look! Watching him move in the play yard I am impressed with his structure since he moves very well and can turn on a dime........just like some of my other TTs when they play! "Adam" my alpha dog of the house has found a new buddy who is not a threat to him also......seems that Adam can get his tail out of joint with males who are not neutered......but since Archie has been "clipped" pardon the expression.....all is well at North Star :) Right now it is also difficult not to spoil this sweet little boy....he loves to jump onto my lap when I am sitting and gives me the "look" like he knows that I already adore him........Camille is still working on finding Archie a "forever home" but for right now he could not be in a better place......with Susan or myself, Archie will always be loved and treated with the kindness and respect that he so well deserves now that he a liberated puppy mill dog!

A Tibetan Mother's Day.......

2009-05-10T18:00:00.000-07:00

Today being Mother's Day I did a lot thinking about all the TT mothers I have known in the past and present....With three living in my house right now......my Liza, my Olivia, and my Kimberly. I remember Kimberly's first litter of TT puppies back in 1994. I never dreamed that she would have 12 healthy beautiful puppies with her first whelp! Retired from her show career and a well deserved AKC Champion of record, Motherhood suited her very well...she took excellent care of her babies...And 5 days later my first "Liza" had a litter of 10! Raising 25 TT puppies was a full time job and I was lucky at that time to be working from home......The quality of care that they needed was essential to producing a well rounded, socialized, and happy puppy to go off to their new home when old enough to leave......this work was shared between the TT mom and myself.....TTs moms are wonderful to watch in action with a litter of pups......it is amazing to see the progress each day.......and how the bitch knows far more than we give them credit for......nature is amazing at it's best. A year and a half ago history almost repeated itself when my second Liza and her daughter Olivia both had litters of puppies 4 days apart with a grand total of 15! This time I was blessed with plenty of support from family and friends......those puppies were handled and loved on each day and the proof is in the pudding so to speak because both Richard and Nobu are extremely well adjusted dogs today.... But I give much credit to both moms for turning out such wonderful boys. And then I started to think about my Maroo and what sort of relationship he had with his birth mother when she was raising the litter he came from.....Knowing very little about the conditions of the puppy mill, one can only imagine the worse. Out of the "Missouri 18" there were many female TTs......a few older than the others so I wonder if one of those sweet gals could have indeed been his birth mother. I was able to sort out who is Dad is by reading the website of the puppy mill....."Archie" who is a darling boy is listed as his sire. The both do resemble each other in both physical traits and temperament.........so perhaps this is correct information. Maroo has really come far with his ability to play with my other dogs outside in the play yard...today since it was a spectacular sunny spring day I let the gang play outside for most of the day........Maroo had the chance to interact with both Liza and Olivia during a number of times while playing outside. He loves to tease the other dogs and engage them in chasing him around the yard........this game is not received well with all of the dogs but Olivia loves to chase him! All of them going back to a puppy play instinct that only they can relate to.........Maroo was part of the litter again today......playing with his litter mates, chasing each other, jumping on each other, and having a ball........Liza layed in the sun on the deck and watched as Olivia and Maroo had a ball.......I am sure that she was thinking what a great daughter Olivia turned out to be....strong and beautiful.........and accepting another as one of her own..........Happy Mother's Day Liza, Olivia, and Kimberly...you all are very special moms!

Grass seed-$6.99, Garden tools-$22.99, Fun with a Garden Hose - PRICELESS

2009-05-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

There are only a few things in my opinion that need to stay far away from a freshly groomed dog.....Another dog who wants to play rough, laying on a dirty surface, a rainstorm, and a garden hose spraying water at full force..........For the past few weeks I have been re-seeding the dogs play yard with new grass seed since this winter had taken its toll out on a large portion of the lawn and several smaller areas which have become completely bald......When it rains the bald areas become mud and when the areas dry out there is far too much dirt exposed which creates one big dust bowl in the play yard.....So faced with the choice of purchasing a large amount of decorative stones or re-seeding the lawn..........I chose to plant new seeds. Most of the new grass seedling has begun to grow and it is looking fabulous! But there are still a few small areas that need new grass seeded.........(ok where am I going with this you may ask?) This afternoon I blocked off a few more areas with ex-pens and sprinkled the new grass seed down............Once the seed had been carefully sprinkled I then needed to water the areas with the hose to get those tiny grass seeds started with a healthy drink of H2O.........all according to the directions on the seed bag. Now I knew that my Richard absolutely loves water........water in pools, his water bowel, bath time............and water from the garden hose. Last summer we had a ball together when I set up the doggie pool in the play yard for my guys........Most of my dogs would stop by and maybe dip a paw in the refreshing water on a hot and humid summer day..........but Richard would jump in and stand in the middle splashing himself feverishly until he was entirely soaked from his little black nose to the tip of his gorgeous long black tail! We would play game often where I would toss all of his floatable toys into the pool and some of those which did not float and he would actually go diving for the ones that sank to the bottom.........now we are talking about a "kiddie pool" here...........no 6 foot deep end :) I would love to watch him submerge his entire head under water fishing for those toys and bringing them up just to toss them onto the grass when came up for air! I never knew that dogs could do what he was doing...........I am certain that he was not holding his breath.......I do not think that connection is made in their logic.............but none the less he would put his entire head under water and search for those toys under he found them............an easy task in a very small pool.

Well today the fun of summer returned as I was watering the grass seed...........but along with Richard and his amusement, Maroo discovered that he too loves to play in water! Based on his trips outside for potty breaks this past week with all of the rain we have had I knew that he was threatened by wet grass or a strong and steady rainfall...........he would run around getting wet and jumping all over the place feeling the refreshing new rain on his legs and paws...........When he would come back into the house I would towel dry him and place him in a warm crate to take the chill off..........I do not need a dog with a cold :)

This afternoon both Richard and Maroo could not get enough of the water coming out of the hose during my watering task............Each time I sprayed an area, there they both were jumping in the way of the spray..........Maroo was trying to eat the water as it came out in a strong steady stream when I adjusted the hose nozzle to change the force.....Of course both Richard and Maroo had been just groomed and were recently completely brushed out...and looked so handsome! Now I had two completed saturated dogs who looked like two drowned rats! The fun that Maroo had was priceless........He was totally relaxed and free of any anxiety........After the watering job was over I towel dried both of them off and we came back inside........I cannot wait until the "dog days" of summer arrive so that I can watch Maroo discover the fun that can be had in a kiddie pool........This is going to be one fun summer around here :)

*UPDATE: Camille sent me an email this evening regarding Sissy#5. Read for yourself this great news!

Hi everyone, Today is a beautiful day - Sissy #5 came home today! With the exception of 7 different meds - you would never know she had been near death a week ago. She is barking right now along with the rest of my crew as the critters are stirring in the property next door......go figure.

The woman who saved the TTs in Missouri will be making a visit to Mr. R's home to see what else she can find out in terms of diet, vaccines, illness etc. She will also be contacting the miller's standard vets to see if any of these dogs were treated for anything in the past. It is a long shot but she is willing to try so that we may be able to figure out what is going on. She will also be asking the vet that treats many of these dogs out in Missouri to do a consultation with my vet to help rule out things and think of more.

But again Sissy is home - no worse for wear just loss of muscle tone which I am sure she will start filling out after a few good meals.

Keep praying

Camille

Raining cats and dogs...

2009-05-07T20:09:00.000-07:00

Well today was the 9th day of rain that we have had here in the northeast........The sun came out yesterday for a short while and then thunder storms replaced the warm rays of springtime....Normally my dogs do not mind going out when the grass is wet or it is raining lightly. But after 9 days even they have had enough! Maroo on the other hand does not seem to mind if there are sunny skies or rain clouds above........he still enjoys himself running in the yard. Watching him jumping and leaping through the wet grass reminds me of the Gene Kelly movie "Singing in the Rain" He seems to love the feeling of the wetness on his belly because when he comes in from a run outside he immediately jumps onto the sofa and feverishly rubs himself up and down all over the cushions as if he was a cat! It is so cute to watch him do this ritual each time he comes back in from the rain or the wet grass....My other dogs seem to have forgotten this simple pleasure for some reason except for my Kimberly who will occasionally do a similar dance with the sofa cushions when she comes back inside.....He is such a happy boy most of the time....He is feeling so much more confident during his play time outside.....he does not stay so close to the back door as he did in the early days after his arrival to his new home. It is wonderful to see him go exploring with the other dogs in the play yard.......Dogs love to explore, so nice to see Maroo in action some days finding new smells, sights, and sounds in his outdoor world........We take so much for granted with our dogs who are socially adjusted...We do not notice some of the simple pleasures they enjoy on a warm spring day playing in a yard....But when that play has to be learned....we watch that dog for the slightest improvement each day....and hope that progress will be made.....Maroo is making progress in so many areas each day. I am so lucky to be able to share these things with him...even in the rain :)

Not out of the woods just yet.........

2009-05-07T19:51:00.000-07:00

Another update on Sissy#5 came this evening from Camille via email.......It looks as though things are improving each day with her right now BUT they have yet figured out what exactly has made her so sick.......Medicine is a peculiar thing sometimes......and with dogs it can become even more peculiar......I am thrilled that she is eating again as per the email from Camille.......a true and tested sign of a dog's illness can be measured by just how much of an appetite is present........

Sissy #5 is doing much much better today. She ate on her own 3 times today - which is huge progress. If she continues to eat on her own she will be able to come home tomorrow night or Saturday. The IV fluids have been cut down progressively over the past few days. The only yellow that is evident on her body is now on her abdomen - no sign of yellow in her eyes, ears or gums . Her poop is becoming normalized (only way I can describe it) and her excessive urination has subsided and returning to a normal color and consistency.

Once again - all good news - but no ideas on what it is . My vets are speaking with several specialists throughout the community to come up with anything else it could be. Once again - all tests- lepto, tick borne, toxplasmosis, babesia, and Super Blood panel are normal which exception of liver and bilirubin which is getting better every day......

Still waiting on test results for 3 other dogs to see if they are consistent with Sissy's

Keep praying that she can come home.........

Camille

Update on Sissy#5

2009-05-06T19:06:00.001-07:00

The following is an update on Sissy#5 as per an email sent by Camille this evening.......Please continue to pray for her!

Sissy #5 had a really good today.....her liver values are down and her bilirubin is down . This is the first time that she was standing in her kennel , wagging her tail giving me the finger when I left her - as if to say "Hey you are leaving me here again today!!)

All her tests came back negative (Babesia, Toxoplasmosis, Lepto etc) - this is not to say that she does not have any of these things as they are extremely hard to detect (even with a full blown Liver biopsy - which she is way to weak and ill to withstand) . She is loaded up many different medications as well as liver support therapy and the vets are not sure which one is having the positive effect. But are not going to wean her off anything until she is stable and eating on her own.

I have been going there daily along with Kathy a wonderful volunteer (thank you Kathy) to either give her love or syringe feed her so that she can tolerate the meds better. She has not eaten on her own for 1 1/2 weeks but is getting about 6oz of food daily since Sunday through a syringe.

So on the surface the news is good but unfortunately we still do not know what is going on or what has caused this but we keep searching so that we may help the others....we may need to choose another one who is affected to do a biopsy on....

In the end please keep hoping and praying for Sissy's full recovery so that she can come home....

Camille

Prayers for Sissy#5

2009-05-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

Camille sent me this pic of Sissy#5 as one of her favorites of her and I have to agree.......she is adorable! I guess you would have to spend time with Sissy to really appreciate just how sweet she is........Please say a prayer for Sissy that she recovers from her recent illness.......She has come so far since leaving Missouri and does not deserve to be suffering like she is right now......

Brings May flowers.........

2009-05-05T04:44:00.000-07:00

Well April has passed and May is here but since it has arrived we have had nothing but rain, rain, and more rain! This past weekend was a big dog show weekend here in the NJ/PA area.........On Saturday Maroo came along to the Bucks County Kennel Club show while I showed both Richard and Luna at their first outdoor show of the season......He had a blast meeting many new dogs at the show during his walk about the grounds while we went shopping........The rain held off for most of the day but arrived when we were at the show.......Sunday was the Trenton Kennel Club show which is my kennel club, so I had to work the show....It has been some time since I have seen that much rain at a dog show! It poured most of the day and it was not a pretty sight! Maroo was home with my other guys being watched by my niece for the day! Recently Maroo has taken to Marie, my niece and loves to cuddle up with her on the sofa.......even gives her kisses :)

When I returned from the show on Sunday I checked my email and read a very upsetting message from Camille..........Apparently some of the other dogs from the Missouri 18 have had elevated liver enzymes show up in their blood work......"Sissy #5 who I adored at the kennel when we would go and visit has been very sick........Camille has asked everyone who knows her to pray for her so that she recovers from this illness......so sad. God only knows what would have happened to these babies if they had not been rescued when they were from the puppy mill....I cannot even imagine the shape that they would be in right now! Maroo looks so good these days that it is hard to believe that he even came from that place..........his coat is shiny and growing, he has put on weight, he plays with other dogs appropriately, and he is happy! The other dogs who I hear about are also doing great! It does take time to rehabilitate a puppy mill dog but just like the flowers in May which come from those April showers..........Maroo is starting to bloom!

A very sweet thing.....

2009-04-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

Late last night.........actually early this morning around 1am my Kimberly who is almost 18 years old, had a very bad seizure. To my knowledge this was the first seizure that she has had, and hopefully the last....All was quiet in the family room while I was watching TV last night.........all of the dogs were either cuddled up with me on the sofa or laying in their dog beds on the floor.......everyone except for myself was sleeping........Kimberly was sleeping on the smaller sofa by herself as she normally does at night.........when all of a sudden she jumped off of the sofa and started bumping into things very forcefully.......I quickly went to her to see what was going on when she then fell onto her side.........I have seen dogs having seizures many times in the past and this episode was classic. I carefully repositioned her and continued to stroke her head and body, telling her that everything was alright.......I remember even bringing my mouth to her ear and whispering to her that I was there and that she was going to be ok........I honestly thought at one point that she was going to be leaving me........I did not want this to be the way my girl crossed over that Rainbow Bridge but if it was, I was going to make sure she knew that I was there with her before she left.....
Now for the really amazing part...........During this episode all of my dogs had woken up and immediately went to Kimberly's side.........Each one of them licked her legs and face and kissed her and they were genuinely concerned about her.......There was not a sound out of any of them........no barking, no whining........nothing! This was probably one of the most beautiful yet frightening moments I have spent with my dogs.......Although none of my dogs have ever had a seizure up until this point........they all instinctively knew that Kimberly was in trouble and that she need their love....

This morning before I went to work I had to make the decision if I was going to bring Kimberly into the Vet's office or not..........Since bringing her to the Vet would really stress her out and she did seem to be much more herself later this morning, I decided not to bring her there......Had I done this the Vet would have suggested medication to prevent further seizures.......which would have turned my beautiful girl into a zombie! No, my Kimberly deserves much more that that........She has had an incredible long life filled with many wonderful adventures.......She deserved to be at home and at peace with her family this morning .........If she had given me any sign that she was in pain or discomfort, I would have brought her into the Vet's office in a flash..........but this was not the case.

Maroo.......was very quiet this morning when I was getting ready to leave for work........I let him outside with Kimberly right before I had to leave..........I watched them both from the window to make sure that she was ok........and I saw a very sweet thing, Maroo went over to Kimberly and started to lick her face........and for the first time since they have met, she allowed him to do this.

Rules For Non-pet Owners Who Visit, And Like To Complain About Our Pets

2009-04-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

1. The dog lives here. You don't.

2. If you don't want dog hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.

3. I like my dog a lot better than I like most people.

4. To you, he's a dog. To me, he's an adopted Son who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

5. Dogs are better than kids. They eat less, don't ask for money all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive your car, don't hang out with drug-using friends, don't smoke or drink, don't worry about buying the latest fashions, don't wear your clothes, don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and if they get pregnant, you can sell the pups.

The same applies to cats, except they ignore you until you are asleep.

Some like it hot, some like it not...

2009-04-27T19:10:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, today, and tomorrow has been our first "heat wave" of the year....and in April too! All of my dogs usually handle the intense heat of summer without any problems......but when the heat comes on so fast as it did this past weekend you have to pay attention to each dog while they are outside playing so that they do not develope heat stroke.......A dog with heat stroke is a very serious condition and needs to be addressed immediately! It is key to get the dog into a cool environment asap!....and then to carefully monitor the dog until the distress is over........Well.......try telling this to a Tibetan Terrier! My guys will lay out in the full mid-day sun in the middle of a heat wave and think nothing of it! Watching them sun bath, makes me wonder if there really is something to that "long coat keeping them cool in the summer and warm in the winter" theory........it must be true because they adore the sun! I have to pay even more attention to my dogs who have been "clipped down" for the summer as to protect them from sun burn.........Yes dogs can become sun burned very easily if not wearing a sun screen just like their human counterparts........This weekend Maroo got his first taste of a good ol' North Eastern heat wave.......and I have to say he adored it just as much as my other TTs have in the past! He has become increasingly more outgoing in the play yard and even ventures out on his own exploring the various areas of interest in the yard........He has also learned how to play with a group as they chase each other around the yard in what I call the "TT Train" 4 or 5 dogs all running in a line chasing the tail in front of them until someone is caught! Just too much for any dog to have on a wonderful warm spring afternoon........Maroo has really come far in his play behavior......During his first few days here, he would only run back and forth from the deck to the yard until I would let him back inside....This was frustrating because he just did not know how to handle the open space of a play yard.....The story is, that the Missouri rescue dogs had free run at the puppy mill during certain times of the year.....For a dog who had free run of any open space, he would be comfortable with it, right? He certainly did not behave as if this had ever happened to him.....he just could not tolerate any outside space by himself unless I was there physically with him.........and even then, he was still very cautious......It is a good thing now to see him relax more and have fun without me being there right by his side, I watch him play outside while I am standing near a window or the back door......He trust the other dogs and they love to play with him.........Life was good during a very warm weekend for Maroo.........I have a feeling he will be laying out there sunbathing with the rest of them this summer..........I bet he would look cute in a "Speedo" :)

"When I think of home, I think of a place"......

2009-04-24T18:22:00.001-07:00

"Whisper" before and after..........

Today I heard some wonderful news from Camille via email..........Our little old lady Whisper who brought tears to my eyes the first time I met her at the kennel is finally going to her new "forever" home! This sweet little gal was in such bad shape when she was rescued from the hell hole in Missouri that it was beyond sadness.........it broke your heart to see her. I know that Camille and the others who work at the kennel spent many an hour getting this poor soul back into shape and ready for adoption. I remember the warm spring day when Camille and I were visiting the Missouri dogs at the kennel and decided to bring Whisper outside with the other dogs for some fresh air..........She had been very sick the weeks before this day and since the weather was so nice we let her have some fresh air in the play yard. She was so happy to be able to spend time with the others and was actually smiling! At this time most of the dogs still had kennel cough so it was important that she was on a good schedule of rest since she was one of the older dogs.......Not only did she pull through the kennel cough with flying colors she became so much more healthier on a diet of good food and plenty of love and attention.

I am uncertain of the relationship between Whisper and my Maroo.......and for all I know she could very well be his biological mother.......Based on the horrific condition she was in when rescued from the puppy mill it is clear that she had been bred many times in the past......I know that a few weeks ago on Easter Sunday when I visited the kennel to spend time with the dogs I brought Maroo over to the fence on the side of the play yard so that he could see his family that were still there.......All of the dogs including Whisper became very excited to see Maroo and they were speaking to each other in their own Tibetan Terrier language! I am sure that Maroo was telling them all about his new life and the others were telling him about how well they were finally feeling now that they had people who loved them taking great care of all of their needs.........I remember how happy Whisper was to see Maroo.......her little tail was wagging so fast and she was doing the famous TT dance that I have come to know all too well over the years.......The others were equally as happy and the day turned out to be more special than I could have hoped for.........

I do not know the two women who have decided to adopt Whisper and bring her into their lives but I can only imagine that they are two very special women to be doing this......And Jerry, who I believe is transporting Whisper to her new home since it is a distance away, somewhere upstate New York I have been told.......very kind of him to be doing this for her!

I love hearing the success stories regarding the Missouri rescue dogs......I have also heard that little "Fred" is in his new home too! .......without any details concerning this great news I really cannot say more than this right now but will as soon as I learn more....
I hope that Whisper's new family will be keeping us posted on her progress and new life in New York.........and will also be sending lots of pictures!
God bless you Whisper.......You have come so far and deserve the loving home that you now have!

a great sadness today......

2009-04-23T04:22:00.000-07:00

A Tribute to Norma Jean:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvux60fqNU8

It is with great sadness that I write this entry........During the early morning hours Norma Jean passed away and crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I fell in love with this lovely Afghan the first time I saw her months ago at my handling class......I feel privileged to have been able to spend time with her and get to know her beautiful spirit. Her owners Larry and Loretta are devastated and need all the love and support friends can offer right now........Losing a dog in this untimely manner is a sadness that cuts right to the soul.....Only time can begin to heal these wounds. Norma Jean is now free to run with the countless others who have crossed before her.........her spirit will live and love til the end of time.

"Into The West"

Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You’ve come to journey's end
Sleep now
And dream of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across the distant shore
Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping
What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home
And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
All souls pass
Hope fades
Into the world of night
Through shadows falling
Out of memory and time
Don't say:
We have come now to the end
White shores are calling
You and I will meet again
And you'll be here in my arms
Just sleeping
And all will turn To silver glass
A light on the water
Grey ships pass Into the West

That's what friends are for...........

2009-04-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

This morning I heard some bad news via an email from my friend Nancy.........Apparently Loretta had called Nancy sometime during the very early morning hours to inform her that "Norma Jean" the gorgeous blond Afghan had come down with what the Vet is calling "Canine Flu" There is also a strong chance that NJ may have contracted this flu at the Harrisburg Kennel Club show a little over a week ago when we were showing dogs there.........She became violently ill sometime during the night and was rushed to the Vet's office...........later this morning when all of the treatment at this Vet's office had be exhausted, she was transferred to C.A.R.E. (Center for Animal Referral) in Langhorne Pa....C.A.R.E is an awesome facility with a very state of the art Emergency Department. After I finished grooming my first client's dog this morning I took a long break and went over to Langhorne to be with Loretta, Larry (L's husband) and Nancy who had also left work early to be there.........I brought Maroo with me for the ride and for moral support since Loretta loves him so! I was able to bring him into the ER and held him in my arms the entire time since I did not feel good about letting his paws touch the floor........You never can be too careful at a Vet's office......too many germs on the floor from other dogs walking about......Before I headed up to see NJ, I stopped at a shop called the "Ave Maria" which sells numerous medals of saints and religious articles.........I found a very beautiful St Francis medal for pets which fastens to a crate or collar.........in addition I also picked up a holy card which had the St Francis prayer for pets on it.......I gave both of them to Loretta when I arrived...........St Francis is an amazing saint........He watches over all animals and especially those who are ill and in need of special care.....I asked the Vet Tech if it would be alright if we attached the medal to NJ's crate and she told me "absolutely"!!! NJ is listed in "critical condition" at the moment but the Vets are doing everything they can possibly do for her right now...........Loretta and Larry are on overdrive, with no sleep since the day before..........I am going to head back up there to spend some time with them in a short while and do what I can to lend a shoulder if needed......During my first visit Maroo sensed where he was and I knew without a doubt that he was feeling the turmoil of other animals which were there in need of help...........He is very much an Empath when it comes to other animals....he can sense when another dog is feeling fear and pain...........I have noticed this many times when I have had him with me at the grooming salon.........It is almost like he wants to comfort them..........considering where he came from and how much he had to depend on his dog family at the puppy mill I am not surprised that he can read the emotions of others. Many folks know about NJ and her illness and are praying for her.....If you are reading this I ask that you say a prayer for her too.....There are never too many prayers as far as I am concerned..........My little man Maroo would pray if he knew how..........I am sure of that :)

Just My Dog.......

2009-04-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

JUST MY DOG

He is my other eyes that can see above

the clouds;

my other ears that hear above

the winds.

He is the part of me that can

reach out into the sea.

He has told me a thousand times over that

I am his reason for being:

by the way he rests against my leg;

by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile;

by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him.

(I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me)

When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive.

When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile.

When I am happy, he is joy unbounded.

When I am a fool, he ignores it.

When I succeed, he brags.

Without him, I am only another man.

With him,I am all-powerful.

He is loyalty itself.

He has taught me the meaning of devotion.

With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace.

He has brought me understandingwhere before I was ignorant.

His head on my knee can heal my human hurts.

His presence by my side is protection against

my fears of dark and unknown things.

He has promised to wait for me...when ever...wherever--in case I need him.

And I expect I will--as I always have.

He is just my dog.

*********************************************

The boy knows how to play!

2009-04-21T17:52:00.000-07:00

Recently right before my eyes, Maroo has become "Mr Personality" in the play yard! He has always preferred dog over people from day one but I have noticed that lately he really is spending more time away from the back door and more time in the actual yard interacting with the other dogs.....Of course all of the dogs have been very patient and polite with him since his play skills left something to be desired at first but now it is very appropriate and actually pretty funny! He loves to weave himself under the bigger dogs and then jump on the backs of those he can and ride them around like a circus dog! This is one of the cutest things I think I have seen him do since he has come into my life........Once in awhile he will over step his boundaries and tick one of the girls off by being a bit too enthusiastic but they are never mean to him......It really is great seeing the progress he has been making now that the daylight is much longer at the end of the day and my guys can stay out in the yard playing on a warm spring evening.....Inside the house he has always been pretty good about picking and choosing toys and other dogs to amuse himself with.........But he has had spacial issues outside which are finally beginning to resolve! I could not be happier.........

Luna and Maroo's fabulous adventure.....

2009-04-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

Well early this morning my sister and I were off to Timonium Maryland to show Luna at the Mount Vernon Tibetan Terrier clubs regional specialty.....After last week at the Harrisburg Pa show I was a bit apprehensive about bringing Luna back into the show ring again.....but after a weeks worth of training and bonding with me.......the work paid off! There was a huge difference in the show ring then her previous show.........During the ride down to the show site both Luna and Maroo snuggled and slept soundly on the dog bed which was placed securely in the van to avoid and possible injuries..........I always try to secure my dogs when traveling even it is just a short distance across town.........Both dogs seemed to enjoy the ride very much........occasionally Maroo would sit up and look out of the windows to see the world outside while it was passing by outside of the van......The one thing that has impressed me about Maroo is that he has never had any anxiety about riding in a car.......Since he has really had no history that I know of riding in cars I can only assume that this is all new to him..........I do know that when a very large truck passed by and makes that sound that we all know when trucks pass us on the road he does become a bit anxious, but so do I :) Right now I am dead tired from being up so early this morning to prepare and leave for the show........and Maroo is fast asleep at my feet right now............This has been the 4th dog show he has attended with me and each time has enjoyed the day out very much.........He is an excellent ambassador for our breed when I meet other dog folks at the shows and tell them all about his story.........He is learning to accept new people much easier than he did weeks ago.....still has long to go but he has a sparkle in his eyes these days...........and those who meet him for the first time are charmed with his very sweet nature........Oh well time to take a nap just like my boy Maroo is doing right now :)

Love can build a bridge......

2009-04-15T20:37:00.000-07:00

I just realized today that I did not officially announce to anyone that I decided to adopt Maroo......Camille from the TTCA had asked me last week in an email if I had decided to adopt him or if I needed more time.........I explained to her that I could not imagine him going anywhere else then right here with me and my other dogs......we all have grown very attached to him and he fits right in to my canine family beautifully.......I do not remember which day it was but I had been thinking long and hard about the progress he has made and how I would feel if I had to let him move on to a new family.........it was then I realized that "I" was his new family and I could not part with him. At that very moment a song came on the radio which I had not heard for some time now........It was very popular back in the early 90s and was written and performed by the country/western group "The Judds" I believe it was the last song that they recorded and performed together as mother and daughter before Naomi had to retire from the business due to health problems..........the lyrics of this song resonated inside of me long after the song ended on the radio..........It was so fitting in relation to how I was feeling about Maroo that day.......If you have been in this situation perhaps you will know how I feel........a bit sentimental, yes.......but sometimes feelings can be very sentimental.....it is all good ......

I'd gladly walk across the desert
With no shoes upon my feet
To share with you the last bite
Of bread I had to eat
I would swim out to save you
In your sea of broken dreams
When all your hopes are sinkin'
Let me show you what love means

Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don't you think it's time?
Don't you think it's time?

I would whisper love so loudly
Every heart could understand
That love and only love
Can join the tribes of man
I would give my heart's desire
So that you might see
The first step is to realize
That it all begins with you and me

Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don't you think it's time
Don't you think it's time

When we stand together
It's our finest hour
We can do anything,
anything
Keep believin' in the power

Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don't you think it's time
Don't you think it's time

Love and only love
Love and only love

The White House has nothing on Maroo.......

2009-04-14T15:57:00.001-07:00

With the news today of first family's new dog all over the television and internet, I have to say that I am disappointed that the Obamas did not decide on a "shelter dog" at the end of the day........Oh I understand that Senator Kennedy gave them this adorable puppy as a gift.......and that the PWD is a wonderful breed.......safe for the daughter who has allergies, but there was something about the hope of an unwanted puppy coming out of a life of turmoil to a life of privilege that gave many of us hope as well.

Spending time with the Missouri rescue TTs at the kennel when we visit each week has shown me something that I did not realize I had inside of myself.....or at least I did not think I had inside of me, that is humility....

Having purebred dogs from reputable breeders most of my life and really never taking a good hard look at the unwanted ones or the dogs which came from the horrors of a puppy mill has shown me that I am capable of sharing my life with a soul that has been damaged.......being able to accept love from a being that only knows how to give love because it is so primal to them and comes from the core of their existence.......not questioning this love.......taking it freely....

In the face of all that has happened to these dogs they still can give love to another being.......regardless if it is human or canine.......I have seen this in the way Maroo interacts with my other dogs and with me. The pure joy in his expression when he is happy playing or cuddling ....This is love at is very core. Seeing and feeling this has humbled me........and made me a better person....

This past weekend I purchased one of those magnetic signs for your car which was in the shape of a dog bone.........the saying read "I love my rescue" as I was showing it to my sister she informed me that there was another sign which was for sale..........this sign read "Who rescued Who?" I probably should have purchased this sign from the vendor at the dog show because those words are exactly how I feel right now......Who did rescue who?

Like Father, Like Son....

2009-04-13T17:02:00.000-07:00

I am totally thrilled that Susan and Ira decided to foster "Archie" who is the Father of Maroo! This all happened in the blink of an eye between yesterday and today.......During our visit to the shelter yesterday Susan and I discussed the possibility of fostering Archie before he becomes adopted out to his "forever home" She needed the green light from Ira her husband first before jumping into this commitment.....Since Ira knows how important these rescue dogs are to her he agreed to bring Archie into their home.........So this morning with Maroo coming along for the ride we headed out to meet Camille at the shelter......Archie who is very sweet and fairly social greeted us when we stepped into the play yard.......almost like he knew we were coming back for him today! The ride back home in the van went very well......Archie sat on Susan's lap the entire time while Maroo kept giving him kisses every once in awhile......He handled the drive home with ease and did not seem to be distressed at all. After I dropped Susan and Ira off at their home I headed over to my house to begin the grooming process on Archie....His coat was a bit matted and tangled in places and he was in need of a good bath since he had been playing with his other TT family members at the shelter all week.....Once he was placed in the tub and the warm water started hitting his legs and feet he stood there and took the experience in stride.......He was very good about having his head and face washed as well........No trying to jump out of the tub what so ever! Once this part of the experience was completed we headed over to the grooming table to begin drying him with the power dryer......this was a bit unsettled for him because I have the feeling he never had a blow dryer used on his coat before.....with lots of words of encouragement and praise we got the job done! After he was dry I trimmed his feet and face up a bit to make him look more handsome then he already looked :) A stylish bandanna and a spritz of CK9 cologne finished the job! He looked awesome! Coat all shiny and smooth with no mats or tangles left to be found........At this point I decided to introduce him to my TT gang because they were just going nuts to meet this new little boy........in the play yard all went well.......no one got their nose out of joint and they all accepted him as one of the family! I called Susan to let her know how well he had done and then brought him over to the office where both of us needed to work this evening.......At the office Archie was "Mr Personality" with all of the new people he met........showing off his new look and bandanna the entire time :) He eventually fell asleep under my desk on the bed that I had brought here for Maroo when he comes to work with me........Right now he is resting .........He had a very busy day........and the best it yet to come....when he goes home with Susan after our work night is over.

Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail.....

2009-04-12T05:44:00.000-07:00

Maroo and the North Star Tibetans wish everyone a Happy and Joyful Easter Sunday! The Easter Bunny has brought tons of treats for the gang here so Maroo will be very busy enjoying the day.........Susan and I will be visiting the other rescue dogs this morning up at the kennel......so they can enjoy some of the Easter treats as well!

A Dog's Dog and the Hollywood Blond

2009-04-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the Chambersburg Kennel Club dog show over in Harrisburg Pa.....Brother and sister, "Richard" and "Luna" were entered to be shown...both are puppies from my December 2007 litter and have been training very well to get ready for the show ring these past weeks....But things did not go as planned......both Richard and Luna unfortunately did not do very well in the ring yesterday.....a completely different story for another day :) Along on this journey out to Harrisburg was "Norma Jean" a gorgeous 13 month old blond as blond can be Afghan hound.........owned by my friend Loretta who also came along with us.........us being my sister, my niece, Maroo, and myself.......All of use packed into the new van very comfortably. I always keep a dog bed between the two front captain seats for Maroo to lay in when we are going somewhere. He just loves that bed and will stay there and fall asleep on the drive to where we are going....Norma Jean was crated for the ride out there and Richard and Luna were securely kept inside the van in the second row of seats....Maroo has never met Loretta or my niece Marie before so it would be a new experience for him.....He took to both of them without any problem. Licking Marie's hand and giving great eye contact to Loretta the entire ride out to Harrisburg once at the show I kept him crated under my grooming table while I prepared both Richard and Luna for the show ring....he sat there quietly playing with a toy and then fell fast asleep.....no stress at all since this was the third trip to a dog show that he has gone to with me.........he seems to really enjoy all the sights and sounds of the other dogs........He really is a Dog's Dog kinda Dog :) After the days activities had been over we loaded up the van and headed home........this time since Loretta left her gear at the show site because she was returning the next day for Norma Jean to be shown again....I made a dog bed on the back bench seat for Norma to rest on while driving home.....Maroo kept looking at Norma......and so was Richard :) I think they both were in love with her by the look in their little dark brown eyes....Several times during the trip home Maroo would venture back to Norma's area and give her a kiss or two........Richard on the other hand jumped up onto the bench and layed down beside her like they were a couple of newlyweds :)..... I do not think Maroo was jealous because he and Richard are best buds.....he politely continued to return to the bench to check things out with both of them.......paying no attention to Loretta and Marie seated in the back row as he passed by......weeks ago Maroo would have never even gone back to that area if he had to pass a person he was not familiar with! He would have stayed close to me and would not make any eye contact with strangers at all.....With this Hollywood Blond seated in the back row of the van there was nothing that would stop Maroo's gentle heart from stealing a kiss or two from his new heart throb! He has always taken to new dog friends very well from day one.......and slowly he has begun to warm up to the human friends he is seeing on a regular basis right now.....Trust is a very big thing with Maroo......it does not come easy.....being raised as a puppy with little to no social skills or experience he has a very difficult time trusting people he just meets.........but he is getting much better.....hardly any turning of the head and "zoning out" as he did in the first few days after coming into my life........Norma Jean is such a gentle dog and is gigantic in size compared to Maroo......the picture of the two of them being affectionate to each other is still fresh in my mind........The only thing I regret about this new adventure is that no one took a picture of Norma, Richard, or Maroo being dogs at their best on the ride home.....Today Maroo still seems a bit tired from the long day yesterday.......he is sleeping right now next to me as I write this entry into his blog......based on the cute little noises he is making every once in awhile I have a funny feeling he is dreaming.......dreaming of himself and the Hollywood Blond riding into the sunset.......with the wind blowing through is hair.

"Pesach samayach,"

2009-04-09T05:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Passover from Maroo and the North Star Tibetan Terriers!

A step in the treat direction......

2009-04-03T20:30:00.000-07:00

Something really wonderful happened this week with Maroo. For weeks now he has been struggling with accepting treats/cookies from strangers, especially women. But yesterday when I brought Maroo to work with me to the grooming salon he made a big step in his reclaiming of courage. Mari who I work with at the salon just loves Maroo and has been quietly encouraging him each time I bring him to work with me....she gives him his space and does not come across to strong so that he would fear being in the salon with me. In the past she has offered him treats and he would not even go near her no matter what the treat might be.......yesterday he took the treat willingly from her hand without hesitation! Today when I had him with me the same thing occurred........He has now accepted Mari as a friendly person that he can trust. This is an important step for him in his recovery.......up until a few weeks ago he would turn away and not even look at strangers in the eyes. Slowly he is accepting the love and affection of others.........I could not be more pleased with the progress he has made this week......Having a few days off from going everywhere with me was a good idea....It gave him a chance to slow down and relax a bit before going back into the new world he is still learning about each day......

A Van for all seasons.........

2009-04-01T19:27:00.000-07:00

I decided to give my boy Maroo a break for a few days since he has had some much happen to him since he has come to live with me and my other dogs.....I have been bringing him non stop to work with me, rides in the car if I have to go somewhere, to a few dog shows, visiting friends, and to class when I teach obedience..........he has had much happen in such a short time. A break was needed and I am glad that he has had this time to become accustomed to staying home when I am not with him.........He has made this adjustment very well. He still has issues in the play yard especially during the daylight hours........people in the next yard over or loud noises in the area still stress him to the point that he wants to keep running up onto the deck trying to get back into the house..........He ignores the other dogs in the yard with him at this point........I carefully monitor him during these times from the door which opens into the yard.....He has not tried to escape from the yard but I want him to know that I am there watching him so that he knows that he is safe. He has been very good in the house and keeps his crate very clean........amazing since prior to this he had NO crate training......I feed him all his meals in his crate also which with dogs is a smart thing to do because instinctively dogs will not soil where they eat.......unless it is the lazy owner who does not listen or watch for the clues dogs give them when it is time to go potty outside.........he still is a lover boy and just loves giving kisses! He also loves to cuddle on the sofa while I am watching TV or working on my laptop. The other dogs seem to enjoy interacting with him during play and while running in the yard........He fits right in as he did during the first days he was here. I have also noticed recently that he has put on some weight! and his coat is becoming very shiny......amazing what good nutrition can do! This week I had to get a new mode of transportation since the transmission in my car is going to die any day now.....So I bought a very good and gently used Chevy Astro Van.........Perfect for the dogs and my business and the dog shows! Maroo has not been in the van yet but tomorrow I will be taking him to work so he will have his first experience in a Chevy :)

2009-03-25T08:20:00.000-07:00

It's Just a Dog......by Richard Biby

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog", or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog". They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog".
Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog". Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog", but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog", and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it's "just a dog", then you will probably understand phrases like "just a friend", "just a sunrise" or "just a promise".
"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.
Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.
So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. "Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a man". So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog", just smile, because they "just don't understand".

A visit to the kennel

2009-03-23T15:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday on Sunday afternoon I took a trip to the kennel where the remaining Tibetan Terrier rescue dogs still are being cared for. Camille met me there around 1pm....I was so happy to see that most of the dogs with the exception of "Fred" (a 5 year old male) who is still having difficulty with people....how sad it was to see him all by himself away from the gang pacing back and forth along the fence....I did go over to him a few times and placed my hand on his neck and stroked his coat gently so that he would know it was ok....he had no problem with me doing this but was very apprehensive about moving anywhere other than his spot near the fence....I could not help but to think of how far Maroo has come in the past few weeks since he has been out of the kennel. He now will come a little further when meeting new people and not look so "zoned out" when strangers approach him....At work when I bring him to the grooming salon he now accepts treats from Mari which was something he would not do a week ago! Also when clients come into the salon he has been coming a bit closer to them to check out who they are and what kind of dog they have brought in with them....He adores all dogs and loves to play with them! What a bright spot he has put into my day when he is with me....his eyes even have a sparkle to them now when he is happy!

As humans we should look to our dogs.......

2009-03-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

This blog is suppose to be about my boy Maroo but since he was with me last night at the dog show and what occurred at this show I feel I can relate some of what he has given me to a situation that I experienced last night......
A little over a year ago I began grooming and some light training a dog for a client of mine.....During this past year this dog has also spent a great deal of time in my home as a guest when he needed to be boarded........all of my "guest" dogs are treated as if they are my own....living in the family room, sleeping on the sofa or love seat, playing in the yard with my guys (good behavior permitting of course) Recently the owner of this dog has decided that she wants to venture into the world of dog shows with him.........hopefully making him a champion! I was thrilled that she decided this because he is a very good dog as far as confirmation is concerned and he moves very nicely.........a good representation of our breed! We agreed that I would show him the upcoming shows this Spring and Summer.....His first show was this past weekend and due to my own schedule I was unable to attend all of the shows which were held. I did manage to change my schedule to show him on Sunday because the first two days in the show ring he really did not do his best when one of his breeders was kind enough to show him. On Sunday he still tried to pull some antics with me but since I have been working with him for some time now I have a pretty good grasp on which buttons to push when he needs to be brought back under control...........He was also entered last night at the regional speciality show which I did not plan on attended either.........but since I did have a schedule change with my own business I agreed again to make it to the show and bring him into the ring for the owner.....What I seen last night was a big improvement over this past weekend.......still some minor issues to be worked on but all in all a much better dog in the ring as far as his behavior was concerned........The owner of the dog watched carefully as I presented him to the judge and did the routine movements around the ring as per the judge's instructions.......He ended up placing 2nd out of 3 dogs in his class which I felt was fair since this particular judge does like a dog which has more body and a bit more bone in his structure.......After leaving the ring and handing the dog over to his owner I was a bit disappointed that there were no words of gratitude or "Good job"..........just a disappointed look and harsh words directed to the dog that had beaten him. At this time I went back to the grooming area to check on my boy Maroo to make sure that he was resting..........which he was.....actually he was sound to sleep :) I took him out of his crate and offered him some water and proceeded to walk around the show site with Maroo on leash with me.....he did a great job meeting new dogs and was not as timid when approached by strangers....I was very proud of my cute little guy! I headed over to the show ring area to see if I could find my client and her dog to let her know that we needed to start packing up to leave since it was getting a bit late in the evening...........To my surprise she told me that she was waiting to speak with one of the Professional Handlers she had contacted earlier this week about showing her dog for her in the future......The reason she gave was that I could not show him on a few weekends coming up and she wanted him to be entered so that he would win and become a champion sooner....I felt very hurt by this because I had been working with her dog for awhile now and have much emotion invested in him........I explained to her on another occasion that her dog deserved to win because he is good dog and not because she would basically buy a championship sending him out with a well known professional.........not that there is anything wrong with a professional handler showing a dog....but her reasons were, she wants him to have his championship the fastest way possible.........totally not the way I see things or do things in my business. I love it when I dog wins because he/she is a good specimen of the breed and showed very well after some good solid training.........The hurt I felt by what she had done was much deeper than I anticipated because I really feel that her dog is a member of my own dog family....spending more than a year with him working and training has done this.......After she had a long conversation with the Professional Handler we walked back to the grooming area together and I explained to her that if she did indeed decide to allow this Handler to show her dog that I would no longer be apart of his show career in the future...........she expected me to be the "back up person" for when this other Handler could not show her dog..........Again I do not do business this way.......I think she was a bit taken back by this and we left the conversation at that. Upon arriving home last evening she informed me that she did not have her check book with her and that she would drop off a check for me today for my handling fee last night.....It is now Friday afternoon and I have still not heard from her.........The money is not the issue at this point but her thoughtless actions last night still are.....I have decided that I am going to re-focus my energy and training on my own dogs that still need to be moved into the Spring and Summer show schedule.......I really am disappointed in her and do not want to be in this situation again in the future. With our dogs everything is unconditional and this sort of behavior would never happen........They do not betray us or take advantage of us because they want to end up being a winner........They tolerate all of that training and taking them to dog shows because they love us and want to please us.......They could care less about ribbons and placements and points and championships..........But what they do care about is how we treat them and returning that love. I have had dogs for many years now and have loved each one of them for many different reasons...When I brought Maroo into my life I was at a point in my life that I did not expect to have my heart opened up to the love that I feel for him......He has given me so much more in such a short time.....a little guy who never had the love and care of humans can trust me and begin to trust others........it is genuine. Humans can become so caught up in getting ahead of others and being on top that they lose sight of the things that really matter........the feelings of others. What I have learned here is an excellent lesson in human nature.........I will move on and eventually not be as hurt as I am right now.......And if I need one, Maroo will be there to give me a lick and a kiss to make it all better :)

Get a load of Maroo......

2009-03-19T21:06:00.000-07:00

Well tonight was the Non Sporting Club of the Garden State dog show and also a regional specialty for Tibetan Terriers..........Since I was scheduled to show Calvin, a beautiful white with black markings TT at this show I decided to bring Maroo with us for some fun! This would be his second time a dog show and he handled the entire evening wonderfully! Many of the other TT people who were at the show who know about the "Missouri 18" but have not seen Maroo since he left the rescue kennel 2 weeks ago.........I am so pleased to say that everyone could not get over how good he looked... Once I was finished showing Calvin I went back to the grooming area and brought Maroo to ringside so that he could watch the remaining dogs being judged with me.....He sat right next to me the entire time with no signs of fear noted....I even was able to walk him around the show site with ease...........although his tail was not up for most of the time he really enjoyed seeing and meeting so many other dogs! A few times I caught a tail wag from him and that was really good! The only time I did sense that he felt uncomfortable was when a few very large dogs who were crated barked at him as we passed by........but he did freak out........and acted very appropriate for any dog in that situation.......Many of the other TT folks made a fuss over him and he kept eye contact with them, something that he has not done since I have had him in my care......I am very happy that I decided to bring him along and I had the feeling that he actually enjoyed the night out! Once home he played in the yard with my guys and is now resting in his crate sleeping after a very busy day...........Get a load of my little guy Maroo.....a few weeks ago he was sitting in a puppy mill in Missouri and tonight he was strolling around a very large indoor dog show like a true champ! I am so proud of my little guy Maroo.........

Maroo the Irish Tibetan Terrier......

2009-03-17T12:41:00.000-07:00

Saint Patrick's Day is here again and this year I am working at my office job so I was able to bring Maroo with me to work.......since I was the only one in the office this morning there was not much of a chance for Maroo to meet any new people....So he resting under my desk on his dog bed which I keep there for when he comes to the office with me.........too cute how he looks so comfortable just laying there while I am working........the bed is so comfy that I want to curl up next to him on it :) but then I would not get any work done....This morning before I left the house I searched high and low for the St Patty's Day fabric I bought a few weeks ago to make bandannas for my grooming client dogs and of course my own...I finally found it........light green background with little shamrocks printed on the material......perfect to make bandanna's! Well I cut a triangle of material with my pinking shears and tied the bandanna around Maroo's neck.......He looked so dapper! and away in the car we went.......it is amazing just how much he loves riding in the car.........he seems to take everything in stride including all of the loud noises that traffic can make at times.......We stopped for our morning coffee and bagel......me coffee and Maroo and myself, bagel..........he loves bagels! At the office he is also very clean........no accidents on the carpet since he has been going there with me these past 2 weeks........I do take him out for short walks when I take my break and he does his business out near the curb on a strip of grass..........he still is unsure of cars driving past when he is outside the protection of being inside my own car....much better each day...........but still when he sees a person walking or riding a bike he has issues with that..........usually goes right behind me or stands up placing his front paws on my legs......I just tell him gently that all is ok and that he will be safe........I am pretty sure he understands me because he looks up at me as if to say, "I know I'm safe but I am still not use to all of these new things" When I finished up at work around 2pm I had to drive over to my doctors office to pick up a prescription and Maroo came with me........He waited calmly in the car which was in my view the entire time thru the window of the office while I picked up what I needed.....I then brought him over to my friend Joanne's Pet Boutique in the adjoining shopping center.........he walked around the store without too much trouble until he say another dog .............since he really likes meeting new dogs he quickly went over and say hello in his dog language :) Once the owner of this new dog appeared he then retreated back to his very timid self.......the nice sales person offered him a dog treat but he refused to take it from her.........once she placed it on the floor and walked away as per my instructions he then ate it and seemed to really enjoy it........A few people commented on how cute he looked in his Irish bandanna......Then a delivery man was bringing in new stock items and to my surprise he walked over to this man and almost let the man touch him.........still having issues with females and not so much with new men? I still doubt that he ever saw a female before leaving the puppy mill and this may explain his apprehension with interacting with females.....very sad....but he is slowly getting better..........Well we headed home after this and he had his afternoon run in the yard with my other dogs...........He is still wearing his St Patty's Day bandanna while he is sleeping right next to me on the sofa as I write this entry of my blog.......Maroo had a fun morning and a active afternoon..........His progress is slow in some areas but he is doing awesome in others........

From Rags to Riches...

2009-03-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

It is amazing to think that in a few short weeks Maroo has gone from living in the most horrific conditions to where he is right now.....My home is modest compared to most but all of my dogs are treated like the kings and queens that they are......this now includes "Prince Maroo" Yesterday I was asked by a very close friend to show her dog over in York Pa during a four day cluster of shows......it seems that "Calvin" was not living up to his potential the previous days and since I have worked with him for over a year now and know how to push his buttons I was glad to help out......Well early this morning I decided that I would bring Maroo along for the ride and since he needs all the exposure to new things, a dog show would be something that he just might enjoy......he loves other dogs! He handled the very long ride in the SUV very well by resting on my lap for the trip.......I did not drive of course. We stopped to get gas once we were closer to the show site and I took him out for a short exercise walk and he seemed to enjoy the new scenery.......new smells and new sounds......Once we arrived at the show site I brought Maroo inside the building and placed him in a travel crate just like so many of the other dogs who were at the show.........He handled this very well and rested comfortably in the crate.......I even offered him some of my bagel and cream cheese which he took gladly! This dog loves bagels by the way :) After I finished showing Calvin I brought Maroo outside to exercise and he seemed to be not as afraid of things as he has been in our short past.........His attention was geared toward any dog that passed him and not so much on the people he encountered.........I held him in my arms while a few people spoke to him and even tried to touch him..........he does not turn away as quickly as he as done in the first few days but will stare back at them, not with empty eyes..........still not totally sure of himself with strangers but he is coming along and today's trip was a good one.........During the ride home both of us napped in the SUV together.........It was a good day!...........oh, and by the way, Calvin won!

All things can be scary on a Saturday afteroon.....

2009-03-14T15:17:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I only had Maroo for a few days and was not too quick to let him run in the yard during the daylight hours since there is just too much going on in the neighborhood on weekends.......people passing, children playing, other dogs barking, cars and trucks driving a bit to fast. sirens sounding.....many things to stimulate a "normal" dog......so I did not want to overwhelm my little boy with these attractions....Since his progress has been steady and each new day Maroo gains new confidence I thought it would be a good idea to let him experience Saturday afternoon in Morrisville.....bad idea :( After letting the rest of the gang out the back door into the play yard I then took Maroo out onto the deck and let him run out into the yard.....something he has been doing many times over the past week ....The first thing he noticed was the neighbor boy behind my house playing with his basketball and Maroo totally freaked when he locked his eyes on this boy....It may have been the sound of the basketball so I really don't know but he was not happy with what he saw.........He started to run fast back and forth and kept coming over to me so that I would pick him up........I am trying my best not to "baby" him each time a new uncomfortable situation arises with him so that he can learn to deal with it with me present but not with me picking him up each time.........I then knelt down to his level and stroked the back of his head and rubbed his little ears a bit so that he knew that I was there for him...he then ran up onto the deck and back to me and continued to do this over and over again for a few minutes......by this time a few loud trucks had passed and other people were making noise passing the yard out on the sidewalk.........he became more anxious at this point and after he came back over to me I picked him up in my arms and told him that everything was ok and that no one was going to hurt him......it did not matter because he was starting to go into the "Zone" withdrawing into himself with his eyes wide open and very vacant.......I stroked his hair and told him that I loved him and again that he was safe.......I placed him back down on the ground and he ran up onto the deck with my other dogs who were waiting to go inside for their dinner.......Once he went back into the house he jumped up onto the sofa and sat there watching me as I prepared dinner for the pack.......I opened his crate door and gave him the command to go into his crate for his dinner....He seemed to have calmed down by now and his little heart was not beating as fast as it was when all of those scary things outside upset him....There is a thin line between helping him when things become too scary and treating him like he is a baby......I do not want him to think that each time something new occurs which he cannot handle that I am going to pick him up and baby him.......but I also do not want him to become so afraid that he won't take risk and explore a new situation or stimulation in his world. Since Maroo had no socialization as a puppy and never experience anything other than a 4x4 pen with his dog family there is so much that this little guy has not seen.........Inside the house he is so much more at ease.....with the other dogs near him he feels safe......I just have to be patient with him and slowly expose him to the things that a Saturday afternoon can be all about in his eyes..........Of course each time I see this little guy suffer and become afraid of new things I curse the son of a bitch that did this to him! But that is a completely different post and I really need to focus oh Maroo's present and future because he is never going back to that past again!

Maroo plays

2009-03-13T04:51:00.000-07:00

I took this video last week a few days after Maroo came home with me.........He just loved running in the yard and having the chance to explore new things!

The Green and Black Ball

2009-03-12T05:28:00.001-07:00

Last night I brought Maroo with me to the class I teach each week....Each Wed evening I teach obedience and show handling to a group of really great students and their awesome dogs! So Maroo felt right at home with all of those dogs he could make friends with. He sat on my friend Susan E's lap while I was teaching and he even made a new friend with Susan....When class was over I came home and let Maroo run in the yard since it was still early in the evening......the dog yard is normally littered with toys, Frisbees, bones etc....about a year ago a friend gave this really cool green and black ball to one of my dogs and up until now not one of them has played with it....while Maroo was checking things out in the yard last night he found this ball way in the corner of the yard where it has been for weeks now.....once covered with snow now melted it stuck out like a green and black sore thumb sitting there.......my other guys could care less about it.......must be not too interesting to them :) But for some reason Maroo found this ball to be the greatest thing last night! So I decided to see how he would do if I threw it? Would he retrieve it and bring it back? Well the ball went out into the yard about 20 feet and Maroo watched it like a hawk as it flew through the air.....his ears pricked up and he dashed right out to the spot where it had landed........He then picked the ball up in his mouth and flew right back to me and dropped it at my feet! I was shocked.....I had no idea that this little guy would do this......So I continued to throw the ball out there and each time he would run out and find it.

I was amazed that this little guy caught onto this game so fast.........I know that some dogs are natural retrievers but since it was highly unlikely that Maroo ever had the chance to play this game he blew me away with how fast he caught on to it.

PIcs courtesy of Camille...

2009-03-11T06:58:00.000-07:00

Camille tooks some really great pics of the "Missouri Rescue Dogs" the weekend before last. She was kind enough to share them with others who have been involved with this cause. I wanted to post a few of them here on my blog so that you could see these little guys.....They have come miles from where they were, in many ways!

Just had to call someone....

2009-03-11T06:42:00.000-07:00

Last night around 11pm after all of the dogs went out in the yard for the last time they continued their play in the family room for awhile. As I was sitting on the sofa watching some TV my Adam jumped up on the sofa and decided to lay down next to me......Maroo who had been playing with Adam nonstop for about 30 minutes also jumped up on the sofa and also decided to lay down right next to Adam as if he was Adam's little brother.......both of them started licking each others faces and once this stopped they both settled down to sleep. As Adam was laying there with Maroo he placed is front leg over Maroo as if he was hugging him and keeping him close and safe....I was so moved by this that I picked up my phone and called my good friend Regina....no answer............then called my good friend Susan............no answer.........then called my sister Gerrill........she did answer :) I just had to tell someone about this episode between both of these sweet boys. Adam can be a tough dog. He always does not take well to other males.......he only has had real issues with my Luca in the past but I still do not always feel 100% sure when he is around a new male........But this morning when Susan called me back she reminded me of Adam's behavior when there has been new puppies born in this house. He has always been a wonderful caregiver to those new babies.....cleaning them and playing with them and loving them! Susan pointed out that since Maroo has been so developmentally damaged in the past that he is almost like a puppy in many ways...........I also have thought about this......but I think she hit the nail on the head.........Adam is mentoring this little guy and really cares about him. Of course Maroo has found a hero in Adam.......a bigger dog who shows him stuff and teaches him the ropes of the pack. My other dogs, mostly the girls have been very patient with Maroo as well but so far have not shown any emotional feelings good or bad..........Sabrina I think feels she has a little brother to torment and tease........she would never hurt him but before he arrived in my arms here last week, She was the smallest dog in the house, and knew it! It has been one week since I brought Maroo home with me........The progress in this past week has been great, He has lost that dead look in his eyes around me and with some people he sees on a regular basis.......I just know he is going to make it!

Daytime vs Night

2009-03-10T07:43:00.000-07:00

Interesting observation occurred last night.....I decided to let 7 of my dogs out to play last night in the yard since the weather was so warm and I could be out there to monitor things.......normally I would only let 2 or 3 of them out at the same time because as a large group they can get into trouble......barking too loud if someone walks by on the pavement or they see another dog etc etc...Well I decided to let Maroo out to play with the gang also.......He absolutely loved it! He was running and chasing the other guys as they formed their famous tail chasing train around and around in a huge circle trying to catch the dog the tail of the dog in front of them........too funny to watch! He joined in this game without and trouble and my guys welcomed him into the game without any problem....My Adam and him seemed to hit it off the best. Since Adam is twice his size, Maroo was jumping on top of him like a circus dog.....both of them doing the traditional play bow with their front legs stretched out.....too cute! Well this play continued for about 20 minutes before I brought everyone back inside to the family room for the night.

This morning once the sun came up I let Maroo out to do his morning business and to give him a chance to run with the other dogs and it was like a completely different dog then the night before......He was not as nervous as he has been in the first two days I had him but he was very skittish and seemed to want to come back into the house very quickly......he would run out to the yard and then back up onto the deck.......back and forth and back and forth......not interacting with any of my other dogs who were also out in the yard this morning......Then it it dawned on me that because the night before it was dark outside, very little traffic passing my house, very little activity in the neighborhood.......he did not have anything to frighten him........Once daylight was here and he could see the big wide world in front of him he still had issues with what he was seeing......just too much for his little soul to handle.......He has made progress from day in many ways but I can clearly see that he still has miles to go to build up his confidence. Hopefully with time and lots of love and patience this will occur in him......But for now it was an interesting observation.......Daytime vs Night in Maroo's head can be a scary thing.......I will continue to encourage him, this is all I can do right now.

Maroo plays

2009-03-09T03:20:00.000-07:00

Well after a 5 days of living with the North Star Tibetans, Maroo has had a break thru.........His first couple of days here at my house were very carefully monitored for his transition from a life of hell to a life of happiness........Of course his safety was also a huge concern.......My pack has always been very good about accepting a new dog who was in need of kindness and understanding........I say this because I have seen it before......."Ralphie" for a example stayed here last summer and was one of the saddest dogs I have ever seen........He had NO play skills with other dogs and was afraid of his own shadow.........each time I would let Ralphie out to play in the yard I had to carefully watch him because he would scale the perimeter of the fenced yard for a way out.......Thank God that the yard is very secure and I am always out there with a new dog for his own protection..........Well after day 7 of his 10 day visit here Ralphie was not only starting to play with my own dogs but he would also jump on my lap and lick my face........something that he NEVER has done to anyone before........I give credit for my dogs bringing him out of his very tight shell...........So it did not surprise that Maroo would be playing the the North Star gang in a few days.........Seeing him jump from dog to dog and wagging his cute little tail last night when all of my gang was outside playing in the warmer than expected March air made my heart feel really good! I am so grateful that my dogs have accepted him into their pack....My Adam, who I knew would do this.........became his big brother....and Maroo has found a mentor in Adam.......following him all around like his shadow......I am so proud of my big guy Adam......I really am!

Love at first sight

2009-03-08T04:36:00.000-07:00

It has been a week since I first met the "Missouri Rescue Dogs" up at the kennel in the Garden State.....Having seen rescue dogs before I pretty much thought I as prepared in my mind and in my heart to visit with them........boy I could not be more wrong. Seeing this dogs cut right to my very soul......sort of a primal connection between them and myself that I still have not been able to figure out. My close friend Susan was kind enough to drive us up there last Sunday morning...the conversation in the SUV driving to the kennel was mostly spent on the history and condition of these dogs.......from what we had been told already.. Once we arrived and spent the first 5 minutes with them it was clear that nothing in our conversation driving there was accurate enough......it was much worse. Camille who is in charge of the rescue has been spending every waking hour outside of her own life (which is not much these days) with these dogs......She tries to visit each day but still needs others to volunteer to spend time with these sad little angels..........As of last Sunday there were a hand full of the original 18 dogs that have been already placed in foster care.........but the remaining 10 or 11 were the worse of the lot........some were extremely feral and others were shut down.......all were in desperate need of love and kindness..........The question I kept asking myself is how could anyone in their right mind keep these dogs in a 4x4 pen outside year round? How could they be so neglected and unloved...........How could the owner of these Tibetan Terriers put information on his website stating that these dogs were so well taking care of? How could he show pictures of cute little puppies that seemed to look happy at first glance.........the more time I spent on his website it was very clear that the eyes of these puppies in those pictures were mostly blank.........should have given some future puppy buyer a clue......but based on how long he was in business I guess it did not.

After our first hour at the kennel spending time with the dogs outside in a fenced in area I started to notice this one little boy who kept coming back to me over and over again.......he would stand up on his back legs and place his front paws on my legs and look up at me..........His eyes were what I like to call "old eyes" not the eyes of a 17 month old puppy! which would normally be bright and shiny and full of life...........no these eyes were dead cold.........lifeless...........and burned a hole in your heart......after this game of coming back to me and placing his paws on my legs continued for awhile I decided to pick him up and hold him.......Since I was already covered with mud just like him it did not matter one bit to me.........he was receptive to me reaching down and bringing him up to my chest..........He even placed his muddy face right into my shoulder and rested his head there for more then a few minutes.........I cannot explain what this feeling was like.....I am still trying to figure this out as well........I do know however that my little boy was melting into my body the more I held him........I knew at this moment that I needed to bring him home with me to foster........but more than fostering I needed to start the rehabilitation process for him so that if he was to be placed in a forever home someday he would go there as a happy and healthy dog.........Since this day would not work out for me to bring him back home with me, I agreed to return in a few days to pick him up and bring him home.............."Home" a word we take for granted but this little sweet soul has never really known a "home".....I had my work cut out for me............On Wednesday, I brought Maroo home and into my life...........This is his story...........a daily, weekly, monthly update of his life and how it is changing.......