Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, Part II

on October 30, 2009

I’m currently running 17.0 miles, so I thought I’d leave you with a 5 Facts about Maggie post since the 5 Facts about James post was so popular. 🙂

Fact 1: Maggie has a really weird body. Not just regular dachshund-weird, but extra weird. For example, she only has 7 nipples (circled below). She is also as wide as she is long. In fact, she’s 18 inches long (from nose to base of tail) and 18 inches around her ribcage. Her coloring is called piebald, which means she is a tricolor dog (brown, black, and white).

Fact 2: We got her 3.5 years ago from an independent rescue organization. She was given up by her owners because she is a little difficult and they did not have the patience for her. When we first got her, she was skinny and had just had a litter of puppies! Because of the way she was treated, Maggie has really bad separation anxiety. We’re tried every trick in the book to help her, but nothing has worked.

Fact 3: Maggie is mildly famous! This photograph of her and her 4th birthday cake is featured on the homepage of the Dog Treat Recipe Exchange website. I have actually had readers of my blog recognize Maggie on the Dog Treat Recipe Exchange site and send me an e-mail. :)

[DSCN7667.JPG]

Fact 4: Maggie is not the brightest crayon in the box. We took her to puppy school and after 5 weeks of training, the dog trainer pulled me aside and said, “Look, some dogs are not not meant to learn tricks… like sitting.” :)

She frequently runs into the sliding glass door. Also, if I open the door of her crate and she is facing the other way, she won’t realize the door is open even if I REACH IN and GRAB HER butt. (I need to make a video of that one day!) My BFF, who is a vet, told me that some dogs just aren’t “all there.”

Fact 5: Maggie sleeps in between the Husband’s legs every night. It’s in her dachshund instinct to bury under the covers and find the safest, darkest, warmest place. At first, I was concerned about her ability to breathe, but I guess she’s OK! (Or maybe that explains the lack of brain cells….Hmm.)

Remember, October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month! :) My little Maggie is one of the brightest spots in my life, and I could not imagine my days without my furry friend.

Be back with a long run recap soon!

{ 92 comments }

Eating Journey October 30, 2009, 4:30 am
# 6 She loves skype calls. Too cute. I love the pic w/ the tounge hanging out.
Diana October 30, 2009, 4:38 am
Aahah she’s so cute. 🙂
Hope you had a good run!
Emily Eats October 30, 2009, 5:07 am
Awwwwww, I can’t wait to move into a real house and get a dog of my own! She’s gorgeous.
Amy October 30, 2009, 5:59 am
I hope you had a great run and I’m in love with both of your dogs!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is October 30, 2009, 6:10 am
HAHAHA I love that she was not the ‘brightest’
TorontoGirloutWest October 30, 2009, 6:17 am
I almost feel bad for laughing so hard!!! #4 was especially hilarious!!

You’re doggie seems like a cutie and she’s very lucky to have you! 🙂
Ashley October 30, 2009, 6:53 am
I love your dachshund posts on Maggie. I used to have 3, one piebald (just brown and white). All three of my dogs had separation anxiety as well, it is a dacshund trait. 🙂
Laurel October 30, 2009, 7:02 am
My MIL has a special place in her heart for dachshund’s. One trait hers have is they seem to have bladder issues when they get excited.
You are an inspiration in long runs. I have yet to force my knees and my lungs to do more than 4 miles at once.
My daughter is begging for me to do the disney marathon. Don’t see that one happening.
Ali@ Food, FItness, Fashion October 30, 2009, 7:43 am
I hope your run is going well. Love the Maggie post…obvi! Oscar burrows too!!! I really wish we lived closer to each other so they could play, I bet they would have a great time 🙂
Julie October 30, 2009, 7:48 am
aw, Maggie is a cutie. She’s like a ditzy blonde.
Estela @ Weekly Bite October 30, 2009, 7:48 am
What a great post! Maggie is so cute 🙂
SweetiePotato October 30, 2009, 7:51 am
aww soo cute!! that’s too funny that she doesn’t know the door of the crate is open lol
Nicole (the other one) October 30, 2009, 7:52 am
The fourth picture down cracks me up EVERY TIME. Could you please just randomly post that picture every few days?
Paige (Running Around Normal) October 30, 2009, 7:58 am
Maggie is precious! That cake you made her is adorable!
I love her “not all there” look, mahaha
Mica October 30, 2009, 7:58 am
Oh man, Maggie cracks me up! Thanks for the five interesting facts!
Andee (LAEasyMeals) October 30, 2009, 7:59 am
So cute! I love these fun facts about your dogs!
Clare October 30, 2009, 8:03 am
I’m quivering with laughter about her not being able to learn tricks…like sitting. So, so funny.
Caitlin@TheTwentyFifthYear October 30, 2009, 8:10 am
Sometimes the ones who aren’t the brightest are also the sweetest – this seems to be the case with Maggie!
Sammie October 30, 2009, 8:14 am
I love both of your posts about your dogs. It is obvious that they are truly your babies. You guys are wonderful doggie parents. I love the photo of Maggie with her little tongue popping out. They are both adorable pups.
Good luck this morning with your long run. Happy Friday!!!
kristen October 30, 2009, 8:15 am
She really looks “not all there” in that tongue picture…it is adorable!
You’ll kick those 17 miles’ ass!
Lee October 30, 2009, 8:27 am
I love these. It’s so funny to read about different dog’s personalities.
FatFitnessFood October 30, 2009, 8:28 am
What awesome pics. I am loving your doggie posts at the minute. Its comforting because we are losing our dog today. After seeing your doggie posts I posted about our Taffy today.

Way to go on those 17 miles!
Courtney October 30, 2009, 8:30 am
Hope the 17 miles is going great!
It is so obvious that you love your dogs…and that makes me love you! Anyone who loves their dogs that much is probably a good person…because dogs are such special creatures!
(I’m a lover of dogs if you can’t tell)
Courtney
Adventures in Tri-ing
Lu October 30, 2009, 8:45 am
I love dachshund’s. This was a cute post. I hope your run is going well today.
Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers October 30, 2009, 8:46 am
thanks for starting my day with lots of laughs & “awwwws.” she’s so adorable!
Mellissa October 30, 2009, 8:47 am
This made me smile this morning!! Every dog has their little quirks and I love that it makes them who they are.
Erin October 30, 2009, 8:51 am
Glad I’m not the only one who has a “not so bright” dog! Good thing they’re so sweet, right?
Cynthia (It All Changes) October 30, 2009, 8:59 am
Oh my Hunni and I had so much fun laughing at Maggie (in a we-totally-appreciate-it-because-our-dogs-are-similar kind of way).

Thank you for sharing your two lovely nuts. You really love them.
MelissaNibbles October 30, 2009, 9:04 am
I want a little weiner dog. Are they yippy though? We’re not allowed to have loud dogs in my apartment complex, but we are allowed dogs 🙂
- Caitlin October 30, 2009, 9:39 am
  maggie is super yippy, but i know a weiner dog that wasnt
Amy October 30, 2009, 9:04 am
Caitlin- I am loving the puppy posts!Hope your long run is going great 🙂
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries October 30, 2009, 9:09 am
Hahaha I love what the trainer said about her!
Jennifer October 30, 2009, 9:11 am
Maggie is adorable! Keep the James and Maggie stories coming, I say. My dog means more to me than I can even say, even if he’s a whackadoodle.
Anne Marie@ New Weigh of Life October 30, 2009, 9:11 am
Aww what a cute post!
Beth @ DiningAndDishing October 30, 2009, 9:11 am
hahahaha, this post is hilarious!! i love dogs that aren’t “all there” – kinda makes them extra cute!! :O)
Sammi October 30, 2009, 9:15 am
That made my day 🙂 How’d you even realize the size thing? Not something I would notice! My dog is kind of big (she’s on a diet because we had to put her on canned food and she gained wayyyy too much weight really fast)she’s small for a lab but not when it comes to her tummy 🙂 My favorite picture is the one you posted when talking about how she’s not all there. That made me laugh so hard! Thank you 🙂
Good luck on your run!
Nicole October 30, 2009, 9:19 am
Although I don’t have dogs, I have two rescue cats, and my little cat Dylan has issues too. He was found on the side of the road with his siblings after his mother was hit by a car. When he was taken in, he was the last of his siblings to go, so he ended up in a room all by himself and he was horrified. It took them almost an hour to get him out from his “hiding spot” and get him in my carrier. He’s been very scared and skiddish ever since. Also, he too hides like Maggie does–under covers, under blankets, and sleeps in between our legs. It’s so funny. You have to be careful where you sit because he usually curls up in a ball under blankets. I actually found him sleeping inside my pillow case snuggled up with the pillow last week. I tried to move the pillow, not knowing, and it was heavy, and then 2 seconds later he came dashing out!
Ally October 30, 2009, 9:23 am
I know you’re totally killing that 17 miler!! Whoot, whoot!!

Maggie is such a cutie! Both our pups are shelter dogs and yes, they do come with some baggage, but, they are just so loving and it just makes me so sad that someone would hurt or dump my sweet dogs (one was abused and one was just dumped on the side of the road! They were both on “puppy death row” before the two rescue groups stepped in and then we got them several weeks later). Thank you for reminding us all about this cause. Maggie sure is a cutie–even if she’s not all there 🙂 Mine aren’t really either, but, I wouldn’t trade them for the smartest best trained dog in the world 🙂
Mary :: A Merry Life October 30, 2009, 9:27 am
That’s hilarious! Maggie is adorable. 😉

Hope the 17 miles are going well!
Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) October 30, 2009, 9:29 am
Ahhhhh maggie is so sweet … that’s cute that she is “not all there.” Makes her more lovable!
Grace October 30, 2009, 9:30 am
lol @ the thought of poor Maggie running into the sliding glass door! She seems like a sweetie pie.
Niki October 30, 2009, 9:37 am
Maggie is too cute! Even if she’s not the brightest crayon in the box:) That’s what makes her special!
Tina October 30, 2009, 9:39 am
Awwhhh this post makes me miss MY Maggie! She’s a golden retriever and the most beautiful girl ever. I can’t believe I have to wait til December to see her!
Anne P October 30, 2009, 9:40 am
Love this 🙂
Jenna October 30, 2009, 9:45 am
good luck on your run!
jenna
Kath October 30, 2009, 9:49 am
Awwww Maggie. So cute. And love the hubs sporting the HLS shirt!
Dee October 30, 2009, 9:54 am
Hilarious! Hilariously cute! Please always include a dose of dog love on your blog! Love it!
Cindy October 30, 2009, 9:56 am
My family had a dachshund for 15 or so years. She was the runt of the litter and wasn’t expected for her to live more than 6 years. Sasha ALWAYS buried herself next to and into anyone or under blankets in her bed, even in the hottest of summer days.

She was the best dog and I miss her every day.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/curtsfan38/sasha.jpg

If I lived in a house or on my own I would so adopt a dog, in hopes that my cat would get along with him or her! 🙂
Madeline @ GreensAndJeans October 30, 2009, 9:59 am
Maggie is so freaking cute and I hope you are rocking that 17 mile run!
Lizzy October 30, 2009, 10:07 am
aw maggie is so adorable!
Angela (Oh She Glows) October 30, 2009, 10:09 am
OMFG I laughed so hard at this post. That pic of maggie def. is one of the funniest (after the ‘not all there’ part).
Nicole October 30, 2009, 10:34 am
I laughed out loud at the picture above fact 5! Maggie is so adorable. My doggie, Pokey, is a rescue dog as well and he is just the best! My life would not be complete without him.
allijag October 30, 2009, 10:35 am
Both of your pups just melt my heart – I love the “not all there” pic – I cracked up the first time I saw that! Lando sleeps in the same spot on me – she avoids Mike because he’s an INSANE thrasher in his sleep 🙂
Julie @savvyeats October 30, 2009, 10:41 am
I laughed so much at this post. I love it!

My dog has serious separation anxiety, too. ie: She refuses to eat or go outside if one of my parents are out of town, and she licks her paw raw whenever my sister or I leave home to go back to college! Poor puppies!
stephanie p October 30, 2009, 10:43 am
you should call Cesar the Dog Whisperer!! haha
Anne October 30, 2009, 10:46 am
These posts have brightened my day!

I used to have a Jack Russell Terrier who also enjoyed sleeping under the covers and on my legs. I’m not sure you need it in Florida, but it was actually pretty nice on a cold winter night. 🙂
alli October 30, 2009, 10:54 am
oh my gosh…that picture with her tounge hanging out actually made me laugh out loud! {some people write “LOL”, but who knows if they really did?!:)}
aren’t dogs the best?! ours has some “not all there” moments, too. when we laugh he gets all embarassed, too! it’s so fun to see their personalities!
BethT October 30, 2009, 10:54 am
AWWW, I love both your dos. I have a westie and he likes to bury himself between our legs at night, too. Sweet babies! I wanna meet Maggie and James!
BethT October 30, 2009, 10:55 am
Um, dos = dogs. Guess I love your dos, too.
Reenie October 30, 2009, 11:02 am
Ahhhh I’m so happy you and the hubby found her:)
Jac October 30, 2009, 11:16 am
i love the pic of the circles around her nipples.. so funny!
Marina October 30, 2009, 11:41 am
Maggie is really cute :)) And this post really cracked me up 🙂
Jacqueline October 30, 2009, 11:44 am
She’s so cute!
I rescued my 2 dogs from a shelter.
She totally reminds me of my dog, a dachshund-terrier mix…she’s as sharp as a marble but super sweet! No joke if you try to get her to fetch, she get’s scared and runs the other way!
Jess October 30, 2009, 11:48 am
I love these last two posts about Maggie and James! Thank you so much for recognizing Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. It is so important for people to understand that dogs are a big commitment and they need training, love, and attention just like humans do. You and your husband have done a wonderful thing and given your dogs such a great life!
Ashley October 30, 2009, 12:12 pm
Love the picture of Maggie with her tongue out!
My dog is a shelter rescue as well – she is the love of my life. There are so many wonderful shelter dogs that need a good home. I would adopt them all if I could!
PRT October 30, 2009, 12:16 pm
Brain cells or lack of them, she’s a cutie and surely she brigs a lot of joy to averyone’s life.
Tamara October 30, 2009, 12:43 pm
I loooovee your doggies! If I could choose any bloggie doggies to have a playdate with my dog, it would be James and Maggie. They’re so precious!

I’m a longtime lurker, so this is my comment debut!
Carolyn October 30, 2009, 1:10 pm
Hahaha!! Love the picture of her with her tongue out!
Adriane October 30, 2009, 1:11 pm
Yay animal adoption! Maggie and James are adorable. Have a good run!
Theresa October 30, 2009, 1:13 pm
First, I have to laugh at your 7-nipple fact about Maggie. My mini-dachshund Dottie has 9! Second, Dottie is also pretty much un-trainable. Everyone thinks we’re crazy, but we insisted that she just couldn’t learn “sit”. Glad to know someone else has a dog that never learned either!

Also, wanted to say thanks for posting your meals & how to make them. I haven’t actually tried any yet, but you’ve certainly given me some good ideas!
Shannon October 30, 2009, 1:15 pm
I think Maggie is adorable. I have a weiner dog, her name is Nellie, she is almost 10 yrs old. She is also built like Maggie. Her favorite things are sleeping, food, sunbathing, food. She also sleeps between my legs, under the covers. I think dachshunds are very smart but pretend to be dumb, they are a little stubborn.

🙂
beerab October 30, 2009, 2:32 pm
Aw that’s hilarious- she probably is very inbred or was sick when younger?

Not a dog but my green cheek conure was very ill when I got her- she almost died- $600 in vet bills later she is totally healthy and is mama’s angel. BUT we have a second conure who is leaps and bounds ahead of her even though he’s almost a year younger than her. I think her illness stunted her brain. 🙁 But I still love her!
Caitlin in MD October 30, 2009, 7:21 pm
I loved both posts with fun facts about your dogs SO. MUCH. I seriously smiled through both of them while reading!
Erin October 30, 2009, 7:38 pm
Oh my god, Maggie is so cute. I love her!
Sarah @ See Sarah Eat October 30, 2009, 8:12 pm
Haha, my dog sleeps between my husband’s feet too! Or if he’s not there for some reason, she burries her face in my butt. Dogs are so silly 🙂
Jess (What's Normal, Anyways?) November 5, 2009, 1:21 pm
I know I am WAY behind in commenting on this, but I’m home sick from work and catching up on my blogs in that fuzzy headed kind of way! Maggie is too funny, your stories literally had me laughing aloud, sore throat be damned!

Thanks for sharing your bright spot, it just made MY day a smidgen brighter too.
Joanna November 18, 2009, 2:51 pm
What a character
Lacey February 20, 2010, 11:25 pm
That picture of you holdng her with her tongue sticking out had me litrally laughing out loud for the past minute or so!
Dara April 15, 2010, 8:41 am
Maggie is very cute. 🙂 I have mini Daschund, Harley. (she’s black and tan). She’s also not so bright (she does the same thing with the crate, not knowing its open). walking into screened doors and glass doors are a must.. and she sleeps in between my dads legs every night til we put her to sleep. she’s only 1.5 years old now. She can only sit, but thats it!
Ryan August 12, 2010, 8:11 pm
Oh the joys of a dachshund…I have 3 and volunteer for Dachshund Rescue of North America http://www.drna.org

Currently setting up my blog and hope to post pics of my babie soon!

Great blog!
Jac August 30, 2010, 3:57 am
Oh gosh, i find this post hilarious! And Maggie is soooo cute!!!!!!!!!!
caitie October 29, 2010, 10:56 pm
I love love love this!! I seriously love your maggie. I have a weiner dog too and he is also not “all there”!! He is super goofy. He also doesnt know any tricks!! His sit is more of a squat too, and he rarely does that when we ask.
Is it really in their genes to bury under blankets and such because mine does that and looves to sleep between legs!! That is so strange!!
Lisa August 17, 2011, 12:24 pm
I love your dogs. They are so cute! My Labrador is missing a nipple on one side too.
maria September 19, 2011, 4:59 pm
Maggie is beautiful. I love your posts today. #4 made me laugh out loud. I have 4 dogs,but if I could (if my husband would let me ) I would have more.
Julie (A Case of the Runs) September 30, 2011, 11:45 am
Oh wow, I didn’t know Maggie’s a momma… and wow, she was sooo scarily thin… poor pup.
Eliza October 10, 2011, 4:08 am
How cute would it be to meet Maggies pups?
Naw. I wonder if they inherited her ‘intelligence’.
She is a pretty lady.

I ‘have’ (he isn’t mine unfortunately) a labrador, he is a guide dog in training, he has some very desired guide dog traits; he is smart and calm but he is very lazy and we need to find an elderly blind client for him..he tends to lie down at random times(eg at the supermarket checkout)
Eliza October 10, 2011, 4:15 am
I have a book suggestion for you

“Saving Private Sarbi”

http://www.borders.com.au/book/saving-private-sarbi-the-true-story-of-australias-canine-war-hero/24848728/

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=saving+private+sarbi
Jaclyn December 26, 2011, 9:39 pm
its a weird thing i hgave a 2 year old female dog that looks just like your Maggie seven nipples and all except lil miss has longer hair and sleeps in the bed with my dad at his feet underneth the covers.

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