I’m Maggie(the dog). I’m a 35 year old purebred Springer Spaniel, single, fixed, very loyal, all bark and no bite. I couldn’t hurt a flea, although sometimes I’d like to get one of those chickens out back and one time I actually did, but that was an accident. I thought we were playing, but when I caught it with my paws, it decided not to play any more after that.
The person that goes by the name of Ryan is the only man I need in my life. There’s this other man in the house too, but he’s not my Alpha and never takes me seriously so I just don’t have time for him. I do like the one they call Courtney. Although she never scratches me behind the ears, she always makes sure I have food and water and let’s me outside. I try not to make the house dirty because I know she definitely does not like that. I like the one they call Londyn. She lets me sleep with her at night. My best friend is the one they call Lucy and we’re pretty good buddies. Lucy likes to hug me, play with me, lay on me and even step on me, but I do not give rides. That’s what the horses are for and I’m not a horse.
They had two horses out back this year. Kip and Sky. Ryan and Londyn sure did spend of lot of time with those horses. One day back in August, Sky got sick so Ryan took her to the doctor and I never saw her after that. Something bad happened because she ate some corncobs. I don’t understand that though because I eat bones all the time and they don’t hurt me.
A lot of people have been to my doghouse this year. I don’t mind because I have 3 bathrooms, 4 if you count the corner of the yard outside. People come from all over and that’s ok because they all seem to like me. When Courtney’s parents come from Georgia to go skiing we usually go play in the snow together. When Ryan’s 22 relatives stayed with us in August I got to sleep outside in the tent with them. They all ran a 5k together, but Ryan wouldn’t let me go too. He takes me running enough already so I didn’t mind so much. He can run a lot farther then I can. In April and again in September he ran half marathons. That would wear out my paws so he only takes me on his 5 mile runs.
I love my people a lot and want to be with them all the time. Sometimes though, they leave and I don’t get to go with them. Sometimes they leave for a long time. Courtney went to Georgia for her mother’s 60th birthday. That’s old for a dog. That would make me 420 years old. It must have been important because then Ryan went to Washington for his mother’s 420th birthday too. People live a long time! Lucky for me they both came back. I don’t know what I would do without them. And then…..they both left together for a whole week. Something about a 13 year anniversary and some cool place really far away called the Caribbean. Ryan’s mom was here and lucky for me she did not bring her dog Tibby. Tibby is a city girl and an only child and just can’t handle the rural life. She always wants to go shopping and get pedicures and get her hair done and we just don’t do that in Santaquin. Life is a little slower down here. Sometimes we get dirty and that’s the way I like it. Show me some water or mud to play in and I’m in heaven.
In September my people got a new family member. Her name is Sammie and she’s an exchange student from Korea. I don’t know where that is and don’t suspect I will ever go there, but it sounds far away. Sammie is 16 or 112 years old and she goes to the high school. I think that’s like obedience school or something, but for older people to help them learn advanced tricks. They say that Londyn, Adam, and Lucy will have to go there one day too, but not until they’ve learned the basic tricks like sit, lay down, roll over, and shake. For now Londyn is in 5th grade and Adam is in 3rd grade and I sure look forward to greeting them when they come home each day from obedience school. They’re also very involved with soccer and basketball and I help them do their chores and round up the chickens when needed. For the most part they’re very responsible, but sometimes I need to remind them that it’s time to go outside.
Well, here’s to the next 7 years! Hopefully I’ll learn some new tricks and go to some new places in the next 7 years. I love my doghouse and I love my people. Come visit and play with me. I like to meet new people, just don’t let my bark scare you away—I’m only trying to protect the people I love.
Ruff,
Maggie
