Top Five Surprises

Being new to the world of blind dogs, fostering Macy has opened my eyes quite a bit, but not in the way that you might think. Sight or no sight, Macy loves so many activities—read on for my list of top five surprises!

1. She walks with confidence.

She loves (loves!) to go on walks. She scampers, plays, and manages to stay on a relatively straight path. No tentative steps for our girl. Somehow, she senses where to go!

2. She does not know a stranger.

Macy loves visitors. She greets them with cheer and accepts their rubs with joy. Everyone who comes to my house falls in love with her, even folks who claim not to love dogs.

3. She likes the company of other dogs.

Rather than thinking of them as a threat, she is a friendly little girl who is interested in playing, snuggling and walking with other canines.

4. She loves house living.
Our house is not particularly easy to navigate: steps in & out and up & down, dogs & visitors, furniture & walls. She easily learned the layout & routine, and settled in with no trouble at all.

5. She really is a cocker.
Macy loves her people and follows her favorite person around the house. She is smart, playful, & sweet, and she bonds very quickly. She is so excited to be part of a family and is eager to please. She really makes everyone happy!

Settling in for a snuggle on a lovely fall day.

The Difference between Macy & Me

Of course, Macy & I have obvious differences, mainly that she is a cocker spaniel and I am a woman. But outside of that one, we have one major difference that strikes me every single day: perspective.

I think it is only natural to put our own perspectives onto others. I try very hard to be open-minded, but I always know that my own experiences have an effect on how I perceive any given situation—including, apparently, how a dog might behave.

Macy regularly reminds that she just has a different perspective than I do.

When I think of blindness, frankly, it scares me. I admire folks who handle it with grace, but I have to admit that I would rather lose a limb than my sight. I could change my wardrobe to accommodate a different body, but my sight? I could not simply buy a different style of jacket and go on my merry way. I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE.

Macy, on the other hand, is blind. She has no sight whatsoever, and she never will, but her blindness does not seem to bother her at all. Sight is simply not important to her happiness. She does not place the value on sight that a human might.

Lesson learned, Macy, as you are one of the sweetest dogs I have ever met! 

Macy on TV!

Many thanks to WUSA9 for featuring Macy on the news today! A special thanks to the lovely & beautiful Anny Hong for making Macy feel so comfortable during the interview.

Everyone at the station was just a delight, and Macy happily posed for photos and accepted compliments & rubs from all. With her cute fall collar, she was quite a head turner!

We were so excited to run into an OBG adopter who was part of another segment—it really is a small world.

Thanks, all!

Summer Groom

I admit—I like a fluffy cocker. I do not have the patience for a full skirt with feathers (too much brushing  for me, and not enough exploring outside for the dog!), but I do like the soft look and feel of slightly longer hair. They look so cocker-y to me that way!

However, a fluffy cocker is just not practical for the summer, especially in the Washington heat, so I knew that Macy needed a groom. I could not keep her fluffy just because I like her that way!

I made an appointment with a groomer known for their work with spaniels, and I was such a nervous Nellie when I dropped her off! Thankfully, all went well. She was great on the table, which just confirms her lovely personality.

I have noticed three main benefits to her summer groom:

1. Most importantly, she loves it. 
She obviously feels so cool. Prancing, dancing, playing in the yard, she is having so much fun!

Macy the Explorer.

2. The groom shows off her lovely figure. 
Macy is actually quite a little girl. She has a great shape and wonderful proportions. Her summer cut shows off her 24 pounds perfectly.

Thanks for the cookie!

3. She is very snuggly.
Selfishly, I love this benefit! She wants to snuggle and spoon as much as we will let her.

Yes, Macy, I will snuggle with you!

All in all, she is more adorable than ever. To a happy summer!

Macy the Model

Macy is the model for today's post on OBG Cocker Connection, the official blog of OBG!

She is helping cockers and their humans learn how to take care of cocker ears.

What a stunner!

Walking

It is no secret that Macy enjoys her outside time: 

She loves to explore our yard and is always excited to have the opportunity to go out the back door.

But the big surprise is how much she likes going out the front door, which is the gateway not to playing in the yard, but to a walk.

You might think, as I once did, that walking on lead may not be something that Macy would enjoy. I thought that a defined space would be easier for her as she could learn and remember the placement of everything.

On a walk, the world is always different. And, as it turns out, Macy loves it!

Macy is not a dawdler. She puts her nose to the ground and marches right along. Everything is of interest to her, and she cannot wait to explore what is next. Macy does not see obstacles, she just senses fun.

It is hard to get great photos of Macy on a walk as she is such a mover, but I can say that she is cute as ever!

Honorary Cocker

I want to thank everyone for all of the well wishes you have sent to Macy's foster sister:

Our little girl is walking and enjoying life again. Hip hip hooray!

I Cannot Believe...

I hear one constant refrain when it comes to Macy:

'I cannot believe she is blind!'

I, of course, forget all of the time, and it does not surprise me when OBG volunteers comment, but when my husband mentioned it, I took notice.

My husband is very devoted to our two dogs—Macy's foster brother favors him, and her foster sister is still recovering from spinal surgery—so although he really likes Macy, she has always been a bit on his periphery.

I was out and about over the weekend, and I returned home to find my husband with all of the dogs. They were coming in from the yard, and Macy was ready for her cookie (the custom in our house after an outing). She was right in the mix of things, enjoying the day with everyone else.

My husband paused for a moment and said to me, 'I just don't remember that she doesn't see me.' She promptly sat down next to him for a snuggle.

Aww...that's Macy! She makes everyone feel special. Her forever family will be so lucky to have her.

Stairs

Stairs are always a topic when Macy comes up in conversation. People who are familiar with our house wonder if we keep her gated or carry her, and people who have not been to our house ask if we have a ranch-style home.

We actually have quite a few sets of stairs, in different materials, no less. We have flagstone outside, wood inside for the main floors, and even a few carpeted steps in the basement.

Macy has no trouble with any of them.

As she likes to be with her people, she travels one particular set of stairs many (many) times a day, trundling along as I move about the house from the first floor:

To the second:

She can go up and down without missing a step, without touching a wall. She has no trouble with the turns at all.

Hi, Macy!:

Here she comes:

Almost there:

And now ready for some rubs!:

What a sweetie.

Explorer

Macy enjoys time outside, and she loves to explore the yard. She trundles right along, following her nose and any interesting noises.

She quickly learned the general parameters of our yard and has no trouble going wherever she might like. On one side of our terrace, a visitor of unknown species has decided that we need to have a bit of a hole. Yes, we have tried to fill it, but with no permanent success. Besides, our dogs find it interesting!

Of course, Macy cannot see it, but once again, she proves that sight has nothing to do with how much she can enjoy life.

Going in for the approach:

Checking it out:

Is anyone there?:

No visitor found:

On to the next adventure!:

A Sweet Treat

Macy's foster siblings are honorary cockers who love food, so we are very conscious of what we feed them. We are advocates of healthy eating, proper nutrition, and a lot of fun exercise!

Macy enjoys high-quality food and nutritious treats, and she has a perfect amount of energy.

One day, I learned that Macy also enjoys a bit of a sweet treat:

I had finished my lemon yogurt, and Macy had found the container:

She did a little dance around the kitchen as there were clearly a few licks still available:

 All done:

What an adorable breakfast companion!

Macy & the Wedding

Macy cheerfully got up with me at 4:30 this morning to watch the royal wedding. After we went outside, she enjoyed her breakfast. And then...she seemed a bit quizzical.

Why was I turning on the television? Why was I sitting down? Like most dogs, Macy appreciates routine, and I was operating outside of our normal zone.

I explained how exciting all of the festivities were going to be, and although she may not have quite agreed with my perspective, she was happy to go along with a different plan.

'Alright, we can stay in this room':

'I just need a bit more rest before I can get too involved with a project at this hour':

'I do, however, support anything that involves an extra cookie':

'Hooray for the happy newlyweds! Maybe just a few more snuggles before I get up...':

Any activity, or none at all, is fine with Macy. She simply likes to be together.

I, of course, was riveted by the stunning couple (on my television screen):

And the amazing Abbey:

And the bride! The dress! Wow!

I loved it all.

I just realized that I also married @ 11am on a non-Saturday in a place of historical note, wearing Chantilly lace with my hair down. Our wedding was just a touch less grand, though, so my dress did not have quite the same scale:

I may not have become a Duchess on my wedding day, but my sweetie will always be my prince!

Not Yet Spring

I recently changed our master bedding from winter (down comforter with duvet) to summer (quilt). It was a bit overconfident of me, given the recent weather, and so I tucked the comforter into my den in case we should want it again for a chilly night.

The dogs, however, had other uses in mind for it:

It may not be comfortable when spring finally decides to join us, but for now, someone has found another favorite snuggle spot!

The Wizard

Macy is feeling wonderful! And it is all thanks to this wizard:

Hailing from the south and coming to our area most recently from Colorado, Dr. Carey McInnis, DVM, MS, of AEC Associates is a wonder. She has such a kind manner, and her care for Macy has made all the difference. Just as importantly, Dr. McInnis explained each step of Macy's care to me very well, answering all of my questions and calling me in between appointments, just to check in to ask about Macy's progress. Really fantastic service!

Macy has been blind for some time, and she has no trouble walking and finding her way, but she had also been in quite a bit of pain when she arrived to OBG. We immediately went to visit Dr. McInnis to assess how best to proceed.

Can you imagine having a migraine all of the time? The doctor explained to us that little Macy felt that way, and yet she remained sweet to all. Pain medication could help to lessen the situation, but it was not the best long-term plan. Macy is only about seven and should have many fabulous years to enjoy.

Based on the doctor's recommendations, over the next two weeks, the team performed two types of procedures: her left eye retains the appearance of the eye, although not the functionality (a procedure known as intrascleral prosthesis), and her right eye was removed (known as enucleation). The result? Macy is now pain free and more sweet than ever. I cannot believe just how happy she is!

Macy made friends all over the AEC office. Kisses:

These lovely ladies went above and beyond with Macy's care, cuddling with her before surgery (and check out their cute scrubs!):

Thank you!

The Big Questions

When people find out that Macy cannot see, three questions seem to dominate the initial conversation:

1. How does Macy get around? 
This type of question is, by far, the most common. I certainly appreciate the inquiry, as I wondered the same thing before meeting Macy.

I do not completely understand it myself, but Macy just seems to sense things. She uses her ears, her nose, and her paws to assess where things are in relation to her, as well as what they may be. People, other dogs, furniture, steps—Macy is used to being blind and identifies things around her easily.

The first time Macy visits a new area, such as a room or a yard, she likes to do what I call a 'perimeter check.' She walks all around, sniffing and listening and just generally getting the lay of the land. After a little time, she usually finds a soft spot and gets comfortable.

Most important to Macy is her connection to her people. She just wants to be part of whatever is happening around her!

2. Does she seem happy?
Macy is a charmer. She is so friendly and loves visiting with people. We recently had the exterior of our house painted, and one of the painters summed her up perfectly: 'She cannot see, but she has such a happy heart.' She gladly accepted his rubs and attention!

3. What does she do?
Many people assume that Macy must not be like other cockers, that she must not enjoy the same things, that she just lets the world go by her without noticing. But they would be completely wrong...

If something piques Macy's interest, she gets up to explore it. If it is time for an outing, she will let you know. If she thinks a meal may be coming, she perks right up. If the opportunity for a walk presents itself, she is at the door. If you need some extra attention after a long day, she is happy to give it to you.

In other words, she is just an adorable dog. As long as she is near her people, she is happy to do whatever you like.

Quite a Week!

Macy and her foster house have had quite a week!

The first few days after Macy's surgery seemed to be textbook perfect, but something had changed, and Macy seemed to become uncomfortable over the weekend. We checked in with the great team at AEC on Monday, and they were able to make her feel about 1000% better. She is back to being charming and lovely and snuggly, and she just loves being with her people! 

We love to give Macy lots of attention, but a recent development has meant that coddling is out of the question: her foster sister had to have emergency spinal surgery on Monday and is now on very strict rest restrictions. She must be carried everywhere, and we need to watch carefully to make sure that she does not run into anything, and that no one runs into her. Our little girl is really hurting, and we all need to protect her.

I am amazed that Macy seems to understand all of this, even though she cannot see us. She just seems to sense that although I would love to scoop her up, she needs to find her own way—because I am already carrying one dog, and I cannot carry two.

As long as Macy is near me, though, she is fine with whatever is happening around her. She is cheerful and respectful, and really just a delight. Everyone melts when visiting with Macy. She just brings out the best in people.

More photos soon!

Enjoying the Finer Things

Macy is remarkable! Not only is she exceeding my expectations in terms of her physical recovery, but her charming self is on full display. (My husband can tell you that 'charming' is not a word that anyone would use to describe me after surgery, so he is doubly impressed!)

Macy is feeling a bit camera shy, so I want to introduce you to someone very important in Macy's life, her foster brother, an honorary cocker:

These two have been great for each other. Macy is teaching him patience, and he is teaching her about the finer things in life, like exploring outside and enjoying treats.

With her heart of gold, Macy deserves to be treated like a gem!

Resting

Macy is resting because she had a very big day yesterday: thanks to the wonderful people with OBG, she had surgery to help ensure that she does not feel any pain in relation to her blindness.

We visited Dr. McInnis with Animal Eye Care Associates last week, and she told us that Macy was experiencing a lot of pressure in her eyes and that it would only cause more and more discomfort over time. It broke my heart to think that this sweet girl was hurting!

Dr. McInnis presented us with a range of options to help Macy, and OBG elected to treat both eyes immediately. The surgery was a success! As a result, Macy's pain should be eliminated, and her sweet face and demeanor will hopefully return brighter than ever.

I am not new to the world of specialized veterinary care, and I can say that I am very impressed with the Animal Eye Care Associates team. From tip to tail, the service has been terrific.

Thanks for all of your well wishes!

Maintaining Macy

Everyone is high maintenance in his or her own way. The trick to a great relationship is finding someone who wants to 'maintain' you (as Chandler told Monica!). This same philosophy applies to great human-canine relationships.

Macy appears to be high maintenance in one way: she is blind.

Macy is actually high maintenance in an entirely different way: she likes to be with her people.

She likes to know what is happening, not in an effort to control the situation, but just to be a part of the day with you. She likes to trundle along, enjoying whatever you are doing. She finds a soft spot on the floor to curl up, and keeps track of the happenings around her by listening for and feeling them. She is happy to follow your schedule and routine, she just wants to be at your side.

I thought that taking care of Macy would be defined by her blindness, by a need to ensure that she did not get hurt, but I was completely wrong. Taking care of Macy is defined by her sweetness and her desire to have a relationship.

Macy navigates the world extremely well. She is charming and inquisitive in all the right ways, and her pleasant demeanor is infectious. Yes, we are all high maintenance, but Macy's version is very simple: she does not want to run the house, she just wants to love whoever is in it.

PM & AM

I am so happy to report that Macy is just as cute and snuggly at night as she is during the day:

She curls up next to our bed after I say goodnight, and she stays that way until I get up in the morning. She just wants to be close to her people and is happy to follow our routine (unlike her foster brother, I must say, who likes everyone to follow his schedule!).

A Failed Photo Shoot

With Macy's coloring, she looks very cute on our yellow couch, and I thought it would be fun to share some photos of her in that spot. She likes to be with people and, when at rest, actually prefers to be at your feet on a dog bed, so I recognized that my plan may present some logistical troubles. I enlisted my husband to help...

First attempt.

Can we talk?

Maybe a new position...

The best photo of the bunch?!

And we're done.

Oh, well!

And Now Time for a Rest

It may be a quick iPhone shot, but I could not resist capturing little Macy all curled up for a nap. Such a sweetie!

On the Move

I am an admitted newcomer to caring for a dog without sight, and I now realize that I thought Macy might not be all that active, given that she cannot see what is in front of her.

As it turns out, I was not correct. Macy has a lovely amount of energy, just what I would expect in a dog of seven years. She is definitely not full of puppy energy (which means she leaves my shoes, satchel, and anything else on the floor alone!), but she is just as interested in the world as her foster siblings of around the same age.

Something catches her attention:

She moves to inquire what it may be:

Nose to the ground: 

Fun!: