CAN.CH Norbury Hollyhill Foxglove CG FDCH AM.CAN.ME CAN.CDX CAN.RE CL-1 CA RATN NS SDN BTCA-V

Maisie

February 09, 2006 - February 05, 2021

Owned, cherished and sorely missed by Isobel McGowan

Maisie was one of the "Raised by a Village litter" but I think it is fair to say that everyone of the pups sitters (and there were many), knew that Isobel would pick the sassy red girl.
They were made for each other. Maisie was a "busy" girl and someone without Isobel's experience and patience may have found her too much.
The titles they achieved together in so many different venues speak to the incredible partneship they shared.
But those titles didn't always come easy, Maisie was first and foremost a Border Terrier and much of what she did was done her way. Isobel's ability to smile through it all is another reason their relationship was so very special.
Although Maisie did not complete her CKC Utility Title she did qualify in her first attempt and that is a tale worth telling!
In Isobel's words:

Maisie's first venture into the Utility Ring is forever etched in my memory.
The ring was set up with 2 sides being actual walls in the hall.
I sent Maisie out for the first scent article, she headed out with enthusiasm, right past the pile to the wall corner and started sniffing there.
I thought then, and still think, she was getting a whiff of critter (wearing her Master Earthdog hat, rather than her Obedience hat, always the challenge with Maisie, I never knew which dog was with me).
She carried on sniffing there for what seemed like hours but was probably only seconds, then started coming back, almost passed right by the pile, literally did a double take when she seemed to remember what she was supposed to be doing, picked up the correct article and returned to me.
The Judge commented that there was "a collective sigh of relief" from the onlookers and told me "nice handling", I didn't like to say I was frozen in place, not knowing what to do, after all we hadn't proofed for that, so I did nothing!
Oh the memories! I miss her terribly. Formal Obedience was never her forte, but she sure made it entertaining for onlookers (and nerve racking for me).