Adoption Update: Matty!

Good morning, and Happy New Year!

New Year's Day 2011 marked Mr. Matty's first anniversary with us - we recalled our trip across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to pick up our new fella and seeing the menagerie at Barbara's front door waiting to greet us.

Matty is just a total joy, an absolute snuggle puppy. Everyone loves him and all are amazed at how laid back he is. He is happy and healthy and enjoys just being with us and his kitty, Bright Spot. He attended his corgi cousin Maggie's 13th birthday party in October and enjoyed hanging out with dogs, adults and little kids alike!

Wishing you both and MABCR many blessings in the NewYear!

Kelly and Jerry 

Adoption Update: Matty

Hi Sarah and Barbara,

Matty had a great first vacation on Fripp Island, SC in May. He did very well in the car over the 2-day trip; we bought a good, comfortable (as well as crash-tested) harness for him. He adjusted fairly quickly to the condo; the photo of him smiling is his conquering of the narrow walk-through kitchen which he skirted for 2 days and then decided to conquer it on his own.

Another picture shows Matty is quite taken with the fuzzy Border Collie head cover I have on my 5-wood!

We were interested in seeing how Matty would react to the many deer on the island; they are not tame per se but are very used to humans and dogs and saunter rather than run away. Matty assessed quickly that the deer were very well well organized and had no need of his services, but the squirrels were another matter. On one walk, we actually went around a buck in the path to follow a squirrel for an impressive distance until the squirrel went up a tree and he and Matty had a stare down. All the folks who were used to seeing Patch and Data for so many years were very pleased to meet Matty. There's not a creature he doesn't like.

Matty is a fabulous walker and receives many compliments about his beautiful gait, as well as how laid back he is. I always let people know he's a rescue and about MABCR. He is very scent-oriented, which is interesting, and can sniff out bunnies from quite a distance. He learned early on that he cannot chase them but he is allowed to admire them for a minute then we move on. We had a 4-bunny walk the other evening.

He's not crazy about fireworks, as we are finding out this weekend! We are off to the vet in the morning for his Bordatella"snort".

What a great joy Matty is and what a lifesaver for yours truly.

Hope all is well with you and yours,

Kelly

Adoption Update: Matty!

Hi, Sarah and Barbara,

Matty had his teeth cleaned today and came through fine. Kyla said everyone at Ashburn Veterinary Hospital was loving all over him - they love his sweetness but they also are very aware of exactly who rescued whom and they are thankful for him.

He and Bright Spot are getting along fine. He's no longer crated during the day, which leaves him free to pile on the piano room loveseat any shoes of mine that he might find. Unexplainable but so darn cute! Our Woofies dog walker Amy just adores Mr. Matty, being a Border Collie person herself.

We just love Matty so much! He is so sweet and we can't wait to see what other facets of his personality unfold, especially as the snow melts and we can go for longer walks and start going to the field.

Hope all is well with both of you and all the residents of MABCR!

Forever grateful, K.

Adoption Update: Matty!

Hi, Sarah and Barbara,

What a blessing and delight and hoot is our Matty! Sarah, I hope this update will bring some cheer into your heart, seeing what a good work was begun with your Missy all those years ago.

Mostly to the credit of Woofies and his first week's 30 minute mid-day walks, Matty is a very confident walker - a trotter, almost, but still does not tug. He still gets distracted but not fearfully so. I can tell he misses the company of other dogs and we are making plans with dear old friends to walk and play Matty with their sweet Bernese Mountain Dogs, Claire and Hannah. There's a group a boys that play football in a common area near us and when we've seen them from a distance being all raucous and having a good time, Matty watches and wags. I don't think there is a living being he doesn't like. Barbara, you were right - there is no one who has met Matty who does not love him! He is very friendly to everyone he's met - and heaven forbid they stop petting him!

Matty and Bright Spot are getting along fine; I think Bright Spot really wants to snuggle up with Matty but is too proud, still. And Jer loves him very much - he is amazed that Matty is so laid back.

Matty is learning to play ball but, you know, he is most interested in being talked to and petted and fussed over. He's got a great sense of humor. He also, apparently, has a thing for cat nip and sometimes can be found slinking quietly to a corner with Bright Spot's crocheted catnip pocket! We are careful to put it up when we aren't here and Matty isn't crated. He is very good at dropping in and being nonchalant about it, too. I looked it up and catnip won't hurt him but need to be sure he wouldn't eat the yarn pocket.

I am thinking in the future, after he settles in and has commands down (and he is already an excellent listener and learner) he might be a good therapy dog candidate. We live right near Loudoun Hospital Center and also some nursing homes and I am sure he will be a good canine citizen.

So, we are very happy family of 4 again. I just can't thank you enough for accepting us into the MABCR family!

Kelly

Adoption Update: Blue..oops! I mean Matty!

Hi Sarah and Barbara,

How can we ever thank you and MABCR for this amazing boy? So sweet and happy. I promise no more long updates but want to let you know that everything is just great with him.

He is now doing the indoor steps. Upstairs came more quickly than down, with cajoling and praise. The secret to getting him to descend the steps for the first time was turning on my bath water - and downstairs he went! He sleeps in our room but generally goes down around 1 a.m. and then sleeps by the front door where perhaps it's cooler for him.

I am teaching him to play ball (a soft Buddy glow ball) and although he doesn't catch it yet he proudly brings it right back and has learned "drop it". He also learned or relearned "sit" and "shake" and "wait" very quickly. He is very good to wait at the door when we go out and in.
He and Bright Spot both know they can't approach each other's bowls until each is done eating. He is very gentle when receiving treats or vitamins. He's eating Science Diet kibble with a little Instinct wet food, and I am glad Barbara warned us he wasn't a big eater.

We got him a bigger crate for day time use (48" x 32" or thereabouts) and when he's on leash he goes right in. We didn't crate him yesterday for our evening 20 minute Starbucks walk and he and Bright Spot both greeted us at the door when we returned. We may start leaving him uncrated next week since we're taking down the Christmas tree this weekend. He hasn't bothered it at all but his enthusiastic tail has sent an ornament or two sailing and we wouldn't want one to break and put either creature at risk for cut paws. He is absolutely trustworthy when it comes to his bathroom habits.

We had Amy (Woofies) give him 30 minute midday walks all this week, and those will change to 15 minutes starting next week. She loves him so much and is so glad to have another Border Collie in our household to love.

I took him for his first checkup on Monday night and he was welcomed so lovingly! Kyla changed her schedule to meet him. He was very skittish but everyone is so kind there, he will eventually be fine when he goes . Dr. Jason discovered that Blue's right canine is half broken and there is some small exposure, so I am going to schedule a consult with a veterinary orthodontist that Dr. Jason recommends and get that taken care of within the next few weeks.

He likes being brushed except for his tail and gently took my hand into his mouth with no tooth contact on my hand to let me know. Of course, his tail will need brushed (there are one or two small tangles/mats) but I'll go a little slower on that.

Next week, we are going to change his name to Matty (short for Mathesar, a gentle and kind character in a movie that Jer and I both like). I think he will adjust okay to that as it's more musical on the ear.

So! We are all happy and it's such a joy to have a dog to love and care for again.

Take care, K.