MARJORIE Mixed Breed Richmond Hill, ON

**APPLY ONLINE AT MUTTSDOGRESCUE.CA**

Meet Marjorie, the girl with the pretty coat and epic side eye! Marjorie is an approximately four-year-old Aussie x Poodle mix who came to MUTTS from a puppy mill where she was used for breeding. This sweet girl has been a slow burn, though more bits of her personality shine through each day! Marjorie is looking for a family who will continue to practice patience as she experiences life outside of the breeding barn!

Like many of our mill mamas, Marjorie arrived in desperate need of a good groom (see her IG MUTT Spotlight for the before and after!). After shedding a few layers of mats, filth, and barn shavings, the real work began. As is typical of many rescues, especially those used for breeding, Majorie was very shut down. She spent a lot of time in her crate, immediately identifying it as a safe space, and didn’t voluntarily leave for the first ten days. It’s taken Majorie the better part of two weeks to feel at home with her foster, though the decompression period is far from over (any potential adopters should note that this can last up to several months, so a commitment to patience is imperative). New situations are pretty scary for our girl – she’ll cower or hide when exposed to something she doesn’t know, like the stairs or the lobby of a condo building – but on the second or third go-around, she’s much more confident. It’s best to keep her moving and show her it’s no big deal! There’s a great deal of curiosity hiding under her fear, and through a combination of patience and repetition, she’s already acclimated to a lot of new people, places and situations!

One of Marjorie’s biggest hurdles will be developing trust for humans. Up until her rescue, her world had been filled with more bad than good, so she’s naturally fearful of people she doesn’t know. She’s bonded wonderfully with her foster mom, already understanding that she provides safety and kindness (and Purina Beyond Chicken wet food and cheese, which are the true keys to Marjorie’s heart!). New folks don’t bode well with Marjorie, especially when inside. She chooses to ignore them and will growl a bit if they move too closely or make eye contact with her. Marjorie eventually relaxes, especially if there’s some physical distance. The best results have come from meeting a new person outside, on neutral ground, and going for a short walk. This helps Marjorie build some trust and once inside, she’s much more relaxed. We believe Marjorie would be best suited to a family without children, or older, dog-savvy kids. Loud noises and sudden movements are very scary for Marjorie (she’ll try to make a run for it) so a calm, quiet environment is ideal.

In many ways, Marjorie is starting to realize what it means to be a dog. She’s learning what a leash is for: she’s a zig zagger, preferring to walk behind her foster. She’s big into sniffing her environment but does walk well on a short leash. She’s met a few dogs on her walks, and enjoys a quick sniff to say hello. Marjorie is a medium-energy dog, enjoying just over an hour of walking time per day. Her foster believes she’d do well with more exercise and her energy level will likely increase as she continues to decompress – she’s part Aussie Shepherd, after all! Another new concept for Marjorie is playtime. She likes to chew on stuffed toys (she’s gone for the jugular on more than one!), but if her foster comes by, she’ll stop playing and engage with her instead. She’s started to enjoy affection and pets, often seeking out her foster (with a wagging tail, which is a big deal!) in hopes of receiving pets. Marjorie isn’t a stage five clinger by any means but does like to know where her foster is. She’s left alone twice a week (up to eight hours) and is crated, which is a space she loves. She’s quiet in her crate (she howled overnight a few times during her first week, always stopping when told, but this behaviour has subsided) and will sleep when left alone during the day. Her adoptive family should invest in a crate, as it’s been a key element in Marjorie’s transition to life outside the mill.

Marjorie is potty trained, microchipped and up to date with her vaccines. Her spay is scheduled for March 11. She’s currently being treated for Sarcocytosis, otitis externa in her ears and pruritic (aka very itchy!) paws. We expect all of these to clear up and any associated costs will be covered by MUTTS.

Up until a few weeks ago, Marjorie’s life was pretty bleak. In a very short time, she’s made major leaps and bounds and though she still has a long road ahead of her, Marjorie is excited to experience all of the good that her new world has to offer!

SOCIABILITY: Humans (adults), dogs and cats
ENERGY: Medium
QUIRKS: She loves to get in some yoga stretches whenever she heads outside!
TRAINING NEEDS: Basic obedience, continued decompression, confidence building, leash skills
WEIGHT: Approx. 20lbs
MEDICAL NEEDS: Currently being treated for Sarcocytosis, otitis externa and pruritic paws; spay is scheduled for March 11
FOSTER LOCATION: Toronto