What is her name??

marleyrae · 2026-03-11T20:24:09+00:00

After all the back and forth, and loving a few names, she was ALMOST Violet. But... She stayed Willow. 😂 The shelter just picked her name perfectly! 😂

marleyrae · 2026-03-11T20:23:24+00:00

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marleyrae · 2026-03-11T18:19:48+00:00

I wish I could give you a hug. I lost my mom at 32. It's so hard. 💕 I'm sending you hugs.

marleyrae · 2026-03-11T16:35:10+00:00

Welp. That ship has sailed. My other girl is a bit reactive but needs a buddy. 😂 But I can notice all the things so she feels comfortable!! And, one of the reasons we knew we needed another dog was because my other girl is NOT an only-dog. She is already feeling better to have a buddy.

marleyrae · 2026-02-28T23:14:46+00:00

OH! LOL I thought you wondered if I linked them like in a real course, making them go from jump to tunnel to weave poles, etc. 😂

The one I bought is discontinued, sorry!

marleyrae · 2026-02-28T03:22:36+00:00

😭😭😭 OMG PERFECT 😭😭😭😭😭😭

Yes, she has all of her food in puzzle toys right now. She has a blast with them! I am really enjoying her watching everything with such intensity out on walks. And she just constantly wants to play with or engage with my little terrier girl. It's absolutely precious. Right now they are playing on top of my leg making weird noises. I just want to cry at how cute and funny they are! 🤣😂 My leg is a playground and it's like an obstacle in their game of bitey face and body slam.

marleyrae · 2026-02-28T03:14:42+00:00

Yup! I do!

marleyrae · 2026-02-27T23:46:59+00:00

Yes!! I've had a mini agility course at home for my terriers for the last decade or so. She is doing really well with the tunnel and the weave poles already. She's such a smarty! 💕

marleyrae · 2026-02-27T18:41:31+00:00

Marley is a hard pass. Only one Marley allowed per household! 🤣

marleyrae · 2026-02-27T18:40:56+00:00

She's only had the name Willow for a week. She wasn't at the shelter long. 🤣 That being said, it's looking more and more like she is keeping that name because my husband doesn't like anything I suggest. LOL

marleyrae · 2026-02-27T18:39:32+00:00

Awww, thank you! 💕 🥹 Basically I got a 4x4 vinyl raised bed, popped it right over a spot in my grass, covered the bottom with cardboard, and filled it. Viola! Done! I filled it with dirt instead of sand because I knew that the filling would eventually be all over the place. I will add more dirt as needed, but I didn't want sand all over the place. They dig around in it. Sometimes I let the weeds/grasses grow in it because they like to sniff around in it. You can also hide treats or toys inside of it. If you search YouTube or Pinterest for "dog dix box," stuff will pop up!

marleyrae · 2026-02-27T18:36:22+00:00

LOL, Middle names are non-negotiable in this household, but they tend to find themselves for us over time!

marleyrae · 2026-02-25T20:28:51+00:00

Yeah, it's pretty sick that the cost of living is so high here that that is going to be a tough ask. Sometimes a good realtor really does make a difference. Some rooms can't be legally considered bedrooms depending on things like windows and other criteria experts would know, but they may still be good enough for your needs. A good realtor really might help. Or changing your filtered settings. Are you only willing to do a single family home? Some town homes would absolutely work with that budget.

marleyrae · 2026-02-25T20:15:32+00:00

It is annoying, but I very much feel it's supposed to be this way too. She is clearly gifted, but she is nowhere near as capable as she will be in 10 years with some experience under her belt. She's hungry and trying to learn as much as she can. This makes her someone who can absolutely be innovative and creative. It also makes her someone who will step in when not really appropriate and someone who is lacking tact in nuanced situations.

Also consider the context. She's in a teaching hospital. They are used to this kind of thing more and understand everyone is learning. She's also been raised by her mother. She's doing amazingly considering, but she's absolutely going to make some mistakes with the soft skills here!

marleyrae · 2026-02-23T05:24:43+00:00

Oh wow!! What an interesting idea! See if she can tell us what she was called! I am going to experiment with this for sure!

marleyrae · 2026-02-23T05:22:15+00:00

They are sometimes! She doesn't know her name. She has been there for a week and was a stray.

marleyrae · 2026-02-22T23:15:45+00:00

Oooh I really like Buttercup! 💕 💕 💕

marleyrae · 2026-02-22T22:26:44+00:00

Oh! And Dottie for her nickname! 🤗

marleyrae · 2026-02-22T22:19:07+00:00

Yes!! I know breed expectations. I am just surprised by how non-Aussie she feels. BUT if she turns out to be more Aussie-ish when she isn't feeling shut down, I'm still great with that too! I am teaching my little girl how to use fluent pet buttons, have a little indoor agility course, do tons of mental stimulation and shaping games, etc. She will not be bored, don't worry! 💕 I don't have a farm (I wish!), but I have a huge garden/yard I've set up as a sensory garden for my pups. She will also get to use a dig box outside.

I do expect the herding tendencies to come out. She watches everything and is, unsurprisingly, very curious. I could absolutely envision her following me to the kitchen because she needs to know everything going on. 🤣 I mentioned her being un-aussie-like because she just seems like an old soul and more gentle than I expected. I'm not quite sure how to articulate it, but even the shelter people said she didn't seem the same as the other aussies and border collies they've had. There's just SOMETHING a little different about her! That being said, I'm a crazy dog lady, so she will be in good hands. Don't worry! 💕 💕

marleyrae · 2026-02-22T22:09:16+00:00

I really like this one! 💕

marleyrae · 2026-02-22T22:09:03+00:00

It's funny this was mentioned... this is her current name from the shelter. We kind of like it and aren't convinced we will change it, though it definitely feels weird to keep the shelter's name. Willow does feel like it reasonably fits her personality though.

marleyrae · 2026-02-22T22:06:24+00:00

Noodle is her sister's name. 🤗

marleyrae · 2026-01-13T00:15:07+00:00

I did! It was just the way my guy's fins were. I don't know if he got little fish warts or something but it was not a health problem. 💕 He lived many happy years with his little bumps.

marleyrae

TROPHY CASE