18 months ago, a little Patterdale Terrier arrived into the care of the Galway SPCA. Left behind with other dogs after the caravan they had been living in collapsed, it took us 3 days to catch this very traumatised little girl despite having caught her friends 2 days earlier. We called her Etsy for those who might remember!
Today, she is Maggie and what a journey it’s been. Rescue dogs are incredible. Some are able to leave their past behind them, while others carry parts of it every single day. Maggie is one of those dogs. Her past shaped her and, for a long time, she struggled to let it go and even now she can be nervous and wary.
When Katie and Jack welcomed Maggie into their lives, they quickly realised that she had her quirks. She was reactive, particularly towards men, as well as certain movements including runners and bicycles. Her reactions weren’t always predictable and that made things challenging.
But Katie and Jack didn’t give up. They had made a promise to themselves, us and to Maggie that they would stick together and face whatever challenges came there way.
They adapted, learned and listened to Maggie. From quiet, secluded hikes to commuting into London twice a week, Maggie slowly began to adjust and she amazed everyone with her resilience. Katie and Jack began to see their patience, routine, commitment and hard work pay off.
Now living in a peaceful village in Berkshire, Maggie’s life has found a new rhythm but the real turning point came when Katie discovered CaniCross which has truly has been the most amazing thing that has ever happened to Maggie. What started small quickly became Maggie’s purpose. From the moment the harness goes on, everything changes. Maggie isn’t focused on her fears anymore - she is focused on her job and that shift has been incredible to watch:
She can run alongside crowds without reacting
People can pass her, overtake her, move around her — and she doesn’t look twice
The triggers that once overwhelmed her fade into the background.CaniCross has given Maggie something so many reactive dogs need - structure, purpose, and an outlet for her busy terrier mind. Katie knows just how lucky she is to be in the UK, where if you wanted to, you could find a CaniCross event nearly every other weekend. That consistency has allowed Maggie to build confidence, routine and trust in a way nothing else could.
Of course, it didn’t happen overnight. There were hard days and frustrating moments.
There were those days that ended in tears because everything had gone wrong. There were times when they could have compared Maggie with "perfect dogs" but the truth is that there’s no such thing as a perfect dog. Every dog is different. Every rescue dog carries their own story and we may never fully know what they’ve been through. What matters is taking the time to understand and support them and to find what truly works for them. For Maggie, that was running. For another dog it might be hiking, agility, man trailing or something completely different.
The key is not to give up To keep searching To keep showing up for your dog that they are capable of so much more than we sometimes believe. You just have to believe in your journey together.We are in awe of Maggie and how far she has come. We are so proud of Katie and Jack for the patience, dedication and love they have shown Maggie every step of the way. To all the parents of those dogs, especially rescue dogs, who have proved challenging and have made you wonder what you have taken on but who have stayed true to their journey together, stay working at it as tomorrow is another day. We salute you as we salute all those who have opened their hearts and homes to rescue dogs.
