23/04/2025
R.I.P. Millie
I felt I had to tell Millie's story as she was one of the first dogs I helped 10 years ago.
She had to be put to sleep on the 8th of this month and I'm sure like myself you will all feel for her owner Christine who was with her when she fell asleep in her arms.
Millie was 7 month old, a rescue and on her 3rd home already. One only lasted 8 hours.
Christine offered to transport Millie to her latest home to help friends out, but the new owners had changed their mind and Christine decided to take her in. A brave thing to do considering it was a 7 month old Collie. To be fair she didn't really know what she was taking on and the 1st message I got was one of needing desperate help.
Millie had been at Christine's for 3 days and she was toileting in the house, she was timid and didn't know her name and also hiding behind the couch. She was skinny and had a tough start to life and just needed time to get used to her new home and owner, she was confused and scared and both her and Christine felt alone.
Just answering her message and explaining a few things to Christine helped her feel she wasn't alone and I told her not to worry and that I would help her and Millie. Once I explained how she needed time and the basics of toileting and making her feel relaxed Christine started to feel a lot better and this always helps the dog to relax as well.
Millie was a lovely girl and once they got over the initial few weeks of settling in they started to really bond with each other.
Christine was getting mixed information like not to crate her etc but once I explained the benefits of this she quickly got Millie a crate.
The first message I got that Millie had peed outside was so funny, I could almost picture Christine jumping for joy.
Because Christine worked, her neighbours helped out for a bit then she went to doggy day care where everybody loved her and said she was so friendly and sociable. When she got home she had her dinner and fell asleep.
From then on we worked on some basic training for Millie, Christine even managed to take her to work somedays.
It was great to see Mille getting the love she finally deserved and some help. Christine kept thanking me but it was great to be able to give her advice, she said my advice made more sense to her. It's funny how I had to get her to trust me to believe what I saying was best for Millie and she had to earn Millie's trust so she could bond with her. It was a challenge for us all as I still had lots to learn about dog training.
They had their ups and downs days as always and especially with a rescue which has had a difficult start in life but slowly they made progress.
One time she got out and ran across the road in front of a car, thankfully no harm done but Christine was in tears and then Millie pood in the house. They had an early night and started again next day.
After that the messages were full of good news as Millie really started settling in and playing with Christine. Christine got a dog walker who started taking her out and again was great on the walks, very laid back for a collie she just had a lovely nature.
The pictures she sent me made me so happy. I could tell it was working out good for them both. Her toileting was getting better every day and she had her moments, especially with fox poo etc but she was settling in nice.
One message read 'my neighbour popped in to let Millie out and found her in my bed fast asleep' She was definitely settling and found her forever home.
Lots of days out at Ayr beach, which became her favourite place. Some training and special love from Christine helped her so much to enjoy the life she deserved.
Christine always kept me updated on Millie and would still need advice on certain things, especially when Christine got another dog called Katie. Katie had a different nature
from Millie and they had some major issues. It was the only time I had to make the journey to see them together and glad I did as it was great to finally meet Millie and Chrstine and also Katie.
They got there in the end having to adjust to living with another dog and the problems that come with that. Once again Christine took my advice on board and made the changes she had to do to help them. Like separate them at times and sometimes even walk separately. Christine had to find her leadership skills with 2 collies to contend with.
I can honestly say that Mille and Christine was my biggest challenge at that time and I probably learned more than I have ever done. Trying to find the right way to communicate my advice in a way that she could trust what I was saying was right for her. All three of us grew together and I am a better person/trainer for it.
Farewell Millie, I'm so glad you got the life you deserved in the end and glad to have part of it.
Ivor @ Border Collie puppy Training.
