Maya, the canine Eponine

If you've ever seen or read Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables," you may recall Eponine.  She is the street urchin who has a hopeless crush on the dreamy-eyed Marius.  Marius loves revolution and Cosette and is seemingly oblivious to Eponine's infatuation. 

Thus is the relationship between Maya and Trooper, at least from Maya's point of view.

When she went into heat she zeroed in on Trooper as the object of her hormonal affections.  All of our dogs are neutered of course, including Trooper, but he was the chosen one.  She flirts, she harasses, she tries play, charm, and challenge.  She is relentless but the poor guy isn't interested and just wishes she would stop.  He's extremely good natured about it and I give him a lot of credit.  Her interest in him has probably played a big part in her acceptance of me and her settling into the household.  I don't feel that she's much of flight risk right now because she doesn't want him out of her sight. 

In spite of being thin and living on garbage for a month she's not terribly interested in food.  She will protect it from other dogs, but she will let Trooper have it, obviously believing the adage that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.  He goes up on his platform when he wants some peace and quiet, but she follows him right on up.  When we are all in my office together I will often crate Trooper for his own protection.  She won't crate, but he will and that's the only way the poor guy gets any peace.

She's got good taste anyway.