Hi Guys,

Liam here, I'm writing again because my foster mom is baking, yes, in this heat wave she decided to bake. I don't know what it is but it sure smells yummy. Well back to me, I've finally gotten Winnie Girl (I call her the old bag) to play with me, Jacx told me Winnie is a princess and doesn't play with anyone but the joke's on her because she did play with me tonight, she chased me in the yard. I like to play and chase and I think tag is my favorite game.

Last week I had such an incredible week I need to share with all of you, me and my foster bro and sister caught a rabbit. Yes, it was dark out and that darned rabbit teased us all weekend long. Grammy was staying with us and she said good for us to catch that waskilly wabbit... It would sit on our deck and come right up to the glass door and then when we would come out it would run around the yard and then through the fence. Well, last Sunday night we caught it... it went for the fence and got its head stuck... We tried to tell foster mom and dad but it was pitch black out and they couldn't see anything. The following morning foster mom went outside with us and there it was (okay not all together but it was still there). She removed most of it except for the head cause it was really stuck in the fence so she blocked it from us and then foster dad got rid of it that evening when he came home from work. Foster mom gave each of us a pat on the head and told us we were the best... and that she wished we could have caught the rabbit that ate all of her garden at uncle jonny's farm.

We went to the lake last weekend, it was kind of rainy so we weren't supposed to go swimming oh, and the water was green. Well, we hadn't been to the lake for a few weeks because of my foster brother Conner's baseball schedule, foster dad and Conner were bailing water out of the boat and I was laying on the dock because I knew I was going to get to go on the pontoon (boy I love that thing)... Anyway there were two ducks swimming by the dock and Jacx was barking at them and he wanted me to bark too but I wasn't going to jepordize my ride on the pontoon... Jacx decided to go wading in the water and then the ducks came by him and he started swimming with the ducks and followed them out really far and my foster mom was yelling at him telling him to get back to shore and he didn't listen. He decided to swim away with the ducks and then my foster dad would yell for him to get back to shore and he would come back and then the ducks would follow him... finally my foster dad really yelled at him and he came back but I just found this out, Jacx has never swam before, it was his first time and he was in really deep water and that night and for the next two days his arms were real sore, he couldn't jump or play at all. He was totally wiped out. As for me I was the first to get on the pontoon, and the last to get off the pontoon. Winnie had to be tied up because she doesn't listen and would have went in that ishy green water.

Now some things you probably already know about me, I like to jump, play tag, and get lots of itchies and snuggle. Oh, I forgot I watched the movie Marley and Me... I thought it was good but my foster mom started crying and couldn't stop. She got up and left the room... what a big baby...

If you are interested in me (I mean if you would like me to come live with you forever) please contact your placement advisor.

Hi! This is Liam’s foster and I thought I would write the update this time. I’m learning more and more about Liam every day. For example, Liam is terrified of horses. I took him out to see my two and he dropped to his belly and started shaking. Poor guy, they must have looked soooo huge from his perspective.

Liam now LOVES car rides and willingly jumps in, eager for his next adventure. A few trips to Dairy Queen took care of his car phobia! He has won the hearts of all of my neighbors and no one can believe he hasn’t been scooped up by a loving forever family.

Liam is boycotting treats these days and this is completely my fault. Every time I leave the house, I give Liam and his foster sister a treat. It didn’t take long for smart Liam to associate treat = departure. I guess he figured if he doesn’t eat the treat, I won’t leave.

His favorite place is outside, watching squirrels and rabbits. He would stay out for hours if I let him. Liam loves other dogs and is awesome with kids. He loves everyone he meets! Liam is going to a temporary foster this weekend while I’m out of town and they have a fenced yard. He will be in heaven! I’m sure Liam will have lots to tell you next week.

Liam here! What an awesome day outside! And to top it all off, I ALMOST CAUGHT the Easter bunny! He was hiding under a pine tree this morning and I was really quiet. I stalked him and then my new girlfriend Sadie flushed him out. We all three tried to take up chase but we're on leashes. DARN!

This afternoon we were out walking again and my new human brother Chris took a picture of me (I'm the gorgeous one in profile on the left) and my two girlfriends (Sadie Rose 09-155 and Sophie. That's my temp FM in the middle trying to get us all to pose nice. We are having a nice time out walking and watching the golfers on the golf course. BUT I'm always sniffing under the bushes looking for that bunny again! Hope he has some Easter Eggs for me if I catch him. HOPPY EASTER to everyone.

Hi! It’s me, Liam! I have been a busy boy lately and have not had much time to write. I’m settling in to my foster home and have started to play with my foster sister. She usually growls at me but I’ve figured out that she is all talk. I really haven’t figured out what her obsession is with tennis balls but sometimes I steal one from her, just to give her a bit of a hard time. I went to visit a family that was interested in adopting me and I was such a good boy! I sat politely for a treat and only jumped up on people a few times. It can take some convincing to get me in to the car but once I’m in, I ride like a champ. I know “sit” and “off” really well. This morning, my foster mom had a treat in her hand and kept saying “shake, shake.” I have no clue what she wants me to do so I just kept sitting and wagging my tail, wondering when she was going to fork over that yummy treat!

I love to be outside and I love to run and play and watch squirrels. I can really make people laugh when I get going but I also calm down nicely and as long as you are willing to pet me, I will snuggle up next to you for hours! I got a new dog bed this week and I love it! I am learning what to do when I hear “go lay down.” I slept on my very own bed all night last night.

My foster mom tells me that I am very sweet and polite and would make a wonderful addition to just about any family. I like meeting new people and would love to meet you! I sure hope I find my forever home soon.

Love,

Liam

P.S. I forgot to tell you that I have great news! I have sponsors!! I would like to send out a warm, whiskery kiss and one of my special hugs to Mary and Carl S.

Liam would like to thank everyone for all of the hugs he received at PetCo on Saturday! Given it was Valentine's day, we missed the opportunity to set up a 'hugging booth' where Liam could have hugged everyone to his heart's content and we could have raised some money for a good cause! Maybe I will teach him to kiss and we will set up a "kiss me I am Irish" booth on St. Patty's day!  He is Irish after all.

Liam as always does well with free roam during the day and he is getting better and better on walks. He enjoys them and is learning how to be a wonderful walking companion. On Saturday, I had a Gentle Leader on him and unfortunately it rubbed the fur right off of his nose...I felt so bad! I bought him a new collar that has a fleece cover padding over the nose piece. So far that seems to be doing the trick and it looks much more comfortable for him. Perhaps the Gentle Leader had his nose out of sorts because while Liam absolutely loved all of the people he greeted on Saturday, he didn't care so much for all of the dogs. It's interesting and something we are looking into because Liam lives with some pretty challenging females here and he gets along great. He also has spent lots of time at doggy daycare at a boarding facility and got along wonderfully with all the dogs, so as soon as we find out why Liam appears to not like the dogs at the adoption events, we will begin working with him.

At night, we all pile on my double bed (if you are counting, that is 3 dogs and 1 human) and we all manage to find our little corner to sleep. The other night I woke to a loud THUMP....poor Liam had rolled over and rolled right off of the bed:(  I woke up to the loud noise just panicked. Fortunately, I have big dog beds that surround the bed, so hopefully his landing wasn't too hard. Liam is funny and so much reminds me of one of my former fosters and all time favorites Craig 07-106. Craig rolled off the bed many times...that's probably why there are dog beds surrounding the bed! Liam can probably thank Craig for his soft'er' landing! For that reason, Liam's forever family must have a safely padded area surrounding any bed that Liam might be on. If you are an approved applicant with a safely padded area for Liam to land on if needed, please contact placementragom [dot] org.

I think Liam and I will take turns giving his update. Liam has made great strides in the past week or so. He has learned to walk nicely with a Gentle Leader (still doesn't love when I put it on him, but I think he is starting to associate good things with it...walk, going for a visit, etc.) Because my streets are still so snow/ice covered, I haven't had a chance to test him as a jogging partner. I have a hunch he will be great. He has a good energy level and just loves to do anything his human is doing. At the very least, he will be a good walking partner. Liam is also doing better about getting into the car. He is going in on his own now, it takes a minute or two of positive encouragement, but he is doing it on his own vs. me lifting him in.

Liam is still a hugger in public as evidenced by our visit at the RAGOM adoption event at the Petco in Woodbury. I think Liam believes those events are for the sole purpose of him giving hugs and receiving pets and attention from EVERYONE at Petco. Amy, a RAGOM volunteer, spent some time with Liam yesterday and by the end of the event she had Liam sitting for attention rather than jumping up and doing a sneak attack hug! That is more in line with how we do it at home. Liam only gets hugs and attention when he sits or has 4 paws on the floor. I would like to someday be able to have him jump up and hug on command as it's so cute and he loves to do it so much, but when he does it for attention, he can sometimes be a little too exuberant and that can be too much for kids and it's just good polite behavior to not jump up. At home he is definitely getting better about jumping up but he still jumps when he is overly excited and because he didn't have good socialization, when he gets excited he can get mouthy, very much like a puppy gets mouthy. When I put my jacket on and he thinks he is going for a walk, he will grab at the jacket sleeve, stuff like that. We are working on that. Because of him jumping and still mouthing, a home without small children is probably best.

I am very happy to report that Liam knows his name, knows "sit", knows "off" (when he jumps up or if he jumps on furniture that he shouldn't be on, I say "off" and he gets off) and is now learning to sit before he goes outside. I am actually teaching that to all the canines in the house. I was lax and the dogs treated going outside as if the door opening was the start of the race and last one out loses. It was chaos. So everyone is learning that we don't go outside until we sit and then we exit in a more calm manner.

Liam is a great dog and if you are looking for a loyal, affectionate companion to walk with (or maybe run). He wants nothing more than to please and to be with his human. If you are that home, please contact your placement advisor .

Liam is back with us after spending a wonderful week at All Seasons Canine Country Club. Thank you to Maureen, Liz and staff for taking such great care of Liam:) After picking up Liam from ASCCC, we attended the PetSmart adoption event in Roseville where Liam met lots of nice people. He figured out that the adoption events are a great place to give hugs and get lots of pets and love and attention! Liam also met his daughter Copper! It was very cute! As soon as they were side by side you could tell they were father and daughter!

Liam and car rides are interesting: once he is in the car, he is fine. Getting him in the car is a challenge though. I think it would be much easier with two people, but by myself we had a bit of a time after the Petsmart event and man was it cold outside today. The cold weather was not a motivating factor in getting Liam in the car, but rather my brute strength (ha, but I did have to lift him) and then my luck at just being a tad quicker than he was as he was distracted by some movement in the parking lot (thank goodness for the distraction or I think we still might be there!)

I do think it would be great for Liam to have a fur sibling to play with but the sibling should be understanding of his insatiable need for human attention and affection. He likes to push his way to the front of the pack to get his pets and scritches:)

I was finally able to get some good pictures of Liam; he has learned to sit, so that made it so much easier!

Because Liam is so camera shy, I have resorted to hiding in the kitchen to try and capture some live action shots while Liam and Nala are at play. I can sit and watch them play all day as they are so funny! When Liam wants to play, he runs up to Nala and grabs her tail and then takes off running! Nala gives chase and then they are off! I tried so hard to get a shot of this but had no luck. I can't tell you how easy going Liam is; if he can get along with Nala, he can get along with anyone. Nala even lets Liam sleep on the bed with us; I think she likes him because he totally listens to her and he doesn't talk back;) She can be bossy and he lets her be bossy.

I think Liam would do well with another playmate. He also loves his human companions so he has no problem bonding with a human and also getting along and playing with other dogs. I think he would be okay with a cat as he is so easily redirected and learns and listens well. He hasn't met a cat yet, but even if he was curious and chased a cat, I think one "NO" and he would learn that the cat isn't a toy!

Liam has been here 9 days and still has not had an accident. He is doing so well! We are still working on his exuberant jumping as everytime he comes in from outside, it's like he hasn't seen you forever and has to let you know how happy he is to see you!! He also he likes to give lots of kisses. Liam is not treat motivated but he is love motivated, so giving him love and praising him seems to work best for his training.

If you are looking for a new addition to your family with a wonderful temperment and lots of love to give, contact your placement advisor at placementragom [dot] org.