Murphy 11-009

Profile

February 20, 2011

Murphy came to RAGOM after being surrendered by his owner in southern MN who could no longer care for him and his brother, Yoseph 10-390. He weighs in at 73 pounds, is very tall and has a beautiful reddish coat. Unlike most goldens, Murphy does not shed much.

He was very anxious at first about having to be separated from his brother and kept checking out our mirrors looking for Yoseph. In the beginning, Murphy paced a lot and would startle at every sound he heard. We tried a using a crate when we were gone, but that only seemed to make his anxieties worse. Through much reassurance and TLC, Murphy has begun to settle down from those first few weeks. Being an outdoor dog, he has learned to appreciate the good life indoors.

He is good about letting us know when he needs to go out to go potty, but is still having some problems with accidents when we are gone.

Murphy is a 'velcro' dog with foster mom, getting up and following her everywhere. He even hangs out with FM when she makes her quilts. He gets decorated now and then too!

He has his stuffed animals and brings them wherever he goes in the house. At first, he was a little too protective of them, but is now willing to share them with us.

Murphy will be 3 this month, but still has a lot of puppy behaviors. We are working on his jumping up when he greets us and when we leave get ready to leave him for a few hours. He really craves the attention, and getting his ears scratched, so will sit with a few reminders. He also loves to chew on things, so we try to make sure he has appropriate chew bones to use.

Normally, Murphy will go outside on a tie-out, but he decided he wanted to go for a walk alone, getting loose somehow. After many anxious and frantic minutes by FM, Murphy was found and returned home safely.

One of the unusual tricks that Murphy does is mimicking emergency sirens when he hears them pass by.

What Murphy will need in his forever home is:

Someone to give him love and lots of patience to help him to overcome his anxieties.
A family with no small children as he may knock them over when he jumps up. He is fine with our 10 year old grandson and allows him to cuddle.
Someone to teach him manners and probably obedience training. So far he sits and shakes hands.
He would probably be best with another dog to help him learn good doggie behavior.

If you are interested, please contact your placement advisor.

At a Glance #11-009

Golden Retriever	Born: February 2008
Male	78 lbs

Status: Adopted

Profile

February 20, 2011

Murphy came to RAGOM after being surrendered by his owner in southern MN who could no longer care for him and his brother, Yoseph 10-390. He weighs in at 73 pounds, is very tall and has a beautiful reddish coat. Unlike most goldens, Murphy does not shed much.

He was very anxious at first about having to be separated from his brother and kept checking out our mirrors looking for Yoseph. In the beginning, Murphy paced a lot and would startle at every sound he heard. We tried a using a crate when we were gone, but that only seemed to make his anxieties worse. Through much reassurance and TLC, Murphy has begun to settle down from those first few weeks. Being an outdoor dog, he has learned to appreciate the good life indoors.

He is good about letting us know when he needs to go out to go potty, but is still having some problems with accidents when we are gone.

Murphy is a 'velcro' dog with foster mom, getting up and following her everywhere. He even hangs out with FM when she makes her quilts. He gets decorated now and then too!

He has his stuffed animals and brings them wherever he goes in the house. At first, he was a little too protective of them, but is now willing to share them with us.

Murphy will be 3 this month, but still has a lot of puppy behaviors. We are working on his jumping up when he greets us and when we leave get ready to leave him for a few hours. He really craves the attention, and getting his ears scratched, so will sit with a few reminders. He also loves to chew on things, so we try to make sure he has appropriate chew bones to use.

Normally, Murphy will go outside on a tie-out, but he decided he wanted to go for a walk alone, getting loose somehow. After many anxious and frantic minutes by FM, Murphy was found and returned home safely.

One of the unusual tricks that Murphy does is mimicking emergency sirens when he hears them pass by.

What Murphy will need in his forever home is:

Someone to give him love and lots of patience to help him to overcome his anxieties.
A family with no small children as he may knock them over when he jumps up. He is fine with our 10 year old grandson and allows him to cuddle.
Someone to teach him manners and probably obedience training. So far he sits and shakes hands.
He would probably be best with another dog to help him learn good doggie behavior.

If you are interested, please contact your placement advisor.

Updates

Thursday, July 14, 2011

If ever there was a "fairy tale" ending for a dog, Murphy's must be it. When last I wrote Murphy and I had been to the PetSmart event in Plymouth on Saturday the 9th. I haven't been to a lot of events lately and felt it would be a good experience for Murphy. Little did I know there was a family waiting in the wings. A couple with their 2 dogs, Max and Lucy, came to meet Murphy and Yosef, which I knew nothing about. I was stunned when this couple said they wanted to adopt Murphy!! I mean really, this young guy with his separation anxiety, under weight, on medication, not able to be in a kennel longer than 4 hours. Really? It took me a bit to realize this couple was serious! They were return RAGOM adopters and came highly recommended. Really? I finally told Teri I was sorry to be so 'cool' about it all, but I was just in shock. So it was decided they would be the pefect home for Murphy.

Teri came and got Murphy and it was bittersweet. While he was a challenging foster, it was still surreal to me he was leaving. He has been with his new family this week and is doing well. Two steps forward, one step back. The amazing thing was that when he got to his new home, Lucy who is usually slow to warm up to new dogs, was immediately ok with him. He has been to the vet and it has been decided to slowly wean him off his present meds in the next couple weeks. This particular med can cause weight loss, so he is on a higher caloric food, gets moist along with it and many treats for all his good behavior. I can't say enough good things about Teri and Duncan, as I know Murphy is in the perfect place with 'rents that understand his 'issues' and know how to work with him. Teri has been great keeping me up to date and sent the picture of the 3 fur sibs, all sitting nicely waiting for their treat.

Murphy, Lucy and Max

There are always dogs in boarding for one reason or another, and it seems as fosters we tend to take the 'new' recruits. I had my eye on Murphy for a while and decided to take the plunge. Many fosters wrote and said that taking a dog from boarding, fostering them and finding them a home was so rewarding. Add me to the list of lucky fosters that took a dog from boarding.

Murphy, while I miss you, the cats don't and I don't miss your huge kennel in the kitchen:) I know you will find true happiness with your new family. I look forward to seeing you sometime down the road.

Foster Mom

and ALL 3 CATS. Coulter came back last night after being gone since the day after Murphy showed up. He said to say thank you to the W family:)

Murphy surrounded by Beauty	Murphy and his Mom ready to head for home
Max, Dad, Murphy, Mom and Lucy at PetSmart

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Murphy here. Well a couple days at the lake and a boat ride was great fun. Hope you all had a good 4th of July week end. I sure did.

Murphy boating	Daisy and Murphy
3 dogs waiting on Gene to land them

So, my FM says she is seeing some progress. 2 of the cats came home the other night, and FM picked up, held and petted one of them in the living room and I didn't go crazy. Guess that's a start. I went to the vet today for a check up and am in good health though pretty thin at 70.2 lbs. I was good as gold there, even went in the back with one of the girls and didn't freak out away from FM. I am going to go on some new meds for my anxiety, but the Dr has to check and see if I have to go off the ones I'm on before we can start the new ones. I have been making my 4 hours crated, but I get ssssoooo EXCITED when FM or FD come home to let me out I jump and nip, so now they have a tennis racket to keep between me and them. Which means til I settle down and sit I don't get any pets. Jeesh that's so not fair in my book, but I'm trying. FM also puts me out on the deck and then does stuff in the dining part of the kitchen so I can see her. I guess she wants me to be able to get it, that I can be outside and she can be inside and I'm ok. A work in progress :)

Murphy enjoying the smells

Murphy in his close up

I am going to go to the PetSmart event in Plymouth on Saturday the 9th. If up to me I'd say I'd be there at 11:00 sharp, but knowing my FM..........not so sure, but hopefully close to that time so I can meet all the people and dogs that will be there. I just so love humans so the more the merrier.

Well, time for a nap. Between wrestling with Daisy and typing this, I'm needing to recoup.

Hugs and kisses,
Murphy

Monday, July 4, 2011

As a foster you have the opportunity to share your home with many different 'types' of dogs. I have had puppy mill mommas, runners, abused, loved, dogs given up due to allergeries, but never a dog with Separation Anxiety. It's a whole new life for me in fostering.

I am not going to rehash Murphy's previous time in foster or doggy day care. Being upfront and truthful about my fosters is paramount to making a match that will last. Murphy has been very lucky in having had a foster home when he came in and then to spend time with a very special lady named Maureen at doggy day care. We all agreed it was time for Murph to move back in to foster care.

Separation anxiety is a sad thing to behold, especially in a dog. They just can't deal with being separated from their human(s)!! That is the bottom line. Murphy had to deal with his brother, Yosef 10-390 coming in to RAGOM before he did. It was very traumatizing for him. Time helped us to figure out meds were needed, a playmate or play dates, and someone who could help to learn his crate was a safe place. This happened at doggy day care

Murphy half in his 'dining room'

Forward to Murphy in a new vehicle, meeting his new foster bro, Jax the cocker, a ride to a new place. Things were going well. I leashed Murphy up for a tour of the house, make sure he didn't 'mark' any new territory etc. He did awesome til we hit the bed room and 2 of the 3 cats were on the bed. I let him go up to them and sniff, Bailey hissed, growled, spat at him and then Murphy, I guess, decided he wanted a closer look. Sudsy took off and Bailey hit under the bed. Murphy decided he should go under the bed. Bailey ran, Murphy tried and I held on. Thus we began life in St Cloud. I spoke with his doggy care provider and she said he had been fine with her cat, her cat would stand up to him and swat him. OK I thought we can wait this out and handle it. The problem was Murphy became obsessed with cats. He would sniff and pace and run from one area to the next looking for them. So, I thought let's try a meeting I'm in control of. I got one of the cats and held them on my lap and let Murphy sniff....but then he wanted more, the cat got loose and ran. The next night Coulter the cat, who is afraid of no dogs and is sure they all love him, came up to the family room and jumped on the back of the couch. Murphy woke up, eventually saw Coulter. I held his collar and waited to see which way this would go. Murphy did the 'hard stare' and then tried to get Coulter. From here on it's been look for the cats, see a cat and bark, see or sniff a cat that's been on the deck, pace and pace looking for the cat. So, that said I don't think Murphy belongs in a house with a cat(s) unless the cat wants to take his chances, stand his ground and hand out a punch. My cats are dog savvy and none of them will go near Murphy.

So Murphy has a Great Dane sized crate. More than enough room, it sits in the kitchen looking out the glass sliding doors unto the deck and nature. First day he kenneled up, I went to work. Came back 4 hours later, he was very happy to see me. I was told to take him out to potty immediately and he would probably jump and carry on, but I should turn my back on him til he settled down........usually by getting distracted by something else. That worked out fine. Back in the house he went cat hunting:( OK we'll keep moving forward. I put his food in his crate with his door open, and tell him to eat and then ignore him by sitting at the table and reading or watching t.v. He is a sloppy eater, he grabs food, drops a little on the way out of the crate, then goes back for more. No problem, Jax cleans up the leftovers. First night at bed time he paced and sniffed where the cat had been, finally settled in, but had me up 2 times during the night. That's ok. Next day same routine except I got stuck on the phone at work and got home about at 4 1/2 hours not 4! Oh my. He had broke part of the plastic bottom try in his crate, pooped, peed, pushed his water dish out and pulled in the rug off the floor. But he was excited to see me. Not so much on my part. Got him out, cleaned it all up and moved on.

I didn't go to work on Fri. as I just didn't know what to expect with him crated now. I have no idea why 4 hours is the magic mark; did one of the cats come out.....Coulter loves to sit on the rug in front of the door in the kitchen. THAT would drive Murphy crazy. So he's been on vacation from the crate until last night when I crated him while I ran next door, hubby in the family room, the other 2 dogs hanging out. When I came home there was Murphy to greet me. I asked FD why he let him out. He DIDN'T. I was very careful to close and lock both sliders on the cage. The bottom one was open and he was out. We'll try a lock tomorrow.

The first few days with his obsession with the cats he really didn't come for attention much. That has changed, he is my shadow in every sense of the word, up to and including laying next to the bath tub while I'm using it. If I get up to go run inside to get a glass of water, he goes with. I am not out of his sight, and if I do get away a minute and he figures it out you can find him barking and pawing to get in.

Water is no longer available in my house, Murph is a huge water drinker (preferred to beer or wine:) and can take a vast majority with him from the bowl in the laundry room to the bathroom and then down the hall to the kitchen. I have offered him the mop but apparently being a guest he feels no obligation to clean up after himself. Large bowls of water are available outside on the deck and patio. It helps me control his drinking, Jax is fine and the cats have their own room with food and water.

We went to the lake yesterday and he LOVES the lake, the dock, the smells, wanted to go on the pontoon (not our place or toys), was great with 2 different males dogs coming over to visit-one neutered and one NOT!!! His recall is very good, simply call his name and tell him NO come and he does. After 3 hours at the lake everyone was tired and all 3 dogs slept on the way home (Daisy is our cousin's 9 month old yellow lab). Everyone was hosed off and fed upon landing at home. Murphy wasn't real hungry and I worry as he usually eats 6, yes SIX, cups of food a day and he ate maybe half his evening portion. Everyone was pretty played out....til 10:30 when I wanted to go to bed and Daisy and Murphy broke out in PLAY.....up and down the stairs and Murphy barking away. Aah to be young and be able to party after 10PM.

So, here is what it comes down to for Murphy. He needs all things that are listed in his previous updates PLUS NO CATS, and someone he can be with all the time, be it at home or work. He needs to remain on his meds, and 4 hour SEEMS to be his crate time limit, but not knowing if one of the cats was out to taunt him, there is no way to be sure. I am hoping to get all 3 cats outside tomorrow or locked in the basement, just so he can't see them. Once he sees them it's 'on'. He paces a lot to begin with, but with the cats it's nerve wracking. He has a high metabolism and and I don't expect the food amount to change. He's long, tall, lanky and loving.

I also discovered during last potty last night, he does NOT like fire crackers. He doesn't bark, pant or carry on, but heads inside and was fine. Guess we'll find out more tonight and probably the rest of the week:(

Murphy is a loving, needy, sweet boy who needs someone who wants to share their life on a daily basis together with only short breaks. He loves to go in the car, go for walks, gentle leader needed, loves other dogs and plays well, and is friendly with all people. Thus far he has bonded with women, but would do well with men, though to be honest if with a couple he would be the woman's dog. No doubt. And loves the lake!

So if you are still reading and your heart is murmuring this is the boy, contact your placement advisor and let's talk. We all have special needs, Murphy just needs a bit more:)

Foster Mom and the troops
(the cats would appreciate a quick adoption:)

We are going to the lake.......	Ready to ride
Murphy and cousin Daisy Duke at the lake	Murphy playing with cousin Daisy Duke
Murphy with resident Jax and Daisy Duke

Monday, June 20, 2011

Hello from Mr. Handsome - Murphy! Murphy is still hanging out with his puppy pals at Doggy Daycare and loving the routine and playtime he gets. After a visit to the vet, who I might add adored him, Murphy was prescribed some anti-anxiety medication (cost = about $15/month) which really seems to be helping him in the nerves department. Although Murphy is still a complete "velcro-dog" who would prefer to be near you he is learning that his crate is not such a bad place and he can be left for at least 4-hours at a time, maybe more. Murphy is also a great car-rider but is so tall he blocks the rear view mirror!! Next on the list of things to learn for this boy is how to sit in the window seat so that his driver can use their mirrors!!

Murphy is ready for his very own place to call home. Now that his anti-anxiety meds have taken effect we have a good idea of what he will require in a home:

1) As mentioned earlier, Murphy does well in his crate for a 4-hour period but then needs a little social time with his people. With a consistent routine this 4-hour period may be able to be increased over time but for now he will need someone who cater to his need and either come home for lunch or even better, someone who doesn't work full-time.

2) Preferably a fenced yard or a second dog. He is NOT a runner and just prefers to be in the company of humans and frolics contently when his people are in the yard with him. Murphy even gives a bark to let you know when he is ready to come back inside!

3) Someone willing to continue with the medication he is on to help his anxiety. As mentioned, it is not costly, only about $15/month.

4) Someone who has a somewhat regular routine in life - Murphy will thrive in a home where he knows what is expected of him and what to expect from his life and his people.

5) Someone who loves and adores him but who understands that it is not in his best interest to be babied as this would just reinforce his need to be near people. Murphy will need someone who can enforce the rules and routine while still being a loving companion for him.

What his family can expect from him in return for their love and affection:

Murphy LOVES being groomed or bathed. He would stand there for hours on end absorbing the attention if you let him. He goes in his crate for all meals and sits nicely as well as being very obedient - He already knows a few commands! Murphy gets along with all other dogs and is simply sweet with people.

Murphy really is a great dog with the beautiful Golden looks to go along with his charm. Once he is given time to settle into a FUR-ever home he will be the best companion you could ask for!

If you are interested in meeting this handsome boy please contact your placement adviser.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Murphy has made the move to Doggy Daycare and is settling in well. He is a big beautiful boy who is just full of puppy energy and the structure and exercise have done wonders for him!

Murphy enjoys the company of the other dogs and really loves people. Although he has had little in the way of obedience training he is a joy to work with and should be easy to train using positive motivational techniques as he truly wants to please.

Part of the reason Murphy was moved to Doggy Daycare are his issues with anxiety. Murphy's honorary foster mom believes that Murphy would benefit from some anxiety medication so plans to take him to the vet and find out their thoughts. If he is prescribed medication it will take a couple weeks to truly see the effects but it's likely that he'll find himself more able to relax and learn how to be comfortable in his own skin.

Currently, Murphy is learning all about how wonderful crates are! He is a big energetic boy and crate training will be really beneficial not only for any family that adopts him but also for Murphy to have a quiet place to settle down. He is now being fed all his meals in his crate as well as staying in there for about an hour at a time. He makes a little fuss but settles down when told to. Murphy is also learning about the joys of being on a leash! He will soon learn of all the wonderful things that come from being on a leash like walks and trips in the car!

Murphy will be looking for a patient and caring family who understands his needs and is willing to give him time to get settled and feel safe. He'll need someone who is able to be home with him for the most part, at least at first until he settles into a routine and can be safely left either crated or in a confined area. Murphy is also still a puppy in many ways so will need a family committed to giving him ample exercise. He would love a large fenced yard to burn off his energy and another doggy companion may even help him with some of his anxiety as well as act as a playmate!

Murphy is a true work in progress but he is what we like to call a "diamond in the rough"! He will be the most wonderful companion and I can guarantee his family will get compliments on his handsome looks wherever they go! If you think you have the time and love to devote to this beautiful boy please contact your placement adviser.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Love, Penny 08.113, Penny Rose and Stella Grace

Friday, March 25, 2011

Murphy said it's time to let everyone know how he's doing. He just loves coming downstairs to sleep by the computer when I'm doing my e-mails. It's gotten a lot quieter and calmer around here now that our son has moved out. Murphy really loves all the attention he gets now. He does well on his walks around the neighborhood, does get excited when he sees a squirrel or two. One night while he was out sitting in the yard, he spotted a raccoon, but I told him that wasn't an animal he'd like to meet up close. He does really well meeting new people, sits very quietly while they pet him. We saw a couple of cats at a Petco the other day, and he just looked at them.

Murphy is continuing to work on his basic commands. He is very good at letting us know when he wants to go outside, going to the door and barking once. Coming in, he's now trained to come in, sit quietly and wait for the leash to be unhooked. This winter, he loved the fresh snow and our hill. He would lie on his back, head facing downhill, and slide down the hill, pushing with his back feet. Then he'd come up and do it again and again. When the weather got warm for a few days, he loved going outside and would just sit, watching people and other dogs walk by.

Murphy has really come a long way since coming to our house. We are working on his anxiety when we need to leave and that is getting better, too. He continues to be a 'velcro' dog, and will follow us whenever we leave the room, even for a few moments. He is still looking for his forever home, someone with lots of love and patience.