3/3/07: Please welcome the very handsome Murphy to RAGOM. Murphy was surrendered with Shea 07-076 due to some financial difficulties of the family. Murphy's family wrote a note about what a wonderful dog Murphy is (he certainly is) and to please find him a very good home. Well, we intend to find him the perfect forever home :)

Murphy is 3.5 year old neutered male, UTD and weighing about 70 lbs. The vet said he is a little thin, but nothing to worry about. He is also used to living outside. He was previously trained to invisible fencing and was used to having 3 acres to romp around on. Murphy has a very beautiful thick and curly coat from living outside and living inside is going to be an adjustment, but one he is already enjoying in the few hours since I brought him home.

When I picked Murphy up from the RAGOM foster who transported Murphy and Shea this morning, he was obviously stressed from the changes of being removed from his home. Murphy did well in the car and we went immediately to the vet, where he really didn't want to go inside. A vet tech had to help me coax Murphy inside the building. I don't know if he had a fear of vets or if he just hasn't had much experience being inside a building, but it was very obvious he wasn't comfortable being inside. Even though he was under duress, he was sooooooo good at the vet. He tolerated the vetting without so much as a wiggle or a peep as they microchipped him, drew blood, vaccinated him and cleaned his ears (yes, he has double ear infections we are working on).

After the vet visit, we went to PetSmart for RAGOM's adoption event. Murphy again was uneasy about going in the building but once he adjusted he was calm and so good. The pictures are from the PetSmart event today. As you can see, he settled in nicely. After meeting lots of nice people, we left to go home and meet my crew.

When we arrived at my house, I brought Nala and Sue out to meet Murphy and Nala did her traditional "I am the boss here, if you remember that, we will get along fine" routine that she does with every new foster. Poor Murphy was so submissive that Nala took the opportunity to really lay on the "I am the boss" routine and that made Murphy even more scared. Since he spent so much time in my car, he kept running into the garage and he wanted into the car. I tried to get him to go in the house and he wanted nothing to do with the house. He would come to the door, get real low on his belly, put one foot in the door, then take off running back into the garage. I tried to distract him for awhile and play fetch with him, which he LOVES, but I have to say with all of this snow, he was having a hard time tracking the ball in the deep snow. I had to help him find the ball a few times :) After he ran for a bit in the deep snow, I tried the house thing and again, he didn't want anything to do with going inside. I thought, this is great, I am going to have to sleep in my car with him tonight! I tried treats, I tried having Nala and Sue go in to show him it was okay, but it wasn't until Nala, Sue and I came in and I had beef jerky, that he finally, reluctantly came in. Yay! After he ran about the house for awhile, he found all of the water bowls, slurped from them, and he sufficiently checked things out, he went over to the couch and hopped up on it and shut his eyes for a nap. Well, I certainly wasn't going to poo poo his sleeping on the couch when it took so long to get him in the house to begin with, so one thing I know that Murphy's new family must allow: sleeping on furniture! He seems to enjoy it and he seems to be adjusting well to indoor living.

Because he lived outside, he isn't potty trained per se, but since he is used to going outside, it shouldn't be too hard. We have been out MANY times and I praise him everytime he goes and so far so good.

Murphy ate all of his dinner and has been enjoying playing with his toys. So far he hasn't engaged Nala in play, although she has tried. He is very much a snuggler and a Velcro dog; he follows me everywhere and I love it. Tonight I had to leave for a dinner for a few hours and I babygated him in the kitchen and he did just fine; nothing destroyed and no accidents.

I am not sure what Murphy's experiences are but the TV seems to be a source of intrigue for Murphy; he goes up and stares at it, as if watching it. So funny!!! Also, I have a full length mirror in my hallway and everytime we pass by it, he stops and stares at himself. You see his pictures, can you blame him??? He is a handsome devil :) Murphy is going to make a wonderful addition to any family!!