Meg
Margaret and Ralph are a gorgeous pair of 4 year old Golden Retrievers. They have been together for the last two years and have a strong bond with each other. After receiving the necessary inoculations to travel to the UK they stayed in owner foster for a month until they were ready to travel to the UK early in February.
HISTORY
Paddy rescued Margaret from Wexford where she had been used as a breeding bitch. She had had a hard life but when she met Paddy and Evelyn’s dog Ralph, a new Romeo and Juliet story was born and they soon became inseparable. Ralph helped Margaret to trust people again.
They accidently had three puppies which, at 10 weeks old, were sent to a charity which helps children with autism. They have since both been neutered. Ralph has been loved his whole life but, as Paddy and Evelyn, of P and E Kennels, both wanted the dogs to enjoy a better life in the country, they made the heartbreaking decision to let Ralph go to ‘that wonderful life’ with Margaret who was so ‘in love’ with her beau that she wouldn’t go two feet without him.
Their birthdays are both in December 2013 but on different dates. Margaret does look older, probably because she has been bred from a few times. Paddy and Evelyn run the boarding kennels that IRR use so they knew they could trust IRR who only accept wonderful homes.
They told Kathryn both Ralph and Margaret were superb with other dogs but would give the cats a run for their money. In the UK, they went into foster with Diane.
MARGARET
Margaret is a 4yrs old spayed female Golden Retriever who had a hard start to her life. She is inseparable from Ralph who she looks to for constant reassurance.
PERSONALITY She is quite laid back in her ways and has now got to the stage where she doesn’t let Ralph push her around so much but just prefers to lie on her cushion and watch.
She plays in the garden when she wants to although she still doesn’t have much to do with the toys, leaving them to Ralph. She is happier if she has a good chew to get her teeth into.
She is alert and inquisitive but less confident than Ralph. She is less playful and less boisterous and energetic than him but is still happy in her own way.
HEALTH Margaret seems to be in good health
Her ears / eyes / mouth / teeth / skin / legs and feet are good and her bowel / bladder movements are normel too
SOCIAL LEARNING Margaret is improving in many ways which is very pleasing.
TRAVEL: She is happy and content travelling in a vehicle
HOUSETRAINING: House training is nearly complete. There have been a couple of toilet accidents but we are not sure if it is Margaret or Ralph
BASIC TRAINING: She doesn’t appear to have had much basic training but she will react to the ‘stay’ command quickly now and is getting used to sit, leave and down.
RESOURCE GUARDING: She doesn’t appear to resource guard
SEPARATION ANXIETY: There isn’t a problem leaving Margaret and Ralph when we go out. We do have to make sure there is nothing they can get from work surfaces but Margaret does appreciate it if I forget and leave my welly socks or gloves where she can reach them. I come home to find her cuddled up with them on her bed. Maybe she thinks they are her babies?
LEADWALKING: She pulls a little on her lead but it is not uncontrollable, unlike her first week when she was very strong. She is getting better on the walks and, although she is still nervous with vehicle sounds by the road, she seems to be getting a lot more relaxed in general. She is still doing zig zags while walking occasionally which is a trip hazard but we can definitely see the improvement now.
ADULTS and CHILDREN: She is very friendly with adults. They both get on well with the grandchildren but probably a home with only visiting children would be ideal.
DOGS: Margaret is a lovely girl who is very happy to meet other dogs and will stand while being sniffed. She doesn’t do much of the sniffing. She likes smaller dogs and gets on well with the Shih Tzu and other similar size dogs. She may associate the bigger ones with mating, poor girl.
CATS and SMALL FURRIES: : A cat free zone would probably be best for Margaret. She can smell rabbits/squirrels/cats etc very quickly. She would love to play with the birds in the park too.
A DREAM HOME FOR MARGARET AND RALPH
As Margaret and Ralph will need to be re-homed together, Diane feels that it would be beneficial to look for an adult only adoptive home with people who can give them lots of attention and a feeling of stability.
Everyone agrees it would be beneficial for them to have somewhere with perhaps a large garden and, ideally, in the country.
As they are an existing pair, a home without a resident dog would be better and definitely one without cats is a must. Ralph and Margaret are best suited to a family that will give them both the time and patience to re-adjust and to be part of the forever family that they both so deserve.
MARCH 2018
Meg and Ralph have gone to live in their Forever Home