Ralph

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.

RALPH

Ralph is a 4yrs old castrated, cream coloured, male Golden Retriever whose partner is Margaret. He will, occasionally, still try to mount Margaret when in the garden. 

PERSONALITY Diane says” Ralph is a very likeable character who runs and jumps around when at home, still knocking Margaret over in the process.

He is fairly confident, boisterous, energetic, alert and inquisitive, playful and happy

 If I open the door for them to go out, he is usually first through but, if Margaret doesn’t go out, he will come straight back in. 

When outside, he likes to take plants out of plant pots and then leave them, going on to the next thing that is of interest

Our house and garden are quite small and we feel, sometimes, it seems to get a bit cramped for Margaret and Ralph.”. 

HEALTH  Ralph seems to be in general good health. 

His ears / eyes / mouth / teeth / skin / legs and feet are good  and his bowel / bladder movements are normal too

SOCIAL LEARNING TRAVEL: He is happy and content travelling in a vehicle

HOUSETRAINING:  There have been a couple of toilet accidents but we not sure who it is although Ralph normally gives a bit of a bark when he wants to go outside.  

BASIC TRAINING:   He has had very little basic training.

RESOURCE GUARDING: He shows no evidence of resource guarding. He likes to pick up toys and run around with no problems at all. 

He likes his food and will let you stroke his head while eating. He is getting slower at eating now that he knows he doesn’t have to compete for food. He can still be a bit quick when taking treats but it is not aggressively.  

SEPARATION ANXIETY:   He sleeps well most nights and there is no problem leaving them when we go out.. 

LEADWALKING:  He is good at road walking and, unlike Margaret, he doesn’t take much notice of the traffic at all. However, Ralph does need more training on the lead as he has a habit of stopping on his walk and refusing to go further without being physically moved forwards!   As soon as he gets home he runs around the garden like a puppy so I am sure it is a habit and not a physical problem. 

 I have now put him on to a Halti, like Margaret, and he tolerates it very well.   He sits and stays well when asked to at the kerb when out walking. 

ADULTS and CHILDREN: He is very friendly with adults and children.

DOGS:  He still gets a bit too lively when around other dogs but is getting better and will sit when told. 

CATS and SMALL FURRIES:  Ralph shows an interest in cats but not as much as Margaret does.  He isn’t that bothered about other small animals.

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