Murphy #9 Yellow Labrador Retriever Male 1 Year Old #3533

Meet Murphy!  This handsome Red Fox yellow Labrador was surrendered by a breeder after he was unable to sell him. This poor boy was kept in a dark barn by himself. The breeder did not name him and did not interact with him so he will be discovering a whole new world while in foster care.  Please read Murphy’s blog from the bottom up to learn about his journey while in foster care.

June 29, 2025

I’m happy to say my ear is all better and FM is keeping it clean, so I don’t develop another infection. I’m a good boy and sit still while she cleans in. I have my last post-surgery appointment on 7/2/25 (this coming Wednesday) and if I get the “all-clear”, I’ll be ready to find my furever home!

I continue to love everyone in my foster family. I easily go to each person for pets. I’m not afraid of anyone in the house now. (Foster Mom, Dad, Sister and her boyfriend) I also like anyone who is a regular visitor. (FM & FD’s adult sons and grandkids) I attended my foster sister’s graduation party last weekend and was a little shy with the new folks but when my 4-legged foster siblings were going to the new people for pets, I joined them. Everyone knew I was a little shy, so they let me approach on my own time. Eventually, I just laid by FM and fell asleep. FM was mindful of the stress new people might cause me, so I wasn’t outside with the people the whole time; just for 45 minutes. I was happy with that!I enjoy walking in the neighborhood. I use a front-clip harness, so I don’t pull. Mostly, I just like to walk next to my foster siblings. I do a little crisscrossing while I walk so FM is working on keeping me walking in a straight line.

FM and sister started working out of the house full-time, which has been a big change for me. FD works from home every day, so I’m not alone, but I’m still having a little trouble adjusting. It’s been 2 weeks now, so I’m beginning to understand that both FM and sister will come back. Some days I’m good when FM is away and other days I bark and am very restless. My foster family hid the pillows so I can’t chew on them. I’ve gotten some peanut butter filled treats that keep me busy for a while and FD lets me outside every few hours to do my business and play a slow fetch (so I don’t hurt my leg). It can be tough to be a young dog with lots of energy and not be allowed to run and play with other dogs. I can’t wait until the Vet says I can.

All in all, I have really settled into life in a home and have been a good boy even though I have not been able to be the young energetic guy I was born to be due to my surgery. FM says I am loyal and loving and am going to make someone a great best friend. I’ll be turning 2 in October and FM says I am a fast learner, mostly calm and quiet for my age. Please look out for my availability post on or after July 2^nd.

June 15, 2025

It’s been a while since I’ve written everyone. A lot has happened in the past month! After I had my surgery, I developed an infection and had to be re–sutured and take antibiotics. I’m happy to say that my leg is good now and I had the sutures taken out. I am allowed to take walks for the next 3 weeks and then I go back for a check-up. So far, the doctor feels I am healing well and the surgery was successful. Fingers crossed, I might be able to start looking for my forever home then! Of note, FM is concerned that I might have a right ear infection, so she’ll be calling the Vet 1^st thing on June 16th.I have figured out what dog beds are for and am sleeping in them now. I like them so much that sometimes I drag them around the house and chew on them a bit. My foster family tries not to laugh and tell me “no” when I do that. I like stuffies and they remind me of them so sometimes it is confusing.I went to an event one weekend and did really well meeting new people and dogs for the first 30 minutes. After that, I started to get overwhelmed and was short tempered with a young dog. Foster mom said it was time to go after that. We learned that it was a little too soon for me to spend much time around lots of new people, noises and dogs. We are going to take it slow now that I am allowed to walk around. My foster family plans on taking me to places like PetSmart and Lowes for a few minutes at a time to see how I do. I am also going to continue my training at FM’s training club called Old York Road Dog Training Club, where I received my certificate for beginner training.I’m getting very attached to FM and when she’s been at work and comes home, I am a little “mouthy”. I’m just so happy to see her and I treat her like one of the pack. FM tries to remember to bring a little stuffy with her when she goes out so that she can give it to me when she walks in the door. When she gives me the stuffy, I’m still so happy to see her but I’m able to control my mouthiness. I also do this 1^st thing in the morning when we all wake up, I get mouthy with my foster-dog brother’s and sister and with FM… so the stuffy has been coming out in the morning and we are all happy! Over all, I’m settling in to house living. I did have one pee accident in the past month, otherwise I do really well with an every 3 – 4-hour schedule of going outside to potty. I do like to chew on soft things like slippers, pillows and dog beds so my foster family keeps an eye on me. I do not chew on furniture. I’ve been restless with so much activity restriction after surgery but taking twice daily walks has helped with that now. I still really want to play with my foster siblings, but I’m not allowed to just yet. I settle in for a good nap after my walks and I sleep through the night in FM & FD’s room. I continue to be a little shy with meeting new people but I’m getting better with that… especially if they have a treat! Please keep coming back to read my blog as I continue my new adventures of getting used to the world outside of a barn stall!

May 18, 2025

Mother’s Day was last Sunday, and I was a really good boy. I didn’t bother the 2- and 5-year-olds that were here and I didn’t jump on anyone when they came in the door. I was a little shy but still walked up to people for some pets.I finished my beginner’s obedience class the night before my surgery and passed with flying colors. FM said after my leg heals a bit, we can continue my training because I really enjoyed being a show-off in class! Check out the picture of the cool ribbon I received.I had my surgery 4 days ago. I’m a little embarrassed of my hairless leg but FM keeps reminding me that the hair will grow back. I’m being a trooper and trying to obey all the new rules… no running, no playing and only doing steps when I absolutely must. It is so boring!!  My foster family has given me lots of love and some great bones and things to keep me occupied. I have two follow-up appointments, one at 2 weeks and then 6 weeks. If all goes well with my healing, I will be ready to find my forever home. Thanks for continuing to come back to read about my life in foster care.

May 7, 2025

Just a quick update. My surgery for the luxating patella is scheduled for May 14^th. I’ll have about 2 months of recovery time after that. I’m not sure at what point during my recovery I’ll be able to go to a new adoptive home, so keep following me as I have my surgery and begin my recovery. I was so good while at the Vet’s office, I started falling asleep. Everyone there loved me and kept telling me I was so handsome.In the meantime, I have one week left of my basic obedience class. FM says I am a model student! I have learned how to walk nicely on a leash and have mastered my sit and down. I am learning my right and left turns and am understanding “wait”. I am enjoying that class because I get lots of treats!  I am walking into the training room with more confidence and am not so shy around humans.

I continue to love living in a home. FM says my only “bad habit” is chewing shoes. I don’t see why that is bad because it’s so fun, but she says that’s a “no-no”.  I’m a good boy and do not jump on people when they come to our house.  I sit nicely when meeting the neighborhood humans and am super-hype to play with the neighborhood dogs!  I had a new foster brother named Goober for about a week, and we had lots of fun playing. We would roll around and wrestle and chase each other. I have to say I am missing him because he was a great pal to play with, but he went to a new adoptive home and my foster family says that’s a really good thing. I still have all the resident dogs to play with, but they don’t like to play for as long as I do. My foster family plays with me by throwing a ball and I do like that.

The best new thing so far is this thing called a “pup cup”.  I loved it and had lots left over on my face to snack on when the cup was empty. Well, that’s been my adventures for the past week or so. I’ll be back to update after my surgery.

April 27, 2025

A lot has happened in the past week. I got neutered and did very well. I also went to a Vet specialist after having x-rays. I have a luxating patella and will have surgery to correct that. I also have a little hip dysplasia, but the vet felt that fixing the luxating patella will help with the hip dysplasia. The surgery will be scheduled fairly soon.I continue to feel more and more comfortable with the world around me and all the people. I was friendly but reserved with everyone that had come over for an Easter dinner. Mostly, I have bonded with the resident dogs and love being with them. However, I do not like sharing my outside toys so sometimes I have to wait inside while the other dogs play with balls and things outside. I do not understand sharing when it comes to toys.I still like shoes, so my foster family put them away so I can’t get them. Other than that, I’ve been pretty good with understanding what I am allowed to have and chew. I’m loving my new life and can’t wait to find my furever family after I heal from my surgery. Please keep checking back to see how I’m doing!

April 18, 2025

Here I am, week 2 in my new foster home. I have learned to do steps like a champ and continue to only do my “business” outside. FM said after 2 weeks, she considers me “house-trained”. As I get more and more comfortable living in a house, I am acting more like a puppy… very playful and sometimes a bit mouthy. My foster family is teaching me that I cannot play with humans in the same way that I do with my doggie friends.

I have discovered shoes! All the humans in my foster home know that they cannot leave shoes where I can get them and chew them. I don’t chew anything else in the house and have lots of dog toys / bones to chew on.

I have also discovered a thing called a Jolly Ball and love playing with that outside. Check out my video!

Another update for this week is that FM thinks I might run “a little funny” and wants to have my back legs / hips checked out. I have an appointment with the Vet on Monday 4/21 and he’ll check me out and do x-rays if needed. FM is hoping it’s just from being in a small space for so long and the need to build some muscle. I’ll be letting everyone know how I do.I have learned “sit” and am learning to walk nicely on a leash. I’m still a bit shy so I still get a bit nervous when outside of the house or yard. We are going for walks in the woods, so I don’t have to see too many new faces yet. I met the neighbor’s dog yesterday and had a lovely time playing and getting out some of my puppy energy. I ignored the human that was with him. FM said it is good that I don’t bark at the people.

I’m learning to take treats from the human visitors when they come in the house as long as they are sitting. I do like treats!Please continue to follow my story as I have so many more adventures ahead!

April 12, 2025

It’s been one week in my new foster home. I had a visit with a nice man called a Vet. He gave me some shots which didn’t even hurt! He wanted to give me a treat, but I was too nervous. Everyone loved me and said I was so handsome and gentle. I’ll be going back there in a few weeks to be neutered. I’m thinking I might not like that…I also met some little people called Grandchildren and an older person called a Great Grandmother when they came over for a small birthday dinner.  I was a little nervous, so I lay at the top of the steps to watch what was happening. I didn’t jump or bark, just quietly laid and watched. FM said that was perfect!I’ve started trying to play with the cats, so my foster family have to remind me to “leave it”. I’m not quite sure what that means yet, but I understand the tone of voice and stop.

I also started a training class because FM says I’m a big boy with puppy energy, so she wants to be sure once I’m not shy anymore that I am well behaved. I think I will learn lots of things in that class. I don’t mind being there if nobody tries to pet me. I like all the dogs in the class and want to play with them, but FM says “that’s not what we are there for” so I just play with her.I am slowly learning that there is a world outside of my barn stall that I lived in for at least a year, and so far, I’m liking it!

April 8, 2025

It’s day 3 in my new foster home. I’ve not had a single accident in the house, so I haven’t had to wear the male wrap since I tore it up on day 1. FM says she is very proud of me. I’ve learned to do steps so I can follow the humans around to see what they are doing. When they are not looking, I steal their slippers. Other than that, I don’t chew on things in the house.I slept well on the 1st night. Last night I barked a bit and was restless, but FM said I just need to get used to the sounds around me. I roam around the house at night looking for my perfect sleeping spot. I don’t know what a dog bed is, so I usually lay on the wood floor close to the human’s bedrooms.I am super playful with the dogs in the home, especially the female, Morgan. I still just watch the cats with curiosity, but I don’t bother them at all. I’m still a bit nervous about the humans and will sniff their hands or eat a treat they are holding. If the human tries to pet me, I cower down hoping they go away… and they do! I think I like humans, I’m just not sure about them yet. I like to be near them, I’m just not ready to be touched. FM says it’s time to start a little training, like walking on a leash. I’m not sure about that but I’m willing to give it a try because I think I would like to go for walks. Paws crossed that it goes well!

April 4, 2025

Hello! My name is Murphy, and I’m fresh off the farm. Foster mom (FM) says with my red hair, I look Irish and deserved an Irish name. I am about 1 ½ years old. I took a long ride to my new foster home and did great! I was quiet the whole time and did not get car sick. (all though I did drool a bit) I had to stop at a salon on the way to my foster home because FM said I smelled like a cow. It took several shampoos, but FM said I smell much better and was ready to meet the rest of the family.I had fun meeting my 4-legged foster siblings. So far, I’m liking dogs the best because I really like to play.

The cats are strange to me, but I’m getting some pretty good sniffs in to figure out what they are. FM says I should not play with them and that is OK with me.I like to follow the people around but if they stop to talk to me, I’m a bit shy and will back up a bit. I have not had much interaction with humans, so I have to figure them out. I ate a small dinner once I got settled in the house. I’ve taken a few treats from the people’s hands so far as long as they don’t look right at me. After spending most of my life in a barn stall, everything is new to me. I am very curious and watch everything that is happening.

I was quiet all night when everyone went to bed. I took off that ridiculous “male wrap” and made some confetti with it to celebrate this comfy new lifestyle! I did not have any accidents in the house and FM said I was a good boy because I didn’t chew on anything in the house. I do not understand steps so that is something I will need to learn.I think I am going to have a great many learning adventures! Stay tuned to see what happens next!