Huxley (Ernie 10-241)

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Profile

In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:
Entered Foster Care Fence Kid Friendly Another Dog Cat Friendly
 9/22/2015 Optional  Yes  Optional  Yes 
This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

Hello Sweet Ernie!

Ernie, now known as Huxley, was born in RAGOM's care in 2010.  He was adopted by a fantastic family who gave him a wonderful home for the last five years.  Sadly, their personal circumstances changed and made it difficult for them to continue to care for him, so they made the difficult decision to return him to RAGOM.  

As sad as we are that Ernie had to come back, we are thrilled to have him with us.  His mom was fostered with us when she was pregnant with Ernie and his litter mates, Ruby and Hank. We got to watch him grow from a newborn to a young pup, which you can read about on the previous entries that follow on his webpage.

Over the last five years, Ernie has matured into a confident, happy dog.  He will reportedly stick close by without a fence, previously lived with three small children, and loves other dogs.  He is interested but not aggressive with our dog-savvy cat. I'm confident he can do well with cats if he has a nice slow intro. Ernie's surrendering owner indicated he does have some slight storm anxiety.  It stormed the night he got here, and while he wanted to be close to us while it was thundering and lightning, that seemed to be enough to keep him calm and happy. Great news!

This velcro boy will do fine with a variety of families.  He is well behaved, and loves to lean in for scratches.  He greets everyone like they are his long-lost best buddy, despite a big, deep, "hello!" bark.  He is playful but not  hyper, and wants to please. He's a smartie and has quickly learned our expectations for mealtimes, etc.

​Extra-bonus:  He has rock-solid recall!​

One of his siblings was just diagnosed with PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), which is an inherited disease that results in blindness. ​After a check at the vet, Ernie's eyes are showing no signs of degeneration at this time.  However, potential adopters should be aware that this could be an issue for him in the future.   He is also on a short course of steroids to get rid of some allergy itchiness, but the vet felt it was mild considering this is high season for Iowa allergies.  Otherwise, his checkup was great! 

If Ernie/Huxley sounds like he might be a fit for your family, please contact your placement advisor!

At a Glance #10-241

Golden Retriever Born: August 2010
Male Weight not specified

Status: Adopted

Profile

In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:
Entered Foster Care Fence Kid Friendly Another Dog Cat Friendly
 9/22/2015 Optional  Yes  Optional  Yes 
This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

Hello Sweet Ernie!

Ernie, now known as Huxley, was born in RAGOM's care in 2010.  He was adopted by a fantastic family who gave him a wonderful home for the last five years.  Sadly, their personal circumstances changed and made it difficult for them to continue to care for him, so they made the difficult decision to return him to RAGOM.  

As sad as we are that Ernie had to come back, we are thrilled to have him with us.  His mom was fostered with us when she was pregnant with Ernie and his litter mates, Ruby and Hank. We got to watch him grow from a newborn to a young pup, which you can read about on the previous entries that follow on his webpage.

Over the last five years, Ernie has matured into a confident, happy dog.  He will reportedly stick close by without a fence, previously lived with three small children, and loves other dogs.  He is interested but not aggressive with our dog-savvy cat. I'm confident he can do well with cats if he has a nice slow intro. Ernie's surrendering owner indicated he does have some slight storm anxiety.  It stormed the night he got here, and while he wanted to be close to us while it was thundering and lightning, that seemed to be enough to keep him calm and happy. Great news!

This velcro boy will do fine with a variety of families.  He is well behaved, and loves to lean in for scratches.  He greets everyone like they are his long-lost best buddy, despite a big, deep, "hello!" bark.  He is playful but not  hyper, and wants to please. He's a smartie and has quickly learned our expectations for mealtimes, etc.

​Extra-bonus:  He has rock-solid recall!​

One of his siblings was just diagnosed with PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), which is an inherited disease that results in blindness. ​After a check at the vet, Ernie's eyes are showing no signs of degeneration at this time.  However, potential adopters should be aware that this could be an issue for him in the future.   He is also on a short course of steroids to get rid of some allergy itchiness, but the vet felt it was mild considering this is high season for Iowa allergies.  Otherwise, his checkup was great! 

If Ernie/Huxley sounds like he might be a fit for your family, please contact your placement advisor!

Updates

Saturday, October 23, 2010

I got a feeling… That tonight’s gonna be a good night… That tonight’s gonna be a good, good night!

Hi everyone! It’s me Ernie! Well, not exactly Ernie anymore… You can just call me TBD (to be determined) for now. My NEW DAD (yes I AM shouting ‘cause I am the teensiest bit excited) is working on the perfect name for me, but he needs to get to know me better first. I said, “Let’s get started!” and so we hung out together at FMs house for a while. I showed him how I poop and pee and he said something about being glad he has hard floors. I don’t know what that means, but I laughed with everyone anyway, because I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Then I showed him my sitting, and how I like to play with toys, and cuddle and all that good stuff.

When it was time to go, I got some great hugs from my foster brothers and parents and gave Hank my best Golden smile. We’ve all been together through thick and thin and Ruby, so we’ve done some serious bonding. I really love that little guy… Then me and my new two-leggers jumped in the car and headed for my very own forever home.

Thank you RAGOM! Life is good.


Sunday, October 17, 2010

Hi everyone! It’s been crazy around here and I find it hard to relax as you can see from the picture of FM holding me!

For some reason, FM seems to be big on new experiences. Her latest was going outside during a thunderstorm – lightning and everything. Ruby thought it made her smell like autumn rain, but I think she just smelled like wet puppy. The rain didn’t bother me at all… In fact, I think it gave me that rugged casual look that all the girls love. You can see some pictures of me in the bath, too. We seem to spend a lot of time there. The good news is, I am tall enough and strong enough to get out if FM isn’t hanging onto my collar. For a long time I thought that thing was just for decoration, but I’ve figured out it’s really a nasty puppy-control device. I’ll put up with it… For now.

 

In other news, I had a sleepover at the vet with Ruby and we each had a little procedure. That’s what they call it when they don’t really want to share the details with you. I’m still a little fuzzy on the finer points myself, but I figure I got it and Hank didn’t, so that’s good, right? FM also says someone special is coming to visit this weekend, but I think she meant to say a person is coming to visit someone special (me!). Stay tuned for the details!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Ernie is doing great! He is now scampering up and down the steps to the yard, giving Ruby a run for her money, and wrestling like crazy. The two of them race and chase around the yard, barking (yup it sounds like a real bark now) and showing off those wonderful Golden smiles! He finally overtook Ruby in the Biggest Gainer contest and is now a lean, mean 16 pounds. He is the perfect size for snuggling – big enough to squeeze and small enough to hold onto. While Ruby is the mastermind behind most of their escapades, Ernie is always ready for a good time. You know the old saying, “A good friend bails you out of jail, a best friend is sitting next to you…” Let’s just say if Ruby was in the lockup, she wouldn’t be relying on Ernie to get her out.

Along with that little bit of wisdom, I have some more to share from the hallowed halls of the puppy compound. Did you know that many of the tarps you buy from the big box stores are not waterproof? Me either! Guess what. Not water-proof = not potty-proof. Not potty-proof = not good. It’s bad enough to be in a constant battle of wits against three short-and-furries – but to lose the game so frequently is truly humbling (or humorous depending on which side you’re on)!

Check out some puppy playtime in the yard this week.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Hi guys! I have a riddle for you! What’s furry and friendly, and super-de-dooper lucky? I don’t know how you guessed it, but you’re right. It IS me! How many Golden Retrievers do you know who get to go to work almost every day with their dad?!? Well, when I move to my new place I’m gonna! How cool is that? I hear Dad’s workplace is dog-friendly, and since I’m workplace-friendly (okay, I’m just friendly in general) I think we were meant for each other! A car ride in the morning, spending the whole day with Pop and the other working dogs, a car ride in the afternoon… Throw in good eats, scratching hands, and an occasional tennis ball and I’ve got it good!

I’ll miss my foster family and my mamma and Hank. Did I forget someone? Hmmm, let me think. Nope, that’s it! I’ll be sorry to leave those guys, but I’m ready for my own place! Seriously, I’m almost 8 weeks -- not a baby anymore. I’m ready to hang out and do guy stuff. I’m practicing by scooping the loop on my leash (FM says tangled in my leash, but sometimes it’s best just to ignore her), eating some manly food (dry kibble), and destroying stuff (what else is there to do with stuffed toys?).

FM says I need to wait a few more weeks, though, because I need another round of shots and a special fixer-upper procedure. I don’t really see the need for that, but as FD always says, “Happy wife, happy life”. I’m not too sure what that means, but FD says it translates loosely into “Don’t mess with the queen.” I have to tell ya, I don’t really get that either, but I’m guessing the bottom line is I’m getting fixed whether I’m broken or not.

If you have a few minutes, you can watch part of my walk today!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

I am in heaven! FM has expanded the puppy zone, and I think now it is more like a gated puppy compound complete with hanging balls and (my favorite) a slide! I have to climb up the steps to get to the top and the last one is really big so I have to work extra hard. Then once I am at the top I can slide down the slide. Unlike my brother and sister, I don’t try to slow myself down at all. I just plop down on my belly and go! Yippee! Sometimes if I get going really fast I crash into the wall at the bottom which is pretty fun. There is also a tunnel underneath the slide and that’s a great place to hide and then jump out and attack my sibs.

We love to wrestle around in the compound. FM says the noise we make is astounding (Compliment? No? You be the judge.) because we crash full tilt into stuff, bounce off and keep going. I think there might be some waterskiing in my future because I like to hang on to the other guys’ tails and get drug around.

Check out the picture of me climbing the steps outside! I’m gettin’ good, huh?!?

When you’re done with that, you can watch the new video of us playing with our foster brother, Archie. Archie won the “most huggable” Golden award at Goldzilla! Don’t tell him because I don’t want to hurt his feelings, but things might have been different if I had been there. Shhh. Maybe next year?

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Hi Friends!

Things are going great here! I’m a little more tentative than my younger sister, Ruby, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have fun! She bowls through life leaving chaos (i.e. me an’ Hank) in her wake, but we just shake it off and keep going. My favorite thing to play with is the ball that hangs from the top of the puppy zone. Get this! When I walk by it… It moves! Any little bump from my head or my tail sends it swinging away and then back again to hit me! The ball is green which reminds me of one of my other favorite things, grass! I love to walk through the grass and carry around leaves and things. FM says those retriever genes are coming out already since I like to carry stuff. She’s guessing there will be a tennis ball or two in my future. I like those things too, but right now my mouth isn’t big enough to do the good stuff with them, so I have to settle for nudging ‘em around with my nose. I also very much like to climb to the top of the slide in the puppy zone. I stand on top of that thing and I am king of the world!

Here’s the great news about me. I am an excellent snuggler! I nuzzle right down in your arms and relax. FD says I have the makings of a great Football dog. FM says that means I like to snooze in front of the TV on cold fall days, but not to tell FD she said so. It’ll be our little secret, ok?

When you get a minute, watch our new puppy play video!

 

Monday, September 6, 2010

Hi everyone! It's me, Ernie!

I don't know if you are familiar with this, but do you know what kibble is? Mmmmm... I have to sigh just thinking about it! A nice handful of kibble, softened with warm water, in a shallow pan, and most importantly in the puppy zone! Yippee! Of course, Hank has some kind of eating ritual that involves all four of his paws and sometimes his bottom in the dish, but FM says that just adds flavor. I say it adds mess and puts good food in bad places, but what do I know. I tell you. When I get a chance to top off a belly full of mush with some warm milk -- it just doesn't get any better than that! Ruby and I actually tried to help mom out with her kibble this morning, but she didn't seem to want our help. Not sure why...

Anyway, here's another important thing. I've got that thingy on my backside (FM says it's a tail), and when I get really happy it starts moving all by itself! Sometimes it goes so fast it knocks me over. For crying out loud! I have enough trouble keeping my balance without that thing getting in my way. So if anyone out there knows how to make it stop, could you please let me know? Foster mom says there is no cure for Golden Retrievers who have that problem, but since she laughs when it happens, I'm not sure I can trust her to tell me the truth on this matter.

When you have a minute, check out this video of me heading to the snack bar.

 

Thursday, August 26, 2010

While Ernie's brother Hank is wiggling around, and Ruby is off either sleeping or adventuring, Ernie is busy being dopey. He has the laid-back, slow-moving, sweet-lovin' personality of a big dog. At this point, there is only one thing he does with gusto and that's eat! At two and a half weeks, this little guy is nuzzling and licking Foster Grandma's treat bag like he's ready for a milk bone before he even has his milk teeth! He's going to have to wait a bit on that, but some soupy canned food might be in the offing before too long.

Ernie continues to be the biggest and the blondest of the bunch weighing in at almost 4 pounds this morning. If I had to choose, I would also say he is the best, or at least the most prolific, kisser! He is a perfect foil for Ruby and Hank with their busy agendas, always going with the flow...

Check out a short video of the pups !

 

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Hi everyone! It's Ernie again. Remember that personal chef I was telling you about? Well, she must have some kind of unadvertised special going on, because the cost is the same but the portion sizes just keep getting bigger! How cool is that? Believe me, I take full advantage. I make greedy little suckling noises so Mom knows just how much I appreciate the gourmet cooking.

Despite the good food, the atmosphere could use a little work. Ruby seems to think all food consumption should be full-contact, and that girl can tackle with the best of 'em. It makes me think that whoever came up with the "ladies first" thing needs a good talking-to. On top of Ruby constantly knocking me off my spot, I've got stingy-Hank to deal with. That guy needs to learn how to share, am I right? All I need is a little top off, but he clings to his stuff like a guest star with a cameo on "Hoarders".

Anyway, check out how I'm doing! I'm up over 2 pounds, my pads and nose have turned black, and someday soon I'll be ready to open my eyes!

Check out the video of me and my sibs!


Monday, August 9, 2010

Ernie's original bio:

Hi all! Ernie here -- taking a break from my milking and sleeping duties to let you know how things are going. I was born yesterday, August 8th! My mom is Aruba 10-201, and I love her. My brother is Hank 10-240, and I think he's loud. My sister is Ruby 10-242 and I think she's bossy.

Did I mention my mom is Aruba, and I love her? Well, I do. She is so soft and warm and she's a great cook! I've never had food so good! As long as I can get my fair share away from Ruby, things are great! I don't have to worry too much about Hank in the food department. If he gets in my way, I just sit on him 'till he moves.

Of course, I can't see anything yet, but FM says I'm a bit more blond than the other kids (I think what she really means is I'm a handsome boy, but she doesn't want to hurt any feelings). I was about 15 3/4 ounces when I was born, and I'm all the way up over a pound today! Can you believe it? Are you looking for a guy like me? FM says once my mom stops cooking for me and I get fixed (didn't know anything was broken!), I'll be ready to go! Can I go with you?