Big Ed is a Big Winner!  Read on...

Edward #03-386

(Fostered in Rochester, MN)

Edward has been with us for a week now. It's been a busy week for this 9 year old guy. When he arrived, he was a little stiff in his walking, but it might have been all of the sitting he had done that day. He looks much more comfortable now when he walks around. He's also getting better at navigating the hardwood floors and not taking diggers into the floor while getting off of the couch. After being here two days, Big Ed got neutered and while they did that they removed some teeth and a mass that was above his eye. He wasn't looking too good when I picked him up. He requested in a not so subtle way, by laying flat on the floor, to be carried out to the car. So, in light of the fact that I have a flight of stairs to get into my house, he got to stay in my car while I ran errands to give him a chance to perk up. By the end of the errands, he did seem to have more "get up and go", but it turned out to be just more "get up." So, I ended up carrying him up the stairs, did I mention that he weighed in at 73 lbs? He has been on pain killers and antibiotics for his surgery and teeth and also has an ear infection that we are treating.

Big Ed spent Christmas eve with me at my parent's house. A house that is typically an animal free zone. I brought him along though under the guise that I wanted to see how he behaved around men, although I never lost hope that one of my very own would show up under the tree, I figured my dad would be a good test. Big Ed was a perfect gentleman. He laid with me on the floor for a while and when we went to another room, he joined us after he woke up and found out I was gone. He approached my dad with his tail wagging and was very gentle. Now I think their house is know as "the Ed zone." Edward has been a very good family member. Initially, he laid claim to a few areas of my house, but that was short lived and he has not marked anything since the beginning. I do think that he may have some issues though when left for too long, but this week hasn't had much routine, so I will keep track of what he's doing.

Edward came from a shelter where he had been for a couple months, so his history is not known. He doesn't know sit when I say it, but will sit with everyone else at treat time. He got out the front door one night and just hung around the front yard and let me grab his collar when he was done watering the tree. He is a very kind gentleman and likes to be with his people. He is also big on placing a paw, if not two on you. Another thing he likes to do is carry things in his mouth. He isn't too picky and has carried a letter, pop case with some pop still in it, a full can of pop, and he is the only dog I have let carry my shoes because he is really just carrying them, no damage. Edward is interested in finding a peaceful, loving, and treat filled home of his own. He has snapped at my cat, but I haven't seen him pursue her and he isn't fond of the other dogs, although only really has a problem with my male who can be a little bear at times. Please contact RAGOM if you thing this sweetie will fit into your family!

UPDATES:

3/9/04:  Edward met with a potential family this weekend and it went well. He'll be moving in tomorrow. Most of us only hope to visit a spa, but Eddie has found a Golden Spa that he will be moving to! Daily walks, regular ear and tummy massage, and tug-o-war sessions with his new sister Alex. Alex will probably have to teach him the finer points of a spa lifestyle, as she has lived it for more than a decade, but I'm sure Eddie is up to the challenge. I think Eddie has found a wonderful home where he will live out his golden years in style! We will really miss him when he leaves.

3/1/04:  For those of you who haven't heard about the Pet Expo this past weekend...

Our Edward 03-386 WON the costume contest on Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess that just goes to show that Golden Oldies are winners in everything they do.

2/27/04:  Eddie has had a tough week. He went to the vet and was diagnosed with a hot spot on the side of his face that he has been scratching at for a few days and two ear infections. Through the whole treatment at the vet, which apparently is quite painful for a hot spot, he was calm and didn't require any sedation. He has also been started on some ear drops for the infections. I still have no complaints about the guy. He has proven to be housetrained and is still a wonderful companion. I think he would still do best without other male dogs or cats. A nice, quiet home is all he needs. OK, maybe a bed and a personal assistant, but don't we all need those? Please let RAGOM know if you think Eddie would fit well into your home. It will be hard to let him leave us, but I know he would really like to be in his "forever home".

2/19/04:  Edward has not changed much. He is still a joy to have around and a reliable TV watching companion. I have decided that he should not go to a home with another male dog as we recently had Elvis 04-333 join us and despite the fact that Elvis is as sweet and laid back as can be, Edward still growls and snaps at him. He does great with my female dog though, and did well with two other female fosters. Edward likes to play a little and will play tug-o-war with my female but she will be the one up moving around and he just lays there playing in place. Sometimes they'll get into a wrestling match too, which is pretty funny, because Eddie still doesn't move much. The other morning I saw him walking around with my checkbook. I hope he's not getting bored and going shopping while I'm at work. We also still have the morning shoe hunt. Whichever pair of shoes I find the mate for is the pair I wear to work. Maybe this is Eddie's way to tell me I should put things away when I am done with them so he doesn't need to move them around. I feel pretty confident that Eddie is able to wait until I get home to go outside to use the tree. He wore the belly binder without any accidents while I was a work for a few days. Eddie also seems as though he may have some hearing loss, or he is really good at ignoring me. If he is sleeping, I have to go into the room he is in and speak very loud to wake him up. And, since he sleeps a lot, this is a frequent occurrence. Eddie has claimed my bed as his area. He is pretty sweet too, I think he guards it and me at night. In the evening, if we are just laying in bed, he'll lay with me, but when I go to sleep, he'll get up and lay in the doorway. The only time this is a real problem is when one of the other dogs is trying to get into my room. The cat doesn't even bother to try. I love having Eddie at my house, but know that he would really love to have his own home with some peace and quiet. Right now, he's kind of living the dorm life and his partying days are over. If you think that Eddie would fit in well with your family, please contact RAGOM to meet him.

2/2/04:  Big Ed hasn't changed much in the past week. He did get to go shopping for the first time with me this weekend though. I don't know if he has not been shopping before or if he is the average male who doesn't "shop" but runs in to get what he needs and then leaves. We walked around the store a little and Ed was friendly with everyone he met, walking up to them and sitting down in front of them with a most pathetic look on his face so they would pet him. He met a small puppy too, who was out socializing. Ed put up with her curiosity and then when he had enough, growled and told her so. She left him alone after that and he was fine. He seems a little hesitant to do some things when I am around, almost as though he is waiting for my "OK". When I am sitting on the couch and want him to sit with me, he will put his arms up on it and I have to pull him the rest of the way, while when I am not there, he jumps right up. He also will wait by the door sometimes as though he isn't sure if I want him to come in even though I'm standing there with it open trying to bribe him to come in so I can close the door. We aren't heating the neighborhood you know. He also did this in the car, some how he got in with his back half sitting on the floor with his arms up on the seat. No amount of coaxing could get him up on the seat and I was too busy driving while talking on my cell phone and applying make-up to pull him up. Other times, he jumps up on the seat and curls up for a head rub or sits up to enjoy the scenery. Ed is a wonderful, loving boy who has become even more loving as he's been here. His hair seems to be getting a darker red and he has put on some weight. I'm not sure of the differences in scales, but during our shopping trip, I weighed him and he has gained 15 lbs. compared to the vet's scale. He does feel less boney and lumpy and his hair is feeling a lot softer than when he first moved in. He is very ready for a forever home and who doesn't want a Big Ed of their own? If you think Big Ed will fit into your family, please contact RAGOM. You will get much more from Ed than you can possibly give him.

1/23/04:  Edward is still Big Ed, lump-o-love. He has been wearing a belly band as an experiment to see how his bladder does when he is left at home. So far, so good. Big Ed has been staying with his foster Grandmew and Grandpaw while I am out of town. They have had nothing but nice things to say about him. According to my Mom, who has not ever lived with dogs, he is nice and easy to have around. She also said that he is so quiet and just lays by her in the evenings so that she hardly notices he is there. I think Big Ed would like to find someone who is as laid back as he is. He does enjoy a good roll in the snow though. If he sounds like someone who you are interested in, please contact RAGOM and get ready to meet your new best friend.

1/9/03:  Edward has been a gentleman to have at our home. He has been accepting of the female dogs, but still has some issues with my male which may be more that my male has issues with Edward. He is very smart and may have a potential career in the fashion design business. One morning, he picked out which shoe I should wear to work. Unfortunately, he didn't tell me so I was left looking for the stray shoe. I found it when I heard him whining on the sofa and I went to see what was wrong and surprise when he lifted up his head, he had my shoe in his mouth! Maybe he will star in a new reality show "Big Ed Solves Canine Confusion" where he can help those less than stylish dogs find their way through the maze of the canine fashion industry.

I'm still trying to figure out who is having difficulty with waiting until I come home to do their business. I'm hesitant to lay it all on Big Ed, but, it did start when he moved in. The frequency has decreased, and if nothing else, my floors are getting cleaned regularly this way. Edward is so ready to find a nice home to move into for retirement. He likes to get outside, so he doesn't want sedentary retirement, but a more relaxed pace would be nice.