Eight-year-old Murphy is a sensitive and sweet Red Golden Retriever. In addition to being good tempered, he’s a great listener, according to his owners Jennifer and Blake Hall. “He can sit on the front porch and look at neighbors going by and doesn’t run off,” says Jennifer. She notes he wasn’t formally trained, but likes to please.

 

The Halls got Murphy at Pendery Golden Retrievers in Duluth. He is the family’s second Golden. Their first developed a disease when young and passed away at eight years old. In between the two Goldens, the Halls brought a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel into their Vermont Road home. “He was Murphy’s best friend,” says Jennifer. The pups were together six years before the 16-year-old Cavalier passed away two years ago.

 

Murphy is very friendly and always wants to say hello. He loves cats and all dogs, and has never met a stranger, according to the Halls. He’s also great friends with their neighbors and enjoys when folks come by and will play.

 

While not shy, Murphy is sensitive. “If you tell him no, he gets very upset,” says Jennifer. When her husband Blake leaves the house, Murphy gets sad. Blake works from home and the two are together almost 24/7. “If Blake is on a call and goes to the front porch, Murphy will go sit with him,” she notes.

 

The dog has a blankie and carries it around when he is nervous or it’s time to go to bed. “When he’s ready to go to sleep, he finds his blanket,” says daughter Virginia, who is a marketing coordinator at the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group. Jennifer and Blake’s other daughter Caroline was recently married and son Richard is in college.

 

Murphy loves to eat, especially fruits and vegetables and particularly apples. “He’s a big drooler and will stand and drool if you are eating an apple,” Jennifer says. She has a garden in their backyard, and Murphy likes to take a bite out of the kale and lettuces.

 

He basically eats anything. Whatever the Halls are having for dinner, Murphy has some too. On a scale of one to 10 in terms of being spoiled, the Halls say Murphy is a 10.

 

Still youthful and playful, Murphy is often mistaken for older because of his white or sugar face. “He just prematurely greyed,” notes Jennifer.

 

When asked how Murphy has enriched their lives, Virginia says: “He’s part of our family and we love him so much.”