Today I had the pleasure of taking Samantha, a pretty Leonberger mix, to Eno River State Park for a hike. Samantha has all of the markings of a Leonberger, but she is much smaller - she's a little bit bigger (and stouter) than a collie. I'm not just saying this because we share the same name - this dog is awesome. She has the perfect combination of playfulness and love that would make her a great companion for an active person or family.
Dog is my co-pilot
As you can see from the photo above, she needs a little work on her car manners, but she learns fast! Once she knew that the backseat was her place, she settled down, looked out the window, and enjoyed the ride.
Sitting nicely in her "place" in the backseat
Once we were on our hike, she showed off her leash walking skills - she walks calmly but at a quick pace, and only pulled when we saw a squirrel or another dog. According to the behavioral evaluation done on her at APS, she likes other dogs but needs some socialization to be the perfect canine buddy. She did make a new friend though, while playing in the river. Look at her playing with her new cocker spaniel friend!
Be my friend!
Samantha was even great with the small kid that was also playing in the river - she basically just left her alone and didn't try to chase her at all. We spent quite a lot of time playing in the river, and she loved it. Check out the video of her playing below.
There is also a video of her walking down the trail, to show off her awesome leash walking skills.
Another great thing about Samantha is how gentle she is, and how much she wants praise for doing good. She takes treats very nicely, and loves to sit if there is even a hint of a treat or a cuddle on offer. She will be a great dog to train because she is so attentive!
She has the most gorgeous, hypnotic eyes.
Why yes, I would love a treat.
Slurrrrp... Check out that tongue action.
Samantha is also very athletic and adventurous. We found a cool little cabin in the woods to check out. Shortly after taking the picture below, we were walking around the house and she decided it was a great idea to leap out the window. Good thing she was on a long leash and I'm not prone to heart attacks!
Checking out the sights.
She wasn't even scared of the rickety cable bridge over the river!
If you are looking for an affectionate and playful dog to add to your pack, Samantha is the one for you! She would be a good agility dog or hiking partner and will follow you on whatever adventures (water involved or otherwise) that you want to take her on!
I'll be at the shelter, looking out for my furever family!
If you are interested in adopting Samantha or any other APS dog, visit apsofdurham.org for more info, or leave a comment with questions.
This past Sunday I took Martha, a cute pit bull, for a hike at Eno River State Park. The day was dreary and a bit rainy, but we had tons of fun! I was a little hesitant at first to take her out for the day, because in the kennel she was a ball of energy (so much so that I thought other volunteers must be lying about what a great walker she is). Once she was on the leash and out of the kennel though, she really shined - in fact, the word that describes her best is zen. This dog is such a lady on the leash! She never pulls, just saunters along next to you, occasionally stopping to give something a good sniff.
Once we were in the car, I steeled myself for any rambunctious behavior that would distract me from driving, but she settled right down on the seat and didn't bother me once. Look at what a little lady she is in the car:
"Hey Girl! Shouldn't you be paying attention to the road?!"
She loved sticking her head out the window - the girl knows a great opportunity for a sniff when she sees one!
Once at Eno River State Park, we headed off for a hike by the river. Martha was very calm on the leash and polite to the hikers we saw - if she sensed any hesitance on their part, she would very quietly lay down and wait for them to pass. The only complaint I had was that she walked a little too calmly, but that's really my problem (I have a fast walk) and less her problem. In other words, she was a dream... Just check out the video of her leash manners below (and the perfect "sit" at the end)!!
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After walking for awhile and taking in the sights, we stopped for a brief respite on a bridge over a creek. While sitting, Martha showed off her cuddle skills, as well as her playfulness. Although the shelter estimates that she is between 2 and 3 years old, she definitely still has a bit of puppy in her. She is just really really good at keeping it under wraps until it is time to play. She has perfected the art of the head nuzzle that so many pits seem to do - you really can't ignore that head!
"Hey Human Beans! Shouldn't there be less water-watching and more puppy petting?"
She can be a little bit mouthy, but she's working on it - she just wants to play!
Martha kept up on about 4 miles of hiking. She met a new dog friend and didn't get antsy when he started barking at her. In fact, she was quite polite. I would urge anyone who visits at the shelter with her to ask to take her on a walk and to the pen for some playtime - she really will shine! It may take her a little bit to warm up to you (she was a teeny bit skittish when we first began our hike, due to the combination of new people and new surroundings), but she handles her shyness well and perks up very quickly!
There's no place like Durham!
If you are looking for the perfect combination of calm and playful to add to your pack, Martha is your gal and she will reward your companionship with face-licks, goofy antics, and zen energy.
"I'll be waiting for you to fall in love with me!"
For more information about Martha and all of the other shelter pets, visit the Animal Protection Society website or leave a comment for me!
