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.
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