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!
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