Hike with Murray

Hiya!

Just when I thought the dogs at APS had reached peak awesomeness.... I met Murray, a border collie mix who is up for adoption! (And has the cutest ear combination: one up, one down) All of the volunteers and staff had glowing reviews of him, so I knew that our hike would be an enjoyable one. Murray didn't disappoint.

Playing in the Eno

Murray loved everything on our hike, especially the Eno River. I think if it was a bit warmer and he could convince me to go in further, he would have swam around all day :) He was just so excited to romp around in the water and get muddy. He was especially attentive to all of the sticks, birds, and other things around the river - check out his cute little pointer stance below.

Squirrel!

Speaking of the point stance - Murray is definitely a mixed breed. Border collie is the best guess, but he's pretty big for a border collie (he has the build of an athletic lab) and definitely isn't as furry as a border collie, or as hyper! No matter what is in his pedigree, he is one heck of a dog.

I'm detecting hints of pine and chipmunk

He loved to sniff around - he was very attentive to everything on the ground, but was quick to focus when I whistled or called to him. That is probably because the boy is a world-class snuggler. In fact, he is my favorite kind of snuggler: a leaner. He leans right into you with his body and melts into the ground to demand belly rubs. It is adorable.

Classic Doggy Leaner

Murray especially appreciated stopping to get some quality cuddle time in. He loves people, and makes sure that you know it!

Puppy smiles

 Murray was also pretty brave on the footbridge over the Eno. He was a bit timid at first about it, and on our first time over let me walk beforehand (what a gentleman!) and, with words of encouragement, followed behind me. He will definitely look to his future human(s) to give him guidance. He is super attentive and really just wants to please you!

 In terms of leash walking, Murray's a catch. He does pull at times, but mostly he just trots along a little bit ahead of you, stopping for a sniff or a quick drink from the river. He seems very smart and driven by praise, so it should be easy to get him into tip-top walking shape.

I took him on a quasi run before we got into the car and he did pretty well, although he did try to cut in front of me a few times (probably to get me to pet him). I think he'd make a good jogging partner for someone.

And speaking of the car, he was a breeze to drive around. On the way to the park he was a bit hyped up, but stayed in the back and did not bother the driver! He just looked out the window and enjoyed the view. On the drive home, he was tired and relaxed, and laid right down in my back seat for a quick nap. He was so comfy it was hard to get him out of the car to go back to the shelter!

Such a happy passenger!

I really hope that Murray finds his furever home soon! He gets overlooked at the shelter for some reason, and I can't understand why! He will definitely make a fantastic pet. He's a bit mellow, but also tons of fun. He would love a person to snuggle with, play with, and just hang out with, especially (I suspect) if swimming or splashing is involved. If you think you could be that person, please visit apsofdurham.org or stop by the shelter and ask to hang out with Murray!

I'll be waiting!