Puppy Friday: Ricky

These two pictures are of Ricky, whose scruffy adorablity (adorableness?) cannot really be captured very well. He’s soft, polite, and very gentle with children. He is food motivated and loves hot dog treats, so he’s very trainable and will do well in obedience school. He was a little shy at the time when I first met him, but he settled down on my lap and had no problem learning how to ’sit.’

If you’re looking for a little puppy to get along with your children or other canine siblings, please come visit Ricky in Kennel P1. For more information, contact doginfo@apsofdurham.org

Featured Dog: Chester

My first impression of Chester was that he looked rather solemn and distinguished, and I was prepared for a dog who would be slightly aloof, but polite about receiving attention.

Boy, was I wrong. (And boy, was I glad to be wrong.) Chester reminded me of a happy puppy — affectionate (he gives extremely wet kisses and seems to think all wrongs can be cured with a good bellyrub and a steady stream of slurpy kisses), social (he greeted other dogs and people rather happily), and very, very snuggly (he loves sitting next to you on the bench and leaning against you. Who needs a blanket when Chester’s around?)

The other details: he’s roughly 6-7 months old, has a face that seems like the exact middle of a boxer and a bloodhound, a lab retriever personality. He already knows ’sit’ and will do anything to get you to like him, which makes him very trainable. No word yet on his take on toys, but I suspect he’d make a wonderful walking/running partner.

Chester is a very loving dog– if you think you have love and affection to match his own, by all means, do come see him in Kennel 14. For more information, contact doginfo@apsofdurham.org

Can you imagine coming home to this face?

Featured Dog: Chandler

If you are a fan of fluffy, cute dogs who will make you smile with their innate cuteness, you should meet Chandler.

He’s a 2 years old Border Collie/Spitz mix. He does happy dances when you walk him, and he adores being petted and being told that he is such a good boy. He’s very focused, and always looks up to you even when he’s walking, and already knows ’sit.’

Tthis is probably his best under-the-dining-table look. Try resisting that.

He loves toys and is generally a pretty mellow dog when he knows his routines (he is not too crazy about new things, but learns to accept them), and he loves people. He’s relatively unsure around other dogs, but may do fine with other well-behaved dogs and may even warm up to them in time.

If you’re looking for a low-key dog who will make you smile every day with his happy dances and pure enthusiasm, come visit Chandler in Kennel 4. For more information about Chandler contact doginfo@apsofdurham.org.

Featured Dog: Darwin

Who’s that handsome dog looking at you? Why, it’s Darwin, a 18 month old Lab/Pit mix who loves to amble about and have fun! He gets quite excited in his kennel but once he’s outside, he calms down nicely and walks beautifully. I suspect that once he has a home and knows the routine, he’ll be just fine with daily walks/runs, though he will probably be very happy to see you home or awake!

He’s very eager to please– he’s very food motivated and already knows ’sit.’He would love to learn more in obedience classes.

Darwin is also very goofy– he can express his joy in exuberant ways, and sometimes he just likes to be funny. Like settling in for a 5 second nap in the sun (hey, 5 seconds are pretty slow for a dog…)

Or making faces:

Darwin loves toys, and has fun playing by himself in the exercise pen. It’s fun watching him with squeaky toys, especially as he tries to figure out what makes them work.

Hrm? What makes this noise?

If I shake it really fast, maybe it’ll fall out?

Ok, got it in my mouth! Now I have to find a place to hide it…

To meet Darwin, visit him in Kennel 17. For more information, contact doginfo@apsofdurham.org

Featured Dog: Gwendolyn

Allow me to introduce you to Gwendolyn, a 8-9 month Lab/hound mix. She’s very shy and cautious, but tries very hard to be social and courageous. She loves her walks and shows her joy by bounding and sniffing. With time and patience, she’ll be a pro at walking on leash (she appears not have been walked on a leash before).

She likes to be petted, and she absolutely adores other dogs. She would be best as a second dog in a household where an older, kinder (and wiser!) dog can teach her the good things in life and play with her. She would also enjoy the dog park and attending obedience classes so she can learn what is expected of her. She’s also very food motivated (she loves hot dogs) and is very attentive.

Come meet Gwendolyn in Kennel 37. For more info, contact doginfo@apsofdurham.org

Featured Dog: Camilla – ADOPTED!

If, by any chance, you see this little bundle of black fur moving about, you should ready yourself for a rather amusing sight: a very happy puppy dog (she’s not quite a year old yet– around 6-7 months) running about, not hard, but just dancing around in the grass, her pink tongue out, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, her tail wagging furiously.

That would be Camilla, a rather delightful puppy who is very affectionate (a volunteer has mentioned that if you get down to her level, she offers several kiss-attacks, and I should add that she also offers lap-attacks (as in, settling in your lap for all of five seconds, then running in grass, then settling back into your lap and giving you a quick kiss– only to repeat the whole thing all over again.)). She already knows ’sit’ and would be a star pupil in training classes, and would be excellent with children (reason why she’s a GOLD STAR dog).

Given her affection for people and dog and great self-control, Camilla would be a wonderful addition to a family. I don’t think there was a single minute on our entire walk when I wasn’t smiling or laughing– she revels in your joy and will do your best to cheer you up!

Come meet Camilla in Kennel 42. For more information, contact doginfo@apsofdurham.org

“I’m looking forward to my forever home!”

Featured Dog: Sierra – ADOPTED!

Aren’t these beautiful eyes some of the nicest you’ve seen? Meet Sierra, a fun hound mix under a year old!

She comes out of her kennel with oodles of energy, but quiets down nicely when you pet her and talk to her. We had a wonderful walk where she sniffed everything, came back eagerly into my arms for one of those chin scratches she loves, and sat very nicely for treats. She’s going to be a treat to take to obedience classes– heck, she’s just going to be a treat to have around.

Also, she seems to have a permanent puppy-like expression… all the more to bend to her will and give her treats…I mean, to please you. She gets along with other dogs, loves to play with her toys, and will be an all-around great dog.

Sierra isn’t just all business, though. She can have quite a variety of goofy expressions:

Is this camera a treat?

You missed a spot and I have to scratch it NOW.

Am I going to be sainted?

If you’re looking for a dog that will make you smile and laugh and have fun, come visit Sierra in Kennel 18. For more information, contact doginfo@apsofdurham.org

Featured Dog: Lacey – Foster Care

Meet Lacey, an almost-adult black lab mix (she’s around a year old). She’s extremely well-behaved, as in she walks beautifully on a leash, knows ’sit’ and would love to learn more with help of treats!

She has the typical Lab energy, and would do best in a fenced backyard (she loves to play fetch) or frequent trips to the dog park (she likes other dogs). She’d also make a terrific jogging partner and would be a great companion for hiking or walking adventures.

The other thing about Lacey is how beautiful she is in the sunlight– her black, glossy fur show off several highlights. There’s something about her beauty and her willingness that makes you smile.

UPDATE! Lacey is now in foster care. For more information (including on how to meet her), contact doginfo@apsofdurham.org

Featured Dog: Ivy

Ivy is a cute, soft brindle lab mix puppy who’s eager to learn, loves to play with her toys, and is a joy to be with.

Other than being a potential star pupil at obedience classes (she knows ’sit’ and does it very well), she’s a pleasure to pet– she’s so soft and furry and warm.

Ivy also passed her temperament test with flying colors– she’s a GOLD STAR dog, and will do well in a variety of situations, including young children. She’ll be a very fun puppy for a welcoming and kind family.

To visit Ivy, see her at Kennel 2. For more information, contact doginfo@apsofdurham.org

Featured Cat: Mariah

This is going to be one of the rare posts about a cat who’s more like a dog that she deserves a mention in the blog. And that’s a rare photo of Mariah, because she is usually snoozing away in your arms or getting a bellyrub.

She purrs very loudly when picked up, and has no fear of strangers (which is remarkable, because she’s a stray), and warms up very easily to all sorts of people who visit the volunteer’s office. She never seems to mind that they may smell like wet dogs or food, she just loves them all.

She is also extremely relaxed– she loves to be picked up and held belly-up, and have her belly rubbed. It’s like her personal spa! Here are some pictures of her enjoying her bellyrub:

If you’re interested in meeting sweet Mariah, ask for her at the front desk- she’s currently residing at the volunteer’s office. for more information, please contact catinfo@apsofdurham.org