Australian Shepherd Dog for Adoption in North Vancouver BC – Meet Murphy

Murphy’s Story

Amazing Aussie to Adopt!

Once upon a time, there was an Australian Shepherd who wasn’t entirely convinced he was an Australian Shepherd.

There were clues.

For starters, Murphy looked suspiciously like a Bernese Mountain Dog.

While other Australian Shepherds were busy looking appropriately Australian Shepherd-ish, Murphy grew into a big, handsome, black, brown and white fellow, and practically everyone assumed he was a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy.

Murphy didn’t seem particularly troubled by the confusion.

Because there was another clue.

Murphy had the soul of a mountain dog.

Give this boy a forest trail, a lake, a stream or somewhere wonderful to explore and suddenly everything makes sense. He loves hiking. He loves swimming. He loves walking through the woods. He loves playing chase with other dogs—particularly when he can persuade them to chase him.

Balls are also tremendous fun, although Murphy remains unconvinced by the human convention that after fetching one, you’re supposed to give it back.

And then there is the leash.

Murphy sometimes likes to walk himself.

If he spots someone he’d particularly like to meet, he has been known to take his leash from his person’s hand and present it to the chosen stranger, apparently reasoning that introductions are much more efficient when you handle the paperwork yourself.

He’s even attempted to walk other dogs by picking up their leashes.

In short, Murphy is funny.

He’s goofy.

He’s loving, loyal, playful and wonderfully expressive. When Murphy knows and loves you, he’s genuinely delighted every single time you come home. He’ll keep track of where everybody is—an Australian Shepherd must maintain standards, after all—and when the day’s adventures are finished, he’s perfectly happy simply being near you, lying at your feet or underneath the table while you work or watch television.

So how did a mountain dog end up in a city apartment?

That’s where Murphy’s fairy tale gets a little bittersweet.

Murphy was originally adopted alongside his brother into a life that was supposed to include two people sharing their care, expenses and responsibilities—and, importantly, plenty of open space.

Life changed.

Today Murphy lives with a person who loves him very much but whose circumstances are completely different from the ones that existed when Murphy came home.

His person now lives in a small apartment. Work hours are difficult. Murphy sometimes spends far more time alone than anyone wants for him.

And although his family has worked hard to make city life work, they’ve reached a painful conclusion:

Perhaps loving Murphy means helping him find the life that suits Murphy better.

This isn’t a dog being discarded.

This is someone looking at a dog they love and saying, I think there may be a happier life for you than the one I can give you now.

And that is an extraordinarily difficult kind of love.

Murphy’s family believes—and we agree—that his next person should be an experienced dog owner who understands that earning a sensitive dog’s trust can take time and who is willing to continue his training.

Murphy has also been prescribed trazodone to help with his anxiety and behavioural challenges.

We aren’t going to hide those things.

Because Murphy’s happily-ever-after doesn’t depend upon finding somebody who thinks he’s perfect.

It depends upon finding somebody who thinks he’s worth understanding.

And what would Murphy’s happily-ever-after look like?

We’re dreaming big for him.

We’d love to find Murphy a couple or family with outdoor space and experience with intelligent, active dogs.

Perhaps there’s a fenced yard.

Perhaps there’s acreage.

Perhaps there are trails nearby, or a lake, or a stream.

Maybe his person hikes on weekends. Maybe they live in a small town. Maybe there’s another friendly dog around to play chase with.

Maybe Murphy’s future home is in North Vancouver, Vancouver, Squamish or Whistler.

Perhaps it’s in Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford or Chilliwack.

Or perhaps Murphy’s person lives somewhere within the Lower Mainland, Sea-to-Sky corridor or Fraser Valley, looking at an empty spot beside the hiking boots and wondering whether it’s finally time for a dog.

Murphy isn’t terribly concerned about the postal code.

He just knows there ought to be more trees.

More trails.

More adventures.

More sticks to find.

And preferably a body of water into which he can immediately fling himself.

Somewhere out there is Murphy’s next chapter.

He’s only 3½.

He has so many hikes left to take.

So many lakes left to swim.

So many balls left to retrieve and absolutely refuse to return.

So many unsuspecting dogs whose leashes require his personal supervision.

And somewhere within the Lower Mainland, Sea-to-Sky corridor or Fraser Valley, we think there may be someone who looks at this funny, loyal, sensitive, slightly confused Australian-Shepherd-who-thinks-he’s-a-Bernese-Mountain-Dog and says:

If that might be you, we’d love to hear from you.

Because every good fairy tale needs a happily-ever-after.

And Murphy?

He’s packed.

Amazing Aussie For Adoption! 🐾