Golden retriever compared to happy hippo as he has the time of his life in mud bath

A golden retriever was left with only a fraction of his fur on show after he wallowed in some mud like a happy hippo.

Murphy was on a walk in Blackwood Forest, Hampshire, with his owner, Gill Smith, when she found him lying in a murky pit.

It’s a common trait of golden retrievers that they have a ‘muck radar’, but Gill, 50, from Overton, let Murphy have his moment of fun.

The 16-month-old pup's favourite way to cool off on a warm day is to drench himself in mud, and this puddle saw three quarters of his lovely coat turn brown.

He had drenched two thirds of his body in the mud (Gill Smith)

Gill said: “From about six months old he was rolling around in puddles. He still hasn’t completely rolled, that joy is yet to come.

"But once he’s found it and he’s in, then it’s too late, but my view is let him enjoy it, as he clearly does.

“He can run miles, past many puddles and potential pools and then he finds ‘the one’ and launches himself in – he has a few favourite local ones.”

Murphy decided to lie down in what looked like a little stream of muddy water. That way he was able to twist while also resting his head above water.

Gill says golden retrievers are a hippo hybrid (Gill Smith)

Gill said: “I think I’m safe to say that most owners find their goldies are a hippo hybrid. Goldies have some kind of muck radar.

"He was running down a track and suddenly turned right through the bushes – and that’s where I found him, absolutely loving it.”

Murphy joined the family after they lost their chocolate Labrador.

That desire to have a companion and friend on four legs was back and Gill, who is co director of her company 'Editorial Office', managed to convince her business partner and best friend into having Murphy’s sibling, named Beanbag.

Murphy and his sibling named Beanbag go on muddy walks together (Gill Smith)

Now they go on muddy walks together and frolic in fields looking for their next dive.

Gill said: “They are both loopy and funny, cuddly and sweet. We’d not be without them.”

You’d think the clean-up process would be a hard job but Murphy quite enjoys getting hosed down.

But he thinks it’s a game as Gill has to chase him around to get him clean.

She said: “If it’s wet and foul outside or he’s found a smelly thing to play in then he knows about it – it’s the slow walk to the shower to get the full shampoo and set treatment.

“He also likes following the lawn mower and face planting in the newly cut grass which just results in Kermit the Dog.”