Dog’s story wins spot
on TV morning show
BY BRIAN DONAHUE
Staff Writer

FARRAH MAFFAI staff David Muriello works on one of Eli’s tricks in their back yard last week after Eli was named to the Top 10 of the Mutt America Contest. The dog did not win the grand prize, but his owner got the message out that shelter dogs make good pets.

EAST BRUNSWICK — When David Muriello adopted a dog two years ago, he got more than a new best friend.

The Margie Road man discovered his calling after he began to train the dog, a border collie, huskie and shepherd mix named Eli, which had a knack for learning tricks.

"He has that border collie ability to focus," said Muriello, 29.

Those tricks not only convinced Muriello to start his own dog-train­ing business but, last week, brought the dog into the nation’s living rooms. Eli was featured May 17 on WABC-TV’s "Live With Regis and Kelly" as a Top 10 finalist in the Mutt America Contest.

Apparently, the producers of the show were impressed with the videotape sent in by Muriello, showing three of Eli’s tricks — his ability to close the door behind him on request when he enters a room; to spin around and fall down after being dealt a fake punch; and to walk backwards on command.

But it was also Eli’s story that got him in the Top 10. Two years ago, Muriello, living in Virginia at the time, came upon the mutt at a shel­ter where it was in increasing dan­ger of being euthanized after hav­ing been there for several weeks without being adopted.

Muriello took the dog in and quickly saw there was something special about him.

"He’s just got the spirit of life. Everyone who meets him gets his energy," Muriello said.

The dog’s enthusiasm, he said, made it fun to train him. Muriello began to study professional training techniques and wound up starting his own business training dogs at their owners’ homes. The business can be accessed by visiting Muriel­lo’s Web site, www.haveagreatdog.com.

Perhaps as important, Eli also showed Muriello the importance of helping with stray animals. As a re­sult, Muriello now volunteers at Sayrebrook Pet Adoption Center in Sayreville, training dogs to make them more adoptable and helping people choose the right dogs to fit their lifestyle.

Muriello, who grew up in East Brunswick and moved back to town last year, believes Eli’s appearance on Regis helped promote the fact that shelter dogs can be great pets.

As for Eli, now 2 1/2, training is an ongoing process, his owner says.