There's a web of conspiracy building around this viral video over on Reddit, where claims that the dog’s owner was intentionally trying to get his dog to slide on a slippery floor for viral-video glory are being raised. If that is the case, then Murphy’s owner got his just desserts, and in doing so has made the Australian Cattle Dog an online star - albeit with a healthy dose of schadenfreude. 

The Internet’s style of teasing clickbait with ‘You won’t believe what happened next…’ has arguably never been more apt:

Murphy can at least take solace in the knowledge that he got the ball, in the end. Which is more than can be said for these failures.