Ollie's Doggie Daycare Experience

Ollie had his first experience going to doggy daycare today and LOVED it. He was a very good boy and had lots of fun! He got to meet a lot of very nice dogs and played well with all of them. He also got to see his friend Leah that also came from the Gonzales Shelter and is an ADR dog waiting for a forever home.

I think Ollie might be ready for an evening of R&R! Thanks Becca and Austin Dogtown for letting Ollie come socialize and play today!

Ollie Being Silly

As you might have guessed, Ollie is all about meal time. In this video, he was just double checking to make sure his foster brother Nitro didn't leave a morsel behind after dinner.

Practice, Practice, Practice

I think he was a little stressed from going to the training session on Saturday (which is not all that unusual) because he didn't eat Saturday evening or all day on Sunday until late in the evening. And when he was offered his food this morning the first time, he didn't eat then either but did a couple of hours later when I offered it to him again.

Today we practice more of what we learned on Saturday and Ollie is really getting it. He walks like a DREAM on a leash and is very attentive to me as we walk and his sit is about 80% there. We're only practicing outside in the yard now with no distractions (AKA three very nosy resident dogs) because while he's in the early stage of learning, I want to have his full attention (so he can be successful) and then we'll add in distractions like other dogs and practice it in public places. We're practicing not only walking nicely on a leash but no jumping, sit and wait when a door or gate is open.

I can't wait until he can have his e-collar off in a few more days (and I'm sure he will be too) because it really gets in the way of working with him on a training collar and leash. I've been taking it off for our sessions but I can't leave if off without "super supervision" or he'll start licking his neuter site the moment my back is turned!

I'll try and get some video of one of our training sessions so everyone can see how great he's doing!

Ready for a Forever Home!

Ollie was neutered this week and got a clean bill of health from the vet so now it's time to get busy finding him a home! He's not too happy being a cone head but he won't stop licking his sutures so he's stuck with it for the next few days. We allow him to have it off as long as we're right there to supervise but he sure can make a lot of noise banging around in his crate!


On the left is his before picture (the day we picked him up) and on the right, what he looks like today. He's up to a healthy 43 pounds and looks fabulous!!! No more ribs and no more backbone! He may grow a little more but not much. He has a very slim build like a hound so he's not going to be a big dog. Just your average medium size.


Ollie is a very friendly outgoing dog and has never met a stranger but will alert you if someone is coming up to your home. He LOVES playing with his foster brother Maverick (and he's so nice he lets Maverick win when they play tug) and will need an active lifestyle. We're not talking marathon running or anything but someone that will play fetch with him, take him a walks and continue his socialization. He will need a yard even though he's not the least bit crazy about being out there unless you are. But he won't make a good apartment dog unless you're a daily jogger. Ollie will also need someone that won't let him get away with his puppy antics, will continue working on his manners and be a leader.

Ollie and I visited a trainer today and got some tips on not only improving Ollie's manners and learning to walk better on a leash but also it was a good refresher course for his foster mom too! Tara was great and I highly recommend her for anyone seeking help in training their dog or if you have a behavior you need help with. We were so impressed with Tara and her techniques that Austin Dog Rescue is offering to pay for up to 3-one hour training sessions with Tara for Ollie and his new guardian.

Things we are working on are: sit, sit before eating, wait going out a door and not to jump on people (which he has improved on that a lot in the last two weeks.) He's a very smart boy and is all ready "getting it" and we would love to find someone that loves him and thinks he's as great as his foster family does! www.austindog.org

Ollie is a Music Lover

Ollie just cracks me up! I think he's either a music lover or Al Green fan because he seems to REALLY love the music on his video. I'm not kidding... he can be in another room playing with the dogs or laying down taking a snoze and if he hears that song, he stops what he's doing and comes walking up to me and smiles his big goofy smile. :) It is so cute and is just the sweetest boy in the world!

Vet Visit

Ollie and I dropped by the vet today to officially check his weight and was pleasantly surprised that in just 10 days had gained 10 pounds! I could tell his bones were not sticking out as they were but WOW! A pound a day! He also got those terribly long nails clipped and was a champ! He now has an appointment on Thursday to be neutered and get his vaccinations and micro chip so after this weekend, he'll be ready for his forever home!

His house training is excellent (no accidents!) and clearly indicates when he needs outside by going to the door. He's not once chewed on anything inappropriate but we always make sure he's got lots and lots of toys.

We're constantly working on his manners and he's getting better by the day. He's learning "sit" and NOT to jump up and nip at your hands for treat or for attention. Things are starting to click. He is so smart and willing to please. There is not much he won't do for food (shocking right!?) but it's going to take time because even at 8 or so months, he still has a lot of puppy energy.

OH! I can't remember if I mentioned this but he loves to play fetch and just playing with him for 10 minutes seems to drain a lot of his energy out. He is MUCH calmer indoors than he was even just a few days ago. I think most of it is because he's been given a routine and has realized he is safe and he's not ever going to have to worry about being hungry or homeless again.

Gaining Weight!

Ollie is gaining weight faster than I thought was possible! In just a weeks time I would guess he's put on 5-8 pounds. I don't have time to get him in to the vet this week to be weighed but I'm taking him on Monday and get those claws of his trimmed. OMG... I don't think his nails have every been trimmed! They have to be at least 2 inches long!

It looks like he's going to be able to be neutered much sooner than I thought and may be ready for his forever home as soon as the first week of November! For sure I'll have them clip those nails short while under being neutered.

He's just the sweetest thing. :) His energy level is definitely increasing and he's going to need an active home with a yard to run and play in. He is still exploring and learning all about living indoors and I think sometimes, he doesn't know what to think. It's like, I want to be in here but what am I suppose to do? But he is relaxing more and more every day. He's not too crazy about being outside unless a human is out there with him but each day he's becoming more secure and comfortable. Today, he and Maverick had a great time running and playing chase in the yard. It was such a joy to see him having the energy to do that and seeing him having fun!

He is so good with other dogs. He's playful but not over the top and is very respectful. One thing that is always a good indicator around our house is the old Lady Molly. Most foster dogs we have here learn fast just to ignore her and stay out of her way. She can look awfully mean when she raises her nose and growls. But she seems to like Ollie which is a first in a long time!

He's good with our cat Jasper too, but I think if he was living with a young cat the ran from dogs instead being calm or standing up to them, I think he would chase them. So it might be best he not go to a home with cats... just in case.

His worst habit is wanting to jump on you when he greets you but that too is improving. I'm using the pennies in a can trick to teach him not to jump on me. Next week we start on learning sit. He would do fine with older kids but he still has a lot of puppy in him and I think he's too rambunctious for small kids. Maybe over 8 would be okay. Just depends on the kids I think.

Ollie's First Day of his New Life

October 17, 2008 was the beginning of Ollie's new life. It's the day he was not only saved by an Animal Control Officer from the life he had been forced to live on the run, but also the day he was taken in to our care here at Austin Dog Rescue.

Even though starving and anemic from the thousands of fleas and ticks that he had on him, he was still willing to show how loving and appreciative he was to not be on the run anymore. He is so thin right now that even the bones in his head are showing and has burned so many calories trying to stay alive, he has little muscle mass. But all of that is about to change!

He's been in his foster home for five days now and is all ready gaining weight and enjoying exploring and learning life living indoors with a foster family and other dogs (and a cat!) He immediately discovered toys and his favorite is a pink pig that squeaks!

As you can imagine, he's eating as much as is given to him. He's fed 2-3 cups of food three times a day, along with additional vitamins and he licks his bowl clean every time! We'll be taking him to the vet each week to make sure he continues to gain weight and as soon as he's put on enough weight, he'll be neutered and ready for his new home. We think Ollie will make a great Thanksgiving Homecoming for some truly lucky family.

Ollie has your typical Lab personality. Loves everyone he meets, gets along great with other dogs and has his moments of pure Lab Puppy enthusiasm. Calm indoors, active and playful outdoors. He is working on his indoor manners but so far, no counter surfing, only jumping on you when he's happy to see you. That too we'll be working on, teaching him that sit is a more appropriate way to welcome people.

We'll be updating Ollie's Blog on his progress and hopes of fulfilling his dream of finding a forever home.