Oliver
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Oliver Has Been Adopted!
Hello New York! My name is Oliver and I was rescued from an overcrowded shelter in KY and am so happy for my new life here! It's possible that I'm a purebred Chinese Crested (the powderpuff type, not the hairless type, clearly!), but it's hard to be sure until my fur grows back. There may be some poodle in me, but my markings remind my foster dad of a Holstein cow! I weigh about 14 lbs and am about 2 years old!
I was found abandoned in a rental property when my former people moved out. My hair was so matted and tangled and bunched up from lack of brushing, that the rescue folks said I could barely turn my head or take a step without yelping in pain. It was awful that my former people abandoned me when they left, but given what poor care they gave me, I'm now thinking it was a great thing! I don't hold a grudge, I love people way too much!
I am a real cuddle bug. I love to be next to you and am happy to sit on the couch or snuggle in bed almost any time of the day. I like to follow you around the house a) because I'm nosy! and b) because if I flash you my belly, you might stop to pet me! Now that I don't have all the yucky tangled matted fur, I do like to run and play and I can jump high for a little guy! I walk very well on a leash and I am a quick learner. I have already learned my name and some basic commands, and I am going to obedience classes to learn more. I am a dream in the car -- I just want to be with you, so I settle right down in the backseat and you'd never even know I was there. In fact, I settle down quickly for my age no matter what the situation!
I do almost all my business outside, but because I was neutered late in life, I'm not above marking occasionally. I'm living with a 6 year old kid, and clearly I have known mean kids in my life because I am very much not comfortable with her. The positive trainer and my foster daddy are helping me to get a bit more comfortable with her as time goes on (I'm told she is a perfectly wonderful little girl!) but it's slow going. I definitely would feel much more comfortable and do better in a home without small children.
The only other thing my foster dad is working on is some separation anxiety. Having been abandoned the way I was makes me worry when you leave. After all, for all I know, you might never come back! And since now I am around nice, kind, caring people, I really, really, really don't want that to happen! So, in addition to finding an adopter who is kind and loving and fun, I need someone who will help me build up my confidence with this, because at present, it's hard for me to be alone for too long. I'm not destructive, I just cry and cry and bark and bark. I can't go to a home where I am left alone for 8 hours a day...maybe someday I could work up to this, but it will be a while before that will be ok. My foster family is helping me get comfortable with my crate and I already sleep there peacefully throughout the night.
I don't like cats, but I'm pretty friendly with other dogs if I'm given a chance to get comfortable with them. I can be a teensy bit bossy (!), so might do well if other dogs showed me where my place is in the pack is, and continued dog-dog socialization would be terrific. I am the kind of dog who does great if you have loving but clear expectations and limits and don't treat me like a little king too much...that way I won't be tempted to be bossy!
I'm in great health. Sometimes after I drink water I chuff a bit, but the vet says that's probably just a weak trachea and nothing to be concerned about. I take fish oil pills to help my skin while my fur grows back. If my new family wants to keep my fur short, that's an option, but I will need to wear a sweater on cold winter nights! If they choose to let my fur grow in, then I will have to be brushed once a week so that I never have to have those painful tangles again.
I've been taking classes in basic obedience and I'm happy to say I did very well. I got a graduation certificate for the course and I am very proud!!
Please consider adding me to your family. I am very affectionate and incredibly cute. I'm a great combination of young energy and calm cuddlebear, and I'm willing to work hard to please you.
If you know of anyone who might be a good fit for me, please tell them about me? Thanks! If you are interested in adopting Oliver, please fill out an online adoption application and live close to Ithaca , Syracuse, Binghamton, or Elmira. We do home visits on every applicant, and can't do home visits where we don't have local volunteers.
