IL/Oliver

Description

Greetings everyone -- I'm Oliver and I have so much to tell you! I'm an 18 month-old orange and white ball of energy -- my foster mom says I'm sometimes just an orange blur because I like to move so fast! I like lots of things but my favorites are: squirrels, birds (and anything else that I see that moves) and human affection. My foster family has a LOT of birds and squirrels that visit the yard and torment me on a daily basis -- I say torment me because I want to hunt them every time I see them. I can't figure out why these other dogs that also like them are content to stay in the fenced yard and watch them! I like to play with all toys but the stuffed ones are my favorite -- I LOVE to take the squeaker out of them as quickly as possible. Sometimes I have so much fun with my toys I spin myself in a circle while playing shaking the toy (my foster parents just stare at me as though it isn't normal). I also like bones and balls -- I am obsessed with this one that lights up when it bounces and chase it everywhere in the house. I have been to training and believe it or not, I'm REALLY smart! I caught on very quickly and I am whistle trained, leash trained and shock collar trained. I know that may sound unnecessary, but for a dog that wants to hunt like I do, I needed it. I know sit, I heel really well on a leash and I have really good recall. My trainer even admitted he kind of wanted to keep me -- I think it's because I'm really smart, he thinks I'm going to be a great bird dog, and because I'm super sweet when I'm not playing. I suppose you want to know the things about me that my foster family says is not so great. I'll lead with the one that my foster mom says is the most frustrating and stressful -- I can jump a six foot fence with no effort. I'm not sure why everyone thinks it's hard -- you just run and jump and then you can chase the animals wherever you want! Sometimes I want to do this so much that I'm kind of "squirrely" and twist myself out of whatever is holding me back. They seem to think this is a big negative -- I think I'm just more talented than the average dog.  I live with three other dogs and I do fine with them. Okay, if I'm being honest, two of them are older and sometimes I bug them but it's just because I want someone to wrestle with. The other dog will sometimes humor me and play. I do calm down sometimes and then I sprawl on the couch, chair or the rug. I LOVE looking out the back window at the yard -- then I can see the animals! I'm crate-trained and sleep in my crate at night...my counter surfing has improved (it's not my fault that food is tempting) quite a bit. I'm usually pretty quiet in the house, although sometimes if everyone else barks I will join in. I've met a lot of people and I'm great with people. I'm getting better with not jumping on them (I know you aren't supposed to do that, it's just that sometimes I get really excited). I'm also house-trained. What else can I tell you about myself? I eat well when I'm hungry -- I'm not like these other dogs in the house that act like they are always starving! I love treats and human food like popcorn and pizza crust. Oh, I also like enchiladas, sandwiches and things like that -- okay, maybe my counter surfing isn't that much better. My mom tells the smaller people in the house not to leave food unattended -- I'm not sure what that means but I'm not a fan of when they do what she says. Foster mom here...Oliver did a pretty good job of describing himself. Oliver is a special foster dog -- he's super smart and really wants a house where he has a job. Oliver would really love to be someone's hunting companion -- it's definitely his passion and what makes him happy. I think Oliver would do best with a family that can give him a job (hunting or maybe agility) that has a large yard (with either an electric fence or no fence) and no busy streets nearby but allows him to be a family pet the rest of the time. He was professionally trained at an obedience/hunt facility -- he didn't receive much actual hunting training but was prepared for it with the whistle and shock collar training and has gotten to retrieve some birds as a reward. Oliver did really well there -- he's unique in that I think he views a fence as just a minor obstacle. He actually did extremely well at the training facility and was trusted pretty much off lead.  Oliver needs a family that will continue with the training he learned but also provide him an active lifestyle. It would be ideal if he is able to hunt as he really wants to do that (and is likely going to be a freelance hunter regardless) or gets to do agility or something similar. Oliver gives back plenty of love and snuggles. The trainer said he is "soft" and while he trained him to the shock collar, he was always on the lowest of 10 levels. If you think Oliver could be a good fit for your family, please complete an adoption application.