Olive

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Update 02/06/12:

When Olive had her recent spay surgery, she also had an umbilical hernia repaired and a fatty tumor (lipoma) removed. Whew! Once her recovery is complete, Olive will resume the activities she was previously enjoying: playing ball and going for longer and longer runs with her foster mom!

Olive would love to join an active family but would prefer one in which she is the only dog. On the other hand, she just loves kitties and would make a great companion for a feline pet. 

Does it sound like Olive would fit in with your crew? Watch for this little athlete to be available soon.

Original:

Found as a stray in Maryland, Olive found her way to a shelter. The shelter staff kept her twice as long as usual because they were sure that that her owners would be looking for such a sweet, pretty, and happy girl. When no one claimed her, the shelter contacted MAESSR for assistance. 

Olive is a typical high energy field Springer. Everyone who has met this sweetheart has fallen in love with her on the spot! Her tail starts wagging first thing in the morning and doesn’t stop until she falls asleep at night. Always on the go, this girl loves to play. She carries a toy with her at all times, preferably a ball, just in case someone’s up for a game. Her foster family has found that she’s a champion ball retriever. She also loves the water and is a spectacular running partner. In fact, Olive can easily do a five mile run with no stopping, weaving, or crossing which is heaven if you’re a runner! She is a very athletic dog who can clear a 48-inch fence from a standstill without hesitation, as her foster family has discovered. She has only jumped the fence when she saw her foster dad leave for a bike ride. There was no way Olive wanted to be left behind! 

Olive just loves, loves, loves her people and prefers to be at their side, helping with every chore. A five star cuddler, she prefers to rest in her human’s lap or on top of feet. She loves to sleep as close as possible to her foster parents and stays right next to their bed waiting for them to get up in the morning. She is housetrained and crate-trained, although she does not like to be left alone in a crate. Reliable when left alone in the house, Olive doesn’t get in the trash or counter-surf. Her leash manners are perfect with no pulling. Good girl! Olive does well riding in the car, but is most excited to reach her destination.

Meeting new people is exciting for Olive; “Maybe they’d like to play ball!” Although she has been exposed to children as young as five years old, due to her exuberance, she would be best suited for a family with older children. Olive shows little interest in other dogs. Preferring to have all of her humans’ attention, Olive attempts to establish herself as pack leader. Low-key, submissive canine companions would be necessary for a harmonious household. Currently, she is living with two older male dogs, but she might prefer to be an only dog. Cats are a different story! Olive is great with the resident cats and enjoys licking them! She has never chased them or shown any aggression towards them. 

Olive is a healthy, active dog with no health issues. She does have a tumor on her right hip that appears to be a benign fatty tumor known as a lipoma. It doesn’t cause her any pain and doesn’t deter her one bit from wagging her tail non-stop, walking, running, jumping, and pursuing all the other typical Springer activities.

When it’s bath time, Olive doesn’t fuss. She’s also a good girl when receiving a grooming, nail trimming, and ear cleaning, although getting her to stop wagging her tail for these activities is a bit of a challenge!

An ideal home for Olive would be with an active family with a large yard, who would love to include her in activities. This pretty little athlete would make a terrific running partner or field trial/agility dog. Just make sure you have tireless ball-throwing arms!