What has Ollie been up to? What has Ollie not been up to would be easier to tell, but I will just go with the first one.
The first time I wrote about Ollie, I let you in on some of the things he does, or likes to do. This pup keeps me hopping, from morning to night. Ollie loves to chew, so I must keep the chewy toys around — the pig’s ears, cow hooves, bully sticks and I also buy cow tracheas. They are scattered all over the house, but I just leave them lying around because he is always chewing something.
Anything left haphazardly laying around will eventually end up under the nearest bed. It could be a shoe, a boot, clothing, even if it is bigger than he is. If I get up from a chair and leave a pen on the table, he jumps on the chair and there goes the pen. I must learn never to lay my glasses around where he can get them — he has already ruined three pair.
Ollie’s newest thing is he likes to sit at the table in a chair, and he sits almost like a person. It is quite funny, and if you leave the chair out from the table, he is on it in an instant. The other day I was fixing my breakfast, and he was being so quiet, I thought, “What’s he up to now?” I turned around to check on him and he was sitting, watching me from the middle of the table — yes, the table. The little rascal jumped on the chair I had pulled out and then up on the table.
I said, “Ollie, get down, bad boy.” He just looked at me and tilted his head to the side. He got down fast when I started walking toward him. Note to self: remember to push the chair in.
Ollie loves anything that crawls, especially bugs and frogs in the driveway after dark. He knows just about the time they come out for the night and wants to go out. He finds a frog or toad and pushes it with his nose or paw, and when they hop away, Ollie will be right on their tail.
One night in early fall, I saw him playing and batting at something near the driveway. I was afraid it was a small frog and didn’t want him to hurt it, so I went out with my flashlight to check on him. It was not a frog, it was a snake. Eeek. I ran for the house, telling him he could stay out all night, I was shutting the lights out. Of course, he didn’t know that I was ranting and raving about his “newfound friend.” Luckily, I never saw the friend again.
Ollie is about 9 months old now, and he is pretty much potty trained. It took a while. Occasionally he may make a mistake by the door, probably because someone wasn’t paying enough attention to him.
He loves his little sister Sadie. She is getting used to him, only he’s a big boy compared to her little 7 pounds. But she will put him in his place. I have seen her latch onto his jowls before. He will back off eventually. Ollie loves to follow Sadie around outdoor; I think he thinks she is training him. I also think he watches out for her, especially at night, although I always go out when Sadie is outside.
Ollie loves whatever you’re eating, fruit, cottage cheese, chips. I do not think there is anything he doesn’t like, except maybe dog food.
For some reason, nighttime after supper is when Ollie acts up the most. I’m not sure why this happens, but he does it every night. He zooms in the house, around the chairs, tables and couch, tail tucked in and on high, I try to slow him down, but he just zooms faster. I finally just give up, sit down and ignore him, then he will sass and bark at me. Yes, I do try to discipline him, but he thinks I’m playing most of the time. He minds his dad much better than me. Isn’t that always the way?
I will keep you updated on the antics of Ollie. If you are looking for a friend for life, check out the Central Aroostook Humane Society, 24 Cross St., Presque Isle. We have some wonderful animals looking for their forever homes.
While you’re there, think of donating to the shelter for our new building. This means so much to all of us at the shelter and on the board. We still have a way to go, but it is becoming a reality and will be so much safer for the animals, staff and public. Thank you to everyone who has already contributed.
Gail Wieder is a member of the Central Aroostook Humane Society board of directors.
