PEPPER PIKE, Ohio -- Oliver was found wandering beside a highway by police in Marion County, Ohio, as a young puppy in need of medical care. An anonymous donor generously sponsored him to receive needed surgery through RescuedOhio, which then moved him to a loving foster home.
Bored in a college class, I was scrolling through PetFinder.com and came across Oliver (then called Ralphie), who quickly caught my eye. We were just starting to look for a new dog, having lost our 10-year-old Portuguese water dog six months prior, and decided to make the trip from Cleveland to Columbus to meet the rescue.
He enthusiastically greeted us at the door and ran around like crazy. We immediately knew he was our newest member of the family. Oliver has now been with us for over four years.
Thought to be a schnauzer mix at first, we decided to get him DNA tested. He turns out to be mostly poodle (mix of miniature and standard), with some unspecified terrier and hound mixed in.
We call him our “Snickerdoodle.”
Oliver is an avid fetch player, whose energy is only outweighed by his loving and cuddly demeanor. (Photo Courtesy of Julia Ullman)
He certainly has the brains of a poodle and the instincts of a terrier (watch out, squirrels, birds and chipmunks)! And at under 40 pounds, he somehow takes up the entire king-sized bed -- or in particular, Dad’s spot, which Oliver refuses to give up when Dad comes in for bed.
Oliver is an avid fetch player, whose energy is only outweighed by his loving and cuddly demeanor. He’s extremely expressive, quite smart and knows what he wants.
During the pandemic, he has become accustomed to our being home more and has developed numerous new habits, both adorable and annoying. His desire to play never ceases, and he has learned that perching his face on our laps will win us over anytime, even if we’re busy working or at the dinner table!
He now sits quietly with his head perched on my lap at the dinner table daily, expecting his “After Dinner Playtime,” which varies between the back yard and upstairs hallway based on the weather.
He also has come to realize that depositing his treat-challenge toy at the foot of each family member subsequently ensures an abundance of homemade frozen treats throughout the day.
He loves to run and play Frisbee in our back yard, leap through the sprinkler or dig in the snow. His favorite treats are peanut butter, sweet potatoes and snap peas.
Oliver also enjoys various favorite spots throughout the house, including a deck chair (his chair), the top of the couch cushions (like a cat) and the rug in the front hallway with a good view of the street to bark at anything and everything that passes by.
Julia Ullman and family,
Pepper Pike
Do you share your life with an animal that is near and dear to you? Tell us something about your pet - all species are welcome - and send along a photo of the two of you. Be sure to tell us which Greater Cleveland community you live in. Send everything to Ann Norman at anorman@cleveland.com.
The Link LonkApril 08, 2021 at 09:15PM
https://www.cleveland.com/community/2021/04/snickerdoodle-oliver-is-one-smart-and-adorable-cookie-send-us-your-pet-rescue-stories.html
‘Snickerdoodle’ Oliver is one smart (and adorable) cookie: Send us your pet rescue stories - cleveland.com
https://news.google.com/search?q=Send&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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