Pastimes
I got Ollie as a rescue from a kill shelter in Korea. I was told he was deaf, but other than that a joy of a dog. He certainly is a joy, but his “deafness” is a case of well defined selective hearing. He is a stubborn little cuss, and I imagine his time spent on the streets of Seoul has made him very independent. He is hit and miss on the things most Maltese are known for; he doesn’t like to be petted or shown any love unless HE initiates it, and when that happens he will lick my face off my head! Same thing with cuddling…only when he initiates it.
He’s not a big player, he has his rubber bone, a small tennis ball, and a stuffed monkey that he considers his. Touching them without permission brings on the growling, which can get to be intimidating at times. His things are HIS! But when he wants to play he will bring his monkey or his bone to play tug with.
His playful nature exhibits itself on our walks. We walk up to five miles a day, and he is in complete charge of his walks. I figure that this is his only real thing, and I want him to thoroughly enjoy himself. He knows all the routes around my condo, and he chooses if it’s a short walk or a long walk. He absolutely loves playing with leaves that have fallen to the ground, or flower heads that have been deadheaded. He sets the pace of the walk from “I need to sniff every single thing for a couple of minutes each”, to “let’s go, get it done, and get back in”. He will sit beside a bench when he wants me to sit, and then he will jump up for some body rubs, ear scratch’s, or a hundred kisses.
He didn’t have much of a voice, and has since found his. We are constantly at war over his barking, but it is getting a little better, and he isn’t barking at the wind anymore. He is not afraid of other dogs, and will go in for an obligatory genital smell, but then that’s it. He isn’t interested in playing with other dogs, preferring to just get on with the walk.
I wasn’t sure I had wanted another pup, as my 13 year old Chihuahua passed on Last Christmas Day and I was devastated. But my husband knows me well and knew I needed a fur-child and I’m so glad he pressured me to consider another pet. Ollie is such a sweet pup, and I like that he’s independent and not always needing to be sitting on me. We have a white shag carpet area rug that he has claimed as his, it’s where he plays, sleeps, and carries his treats to. He loves his walks and dances for people he meets on the street. I think that’s how he survived on the streets, dancing for food, because while he will dance for a stranger, he doesn’t dance for long if there is no sign of a treat.
I haven’t regretted getting him, and he is the youngest dog I’ve had in forty years. He’s keeping me active and in shape and the times when he jumps up on the couch and lays his head on my lap are gold, or snuggles down between my body and the arm of the couch, make my heart thump. I am so looking forward to him growing old with me!
3 years, 4 months ago