Holly and Ollie

OWNER NAME  Lesley and Glen

LIVES  Barrow

FAMILY NAMES AND AGES  Matthew 17

DOG/S Holly 2, Ollie 2 both King Charles Cavaliers

DID YOU HAVE DOGS WHILST GROWING UP?

Yes.  We had a Jack Russell, Pip, we had him until he was 17 yrs old.  He was a great family dog and wandered about.  In the old days dogs could do that, you could just let them out.

WHY DID YOU GET A DOG

We got broken into in our first house. So we got one for security initially which was a Boxer. 

DID EVERYBODY IN THE FAMILY WANT A DOG?

Everybody was happy to have dogs.   

 HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR DOG/S?

Ollie about 7 months and Holly about 3 months.

WHERE DID THEY COME FROM? WAS YOUR DOG A RESCUE?

Ollie is a rescue.

TELL ME ABOUT IT

Alcoholics had him locked up in a caravan, he was beat up. The dog warden had gone and taken him off them.  The previous owner had even asked for it back but they were mistreating him.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SPECIFIC BREEDS THAT ARE TARGETED AS DANGEROUS?

I think a dog is only as good as his owner.  If you bring them up right then there is no problem. 

IS HAVING A DOG HOW YOU IMAGINED IT TO BE?

Yes I was under no illusions with what is involved.

HAVE YOU HAD DOGS BEFORE?

I mentioned we got a Boxer, it turned out to be vicious.  It went for my niece who was about six at the time.  We had to put it to sleep.  It turned out he had a brain tumour.  Which explained the behaviour!

Then we found about some Shah Pei’s, they were living in a hovel.  We had to have him.  Chang was about three months old and we had him until he was nearly 16.  We then didn’t have a dog for a few months and I really missed having a dog. Then we got a dog.  We got contacted about Ollie in the kennels.  We went to see him. He was terrified! He would not come forward in the cage.  He eventually took to me.  We then contacted Helen at Diamond in the Woof to work with him. She helped build his confidence up.  Using clicker and treat training.  Then we got Holly and that turned him around all together.  Holly came from a little small holding.  They had two other dogs, a Newfoundland and a Black Labrador.  She was getting bullied by these other dogs.  Pauline at Scruffy2Fluffy let me know about the situation.  It was like they were meant to be.

TELL ME ABOUT THEM

They are real pets. We love them to bits.  They are so playful and they love each other which is fab.  They even sleep in the same bed.

WHAT ISSUES HAVE YOU HAD WITH YOUR DOGS?

None we have been lucky!

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PETS?

Turtles, fish and a hamster.  The dogs don’t even notice them.

HOW DOES THE DOG SPEND HER/HIS DAY?

They love to walk anywhere but they love the beach best of all.

WHO GENERALLY WALKS THE DOG?

Glen and myself mainly but Matty and Tasha, his girlfriend, on occasions.

WHAT IS THEIR FAVOURITE ACTIVITY?

They love to chase each other around the beach.

WHERE DOES HE/SHE SLEEP?

They both share the cage or the big bed.                        

WHO IS THE DOG MOSTLY FRIENDLY WITH  IN THE HOUSE?

Ollie stays with me (Lesley) mostly.  Holly is with anyone who will cuddle her.

WHAT TIME DOES HE/SHE SPEND IN THE HOME WITH FAMILY MEMBERS?

They have someone here most of the time.  They are not often left alone.

TELL ME A FUNNY INCIDENT INVOLVING YOUR DOGS

We love it when poor Ollie has a chew.  He looks the other way and Holly pinches it and he gets confused as to where it has gone!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A NEW DOG OWNER/OR PEOPLE THINKING OF HAVING A DOG?

Just to make sure that they know that it is not an easy thing.  Understand how work is involved.  I don’t think ppl realise just what hard work they are.  They are very good company but do need walking and feeding, brushing and playing with.  It is like having children.