Allow me the pleasure of introducing the world to the next girl of your dreams and the one who’s going to steal your heart, Olivia.
Olivia is an 8 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that came to us from a breeding barn. Our girl has had too many litters of puppies and she’s now happily retired with us at Pound Dog.
Olivia is a tri-colour cavalier which means she’s mostly black, with white on her legs, belly and neck and the cutest little white tip on her tail and a white flash on her lower back. Her face is her money-maker though, she’s got the perfect snoot length to circumference ratio that’s covered in little black freckles and framed with brown. Her giant eyes, brown eyebrows and long ears finish make her irresistible to all who see her. She has a funny patch of long hair on top of her head that looks like she has bangs. She has the classic grinch feet and feathers on her legs of a cavalier. Her fur is long right now and has a nice wave pattern, but I bet she’d look just as cute with a shorter haircut. She’s pretty good about getting bathed and having her fur brushed and making sure she doesn’t have food on the ends of her ears.
Olivia came to us at 19 pounds and not very much muscle mass, but through diet and exercise we’ve gotten her down to 15 pounds and we’re very proud of her. She could stand to continue to work on her strength, but I think the spring and summer months will help with that a lot. Olivia does alright in these super cold days, but she gets cold after a few minutes. Luckily for her, we own a dog treadmill that she likes to go on to keep her fitness routine up.
Our girl had a thorough medical exam thanks to the team at Preston Animal Clinic, and they determined that she needed a dental cleaning and some extractions along with her spay, but, like most cavaliers her age, she has an advanced heart murmur. The doctors were wonderful and got her a full work-up done, complete with x-rays and an ultrasound, and determined that she has stage B1 Mitral Valve Disease. The specialist does not believe there is an indication at this time to start treatment and believes that she can continue to live a normal and active life and was cleared for surgery. Her adoptive family will need to be educated on the medical conditions that plague cavaliers and the increased Echo and Ultrasound exams that come with Mitral Valve Disease. We’re very proud of Olivia and her health however, she shows no clinical signs and is otherwise in good shape. It’s imperative to keep her at a lean weight and a very low sodium diet to help her chances with her heart.
‘Livie (or Liv as she’s affectionately called in our home) came to our home on thanksgiving weekend and was nervous but collected in her new situation. We let her get comfortable in her surroundings and she increased her confidence little by little. The week before Christmas, we realized she was coming up to cuddle in our laps much more often in the evening, she’s definitely a cavalier and knows just how to find the perfect spot on our lap so you forget she’s there. One of her favorite pastimes is lying on her back on your chest while you rub her tummy.
When company comes over, or we go to visit friends and family, Olivia is nervous to start, but collected enough to try new situations. Just the other day, she joined a few
of her foster siblings for a day of shopping at PetSmart and a coffee at a dog-friendly coffee shop. She finds comfort in her crate but if it’s not there, she’s content to lie on the floor with her head under the furniture if she gets overwhelmed. She’s not frantic, it’s just her happy place.
Liv is more than happy to sleep in her crate, in fact, she jumps right in at bedtime. One night she got to sleep in bed with her human, but after a few hours she opted to leave and go back to her cozy crate.
She’s a very good sleeper and would rather stay sleeping rather than get up at 6:00 with the other pups for a bathroom break and breakfast. But when you open her crate and wake her up, she’s at her maximum cuddliness and will stretch and roll in your lap for a hug and a rub.
Olivia would like us to tell you that she doesn’t need to wear boots to go out when it’s really cold out, but I’ll tell you that she indeed does, because her toes get cold while she finds the perfect spot to do her business and you’ll end up carrying her back inside.
She’s excellent at eating her meals and loves a treat whenever the opportunity presents itself, but she is still working on her manners and trying not to steal treats that are intended for her foster siblings.
Livie’s tragic flaw, aside from her devasting good looks, is that she is on some sort of secret nest-building mission that we’re not privy to the details of. She will sneak away into a closet and bring out a mitten, a sock, a slipper, a piece of clothing, a rag, anything she thinks is appropriate. Unfortunately, in her quest, she’s been known to try to ingest some of these items. So careful attention is to be paid when she’s left on her own. She loves to have toys, but she will rip small bits off to try to eat. We’ve yet to discover the perfect toys for her level of chew while still maintaining her interest, but she’s happy to go on that journey with her new family.
Olivia is good in the car for short trips or long ones. She’s happy to sleep the day away while watching out of the window too. I think she would make a perfect office companion (home or away). She can go 5-6 hours home alone, her current routine has her foster mom coming home at lunchtime for a pee break and a treat during the workday.
Liv thoroughly enjoys going for walks when the weather is better, but be warned, years of living in a barn has given her a high prey drive for small things that move: leaves that blow across the street, birds, squirrels, and unfortunate frog that crossed our path, anything that looks like a small meal. So her family will need to be ready for sudden movements.
Olivia would be happiest in a quiet home with a person or family that will love her and keep her safe and healthy. She’s met children, but treats them with the same reservation as she does with all humans. If they’re quiet and relaxed around her, she’ll relax and be happy to sit in the same room as them. She would not enjoy the energy level and noise that comes with a home with young children though and would request that should there be any children in the home they are over 10yrs of age. We’ve loved having Olivia in our home these past few months, she’s a wonderful companion and a sweet girl that’s going to steal your heart… and your socks.