Adopt

My name is Olive!

Posted over 6 months ago | Updated over 6 months ago

My basic info

Breed
Chihuahua
Color
Black
Age
Adult
Size
Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less (when grown)
Weight
Sex
Female
Pet ID

My story

Here's what the humans have to say about me:

Adoption Area: East Tennessee

Olive needs:
-Adult home experienced with shy dogs
-A secure fenced yard
-Someone home part of the day
-No apartments

Introducing sweet Olive, she is a 7-lb lap-loving female Chihuahua mix who is right around 3 years old.

Olive had a pretty rough start. Until she came into SBRET, she had spent her whole life in a basement with 20+ other chi-chis in a sad, dark and stinky hoarding situation. Everything is new, so the sights, sounds and smells of the big wide world are pretty scary stuff for this sensitive girl. Her foster mom knows first hand that once Olive chooses you, life will be full of unending adoration with as many snuggles and kisses as you can handle. But she doesn’t give away her heart quickly, Olive needs space to choose you in her own time. She is ready to fall head over heels for a quiet family that wants to know the depth and devotion of a love and bond that can only come from trust well earned through time and patience.

While trusting people is a slow process for this sweet bean, she is no stranger to other small dogs. She has quite a lot of fun chasing her foster siblings around the yard or snuggling up in a bed or an open crate with them. While she could be an only pup for someone who is home most of the time, she would certainly enjoy a sprite brother or sister to be silly with as she has plenty of energy to play. Toys are new too, but she is starting to understand what they are for! We’re not sure what she thinks of cats.

A securely fenced in yard is a must in her new home. She is doing a great job learning what a Leash and a harness are for, but you won’t get very far on a walk until this cautious girl learns to trust that you will keep her safe out there. She may also be a flight risk while she gets to know her new family.

Olive has a beautiful shiny coat and she is a very heathy girl. You might notice her adorable little underbite that is due to her having been born without upper canine teeth. She also has a scar from an old injury to one of her eyes prior to coming to rescue and this probably has affected her vision somewhat in that eye. She is generally a quiet girl but if something is upsetting her, she has been known to bark pretty enthusiastically for a while. So attached units or apartment living are not a good fit for her. When her foster family goes out she happily stays home running free in the house with the other dogs. Car rides make her a little nervous so, she’s not quite ready to go on big adventures just yet. While she enjoys snuggling in an open crate with other pups, she will panic when you close the door and would hurt herself if she was left in there, so she needs a home that doesn’t expect her to use one.

Back in the basement, her life was pretty yucky and she did not get to go outside, so Olive never learned that outside is where to potty. She would just go anywhere and everywhere. But this smarty pants has come very far in her foster home and rarely has accidents anymore. She even goes out of her way to let you know she’s got to go and will aim for a pee pad if she does go inside. Even with all the progress she will need someone in the house who is home often enough to continue her potty training.

If it hasn’t been clear yet we want to be direct. When you take Olive home she will not be jumping into your lap or wanting to be pet on day one, maybe not even week one. Her life was small, dark and yucky for 3 years and everything is brand new for her. She is a lover at heart and wants nothing more than to feel safe and give her affection freely, but she’s scared. If you or anyone tries to rush her into relationship she will be very very scared and she will try to protect herself the only way she knows how, which is to nip. But if you give her space and let her come around when she is ready, you will know the gift of an enormous love in a tiny little body. She is silly, sweet and learning to feel a bit safer everyday. Olive’s adoption fee is $175.

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