Olive in Deering, NH

Are you seeking a Cavalier companion to sit on your lap, jump up to join you on the couch, and cuddle with you in bed? This is not the Cavalier you are looking for. Are you yearning for a well-adjusted pup, one that will happily ride in the car, run errands with you, and greet a houseful of people with enthusiastic affection? This is not the Cavalier you are looking for. Have you always dreamed of playing fetch, giving lots of belly rubs, and dressing your dog in adorable costumes? Then, let me say again: This is not the Cavalier you are looking for.

Meet Olive, one of the most atypical Cavaliers we have fostered. She is deeply traumatized from her previous life as a backyard breeder dog. A remarkably kind and generous person rescued her from a dark barn, and Olive started her new life feeling fearful and skittish, avoiding eye contact and physical contact, and keeping to herself as much as possible. With patience and time, Olive became more trusting of her person, but still did not feel comfortable navigating the life of a family pet. Olive then came into foster care so she could take the next steps in her journey. The first sight of a fellow dog got her tail wagging and her nose twitching. Everything that she has learned since that moment is thanks to her four-legged teacher. 

Olive tends to stay by herself with a good view of her surroundings and startles easily at loud noises. She prefers a luxurious doggie bed on the floor to being on furniture and will usually choose to be by herself at night. Her greatest anxiety seems centered on men; she has responded better to women. These behaviors are all a reflection of the survival mechanisms that she had to maintain in her previous circumstances. Being an inside companion is new territory for Olive, but she is curious, smart, and highly food motivated! In this second phase of her life, she has already taken to sniffing and licking outstretched fingers, running to greet a person returning home, wagging her tail in her sleep, and accepting treats from a hand. Patience, time, and a willingness to let Olive set the pace of learning will yield rewards.

If you haven’t moved on to the next (more typical) Cavalier and are still reading, let us give you the good news. Olive loves other dogs. She yearns to be part of a pack, to take cues from her canine companions. Her ideal home will have one or more dogs who will welcome her in and show her the way. She loves to be outside. She will romp around the yard and happily explore for long periods of time; the joy she expresses outside is absolutely delightful. Her ideal home will have a securely fenced-in area to play and explore, dogs to play with, and an owner who enjoys spending time outside as well, without expecting interaction. She is perfectly house-trained. She eats everything with gusto, and importantly, she is healthy, up-to-date on vaccinations, and spayed. 

Olive needs a calm, consistent, loving, safe environment to thrive. She deserves a future filled with quiet time, joy, and freedom from the fear that dominated her early years. What she needs most of all is to feel safe. This calls for a kind, patient person (and a pack of dogs!) to help complete the transformation that has only just started for her. This is a chance for someone to make an enormous difference for a deserving pup who has had a terrible start to her life through no fault of her own. Who knows what this sweet, beautiful girl has in store for someone willing to open his/her heart to her? If you are ready to try to give her the life she deserves, then: This is the Cavalier you are looking for!

If you are interested in adopting Olive and live within a reasonable drive of her foster home in Deering, NH, please submit an online application and then contact Barbara Blanchette (blanchettebarbara06@gmail.com) so she knows of your interest. 

Online Application