OLLIE WITH A TWIST Australian Shepherd Franklin, TN

We call this most handsome Blue Merle Aussie boy, Ollie-with-a-Twist.Ollie for short. A year ago we found out about this special boy who had been sitting in a very small, dark and not so clean shelter in Middle Tennessee. He cowered in the corner with some of the other dogs who tragically had been living with a hoarder who neglected and emotionally abused the dogs. Ollie is just scared. He is not aggressive and over the past year since he came to live with our special foster mom, Amy, he has finally learned to trust and to ask for pets and a few close snuggles on the sofa. These simple moments of affection I think we all take for granted from our dogs. But for some dogs like Ollie, the human touch is terrifying. It takes so much love and patience to wait them out till they find the trust. The trust has come for Ollie and his foster mom, Amy, feels that he is ready to take the cautious step to go to a home where he can trust and love someone forever. Someone with the same determination to give Ollie the chance to be snuggly and ask for attention as he finally has done with his foster mom. It won't take so long. He now knows that he can trust a person and will quickly learn to trust a new, kind soul that wants him to be their treasure. He is 2 years old and weighs 35 pounds tops. We know he is not the normal, happy go lucky boy, but he is special and will help you with your resolve to give him your unconditional love and time to come around. He must have a fenced yard and we think it best for him to have another dog in the family that is grounded and self-assured and a mentor to lead the way for him to be more trusting. Examples are important for shy dogs. Perhaps it can be a family affair. Older children, or an empty nesting couple or a single person that is home a lot. All sorts of environments can work but we will know quickly if yours can be considered. What is most important is your heart to help him find his forever home in your heart. He is housebroken but a doggie door is best for him to use if you can provide that, totally crate trained and such a good boy. Just a tragic early life that is slowly melting away from his memory. If you are interested in Ollie-with-a-Twist please write to us at ccrtennessee@gmail.com We will welcome a dialogue and details freely given to all your questions. He is crated at night and whenever I leave the house for longer than an hour. Ollie needs a family with a lot of patience. It takes a little while for him to warm up to people. He has only just started coming to me for pets and scratches in the last few months. In the mornings, if I crawl into bed after all the dogs come in from outside, he will crawl into bed and lay next to me begging for me to pet him. He rolls onto his back and nudges me. He is quite insistent. Sometimes he will come over to me on the couch for some love. Ollies likes to eat apples. I share apples with the dogs. He will eat carrots and he loves Salmon. I share my weekly salmon with the dogs. Ollie does like walks. He walks well on a leash, however, the walks we go on are short because of his fear of open spaces. Short walks that slowly get longer are key here. He also likes to go. He tolerates car rides well and wants to go whenever he thinks I'm leaving. He will make a great travel buddy. Ollie can jump almost any baby gate and he does know the command 'stay'.

I think the best home for Ollie would be either a home without children and maybe 1 other dog or a family with older children - 12 and up. I think having another dog will be beneficial to Ollie. Seeing the interaction between humans and their dog helps Ollie trust them more. I think Ollie has learned a lot from me and my dogs. Ollie doesn't accept treats from the hand yet, but maybe in time he will. I haven't been able to train any obedience because he isn't food motivated. He does like toys, but plays only with the other dogs and not me... yet. There is potential there. He is super smart. He just has to get past his fears.

ADOPTION FEE REQUIRED. Contact ccrtennessee@gmail.com.