[RBark]

I wanted to show the dramatic change Ollie's gone through. It's not noticable in my pictures because I try to pick the pictures to make him look better than he did, but this is the truth of how horrible Ollie's coat was! I'm not sure how exactly it came to happen but I just know he's getting more beautiful by the day.

Take a look at the overall color of his coat. It is dark brown, and dry. Especially his tail. Also take a look at the changing colors around his neck.


Take a look at his overall body color and how it's constantly getting lighter and darker with a bunch of spots.


Here's a better detail of his sides, very poor coat.


I think this one speaks for itself.

[RBark]

For the "now" pictures..

Look at how his black shines!


Shiny, dark black, and pearly whites.


He's a even darker black than the outfit my mother is wearing. Not light brown anymore!


Check out how fluffy and long his neck is, compared to the last picture of the previous post.

[Renoman]

He's beautiful. What do you feed him? Do you supplement his food with anything?

We know he gets plenty of fresh air, sunshine and exercise. So what's your secret?

[RBark]

His fur has REALLY grown around his neck! Check out how long it all is, and in the last pic of he first post, the top hairs are 2" longer than the rest of his neck!


His tail still has work to do, though!

Thanks everyone for looking.

Originally Posted by Renoman

He's beautiful. What do you feed him? Do you supplement his food with anything?

We know he gets plenty of fresh air, sunshine and exercise. So what's your secret?

He eats Solid Gold Barking at the Moon with Seameal supplement from Solid Gold. Can't say I have any complaints

[Dakota Spirit]

Ollie is gorgeous. You can really see in the close ups how frizzy and bleached out his coat used to be. It's good to see everything is starting to come around.

How'd you come to own Ollie anyway?

[RBark]

Originally Posted by Dakota Spirit

Ollie is gorgeous. You can really see in the close ups how frizzy and bleached out his coat used to be. It's good to see everything is starting to come around.

How'd you come to own Ollie anyway?

I own him? News to Ollie.

Let's see. I'm not exactly sure how I ended up with Ollie. I think it went something like this. I started working at 16 and would work 80-100 hours a week up until around spring of this year. I suddenly had a lot more time and nothing to do with it. So I started with my old love, hiking. Well, doing more of it, anyway, as I never stopped even when I was working that much.

I knew I was going to move to the snow someday, as while I'm well aware of all the "bad" of snow, I'm one of those guys who just plain enjoy the snow. Summers here bother me more than the snow ever could.

Right now Colorado is looking rather nice. But anyway, I'm getting off topic. I wanted something that was a workhorse, could keep up with me easy with energy to spare. I like lively big dogs even after a day's of hard work. I'm not too big on lap dogs or dirty dogs as I like my personal space respected. I wanted a dog that would respect me, as I respect him, but not feel as though the world revolves around me.

Growing up with labradors and extremely dependent mutts, I did love them very much, but their excessive desire for attention bugged me sometimes. As well as the fact that they never seemed to make decisions of their own, always relying on me.

So I started looking around at the independent breeds, and I talked with Chuck of Husky Camp Rescue of South California (www.huskycamp.com) about what kind of owner I was, and she liked what I had to say. Frankly, I picked Siberians first only because they are a childhood love, I talked to her expecting to be told that I'm a poor owner for them. Doubly so because I own cats.

But after meeting a few of the dogs, I liked them. I was going to adopt a different dog, but that fell through. While I was up in Bakersfield about 1 hour drive from the rescue (I was there on a job, I was working out of a hotel for about 2 weeks). It was a Friday, I was going to be on vacation for 2 weeks starting Saturday.

Chuck sent me a e-mail about this funky dude she got in, and was cat friendly! I quickly made arrangements to meet her on a Saturday, I met Ollie, I loved him. I brought him home, spent the entire 2 weeks of my vacation with him hiking in Desolate Wilderness, and a few other places.

He was a little depressed at first, but after the long trip we had, and I went home with him for the first time, I think he realized that he was now going to live with me forever. He opened up to me, told me who he is, and grew up so to speak with me since then.

The change from a dependent breed to a independent breed was a little bigger than I expected, but I could not possibly have any other dog. He is perfect for me, he's given me the gift of his companionship and desire to work with me, and I hope to return that to him.

[digits mama]

Gosh, Both of you are so lucky to have each other

He is very very beautiful.

[Dakota Spirit]

I own him? News to Ollie.

Lol


That's a wonderful story. Kind of one of those fate things - where you didn't get the first dog you wanted but eventually ended up with something better. I'm glad everything worked out for the two of you.

[Shaina]

That's amazing RBark! The difference, not just in condition but in demeanor, is amazing...he looks sooo happy, healthy, and beautiful in the recent pictures. I love seeing a person and a dog that were so obviously meant to be together

[RBark]

Thank you guys.

[FilleBelle]

Ollie is handsome and your pictures of him are always well done.

I grew up in Colorado. What area of the state are you considering?

[ChrissyBz]

Originally Posted by RBark

Chuck sent me a e-mail about this funky dude she got in, and was cat friendly! I quickly made arrangements to meet her on a Saturday, I met Ollie, I loved him.

LOL after watching your vids on youtube of Ollie and your cats together I agree, Funky Dude suits him perfectly.

Great story, sometimes it's better to be adopted by the dog than the other way round.

[RBark]

Originally Posted by FilleBelle

Ollie is handsome and your pictures of him are always well done.

I grew up in Colorado. What area of the state are you considering?

I have no idea at this time. I'm not familiar with the state, I'm flying there in a few months with Ollie to go backpacking for 7 days. I am hoping to learn more about the areas when I get there.

What I would like, and I'm flexible, is to live close to the major hiking spots (the Rockies, Weminuche wilderness, Grand Tenons, and so on. I'd prefer to be closer to the National Forests than National Parks.

I'd like to be outside of the major cities, but somewhat within driving distance without racking up the gas bills. I'd like an two, or three, or four! I don't know, I do know I can only fence in so many acres though. I want room to build a detached house (something like two separate houses) that has it's own bedroom, bathroom, and some room for a living room. But the house doesn't need to have that room, I can build houses by myself.

With these conditions I'm asking around where I should live. I can live a little further from the wilderness if needed I'm just looking for a balance of what I want.

[Love's_Sophie]

Wow...those pictures really do speak for themselves...you have done an amazing job with him.