Oliver

Oliver is a beautiful-natured boy with a heart full of love and a playful spirit. He’s currently in foster care and has spent time in homes with young children, where he’s proven to be absolutely wonderful. He’s gentle, tolerant, and non-reactive to children’s noise and play, making him a fantastic companion for families with kids aged 5 and up.

💡 Personality & Temperament
Energetic & Intelligent: Oliver is full of life and curiosity. He thrives on mental stimulation and physical activity, and would benefit greatly from daily walks and playtime.
Playful & Puppy-like: He loves chasing games, fetch, and gets the cutest zoomies several times a day. He’s also a bit of an Olympic jumper—he can leap up to 1.5m!
Affectionate: Oliver is a snuggler who enjoys curling up on the couch in the evenings and has the world’s cutest snore. He’s also very licky and gently nibbles hands like a puppy, which is being redirected with chew toys and gentle training.
Quiet Nature: Generally quiet, though he likes to “talk” when neighbourhood dogs bark.

🧠 Training & Behaviour
Food Motivated: Oliver had no prior training, but his love of food makes him highly trainable. He’s already responding well to commands like “sit,” “drop,” “no,” and is learning “wait” and “down.”
Crate Training: He’s making great progress—he often chooses to rest in his crate and eats his meals there with the door closed.
Toilet Training: Doing very well! No accidents since the first few days in foster care, and he can go 8 hours overnight without issue.
Separation Anxiety: Initially anxious, but now settles quickly when left alone. He sleeps peacefully through the night.
Destructive Tendencies: Occasionally chews toys, likely mimicking the foster child. This is improving with supervision and redirection.
Stubborn Moments: He can be cheeky, especially when it’s cold outside, but responds well to confident leadership. He may test boundaries with more submissive people, so consistency is key.
Sensitive Past: Occasionally cowers when hands reach over him, suggesting past trauma. He responds well to gentle reassurance and positive reinforcement.

🐶 Socialisation
Children: Excellent with kids, especially over 5 years old. He’s gentle, non-reactive, and enjoys lying next to them. No possessiveness over toys, even when shared.
Dogs: Reactive, especially to small or barking dogs.
Cats: Very reactive on sight, though not obsessive—this may improve with time and training.

🏡 Ideal Home
Oliver would thrive in a loving, active home with:
Children aged 5+
A secure, escape-proof yard (he’s a jumper!)
A family committed to ongoing training
Indoor living—he loves being warm and close to his people
Experienced dog owners or first-timers willing to invest in training
Oliver is not suited to being left unsupervised in a yard with low fences, and he’s definitely not an outdoor-only dog. He’s happiest inside with his family, sunbaking when the weather’s nice.

🛁 Bonus Traits
Loves baths and massages
Enjoys snuggling and couch time
Has a hilarious snore
Will steal food off benches if given the chance!

Oliver is ready to find his forever home. He’s a loyal, loving, and playful companion who deserves a family that will invest in his growth and give him the love he’s been waiting for. Could that be you?

https://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/animal-adoptions/dogs/fido