Novelle, Rochester, & Ollie

Ollie is my newest family member.  He was originally intended just to be a temporary guest.  I picked him up on Sunday afternoon, and he was immediately cuddly with me (such a difference from when I picked up Novelle and Rochester!).  I noticed right away that he isn't leash trained, but we've been working on it a couple times a day, and he's getting more comfortable.  He still tries to chew on it when he's ready to be done, but at least he's letting me put it on him now without any complaints.  He's also not crate trained.  I have to put him in the crate every morning when I leave for work, and he barks and barks.  But he's quiet by the time I get home.  I don't think it'll take too long for him to get the hang of crates.  Ollie is not housebroken either.  He's very shy about going outside without me, and even then he doesn't like to go potty.  But just last night, I was awakened by the sound of someone scratching on the door to go outside.  I'm really hoping it was Novelle (because I've been working with her the longest, and she seems like the type who would pick it up), but in all honestly it sounded like Ollie.  That would be extremely exciting!  In other good news: Ollie is very friendly.  He loves to cuddle and give kisses.  He is always laying on me when I'm on the couch.  He prefers to sit wherever Hardy is sitting, so that causes some problems between the two of them.  But he's just so darn cute, I don't mind.  Ollie is also very playful.  A little bit with me, if I toss a toy around, but mostly with the other dogs.  Ollie, Novelle, and Rochester could just run around playing with each other for hours if I let them!  The funniest part is how Ollie is about half their size, and he's the one doing the chasing most of the time.

Ollie is such a cutie!

Rochester, who I've now started calling Rocky, is doing well also.  With Ollie around he's really become much more playful.  I hope once Ollie's gone, Rocky will still play with Novelle.  Rocky is still very clingy.  He tries to jump in bed every night, and every night I have to tell him to get down.  He listens, but I doubt he's happy about it.  When I sit on the couch, Rocky has to have a paw on me.  He'll either sit next to me and just rest a paw on my leg, or he'll sit on the back of the couch and put a paw on my shoulder.  It's very endearing.  I've also discovered that he smiles when he's happy!  He curls his upper lip to reveal his teeth, usually when I say his name or pet him, but sometimes when he's looking for attention.  I wish I could get a picture of it, but he's too quick for me.  We're still working on crate training.  I still have to force him into the crate, but once he's in there he's perfectly calm.  So I don't think it'll be too much longer and he'll be going in on his own.  We still have some work to do on housebreaking.  He's getting better about going outside, but he still has his accidents inside.  Leash training I think is going very well with Rocky.  He still gets excited when I'm putting the leash on or taking it off, but once it's on he's very good and doesn't try to pull out of his harness.

Rocky in the front, Novelle in the back, and you can see Hardy's head poking out in the middle of Rocky's back.

Novelle is still doing great.  She's kind of taken a backseat to Rocky and Ollie, because they are so clingy.  But every once in awhile she will seek me out for attention, and it is so cute.  She is a sweetheart.  When I leave for work in the mornings and tell the dogs to go in their crates, all I have to do for Novelle is tap on the top of her crate and she crawls right in and lays down.  No complaining, no whining.  Housebreaking is still a question with her.  Like I said, I'm hoping she was the one who scratched on the door last night, but I'm not so sure.  I guess we'll find out if it continues after Ollie is adopted. 

 Novelle being a cutie.

 All 4 of my babies!  It's not easy getting a picture like this!  But aren't they cute?
(Top left: Novelle; Top right: Rocky; Bottom left: Hardy; Bottom Right: Ollie)