It has been nine days since Gijs (formerly Mr. Smokey) and Ollie moved in with us, and what a pair of sweethearts they are. Although the first 48 hours were a bit tense, with them huddling close together, looking around cautiously with big, watchful eyes, the ice was completely broken after two days. Since then, they can’t get enough of our cuddles and are clearly enjoying all the attention.
Who is the leader?
It’s fascinating to get to know their personalities. In the shelter, we thought Gijs was the leader, but by now it’s clear: Ollie is the one calling the shots! Especially at mealtime, Ollie is the quick rascal who empties his own bowl (and sometimes Gijs’s) in no time. We keep an eye on things so that “slow eater” Gijs doesn’t miss out on anything.
Gijs, however, turns out to be the absolute star player of the duo. He’s a real footballer in the making! It’s fantastic to play with him in the living room with a large bouncy ball; I’m even allowed to take the ball away from him with my foot and kick it away again – he really has great control.
The social aspect is also wonderful to see. They romp and wrestle around, but at the same time, they are incredibly sweet to each other, grooming one another extensively. Once they’ve finished their nap, they happily head for the sofa to be petted all over. They are also incredibly careful when play-fighting with our hands: no claws, and if a tooth ever comes into play, they definitely don’t bite down. It’s nice to notice how well they indicate their boundaries; when they’re done playing, they simply stop and stay lying cozily beside you.
By now, they have discovered almost the entire house and are completely at ease. Right now, as I write this email, Ollie is sleeping peacefully under my chair against my heel – a moment of pure happiness.
Dear people of the Haags Dierencentrum, thank you so much. This really is a perfect match and we are incredibly happy with these two legends. They even handled the hot days very well. We enjoy them every single day!
I hope this story captures the feeling of your new life together! Have fun with Gijs and Ollie!
