Rescuers had a job on their hands when they took in a little Border Collie found abandoned and locked in a shed.
Shaking in fear and afraid of all human contact, she hid away as volunteers tried to coax her to trust them.
But incredibly, two months on Olive has transformed so much she has even started a new hobby - HUGGING people.
Read more: Family with 20 big dogs looking for a place to call home
The black and white Collie literally wraps her front legs around whoever is with her, lays her head on them and gives them a cuddle in a show of love and trust her carers just can't get enough of.
A spokesperson at Rainbow Rehoming Centre, Co Derry, said: "A farmer discovered Olive locked in one of his outbuildings after she'd been dumped. And the day she arrived at Rainbow Rehoming she was absolutely petrified of everyone and everything.
"Her pen became her safe place and for the first few days she wouldn't let us enter it. So to gain her trust we fed her treats and talked through the wire.
"Two days later she let two of our team enter her pen and it took another two weeks for Olive to gain trust around the rest of us and since then she has come a long way.
"Olive is the most loving dog that you could meet and it's been a joy to watch her personality blossom into the happy dog that she is today. Her favourite thing to do is spending one-on-one time with our team and she shows her love by putting her paws around their waist to give hugs and cuddles.
"She's wary of busy environments, loud noises and can be worried by strangers and other dogs - however her socialising has been going well and she could now potentially share her new home with another dog or dogs depending on their meet and greet and the family's experience."
Any potential new family for Olive Owner needs to have Collie experience, be very active and committed to help her overcome her neglected past and continue with her training and socialising. The home will needs to be settled and calm
Here's what you need to know about Olive:
- Age: Approx 1 to 2 years old
- Breed: Collie
- Sex: Female
- Size: Medium
- Kids: She can live with kids aged 12+ years old.
- Dogs: She can live with dogs
- Cats: She cannot live with cats
- House trained: Working on it
To welcome Olive into your family please email rainbowrehoming@gmail.com to request a Dog Application Form. Mention Olive in your request and allow two days for the group to respond.
Why Borders are Best: Rachel Sutherland explains why Border Collies are her favourite breed
"Known for their place on a farm, this breed also has a special place in my heart. Border Collies are loyal, super intelligent and have shed loads of energy. Five years down the line and my dog Vinny still gets mistaken for a sprightly pup by fellow dog walkers!
If you lead an active lifestyle and love a good hike then sheepdogs are definitely the type of pooch for you. Vinny will happily join me on 5km runs and it’s often me who struggles to keep up with him. Half an hour later, when I’m in a heap on the couch, Vinny will be raring to go on his next adventure.
Although he’s not always bouncing off the walls like a kid after eating a tube of Smarties, he does love a good cuddle and would let you stroke him all day, if he had it his way. Vinny, who adores being around his family of humans, certainly has a gentle spirit and gets on well with all dogs, the same can’t be said for cats on the other paw.
If you’ve ever owned a Border Collie you may be familiar with one of their common traits - their intense stare, a technique used by working collies when faced with a stubborn sheep which has broken away from the herd.
The hard-working hound will stare the sheep out, causing it to freeze with fear, until the farmer comes to collect it and then return it to the herd. Border Collies, which get their name from originally being bred on the borders of Scotland and England, will instinctively use this method when playing with toys, looking for attention and when after food. In Vinny’s case - he becomes fixated on his ball when playing fetch and also a less common toy - a piece of old hose pipe!"
Vet Lin da, from Pooch & Mutt, gives advice on Border Collies
1. You’ll need stamina to keep up with your Border Collie. This highly intelligent breed needs a lot of mental and physical stimulation to keep up with their seemingly unlimited energy levels
2. Whilst well-socialised Border Collies will get on well with children, it’s important to note their herding instincts which can result in bumps or falls for little ones. Care should always be taken with young children around Collies.
3. Collies are highly trainable and have even been known to outsmart their human counterparts at times. They are most content when busy or have a ‘job’ to do
