Olive is a very sweet toy poodle. She is the third poodle in the Wood family, following a 3-year break. They initially chose this particular breed because they are smart, playful, hypoallergenic, plus a family favorite for a couple of generations. Valerie was devastated after the loss of her Dolly, but on Valentine’s Day, Darrin convinced her to drive to Northern California and just “look” at another little black angel. Even though she was determined not to fall in love again, she came home with Olive. Since then, the family has enjoyed the past five years with her.

 

Olive loves running around with her adorable little ball, which she offers to any person she meets as a sign of her love. She enjoys playing fetch and spending weekends on Duffy boats, although she prefers to stay dry. Even though poodles are known as water dogs, Olive strangely doesn’t like getting in the water, which is not typical for her breed.

 

She is also very lovable and friendly when meeting new people. When the family lived in San Clemente, Olive would often visit their neighbors with notes tied around her neck asking neighbors to borrow some sugar if Valerie needed some for a recipe.

 

Olive’s intelligence is typical of poodles. The breed was originally bred in Germany to hunt ducks, which is how it got its name. The word “poodle” is derived from a German word meaning “to splash in water.” Poodles are considered one of the smartest dog breeds, along with Australian Shepherds and Golden Retrievers.