Interview with Ollie, Angie, Sherrie & Jim

By: Sherrie & Jim Hood (October 2012)

Q: What is your name? Registered name and story behind it, if any. Call name and nicknames.
A: Amooreosa Mama's Lil Girl - Angelena was our first dog as a couple. Sherrie is allergic to dogs and cats. Jim longed for a dog throughout our marriage. So Angie was to be his little girl. Angie is now 10 years old.
Kalista's Ready for Adventure - We love to travel and have always travelled with Angelena. We plan to travel with Oliver too. We love to see the dogs experience new things. It is fun to travel with them--until we need an animal-free motel room for Sherrie's allergies.
Call name and nicknames:
Angelena, a.k.a., Angie, AP, Apple Pie
Oliver, a.k.a, Ollie, Sweet Stuff

Q: Describe your physical appearance.
A: Jim is 5'10" 175# with strawberry-blonde hair. Sherrie is 5'4", 30# overweight with gray (natural) and brown (low-lights) hair and really snazzy glasses. Angelena is 20" tall and 62#. Her hair is peppered with gray, ears and chin are pretty gray. Her hair is black, very curly and she has a white patch on her chest between her two front legs. She looks like a Persian lamb. Oliver is growing. He was born March 1, 2012. He is completely black with "wavy" hair that feels like silk.

Q: Where were your born?
A: Jim was born in Des Moines, IA. Sherrie was born in Hammond IN Angelena was born in Dubuque IA, bred by Tammy Moore. Oliver was born in St. Paul MN, bred by Linda & Krista Hunt

Q: Tell us about your family, i.e., your humans and doggie housemates.
A: There are 4 of us in the household: Jim, Sherrie, Angie and Ollie. Our 2 children--4 counting their mates--enjoy Angie on holidays only. Our daughter will meet Ollie this summer in Ely MN. Our son and daughter-in-law live in Iceland now. They won't meet any of us until the holidays.

Q: What do they do for a living?
A: Jim will retire from his law practice December 31, 2012 Sherrie lives off Jim. Angie is a working dog. She carries laundry to clothes shoot, carries groceries from the car to the kitchen--and further if it smells good. She also keeps an eye on Ollie. In the law office she greets clients. She entertains us by playing frisbee/keep-away. Ollie is a working dog in training. He will recover anything thrown, keeps the house clean by washing his feet in the water bowl before drinking from it. He observes all cooking in the kitchen. He investigates all botanical items in the backyard and has tasted most of them. He is a work in progress.

Q: What dog sports do they compete in?
A: Angie injured her shoulder and required in-patient physical therapy 3 times at U of Iowa Veterinary Hospital. We avoided surgery and stopped all jumping. Before her injury she achieved Apprentice Water Dog: Angie has always hated water. Our son calls her the Portuguese Land Dog. Therapy Dog: She has never practiced. She's not that interested in people, although she will lick wounds. Companion Dog Excellent. Open Agility. Open Agility Jumpers. Canine Good Citizen.
Ollie is in a puppy class. He doesn't know it yet, but he wants to compete in agility, obedience, rally and water work.

Q: What made your family want to add you to their lives?
A: We missed the fun of watching our children grow after they were on their own. It's fun to be with our dogs and get involved in their training like we were involved in our children's growth and education. We love their company. When they aren't in the back seat of the car, Sherrie finds she is talking to herself. Jim loves having their company in the office. He is an attorney. People like him more since Angie joined the practice.

Q: What are your favorite activities?
A: Jim - Hiking, photography, traveling, dog competitions, boating, canoeing. I am the mother to Angie and Ollie. I have enjoyed everything involved in that--taking the dogs out for a hike or their toilette, feeding them, training them, getting to know them.
Sherrie - Hiking, photography, traveling, walking with Angie--Ollie is not included in this yet. I love looking for lichen, fungus and wildflowers. I like to cook for the dogs and give them a good diet. I feel that if they are gifted with this fantastic smell equipment it is criminal to feed them the same thing every day for years. When our new vet insisted on dog food as the only way to get a balanced diet for Angie, I was lost; experienced a deep loss.
Angie - Eating, playing a good game of frisbee/keep-away mom and dad, being with my dad (Sherrie), going to work with my mom (Jim)
Ollie - I am curious and like to explore. Whatever I find I like to put it in my mouth. I'm teething right now. I like to chew anything--it's never enough. I was biting everyone and drew blood till I learned how to bite some things and not others. I like popsicles. I like to jump on my sister and bite her behind. I don't know whether I like the jumping more or the biting. But Angie will not aways play with me. We do run well together and eat grass side-by-side.

Q: What is your best quality?
A: Jim - Patient and persistence. Sherrie - Empathy and altruism. Angie - Loyal and smart. Ollie - Curious and persistent. (He is coasting on his good looks.)

Q: Which of your behaviors does your family complain about most?
A: Jim - Jim says leaving things undone. I say he is so slow--thinking slows him down. Sherrie - Jim says my inability to listen. I move fast--and jump to conclusions. Angie - She won't engage or be engaged by people. Ollie - He moves too fast!

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Jim - Panang salmon. Sherrie - Anything spicy--without garlic or soy. Angie - Anything. She does love roasted veggies, ice cream, popsicles. Ollie - He likes his food separated. He likes roasted brussel sprouts chicken. He's really just figuring this out.