Neale Whitaker talks about his two Dogs, Ollie and Otis

Have you read the 2020 interview with Neale? Do that here.

I’m a huge fan of pets and I truly believe that they make our lives – and our homes – infinitely better.

For those of us who don’t have kids (and even those of us that do, actually), a four-legged friend is our child. We feed them, we clean them, we fret and worry over them and we spend truckloads on them when they get sick.

These little treasures are our fur-kids. And in a new weekly segment on the blog, Fur-Kid Friday, you’re going to meet the gorgeous pets of some popular creatives – and hear the story of how pet and human met.

This week, meet the two divine dogs of Block judge Neale Whitaker, as he explains in his own words what makes having Ollie and Otis so special.

Neale Whitaker on his Dogs, Ollie and Otis

Otis was delivered to me (quite literally) at the office by my partner David eight years ago.

Let’s just say he was a surprise delivery, the best I’ve ever received!

My first response was ‘we can’t possibly keep him’.

But that lasted for about ten minutes. Have you ever seen a Weimaraner pup? They’re all ears and blue eyes. Of course it was love at first sight – with both of them.  

Ollie followed a couple of years later. 

We realised that nothing would make Otis happier than a companion. Weimaraners suffer from separation anxiety. They love company and they’re happiest in pairs.

They thrive on company.

Don’t consider a Weimaraner if you plan to leave it alone all day. Weimaraners are the most loyal and loving dogs. They will be by your side forever. That’s how they’re made. 

They were amazingly good as puppies.

We made socialising both of them an absolute priority along with minimal obedience training. Whatever we did, it somehow worked. 

I don’t want to make them sound angelic but they’re not naughty dogs.

They do doggy things from time to time like chase cats, dig up the garden and beg a little too hard at the dining table, but nothing terrible. Possums up trees send them a bit loopy and watch out if you’re a rat. We live in Surry Hills so there are plenty of rat-catching opportunities. 

They really influence our lives in a positive way.

Let’s just say when they’re not in the house it feels wrong. Everything about them is positive. The joy they bring is immeasurable. 

If Ollie and Otis could talk…

They’d say, “They’re OK, those two – for a pair of humans.” 

What celebrity pets would you like to see on the blog? Drop a comment and let me know if there’s a fur-kid that the world needs to meet!