We met Odin when he had just turned three. He came from the excellent kennel run by Laëtitia Nicolas, “Du Temps des Paluns.” His previous owner could no longer keep him for personal reasons. Living in a large city, Odin was taken back by Laëtitia to ensure that one of her dogs would not end up in unsuitable hands.

At the time, we were attending her hydrotraining center to support Ollie’s physical conditioning and to help Filou rebuild muscle to cope with his herniated disc. My wife has always loved Bullmastiffs, and while Odin was waiting to find a new family, we would take him home for a day, then a weekend, to enjoy a few nature walks with Ollie and Filou. Not only was he very gentle, but everything went smoothly with our two family “wolves.” When my wife brought him back to the kennel (as agreed), he got out of the car, made a round of his fellow dogs, and while my wife and Laëtitia were talking, he quietly settled back into the back seat—ready to head home with us again. I then received a message with a photo describing the situation and one simple question: “What do I do?” The trap had closed—Odin had chosen his new family!

Upon his return, Ollie sensed that something had changed. She immediately set new rules. Despite his greater weight, Odin accepted the emerging hierarchy without any difficulty: Filou (the smallest, therefore the leader), Ollie sharing leadership under certain conditions, and the cats—three at the time—who simply wanted to live their own lives peacefully.

Initially reserved, Odin needed encouragement to come forward. Since then, he has found his place and now seeks interaction without any shyness.

When he arrived, he weighed “only” 52 kg. He had some issues absorbing nutrients and would go off to relieve himself away from us, hidden from everyone. We also noticed that, despite his willingness to take part in activities, his energy level was not particularly high. Of course, he is a molosser, a Bullmastiff—but still. He frequently returned to Laëtitia’s “Du Temps des Paluns” for Ollie’s and Filou’s hydrotraining sessions, and each time he would leave happily with his new little team. That reassured us about his adjustment: he was clearly not depressed, which could have happened after so many upheavals in his life.

He had an excellent appetite, yet did not gain weight; his stools remained abnormal and he continued to hide to relieve himself. After consultations—and thanks again to the invaluable help of Dr. Chetcutti—Odin underwent a series of veterinary examinations, including with a specialist. The diagnosis came in: like Ollie, he suffered from a digestive condition known as IBD. Not at the same stage, and importantly, his reactions to food were not the same as Ollie’s. Put simply, the two companions react to different foods and therefore cannot really eat the same things—very practical!

My wife, with my support, spent months identifying the foods that made him ill. We tried an incredible number of kibbles. While it had ultimately been fairly straightforward for Ollie despite her more advanced stage, with Odin we alternated between hope and disappointment. Eventually, his owner found the right food—the one that stabilized his digestion and allowed him to regain a healthy weight (a little over 57 kg today, after briefly reaching 62 kg once he began properly absorbing nutrients!). He also regained energy and endurance.

Odin is a wonderful dog! Active (of course, nothing like a herding dog such as Ollie), willing, playful, sociable, and with a balanced temperament—thanks in large part to his first weeks with his mother and littermates. He adores nature and animals smaller than himself: dogs, cats, rabbits, tortoises… everything fascinates him, and he is capable of staying in one spot observing for hours on end!

You may even come across him with me during group classes, as his mere presence brings calm—to other animals and to his family alike!