We now have a robot in our house and Ruff has checked it out.

I don't usually succumb to impulse buying but a few days ago I was in Sam's Club and saw a display for the iRobot Roomba vacuums. Two words jumped off the display and caught my attention: PET HAIR. If you own Rottweilers you know what I mean and if you own more than one Rottweiler you really know what I mean. So I bought it and took it home wondering all the time how it would be greeted by the rest of our family. In case you're interested, the model 585 was $279 which turned out to be a pretty good price and the reviews were mostly favorable, too.

I charged the battery in the robot overnight and the next day gave it a try. The first thing I found out was that my original plan to use this after we go to bed was not feasible because it is loud. Then I discovered after one try that the best way to use it was to keep it from wandering all over the house by blocking it into one room at a time. And it did a very good job. It got under the furniture in the living room and under the beds and dressers in the bedrooms and it chirped out a plain language message every time it needed its waste bin emptied. And when I used it in the living room where the charging station was set up, it plugged itself back in when it need to be recharged.

Oh, and how did the Rottweilers think of it? Axl took a look at it and then went up on the couch for a nap and ignored it afterward. I used Sassy's bed to block the entrance to the living room and she laid on her bed and watched it working. Ruff, on the other hand, followed it all over the place, nosed it a few times and tried to pick it up once. After the first time I used it Ruff left it alone.

I really love the way the little iRobot got under the beds and the dressers. And it did a really good job, too. Now if they could build a bigger model to cook, do laundry and dishes, I would be thrilled.

 

Have you ever seen a Rottweiler chorus?

Here is a story without pictures. Sad, but true, so I hope you can visualize this in your mind.

Last Thursday our good friend Lucy came by to sit with Jackie so I could take care of some chores. After a brief chat I told her I had to leave to do some shopping. When I left, Lucy and Jackie were sitting together on the small couch in the family room along with Ruff and Axl who had taken up their places on the larger couch and the chair along with Sassy who was laying on her bed.

I went down to the basement to get my car and as soon as I backed it out of the garage I heard the three Rotties doing their wailing chorus like they usually do when Jackie and I leave them home alone. I had to go back inside to check this out because they have never before cried while someone was still in the house.

I could still hear the singing as I climbed the stairs. When I walked into the family room, I got a look of shear embarrassment from our three best friends who all acted like I had interrupted them in the middle of doing something wrong. Then I saw Lucy, who was still sitting next to Jackie on the love seat, she had a shocked look on her face because of what had just happened in front of her. As soon as the three Rotts heard the car start up they had all stood up and raised the noses toward the ceiling and began singing their heartbreaking song of disappointment. It was as if they didn’t realize there were still two humans in the house with them. Sitting right there watching the whole time.

I wish I had seen it but then if I had been there it wouldn't have happened.

 

Always on duty, always watching out for their mom.

The weather was beautiful outside today. My wife Jackie was tending her flowers while her two protectors, Ruff and Axl, kept their eyes on her. I watched them from inside the living room and took these pictures through the glass storm door. That explains the glare from the sun. 

 

We had company visit us yesterday. Ruff's two best friends.

Well, Bev and Rich are our best friends, too, even though Ruff thinks they belong to him whenever they visit. Ruff's Auntie Bev has been training him to act a bit more restrained when she comes over. Seems to be working - but only for her. Bev simply folds her arms across her chest and turns her back away from Ruff whenever he gets too playful and the not-too-subtle hint of disapproval doesn't go unnoticed. Rich, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoys Ruff's playfulness, and the kisses. Well, we all had a good time with their visit as the pictures tell.

 

How to get comfortable while watching TV.

Rottweilers invented comfortable. And sleeping on their backs on a nice soft couch is the preferred way to do it. Best of all is when you're laying next to your human and you can get an occasional belly rub. This photo was actually taken just after I turned off the TV last night and was getting ready to take everyone outside for their last potty break. I asked Jackie to stay where she was until I retrieved the camera.

The only bad part is when you get kicked with a hind foot while your best friend is dreaming. And that happens a lot. And it hurts.

During the night the couches become a favorite spot but unfortunately the Rotties tend to get too hot laying on them so they alternate with getting off and resuming their naps on the hardwood floor. But as soon as one Rottweiler gets off the couch another one gets up from the floor and takes the empty spot. We call it a shift change.

 

 

Sharing some new pictures taken in the last few days.

Well, things have gotten back to normal around here since the last emergency. That means time for some new pictures. One significant event is that our old boy Axl has celebrated his 11th birthday. And he is still the most wonderful, loving Rottweiler I've ever met.

And baby Ruff still loves his mom.

 

All's well that ends well. Humans and Rottweilers all came through.

My wife has had some health issues lately. She has had Alzheimer's for some 5 years now and things will likely get worse. Once in a while everything turns out better than usual. Like what happened at 3 AM two weeks ago. Jackie woke up a few hours after going to bed and was in a state of high anxiety about needing to get dressed and go some place. The alarm on her door woke me and after some strenuous attempts to convince her to go back to bed she worked herself into a fit and began having difficulty breathing. Then she grasped her chest and complained of pain. I gave her two aspirin and a prescription drug to calm her down but after some twenty minutes of no relief, I called 911 and asked for an ambulance.

A few minutes later the doorbell rang and three police officers were there. They said they always arrive before the EMS does so I let them in. I took them to my wife's bedroom and they saw how agitated she was. Then the doorbell rang and two EMS guys came in. The hallway outside the bedrooms was getting crowded. I had put Ruff in my room and closed the door. Axl had left his mom's room as soon as the commotion started and he went into the living room and laid on the couch. The next thing I knew the last police officer in line outside the bedroom announced that "There's a big baby out here." Axl had come out of the living room and walked up behind the cop and put his cold wet nose on his hand. Then Ruff managed to open the door and came out to join the party. As soon as Ruff got into the hallway one of the cops asked me to get the dogs out of there and I put them both down in the basement. Little Sassy remained on her bed in the living room and I'm so glad she didn't let out one of her trademark WOO WOO greetings. During the entire time neither Ruff nor Axl ever growled or barked or made any sound at all.

The EMS guys took my wife to the Emergency Room and they kept her for about 12 hours. The doctors congratulated me for the foresight of giving her two aspirin. All the tests turned out normal and she did not have any signs of a heart attack. I brought Jackie home about 3 PM and everything went back to normal. The two boys were very glad to see her. 

As if to make a counterpoint to this episode, some 4 or 5 weeks earlier Jackie had found an unlocked door and went for a walk by herself one afternoon. I have inside keyed deadbolts on the outside doors just to keep her from wandering off but on that day a friend was over for a visit and I forgot to re-lock the front door when she left. Oddly enough my wife has had both knee joints replaced and does not like long walks but I searched up and down the street and could not find her. I called 911 and explained the situation and they sent over a County police car. The officer called in the report and asked for help. Then he asked me to take him inside the house so he could recheck every room. On the way to the front door I told him we had three Rottweilers inside. Well, he got as far as the vestibule and was surrounded by Ruff, Axl and Sassy and each one was curious and began quietly sniffing him. And no one growled or barked. The police officer decided, anyway, that  he didn't have to go through the house and check the rooms after all. A few minutes later another cop found Jackie walking down the next street about a half a mile away and brought her home. I never imagined how she could have gotten so far away.

All's well that ends well.

  

Everyone watched TV last night - but us.

Here is a rare group shot of our Rottweiler family.  From left to right, that's Sassy, Axl and Ruff. The TV was on but my wife was preoccupied with something at her desk. I was on the computer in my office so the couches were vacant. Guess you already know that Rottweilers abhor vacant couches, just as Nature abhors a vacuum.

 

Speaking of crowded rooms how about crowded beds?

Last night Ruff wanted to see why Axl was so interested in sleeping on his mom's bed every night. So he jumped up first and after my wife got in bed he gave her a few good-night kisses and snuggled right in. Axl came in a few minutes later after his mon was in bed, jumped up on the bed and also claimed his spot. Axl will be 11 years old in a few weeks and I am still amazed how agile he is and still able to leap on the bed every night. Just so you know, most nights Axl gets up on his mom's bed before she gets under the covers so there is no one in the way when he comes trotting in and jumps. But on the few occasions that Axl comes in after his mom is in bed he does a magnificently accurate leap, touches his front and back paws on the edge of the mattress then hops over her legs and lands on the other side of the bed. Now that must be a sight to behold from ground level watching this huge dog flying over you. And never once has he landed on his mom because he is so heavy he could do some serious damage.

And last night was no different except that Ruff was laying on the other side of the bed and Axl had a bit less room to make his landing. The amazing thing is that the bed is higher than Axl's line of sight so he can't see where he is jumping until he is flying through the air.

Another view of my crowded office.

Tip toeing through mounds of sleeping Rottweilers. Turn around and see a great photo op. Oops! I forgot the camera, got to go back in and get it. Well, this time the crowded office has a different viewpoint. Instead of 135 lbs baby Ruff and 125 lb old-man Axl sleeping side-by-side, they are now lined up like airplanes on a runway waiting to take off. And, of course, one of them is right in the doorway.

The story of the Creation of the Rottweiler.

THE CREATION OF THE ROTTWEILER

Once upon a time, long, long ago, before Mankind and Dogdom learned to love one another, the Grand Canine Council of Eight, which govern the fate of all dogs, called an important meeting. It had been decided that the governing of dogs would be more easily accomplished if each dog was designated by the name of his choice, and each breed could then select a prototype to portray breed characteristics. This action was deemed necessary because Mankind and Dogdom were to soon unite, hopefully to the benefit of each.

On the appointed day, the representatives gathered and one by one, in an orderly fashion, each made his selection from a series of catalogs depicting body parts available.

As the day wore on, it became clear that there was not enough material on hand to satisfy all breed requirements. Shortages were beginning to develop, especially in the ear and tail categories. A few of the breed representatives began to show signs of anxiety. A Greyhound crowded near a large dog at the front of the line. "Please, friend Rottweiler," whined the Greyhound, "Let me take your place in line. If I stay at the end of the line there won't be any long tails left, and without long tails to act as rudders, Greyhounds will run crookedly."

"Well, okay," said the Rottweiler, and he moved back a step for the grateful Greyhound.

The line began inching forward again. "Pardon me, sir," rumbled a deep voice at the Rottweiler's shoulder. "Would you mind if I went ahead of you?"

"Well," said the Rottweiler, "I really don't think....."

"You see," the deep voice went on, "We St. Bernards must have great size to perform our rescue work in the snow. It's extremely difficult for small dogs to rescue people. Just think of all those lost children."

"Oh, all right," sighed the Rottweiler, and again he moved back in line.

And so it went......a little prototype dog for whom a long body was essential so he could wriggle into badger holes edged in; a terrier type needed agility and speed to catch rats; another needed a dense coat to be comfortable while guarding sheep in winter; a tiny prototype needed a silky coat to please those upon whose lap she sat. Finally, all that remained was the tired canine who had patiently yielded his place to the others. Sadly, he looked through the catalogs. Most of the items had black lines drawn through them....all of the good stock was gone. The Rottweiler sighed deeply.

"HURRY UP!" yapped the Eighth Fate, without looking up.

"Well," said the Rottweiler, very alert now that his turn had finally come. "I guess a big deep chest won't look bad with small ears that stand up sharply."

"Sorry," said the Eighth Fate. "All out of stand up ears."

"NO STAND UP EARS!" howled the Rottweiler.

"That's what I said. We can give you rosettes, long or medium-short, but they all drop."

"I'll take the medium-short," said the Rottweiler with disappointment. "They won't be too noticeable with a nice bright color combination."

"NO BRIGHT COLORS," yipped the Second Fate. "Only black."

"BLACK?" Snarled the Rottweiler.

"Wait, wait," whimpered the Fourth Fate, in an attempt to placate.

"Here are a few tan markings you can scatter on the face and legs."

"I have three white hairs here," said the Fifth Fate. "Not enough for everyone, but occasionally you can sprinkle two or three on a chest."

"It's not really what we had in mind," said the Rottweiler. Then he brightened, "However a big plume of a tail will make up for everything."

"SORRY," barked the Sixth Fate. "NO TAILS."

"WHAT?" roared the Rottweiler, "You expect me to report back to my breed chairman in BLACK with a few tan markings, DROP EARS and NO TAIL?"

"Sorry," said the others. "You should have gotten here sooner."

"One moment," the Chief Fate interceded. "This prototype was one of the first to arrive."

"I can't help that," said the Eighth Fate crankily (he was getting very tired.)

"Besides," added the Third Fate, "All of the catalogs are closed. There are no more supplies to be had."

"I realize that," answered the Chief Fate, "But we can do what all good dogs should do......give something of ourselves."

From each of us, Rottweiler, you will receive one gift to bestow upon your breed: COURAGE, GENTLENESS, INTELLIGENCE, STRENGTH, LOYALTY, PLACIDITY, HANDSOMENESS and VIGILANCE. However, the greatest attribute of any breed you already possess in abundance.....A GENEROUS HEART."

Beverly Mitchell

Received from my good friend:

jan cooper: jan4rott@rott-n-chatter.com
Manager of Rottweilers: at Pawvillage.com
Original Rottweiler items: cafepress.com/rottweilers
oldest Rottweiler domain in the world: rott-n-chatter.com
"The Lord will never give us anything greater than He knows we can bear."

Google Images loves us!

I really enjoy sharing the photos I take of my Rottweiler family with everyone on this blog. I just got an email from a friend in California that showed me just how popular these photos are. The lady was doing a search through Google Images under the words "Rottweilers watching TV" and she told me to take a look at the search results. It seems most of the pictures on the first few pages came from this blog. Wow! Give it a try, we have 14 pictures on the first 3 pages.

 

Just a reminder to all our Rottie friends.

I came across an old bumper sticker that I bought many years ago. It was designed by the wonderful Rottie artist Peggy Rose. I don't know if these are still available but the message it contains must certainly never be forgotten. Click the image for a larger view.

We have had the privilege to own (and be owned) by six gorgeous Rottweilers in the last 17 years. Only one was bought from a breeder. Four were rescued and one, my first, was a gift. I can tell you that each and every one was a joy to live with and they have all made a lasting impression on us.

  

Sleeping Beauty

Ruff had an exciting day today with his favorite human visitors. He spent so much time jumping from one to the other getting hugs and kisses that he wore himself out. (Probably not but it sounds nice) Anyway, mid-way through our television evening, long after the company went home, Ruff had himself all curled up sound asleep on the couch and it sure looked to me like he had wrapped his four feet around his face.

He is a real sleeping beauty.

 

A beautiful afternoon.

Mom took on some chores this afternoon babysitting Ruff and Axl while watching the Olympics in London on TV. Axl sure looks comfortable sharing the couch.

Click the image for a larger view. 

  

Changing of the guard - meet my new Nikon. Better pictures coming.

My old Nikon D40, that I've used to take the pictures on this blog since we got our baby Rottweiler Ruffin almost 6 years ago, has been replaced. The image count was up to almost 11,000 and they were not as bright and clear as they were before. Besides, the poorer image quality required too much time retouching them. A few days ago I started looking for a replacement and found a brand new Nikon model, the D3200, with specs that were five times better than the old camera. I'm not doing camera reviews here but this camera is a real beauty - in more ways than you would expect. It came in Red! Fire engine red, metallic-cherry red and it is pretty just to look at. OK, here it is.

Here are a few of the first pictures taken with the new camera. Click the image for a larger view.

Unlike the older Nikon, the new camera can also take video and in 1080P High Definition, too. So there is a  possibility I will be able to upload some video clips of our boys playing and link them to this blog.

Took a few pictures today while everyone was still awake.

  

Seems like any time after the Sun goes down chances are I am the only one still awake around here. This may account for the number of sleeping Rotts pictures here - and sleeping wife, as well. (see below) Any way, I decided to take some new shots this evening because the boys were in a playful mood.

This next one was taken a half-second after momma got a sneaky kiss from Ruff.

 

See what I mean about the sleeping Rott and sleeping wife. This was last night.

Wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Good thing Mom and Dad are still awake.

Yeah! Good thing Mom and Dad are still awake. Somebody has protect the house. Last night, as usual, mid-way through the television programs I spotted our two sleeping beauties, Axl and Ruff. This always leads to the observation about who, exactly, is protecting whom. And, how long would it take them to wake up if someone rang the doorbell?

Foolish question about the doorbell. I think I already know.

 

My crowded office, again. The boys love to hang out there.

I have started to call my little office "The boys club" because it seems that every day now it has become the favorite hang-out for Ruff and Axl. Maybe they come in to keep me company or to find a quiet place to take a nap but I enjoy having them in any case. This little room is so small that the only way I can take this picture is to hold the camera above my head as high as I can.

I don't know how other Rottweilers get along but these two love to be close to each other. They often take naps together laying on the same couch butt to butt.

By the way, we seem to have all survived our recent heat wave. Today it was only 95 outside but the last few weeks it was brutal. Two weeks of 90+ degrees temperature and three days over 100 degrees. It has been so humid as well as hot that the only reason we went outside was to let the three Rotts take a potty break. I have been running the garden hose around the clock trying to keep some of my shrubs and trees from drying up. Three days ago I took this picture from one of the rear windows of the thermometer on the tool shed. It was 105 outside and 115 inside the shed.

 

Horses on TV, again.

Ruff has a thing about horses. For the life of me I don't understand him. He has only met one horse up close in his life and I thought it was a friendly meeting. After all, he went nose-to-nose with the horse and never voiced any complaints. After that every time he has seen horses on TV he growls and runs up close to look at them. He has sat in front of the TV to watch a horse race. And last night he saw them again in a Nature program on the local PBS station. Here he is doing his thing.

By the way, if you haven't seen the pictures of that famous meeting when Ruff met his first horse in the field where his father lives, here it is.

It started like this:

Read the full story and see all the photos here: 

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Ruff's adventures.

http://livingwithrottweilers.blogspot.com/2008/10/ruffs-adventures.html

I just realized that Ruff was only a year and a half old when he met this horse. Maybe he was too young to be afraid of something that big. But he sure looked brave when the horse walked up to him.

  

Having a video phone call on Skype.

My daughter on Long Island called the other day when our friend Lucy was here for a visit. After a few minutes on the phone we decided to complete the conversation on Skype. I turned the short couch around to face the web cam and everyone got into the picture, literally.

Click the picture for a larger view.

Once again, watching TV at our house.

I know now that this is not a very unusual scene. We had just finished watching television and it was time for bed and then I discovered I was the only one who was still awake. 

Click the picture for a larger view.

Pay no attention to the pumpkins and Halloween designs on my wife's sweatshirt. She wears it all year long because she gets chills, especially when the air-conditioning is on in the Summer.

 

WOW! Time flies when there's lots of work to do.

Just wanted to share some cute pictures of our Rottweiler family and when I opened my blog I noticed I haven't posted anything here in three weeks. With the nice weather outside there has been a slew of projects that had to be finished. Here is a photo I took yesterday morning. I spotted my wife relaxing on the deck with her ever vigilant protectors right beside her. It was such a peaceful scene and I didn't want to disturb anyone so I took the photo through the glass door.

Click the pictures for a larger view.

The new wall project has been completed and the flower garden planted and now we have a nicer place to sit by the pool to enjoy the evening. 

Haven't forgotten our best friends. We do manage to taken them for long walks down the back after dinner so they can investigate every new scent they find. We have a variety of creatures that visit us, mostly at night, but there are always the startled rabbits that grab their attention.

And Ruff always enjoys playing peek-a-boo from behind a tree.

Hope you all enjoy a nice Summer. Looks like its gonna be a good one.

 

After an exciting run in the back yard, a quiet evening of TV.

After dinner we took the three Rotts for a run down the back. On the way back we stopped to have a conversation with our neighbor and while we were talking Sassy started to do her howling WOOO WOOO alarm. Then I noticed that another neighbors dog, a German Shepard name Maggie had spotted our boys Ruff and Axl and had come running over for a visit. Maggie lives on the next street about a 1000 feet away so we decided to walk her home. Ruff and Axl always get excited when Maggie comes for a visit and they were both running around playing chase with her. 

When we got back to our house everyone was tired from all the running so we had a very quiet night watching television. 

One quick dinner time picture tells a whole story.

In our house the Rottweilers get fed before we do for the practical purpose of not having to be surrounded by starving hungry dogs while we eat. That doesn't mean it takes their minds off food, it just removes some of the anxiety. Well, last night after they had their dinner I started to put our's on the table and I spotted Ruff and Axl taking up their spots around the table. They were just laying there, quietly waiting for something to happen. I wonder if they dream of me tripping over them and spilling our dinner on the floor? Now that would be exciting.

I can't imagine what life would be like without them because they have a natural ability to fill in all the little empty spaces in our day.

Ruff's two best friends come for a visit.

We celebrated the completion of the stone wall project yesterday and threw a beer party. Our good friends Bev and her husband Rich came over and Ruff was thrilled to see them both. Acting like he used to when he was much younger, Ruff made repeated attempts to shower his friends with kisses and face licks. He then tried to get what he wanted by jumping up on the back of the chair that Rich was sitting in. Well, that called for the old Nikon and I managed to record some memorable shots before it was over. The pictures that follow are posted in sequence from the first one I took when I walked back in the room.

Click the pictures for a larger view.

I think it is fairly obvious that Rich was enjoying his buddy Ruff as much Ruff was enjoying his friend Rich. And Bev holds the distinction of being Ruff's "Auntie Bev" and as the last shot taken a few years ago shows, Ruff has a fond affection for his Auntie.