Well, this is something different.

 

I've been living with Rottweilers and taking photos of them for 18 years and I have seen all kinds of different personalities. They are all clowns to some extent and seem to just want to entertain us. My baby Rottweiler Ruff wasn't the first Goofus Rottus we ever had. But he sure isn't like the others. I was sitting in the family room watching TV tonight and Axl was laying on the couch when all of a sudden Ruff climbed on top of the hassock and stepped onto the couch right next to Axl and, while standing over him, started to give him a tongue bath on his face, his head and his ears. And as you can see, Axl never objected. Ruff and Axl have best friends since the day we adopted Axl four years ago. I liked to think Axl was a sort of father figure to Ruff. Ruff frequently washes Axl's ears but this is a new one. I quickly retrieved the camera and managed to capture the last few minutes of this crazy act. These photos are in the sequence I took them.

Click the pictures for a larger view.

And another - after the movie scene.

At the start of the movie (Star Trek - Into Darkness) there was a lot of traffic in our living room. The usual kind, one Rottie on my couch the other Rottie on the other couch. Then they switch. Then they take turns going for a nap on the floor. Then the movie was over and I saw an opportunity to grab the camera. We had a pile of Riottweilers on the floor.

 

Lousy photo, beautiful message.

Sometimes it takes two to get the job done.

Mom taking a nap on the deck. And so are her constant companions Axl in the foreground and Ruffin under the table. 

If I had taken the time to clean the glass on the storm door they may have woken up. So in spite of the nose prints and sneezes and reflected sunlight - I shot the picture as I saw it.

Click to enlarge.

Enjoying a beautiful day.

We had workers fixing a problem with the new pool liner this afternoon so it was an occasion to sit outside in the beautiful sunshine and watch them work. And even our little girl Sassy came out with us and acted like a sidewalk superintendent. That's a slang expression from New York to describe people who watch other people working. Mom sat on the deck with both her protectors Ruff and Axl close by. And I was roving around with the camera taking pictures.

Just had to take a little stretch.

We celebrate another birthday milestone. Our old Rottweiler Axl is 12 years old.

He can no longer jump up on his Mom’s bed but Axl still never leaves her side when she is awake. He spend the night sleeping outside her bedroom door and snores the night away. His face is getting covered with gray hairs and the more Axl gets the more dignified he looks. He sleeps more like a baby now, but old men do so as well. He is, by far, the most loveable, most gentle, most handsome, sweetest and most devoted Rottweiler I have ever known. And I am so glad he seems to be in good health and I hope he stays that way for a few more years. I need him and so does his Mom. He had a checkup at the vet’s office a few months ago and he was fine.

Axl was 12 years old this month. I took these pictures today.

In case you didn't know, Axl came to us four years ago. We adopted him when he was almost 8-years old from a rescue group in Ohio and by chance, I happened to know the woman who first owned him when he was a puppy and she was instrumental in helping us get him. Axl was and is the best rescued Rottweiler we have ever had. He ranks way up at the top of those Thief of Hearts that have given us so much happiness.

I think Axl may get a steak for dinner tonight.

Happy Birthday, old man. May you have many more to come.

  

The television crew.

 

Before our evening walk we sat down to watch Ruff's favorite TV show, Wheel of Fortune. And it is fun to watch Ruffin watching the TV, especially when his favorite star Vanna White is on the screen. Well I've been lucky before capturing his stare and I did it again. Got this photo of both Vanna on the screen and Ruff intently watching.

And old man Axl is just taking it all in.

 

Who is babysitting who?

I've often mentioned that my two Rottweilers, Axl and Ruff, seem to take turns babysitting their mom. One or the other (or both at the same time) always seems to be around her, either in the house or out on the deck. If I am wrong then it is the mom who is babysitting the Rottweilers because they do not like being left alone.