A little bit of snow today.

As I get older I find myself less eager to go out and tackle a large snow-cleaning project like we've had in the past. I know that my opinion on the subject is not the accepted majority in our house. Our Rottweilers love cold weather and absolutely love deep snow. But being such nice companions they never complain about the little snow we get. Even when it all melts away by late afternoon.

The look on Ruff's face seems to say: Is this all we got?

I remember the good old days when the snow was up to my elbows.

OK, Ruff, and we were all a lot younger in those days.

Meanwhile, baby girl Bess has found her favorite toy laying on the grass that she is no longer allowed to bring in the house. Why? Because she swings it around and over her head just like she does outside.

And I used to wonder what it would be like having a big dog with a waging tail. You know, the kind that could clear off a table with a single swipe.

Fear not, brave friends, the weatherman has predicted more snow for Sunday afternoon. This time I may have to clear the sidewalk myself and not count on nature doing it for me.

 

More about Ruffin's eyesight problem.

The news isn't good but it isn't conclusively bad. Our Veterinarian gave us a referral to go to The Animal Eye Institute and we made an appointment for last Thursday to see Dr. Haeussler who did some tests on Ruff. What initially appeared to be some small measure of good news - there was nothing wrong with Ruff's eyes - later turned out to be much more serious. Dr. Haeussler thinks there may be a tumor putting pressure on Ruff's optic nerve or maybe his brain.

The doctor put Ruff on a prescription for Prednisone and wants to see him again in two weeks to retest again and see if he responded to the steroid. If not then the next step is to have a CT Scan done to confirm and locate the tumor.

At the moment Ruff has a lot of difficulty seeing close by objects but seems to have workable vision seeing distant objects. He has no difficulty walking around outside but he has some minor difficulty indoors where he bumps into things once in awhile. And I have noticed Bess is staying closer to him then she used to.

On a happy note, Ruff enjoyed his visit to the eye doctor's office and got to meet several of the female staff. He hasn't lost his magnetic appeal one bit.

Please say a prayer for Ruff.

Now we have a problem with Ruffin's eyes.

The Vet spotted some cloudiness in Ruff's eyes on his last exam but it seems the problem has gotten serious enough to get him to see an Ophthalmologist. I am going back to see our Vet to have him sign a referral form before I call for an appointment. Poor old Ruff has also been bumping into things which tells me his eyesight needs some treatment and I hope its treatable and affordable. Somehow I doubt the affordable part when the specialist first wants a referral.

Ruff and Bess came in too visit me tonight. They seem to be traveling in pairs lately so I had to take some new photos. They both seem to be in love as you can easily see.

 

 You can see the cloudiness in Ruff's eyes in this first photo.

By the way, the period of mourning seems to have passed and I'm very glad it did. I saw what it did to Ruff 4 years ago when his beloved Sassy girl died.

 

 

As expected, now the grieving begins.

In our little family we have all lost someone that we loved. Two days after the passing of Grandpa Axl there is the sound of quiet moaning drifting through the halls. Ruffin, now our oldest, has gone through this moment once before and his grieving for his beloved girl Sassy almost cost him his health. It was then, 4 short years ago, that I watched and listened to his almost constant moaning for 6 months that made me desperate to find a replacement female Rottie to keep him company. That search for an adult female proved futile and eventually led me to adopt a 7-week old puppy whom we named Bessie. And whom Ruffin thoroughly enjoyed raising by himself.

Now poor old Ruff has also lost his one-time best friend Axl who he practically grew up with since he was only 3 years old when we adopted the older Rottweiler. I enjoyed watching them chase each other around our large backyard always noting that 7-year old Axl could run like a deer and the young Ruff was never able to catch him. 

But their playful friendship gradually simmered down as Axl grew older and wasn't able to run around any more. At that point the friendship consisted of frequent face licks as Ruff seemed to be worried about Axl's declining health.

It was the presence of the new little girl that seemed to take Ruf's mind off of worrying about his best buddy so that turned out to be a good thing. Ruffin had a new love in his life and everything was right again.

And the contentious relationship that began when the feisty little fur-ball tried to get the old Rottweiler to play with her and ended with her being scooted across the hardwood floor from a well placed paw swipe, gradually progressed from Grumpy Grandpa to respected, old man Grandpa. So a different kind of love developed that crossed over a few generations.

But now the almost adult two and a half year old young lady Rott is beginning to experience her own sense of grief for the first time. I saw it begin when she began sniffing all the places where Axl used to lay down near his Mom. She was definitely looking for him, even licking the floor where he used to sleep. And at night I hear her soft mewing cries while she is sleeping on my bed. I know she is dreaming of those better days.

As for me, I cry to myself reading the sad comments that come in from people I've never met. And I realize that I had the privilege to have lived with a most special Rottweiler that has managed to affect the hearts of so many people around the world. But I also have the benefit of a vast collection of photos that retell all the good times. 

Click the images below for a larger view.

A Beautiful Eulogy Written for Our Grandpa Axl

There was so much more I wanted to write yesterday about the passing of our devoted companion but I was too choked up with my own emotions to put it down. But there is one thing I want to say about the last words I spoke to the old Rottweiler as he dozed off for the last time. I told Mr. Axl I was relieving him from his duties and he could rest in peace knowing that I would finish his task caring for his Mom until they meet again.

Then I received the following email this morning and it brought more tears to my eyes. It expresses the sentiments that I was unable to put in my own words and the woman who wrote it has given me permission to publish it because it deserves not to be hidden among the comments.

Dearest Nelson

I sit here with tears rolling down my cheeks and a heaviness I cant describe. I have no words to convey how saddened I am by this email. I had been going through all of my backlog and was so excited to email you this morning with the updates on Paige and the Pic I took yesterday after your beautiful card arrived for her. But now I feel so upset by your news, and don't know where to start.

I can only imagine how hard it must have been to take him for that last drive. I showed Wayne the picture you sent us with the card for Paige and he was amazed at how long and well he had stuck it out. I also sit here and think about one of your posts that I was going to discuss with you, which now actually makes so much sense to me. 

You captured the most amazing image of Jacqueline with her hand on Axl’s head. You say that this is not a regular occurrence and I sit here and wonder if that was not maybe her bidding farewell to a great friend and carer.  Maybe she was telling him it was ok to go.. That she had You and Ruff and Bess to keep her company. Maybe she sensed his discomfort and eased his pain through her acknowledging him… I might be way off here, but I feel that she may have known, as they would with us.

My deepest condolences Nelson, take comfort in knowing that you offered him a life like none other could have, in allowing him to be himself and be a carer for Jacqueline, Looking after him so well and Loving Him Eternally.

Hugs and kisses with a broken heart

Flee

Our most devoted Rottweiler is gone. Axl 2001-2017

Axl's legacy will live on forever. There has never been a more devoted Rottweiler than him.

For several months it had become obvious that old man Axl was having trouble walking. His hind legs just didn't seem to work right and his feet were slipping when he tried to stand and walk on our hardwood floors. His devotion to duty was so great he never once voiced a complaint or sounded a cry of pain, he just wanted to keep on doing his job, being near his Mom. No one ever said he couldn't sleep on the job and being very old he took lots of naps, at times almost at Jacqueline's feet. After all he only needed to walk to go out and pee or go to the kitchen for meals or water. A few days ago I thought I found a way to help him. I bought a package of Pawz rubber booties and the minute I pulled a pair onto his hind feet he was able to stand and walk as good as new.

Then last night without any warning Axl suffered two massive seizures less than 3 hours apart. After each one he fell into a deep sleep and I thought he was never going to last the night. This morning I found him wide awake but unable to stand on his own so I called a neighbor to help me carry him out to my van and I took him for his last ride to our long-time Veterinary doctor who put him to sleep. 

I can tell you today that tears of joy and tears of sorrow all taste the same.

Arrangements were made for Axl to receive a private cremation and his ashes will be placed in his Mom's casket when she dies. That way they can spend eternity together and wait for the rest of our family to join them.

 

Rest In Peace old man, you've earned your long nap. Wait for Mom at the bridge.

It has been my profound honor to have known you.

Eulogy from a family friend

A special Happy Birthday for a special little girl

This is a bit out of the ordinary but possibly very necessary. I want to wish a special Happy Birthday to the daughter of a special friend of this blog who lives on the other side of the world in a place where mail delivery isn't always guaranteed. This is the message I sent her in the mail almost four weeks ago.

H.F., the little bear is from London Teddy Bears and I'm holding one in reserve for you.

Baby It's Cold Outside

The weather outside is crazy. On Christmas day we had high 50's to mid 60's for daytime temperatures. Forget about Dreaming for a White Christmas. When Santa flew through here he had to take off his overcoat.

Two days ago we had out first snow, all of a single inch, with the temperature in the teens. Then the bottom fell out of the thermometer and we had a really cold dip in temperature. Way down to ZERO this morning. As you might already know if you live in a cold climate, Rottweilers love snow and cold air. They have some fantastic insulation that keeps them warm inside yet the snow doesn't even melt on them until they come in the house. But when the temperature gets really cold they don't care to stay outside for very long, either.

Here is a picture of baby Bess enjoying her taste of Winter this year. And it was just as cold outside yesterday as it looks.

And one more photo of the daring little girl waiting to get let back in the house. This photo was taken this morning and although the Sun was out and the sky was clear the morning temperature was ZERO. And it was so cold that the minute the inside door was opened the outside storm door got covered with frost.

Let me in.

 

The love is still there.

This morning while I was wheeling Jacqueline out to the kitchen for breakfast we happened to pass by old man Axl who was sitting in the family room. Axl has always shown a preference to following rather that to walk ahead but I had to make him leave the bedroom when I was pushing the wheelchair and there was no room for him to get behind us. While I tried to get him to move out of the way I stopped pushing the wheelchair right next to him. Suddenly Jacqueline extended her hand and placed it on his head. It was either that or she simply dropped her arm off the armrest. I want to believe she did it on purpose. And the two of them stayed that way for a minute or so, long enough for me to go get the camera.

She never turned her head to look at him but he stayed very still while her hand lay on his head. I am sure that somehow she felt his presence and knew he was there. And I'm sure he knew his mom still loved him.

 

Happy Family: In our house 3 is a lucky number.

In our house our Rottweilers always seemed to come in threes. Three has always been the 'just right' combination, whether it was two girls and a boy or two boys and a girl. This all started way back when 20 years ago we unexpectedly found ourselves living with the Three Bears, our first baby girl Mocha and her two parents, pappa Nikko and momma Felony. The current iteration brings together three generations of non-related personalities: Grandpa Axl, age 15, Ruffin, age 10 and baby Bess age 2 1/2. What makes it all work is their shared love for each other. As I always tell people, Love is the most powerful force and the strongest vitamin in the world.

So I happen to enjoy taking photos of the three of them whenever I have the opportunity. Sometimes the best shots are missed when I find myself without a camera but manage to catch up with the continuing play fest, such as these two episodes the other day.

It all started in the hallway, which by itself presented some obstacles in choosing the right camera angles.

And ended up in Mom's crowded bedroom yesterday afternoon while she was getting a bath from one of the visiting hospice workers. This was the missed opportunity where I didn't have the camera as I watched when it started with Ruff giving his old friend Axl a whole bunch of face licks. Almost as if he was imitating what was going on behind me. And Axl seemed to be enjoying his bath as well until I got back with the camera to catch Bess getting into the game.

This much I'm sure of and while I have said they spend a lot of time entertaining us, this was all for their own enjoyment. They love each other  as much as they love us  and we love them. And that explanation also comes in threes.