We're getting tired of staying indoors

 

The weather out here is changing. And that is a really good thing. We had a brief taste of Winter with 4 small snowfalls that accumulated about 6-inches of snow and it lasted about a month. Then earlier this month we had a taste of arctic-style cold that hung around for three weeks and that was brutal. Didn't have a single day where the temperature climbed above freezing. Then the cold front moved on and we had some rain which turned all the snow into mud. Now for the past two days it feels like Spring is just around the corner. 

My biggest complaint with the mud is having Ruff on a leash and having him pull me along when he walks across the front yard. That's because the front yard has large sections where the grass has disappeared and has been replaced with mud. Last year I made a 30' long leash for Bessie and anchored it to a stump so she could run around while I walked Ruff. The long leash got worn out and broke so I bought a 150' coil of 1-inch wide leash from Amazon.com and cut a new 35' long piece for a new leash. But this time instead of anchoring one end to the stump I held on to it and at the same time I threaded the loop from Ruff's short leash on to the long leash. Now when we go out front Ruff has the freedom to walk all over the place with his leash sliding up and down the length of the the long leash while I get to stand on the sidewalk out of the mud.

I haven't taken anyone for a walk down into the back yard because of the soggy soil. It will take a week or so of dry, sunny weather for the ground to harden up. I like the long leash idea and will use it on Ruff when we go while Bessie gets to run free.

So what do we do all day while cooped up in the house? I hang out in the den reading Facebook and the news and Bess and Ruff usually hang out with me.

One of the most remarkable qualities of these Rottweilers is their willingness to adapt to changes and not complain about it. While I envy the ability of other dog owners who take their pets for frequent long walks, Bess and Ruff don't get to enjoy this. The highlight of their day may only be to go for a ride in the car or a walk through the pet store. They seem to know what my needs are and they adapt their lives to fit. They are such wonderful companions and I couldn't ask for anything better.

And a final comment about the nice weather. I started noticing last Fall that Bessie was looking for a playmate. We live in a semi-rural community and there are a few people who let their dogs run loose in the neighborhood. A few of these dogs have come over to visit Bessie when she was out in the fenced area around the pool in the back. Now what I have seen is Bessie sitting out back and bark as if she was calling to her friends to come and visit. All they do is run up and down the fence line but that seems to be something Bessie has fun with. So I have decided to look for another Rottweiler to be her companion and playmate. I have put out the feelers to some rescue groups that I am looking for a male Rottie, age 4-5 years old, docked tail and in good health that is friendly with other dogs, and housebroken. Hope to have some good news in the upcoming months.

And I can't leave without mentioning my BFF Ruff. He is getting more used to his loss of eyesight every day but he does spend most of his time hanging out with me in the den. He takes lots of naps and in fact he is snoring away behind me as I write.