Dory the Doted One

Breakfast time, Willow gives me the Stink Eye and won't touch it till I leave. Dinner Time, Willow stands staring at the bowl sad facing till I sit down and get comfy to watch her eat. Then she puts herself to bed.

Most people I know get their own dogs. Finding a good dog and a good trainer is the next trick.

Shetland Sheepdog, Corgi, tibetan spaniel.

The Rottie Lean. And their need to be close to you always or at the very least, in the same room. Oh, and laying in front of the fridge, stove, bench or any other kitchen space you're trying to use. Causing you to have to step over them, step on them (they then move somewhere equally inconvenient), trip over or perform clever kitchen aerobics that would make Cirque de Soleil want you for their next featured performer

I canz Heel WITH attention. (Willow is easily distracted) But I'm also pleased at her happiness to recall. We might almost be ready for off lead at the beach. :) ETA: Damn you autocorrect.

Well Done, Dezzy! We are still plodding along, not getting nearly enough training in. But what we have done has been very good. :)

I know of only about 5 Rotts that have trialled/training to trial in IPO sports in recent times. I'm keen to see others. Where are they training? BH is not a true title, it's a prelim. And shouldn't be seen as an accurate or representative guide to a dogs suitability to be called a good/excellent working dog. Let alone to breed from it and call the litter a 'working' litter. There were many years ago more Rotts worked and trialled, but bad press for Rotts and the Sport put a bit of a halt to that. Would be very nice to see more out there.

I've seen the breed survey, it's not bad. But there is no true engagement with the Helper, this is where you see what the dog really has.

Why IPO sport titles only? Why not ANKC working titles? Some states do not allow IPO Sports. Because ANKC doesn't test a dogs nerve strength. Depends on what you want too. Some people like hard dogs, some like prey monsters, some like dogs that walk that little on the edge. There is no guarantee a 'working' litter will even produce the goods. A higher propensity, sure. But again, depends on your goal.

Good Luck! And expect to pay a premium price, for puppies bred from dogs that haven't been titled themselves, but 'may' have been from titled parents. If you find something bred from anything higher than IPO1, you're doing well. Unless it was from semen, probably put to a bitch that's never seen a trial field.

If I see the words, "Both Parents On Show", I start to wonder...a) Are you a Backyarder? b) Did you not have any money for a Stud Fee? c) How close is this breeding? d) Oh, maybe they really like their dog and they have just the right bitch for him. But it is what most people are told...which makes you wonder why so many still buy from pet shops really.

I had a packet of musk lollies in the car, tucked away. Haven't been able to find them. Did this morning. I want to know how Willow managed that.

At the very least a Vizsla greeting, and I heard a Rotti might also greet in similar fashion... Yep. Willow once fluffed up a toilet roll for my comfort. That is to say...quietly shredded it, up and down the hallway. :laugh:

I can clear up their 'inexplicable-ness' over the overrated-ness of some breeds. WE THINK OUR DOGS ARE AWESOME!!! :raspberry: Apologies for shouting.

I find 'Cobberdog' a detestable name also, seriously awful. Good thing they don't market it on name only. As to the rest of the objections to them, I don't know enough to comment.

Registered and papered Poopoos no less!

It's about cancer research, but he does make other observations about longevity.

Hope the links come up. I'm on my phone. https://m.facebook.com/TheOldGreyMuzzleTour?refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheOldGreyMuzzleTour http://www.gpmcf.org/MuzzleTour.html

There is a guy who does this thing called 'The Old Grey Muzzle Tour'. He travels the U.S. on an annual pilgrimage to see and talk to the owners of the oldest Rottweilers. He's come up with some interesting ideas into longevity.

I hoping to achieve some tracking goals this year too. So far so good in her training, getting lovely attitude and motivation, have to start working on my track lengths and aging. (and articles...always the articles :laugh: )

The first time I left (tried) my old girl home to take the young 'un training, I bawled all the way up the road because of the crushed look on her face. I spun that car around, picked her up and didn't leave her behind again. Even if all we did was trot out on the field and did a short routine, she got out. We recently worked out Dory to be about 8 or 9-ish...when did that happen??? She's starting to go grey around the eyes and cheeks and has a grey beard now. She's a bit grumpier than she was, less tolerant of dogs sniffing her butt (not that she was ever that tolerant anyway). And she loves her 'jarmies' when it starts getting a bit cool. So far she's still agile, doesn't really look 'that' old, so it's easy to forget and think she's still 5 or 6. She's recently taken an interest in chasing balls...something she has never really done...and actually picking them up and carrying them around! Lot's of spoils happen then, it's great to see her still growing everyday.

A subtle hint that footy season is upon us?

Willow's breeders are friends on fb. My fb is really Willow's. LOL. I call from time to time, but don't want to be too much of a pest. Mostly because it's me being gushy over how fab Willow is. I hope to trek to Vic at least once a year (dog related activities) and call in to see them or catch up at a show.

We have seen what I would deem a lot of torn cruciates, across varied breeds and crosses. Often older or middle aged dogs, often jumping off furniture or just doing their thing in the yard (zoomies etc) My theory, unfit dogs.

Willow is 44kg of Wuss. She'd rather play with the little dogs than the big dogs. I'd be more worried about her squishing them as she rolls over for them. I've also had one of my bigger dogs injured pretty badly (we are talking plenty of stitches) by a much smaller dog. Then there was the dog that had it's face ripped to pieces by a rabbit. I get that a bigger dog has more strength behind it, but only if it has the inclination. And not all of them do...hence the three examples above.