A girl, a couch, and a rottweiler

So again I have procrastinated on writing this blog and again have some things to post. So as of currently, Moses and Vahan, are not currently allowed in the coffee shop because of the habit of being wrecking balls. However this does leave some entertainment for me at home.

This morning I woke up and got out of bed like every other day in preparation for work. I walked out of my room to be greeted by an unfamiliar sight. My dog sitting on the couch ( a couch that until recently was off limits to said puppy dog). Being a year old now, Moses is at the point where he knows the rules and chooses not to follow them. So i stood there for a few seconds and stared at the black blob on the couch.

I turned back into my room and grabbed my phone eager to take a photo to send to my wonderful mother and turned on the light ready to go. He looked up at me, his eyes glazed and I saw the thought pass through his brain. Click.  If I can't see her, then she can't see me. And I won't get kicked off the couch. Click.
Moses turned away from me and payed his head down perking one ear toward me. Click. Several pictures later I had the incriminating evidence against him. I promptly send my mother the text, "Your abused son, first thing in the morning."
My mother's response was, "he has such a hard life."

Moses agrees his life is difficult, indoor dog with a huge back yard, regular trips up the mountains and to the dogpark, and frequent play dates with his brother. His life is extremely difficult. 

Why you turn on light? 

You cant see me. 

Hello 1 year old!

Puppy birthday party! Moses and Vahan playing in the snow together in my backyard. There is nothing better than a little rottweiler madness to lighten the heart for the holidays. 

A girl, Rottweiler, Dog Park

Moses and I have many activities that we participate in together. We go to work together, we sleep together, we cuddle together, we play ball together, I yell at him to stay out of the garbage (he complies ninety percent of the time), and we wrestle together.  He wakes me up in the morning (if I am running late) and we generally just enjoy each others presence ( that said he can be extremely aggravating). But the thing we enjoy the most is going to the dog park together.

Tanner Dog Park is a mere seven blocks up hill from my house. It is open year round and has flowing water and enough space to let your dog run off leash. While this does present problems such as aggressive dogs and fearful humans most of the people and animals that frequent the park are friendly and not judgemental. The parking lot is rather small so lots of people park along the road in the summer time.  This being said preps scene.
Now for characters; moses and I are in fact the main characters of this story. The side characters are a man, a woman, two Yorkshire Terriers and a man I have met more than once who's dog is a hyperactive husky.
For props.... it's just better if I tell you the story....

Now it's a snowy day a few weeks ago and Moses and I both agreed that going out in the snow is a far better option than going out into the heat. So i bundle up, while Moses bounds around, I put on my long johns, an under armor cold gear undershirt. Utes sweatpants (stolen from my human brother) and a sweatshirt are part of my attractive winter wear for the dogpark. I grab Mo's leash and a few treats (baggies are provided at the park) and we are off. When I get outside I feel how cold it is and decide that we will drive up to the park and enjoy the hike with the knowledge I have heated seata.
Moses and I get into my car. He takes the passenger seat and gives me the directions by tilting his head. turn right here no! Your other right! Wait you turned left this looks right?  Where are we going dog park? Dog park! All the while his tail fwaps (the cross between flap and thwack) against my leather seats.
I pull into the parking lot and luckily for me there is indeed a spot today. I park my car and watch as a man, his wife, and their two terriers begin to walk by. I open my door and step out. They both smile at me, sensing a strange kindred spirit as we are both driving small cars not suited to the weather.  Mine a VW Bug and theirs a Prius. I broke their smiles a few seconds later as my a hundred and ten pound one year old rottweiler burst from the car. 
Another man, a regular at the park and someone I chat to often started chuckling
."I didn't know you drove a bug." He says holding his little female husky back from trying to pounce on Moses.
"Of course," I snort,"it's in my color"
He's shaking almost as much as his dog is. The two Yorkies at this point in time realize that the black monstrosity that exitted the green car is, in fact, another dog. They begin to make that strange high pitched sound, that people claim is barking, at Moses. The couples eyes are wide as they walk past Mo who, due to some quirk in his personality, proceeds to try and stomp on the closest Yorkies head.
"Moses no!" I say too late as the paw comes down. And the little dog yelps and shuts up. The other Yorkie continues, Moses tilts his head then looks up at me. What is that things problem? And why did the short one take the other friend away?  Did it do something?
The woman scoops up the dazed Yorkie and leaves the other one to commence with its chatter. Her husband also burst out laughing (my male friend with the husky is now in death throws, trying not to suffocate himself or his dog).

Can I get out now? 

How about now? 

"He didn't try to bite her." The husband told his wife and grinned at me.
"He wouldn't, " I said smiling an unsure grin, "he just wants to step on little dogs heads."
"Why is that?" Asked the man.
I explained that my aunties have two small dogs. One aunt  has a midget of a Jack Russell terrier who is nine or so years old and the other auntie has a chihuahua and neither of them are very nice to Moses.
"He's such a pushover," I say, "he doesn't know when someone is being aggressive or he just doesn't care. We've been attacked twice and he's nice enough mannered to hold his head up and back up towards me."
The woman put the dazed dog down, "so he's not mean?"
My friend, the cackler, says, "Moses has been trounced before and has never fought back. He doesn't even realize that if he tried he could clean the other dogs clock."
I grandstand and wave my hands as jazz fingers, "My dog everyone."

I had fun at the park. Now sleep.

A girl, a rottweiler,destruction

The stuff Moses has destroyed in our backyard...

He feels no remorse.

A girl, rottweiler,and rain

While there are many dogs out there that  love water, the Rottweiler is not one of them. Rottweilers do not have the want to be wet gene  that many other dog breeds have. but as I have said before, Moses is not a stereotypical Rottweiler.

Moses believes that all wet and all water is good. This causes problems as he likes to drag rain,snow, ice, water, through the backdoor into the kitchen through the living room and up to his throne.

Moses when it snows goes from being a mild mannered, sleepy airhead, to a typhoon of horrible manners and strange activities.  He also becomes like this after a bath and if it is windy.

Moses will ask to be let outside in the snow, rain, wind etc. And for a brief time (at least twenty minutes) all will be quiet. There will be not barking, no growling, no trampling through the house just peaceful bliss.

Then the horror begins. It starts with either a scratching at the door or a pounding on the glass. You hope desperately it is the scratching for that means that you will just have to stand there as he drags his toys in and out. However pounding is a different matter.

Pound. Pound. Pound.
My mother looks at the door.
Let me in! Look what I have!
"Moses you can't bring the croquet mallet in the house."
Pound. Pound.
My mother goes out and takes the croquet mallet from him and puts it back with the others, "No."
"He'll jus t go get it again." I say.
Pound.pound
Let me in! It's not a croquet mallet!
"Where did he get the snow shovel?" I go outside put the shovel away and forget to shut the door. At this exact moment Moses races indoors holding a croquet mallet in his mouth.
Which leads to a chase. Which leads to two very grumpy women .

Girl,rottweiler, disappearance

So the other day I got home from work and called Moses name. There was no skittering of puppy feet there was onlu silence. This worried me because Moses is notorious for getting out of the back yard.  So i searched the house for him. I was about to give up and go outside and wander the a atreets for my dog when I heard what I like to call "moses dreams" from our guest bathroom. I walked in and this is what I found. 

Girl, Rottweiler, play date

Today,Vahan came over to play with Moses. For two whole hours on a sunny August afternoon. While watching the two I discovered something, Rottweilers don't really run around when they play. they much prefer to lay down and bite at each other.

Moses and Vahan are prime examples of Rottweiler play . Neither of them are ambitious enough to run the yard but both of them believe that it is a good thing that they can lay down in the shade and nip at each other. There are no longer bowling balls of fur , they are wrecking balls. Both puppies now weigh over 90 pounds , and Vahan is still a bit bigger,  but Moses is A barrel of muscle. This play date is more even than one would expect.

Vahan chomps down on Moses' leg, he pulls but to no avail. Moses neatly jump over the offender. Vahan does it again but this time Moses is prepared he leaps forward but his much bigger brother does the unthinkable. He dodges and uses a distraction technique, picking up a soccer ball and running with it. Moses tries to defend against the oncomming soccer attack but it takes up too much energy so he promptly lies down in the shade. Vahan seeinh how comfortable the shade looks also decides to lay down but with the soccer ball. It seems we have a stale mate folks.

I'll update you when it ends, if ever.

Girl, Rottweiler, list o warning

Top Ten Things People Dont warn you about when you purchase a Rottweiler. 



1. They are bed hogs. It doeskin matter if you train them off furniture eventually they find a way to be in your bed and kick you off in the same evening.

2. They release winds of death regularly with great accuracy. This causes several rooms to become caustic at once. There is no escape.

3. They are fantastic jumpers. At eight weeks old Moses jumped over a four foot baby gate, tumbled down the stairs and did it again just to prove he could. (We decided it was better to let him fall down the stairs instead of jumping then falling).

4. They eat everything. Doesn't matter if its food substances or building materials. Moses thinks its fair game.

5. Your Rottweiler puppy is the equivalent of a bulldozer don't be surprised when things get ruined.

6. They are stubborn as all get out. Smart enough to know how to behave and all the tricks. Stubborn enough to not follow directions.

7. They like to talk. Moses whines, to let you know how he feels that you left him alone for so long, and you should be sorry.

8. They like to bring you presents while you are trying to do something else just to show how much more important they are then homework, housework, cleaning, writing, etc. Moses likes to bring squeaky toys, sticks, dead things, orange peels, etc.

9. The garbage is not safe anywhere.

10. They absolutely adore sitting/leaning/sleeping on you. Like giant lap animals.

Girl, Rottweiler, Unconditional happiness list

So this is the list of things/habits Moses has that just bring me joy, plain and simple joy.

Top Thirteen Moses Unconditional Happiness List.

1. When he doesnt bother rolling back over after you rub his belly. (No, if I stay stomach up maybe you will come back)
2. Playing fetch and he gives up halfway to the ball (It's not worth it to run that far, you are just taking the ball away again)
3. When he puts his paw on my face first thing in the morning. ( You need to feed me!)
4. When he jumps on my bed and sleeps with his head on the pillow (totally human)
5. When he cries when I get home, so over joyed to see me. (It's PTSD)
6. When he meets a smaller dog how he feels the need to bash it's brain out with his paw (I was just saying hi!)
7. That moment where he goes all spastic after being in water (BATH!)
8. When he growls at my cellphone (It's possessed I tell you!)
9. When he greets my friend Beth (She is the bestest human eva!)
10: When the giant moose plushie is laying on top of him and he doesnt bother to move (You are just going to put it on me again, what's the point)
11. That moment where he bounces on the counter pretending he is the barista (I am arent I?)
12. That moment when I stick an icecube in the corner and watch his huge head and paws try to get it out of the corner (I have a big head and little arms, I dont think this was planned out too well)
13. That moment when he looses a ball under the couch and he first tries to get it out by himself. Then he sits down and whines. (Get it for me PLEASE!)

Girl, Rottweiler, Children's Books

I have known about the children's books about Rottweiler's since I was a child with "Good Dog Carl" being my absolute favorite (and still is). I remember hugging my Rottweiler Molly as my mom would flip through the pages and say "The little girl looks like you". So today I felt like sharing a list of children's books about Rottweilers.
Here it is my list of Children's/ picture books about the Rottweiler.

1. Good Dog Carl by Alexandra Day (my first rottie book. And most people ask if Mo is the same type of dog.)
2. Puppy Trouble by Alexandra Day (really who doesnt love rottie puppies?)
3. ...... Anything else by Alexandra Day (no this is not a book title it really just is Alexandra Day has a coin on Rottweiler picture books so read anything by her)
4. Max Goes to the Moon by Jeffery O Bennett (found it in the library while trying to find something to post about)
5. Max Goes to Mars by Jeffery O Bennett (found on amazon while searching for Max Goes to the Moon)
6. My Dog Rosie by Isabelle Harper
7. Carl and the Puppies by Alexandra Day ( I know I wasnt going to put more of hers on the list but this isnt a picture book, it's a young reader)
8. Rottweilers are the best by Elaine Landau (or something like that... I have no idea about her last name.

Hopefully this will tide you over for the next installment about Mo!

Girl, Rottweiler, Embarrassment

Why I wear t-shirt?

So, I haven't posted anything about Moses for awhile. Partially due to laziness and partially due to the huge embarrassment he has been for the last ten days. I mean really really not pretty.
So Moses got neutered twelve days ago and wore an obnoxious plastic 20 inch cone. A cone so fearsome that moving past Moses caused you to collide into cabinets, get bruises as he pushed you down the stairs, and make sure that you had to either jump out of the way, or brace yourself. Ideally it was best to wear long pants in the presence  of the cone of peril, this thing was way beyond the cone of shame. He only wore the cone for six days but those six days came with an interesting plot twist.
A smell.
A terrifying smell.
A dark powerful essence wafting through the air.
Sweet sticky sickening.
And my mother being the good parent discovered a stiff unknown substance on his neck. Initially she thought it was pitch, a chemical, being dipped in the bog of eternal stench. So she set out to remove the wonderful goo from poor Moses' already en-coned neck.
My mother started out with just plain water, cold and hot. Neither worked
Dish soap? Nope.
Curry Comb? Nope, Moses snarled at her as she pulled some fur out.
Hoping it would go away she left it for twenty four hours.
The next day the quantity of the dried honey like substance had multiplied  My mother pulled up her britches, put her serious face on, and went into the garage searching for the miracle worker goo-gone. (Thank god she didn't choose turpentine)
The substance of unknown origin was goo gone resistant  As a child she recalled she could remove pitch from her hands and feet using butter or peanut butter. The small experimental section didn't seem to go away.
She rinsed washed and repeated.

Easier than drinking with cone. 

Being an emergency room nurse in a former life, she began to think there was probably was a explanation for it so she ran it by a pediatrician friend, who happens to own a chocolate lab.
"Hot spot!" Said the pediatrician.
Which activated my mother's maternal instinct and she called the vet clinic demanding to be seen that day or she was going to change her patronage. (She obviously felt guilty)
On initial examination, the vet couldn't see anything through Moses previously healthy coat. However when they shaved a 6 in by 12 in swatch they found a significant Hot Spot.
Now hot-spots are caused by moisture accumulating in the folds of skin, Moses being an adolescent Rottweiler who is never kenneled and seldom left alone, reacts to being in a kennel by drooling profusely. One neutering  eight hours in the vet kennel, drooling, plastic cone, all of this equals a petri dish that is a force to be reckoned with.
So now Cone head Moses also has to wear a t-shirt, as well as is required to stay dry, not lick or scratch, take antibiotics orally, have the antibiotic ointment applied twice a day, steer clear of other dogs, while ideally not wearing the cone of shame and being supervised. That supervision is to prevent scratching his chest area, licking his iv site or his newly neutered scrotum.
Needless to say, Moses was not very happy with us. For the next week he would not come when my mother called. Actually he quiet often went the other way, or hid in a closet, anticipating that she was going to come to hurt him one more time. Or maybe it was a diabolical scheme to scratch without intervention. But either way he hid.
Now Moses' trust issues are mostly fixed and he can make appearance at the coffee shop again (without looking like he has leprosy).
We are pleased to report, hot-spot is 98% gone, scrotum has healed nicely, and he has some hair growth on the bare chest of his. We think he'll be no worse for the wear.
My mother on the other hand is traumatized.

My mom bought me a ball to say sorry. Not forgiven yet. 

Girl, Rottweiler, Q and A 2

Now Moses and I have decided to start answering questions about Rottweilers, Espresso, and other things that are commonly asked of bloggers  (neither of us knows what this means so we are working on it). Moses will answer to the best of his little puppy ability, and I will answer as a Rottweiler geek. All questions are considered (within reasonable boundaries) and if I can't answer them I will come up with a clever answer that can be debated by scientists for years on what it's purpose is. All answers are my own personal opinions, or Moses' and are from our experiences  They are in no way affiliated with the coffee shop, the Humane Society of the United States, or any other organization or peoples who know more then we do. Just type a question into the comment boxes, and I will try to respond within the two week time period that Moses is superimposing on me.
Second Question: I heard Rottweilers are hard to train, are they?

Kbgroot: Well no, but yes? Moses was very easy to train. So yes he was easy to train. Will he obey his training? Depends on how he feels at the time. Moses can sit, lie down, roll over, stay, and come. He does these things most successfully with treats. If you dont have a treat the likelihood that he will do these things is next to none. He is stubborn and thinks his own way is the best way (think a teenager) we are hoping that when he hits two he will be a obedient adult. Cheers to dreaming!

Moses: *Blank look* I follow food, not directions.

Girl, Rottweiler, List

Found something delicious!

Now as many dog owners know, food is one of the best ways to get said dogs attention. Moses (stereotypical rottweiler that he is) enjoys nothing else then chewing and swallowing whatever is in his path. While this means that the puppy never goes hungry it also means he smells terrible for days. Releasing what we owners call "the winds of death" from his backside and aiding global warming. Moses being a Rottweiler had the fault of eating everything.
We will start a list.
Top 20 things Rottweiler puppies eat!
1. My roommates empty chip bag. Left in her garbage
2. Empty sushi container
3. Building materials - concrete is a favorite of the Rottweiler puppy shorty followed by drywall
4. Dead things - haven't found many yet, but the dead bird in the backyard added so much wonder.
5. Rotten Grapes - from the backyard.
6. Basketball shells - we were extremely displeased with this as it meant I had to by a new basket ball.
7. Plants - oh my the plants! Drag them through the house set them on the bed, drag the dirt through the hall. So fun it is
8. Brother's old shoes - Not my shoes, not my mother's shoes, but my brothers shoe. They must have a distinct smell.
9. Tissue paper - absconded with from the garbage, normally distributed in itty-bitty pieces throughout the bathroom.
10. Toilet paper rolls - chewed into gerbil sized confetti
11. Tangerines - we are not sure how or why but stolen from the neighbors kitchen and inhaled so we could not get it back.
12. Pine cones - another quandary into the how and whys? Where was another reason here as it was apparently in our basement where he could get it.
13. Stuffed animals - none are safe, the amputees limbs are found in the most interesting places, their innards flung throughout the living room
14. Sticks - while most dogs chew sticks, Mo feels it is best that he not even let the stick try and get away.
15. Tennis balls- I think it used to be a ball, I'm not sure though.
16. Cardboard boxes- the bane of any existence  the worlds most fearsome foe, the only thing standing between a puppy and conquering the world! Torn to shreds in self defense.
17. Plastic Flower pots- make a great crinkling noise when they are torn to bits and hidden in the backyard.
18. My Volleyball - making me very angry, apparently being hit with said volleyball four times causes it to be an enemy that must be destroyed.
19. Muffin Wrappers - found at the coffee shops trash can then distributed to the coffee shops floor adding an extra five minutes of work time for me as I try to sweep it up.
20. Duct Tape - the sticky side is just as fun as the silver side.... which means more mess

Moses chewing on shoe, Vahan laying down.

So many things for a puppy to destroy. In every puppy book they tell people to hide the wires, hide the chemicals, take the plants off the floor, to make sure the puppy could not get to anything that could give him problems. Those books obviously were dealing with less puppy genius than Moses, for no matter where you hide something he will find it and destroy it.

Girl, Rottweiler, Comparison

The first three pictures are what I like to call "The Evolution of Moses Sleeping on Red Couch"

 Mo at four months

Mo at Six Months

Mo at Seven Months

The Next Set of Four is what I call "The Evolution of Mo Sleeping on My Bed" I like this set best as it describes the human male journey from child to teenager...

 Mo at Two months

 Mo at four months

 Mo at six months

 Mo at six months ten seconds later...

This next collection is the most varied of the four collections... I call it "Mo sleeping on the floor".

 Mo at four months

 Mo at six months

The final Collection of pictures is "Baby Moses!"

Sorry it wasn't a story today, but I hope you enjoyed the pictures of Moses! 

Girl, Rottweiler, Bath

Bath's are peaceful. But today I learned something, and I would like to share it with you as a math equation.
Moses + Bathroom + Me in bath = bruises and wet dog.

Looks Yummy! I try?

The bathroom in the house I live in is orange, not a burnt orange, no that color that is somewhere between neon and tangerine. It was obviously decorated with multipatterned dragonflies in lime and hot pink. The ugly white tile screams up at one while that person glances with loathing down at the dirt. There is two sinks and across from them is the bathtub. The bathtub is absurdly large for a basement bathroom, more of something seen in larger houses. It has jets and could easily fit a man of six feet.
Our story begins.
Getting home from the coffee shop means three things to my wonderful female self: One is a bath. Two is sleep, Three is food. Now as obviously I do not eat in my sleep in means most often I forgo number three. Parking my Volkswagen Beetle is a snap and getting Moses out of the car always seems to slow me down on the way to the delicious hot water that will ease my feet and make me feel human again. I drag Moses to the gate as he begs to go see the next door neighbors dogs, open the gate, let him off leash, and watch as he mopes for a mere forty five seconds.
Entering the house through the backdoor it's a straight shot down the stairs from the door, turning right twice I enter the bathroom.
Stripping takes no time at all, I have perfected what I like to call "Turn on water with foot while taking off shirt maneuver" Bath's are that wonderful.
Moses enters the bathroom with me and lays down on that ever increasing pile of laundry (less big now I have a roommate).
I have never tested my bathwater like I test my shower water, so I launch myself into the bathtub and hop out with a burnt foot. Obviously the water needs to cool some.
Moses laughs.
I growl at him.

I see you water! Water splashed! 

We turn back into our respective species and I wait for the water to get to the correct temperature. When it does I grin and step back into the most wonderful creation in all the world (besides Word programs).
As I sit down, the black master of stealth, manages to peak his head over the bathtub and stare at me.
What are you doing? Is it fun?
"Moses, dont you dare!" I need to stop thinking that dogs and humans can understand one another.
Moses gives me a patronizing look and he bounces. I cringe and close my eyes imagining my stomach being hit by 80 lbs of Rottweiler. The hit does not come. Whip whip whip SLLUUURRRPPP. I look up to see Moses with his paws dangling over the edge of the tub his face in the water. Normally he licks it from the faucet but today he felt like experimenting.
I glare, wasting the precious eye movement on a puppy yet again. I sigh and move my feet. I watch Moses suddenly hyper focus.
"What's wrong?" I move again
Moses' head follows my movment.
Experimentally, I whoosh my foot across the top of the water.
Moses swings his head back and forth noticing (I assume) what he believes is a drowning foot.
Everything happens instantly.

My phone on the sink vibrates, I pull my foot back, and Moses launches himself into the bathtub.
I cough and stare at the puppy, trying to pull my foot out of the water.
His nose is completly submerged and he is trying to get his head down far enough to eat my foot.
"What are you doing?"
Moses continues to face plant for my foot.
I sigh, bath's are not as peaceful as I remember.

Girl, Rottweiler, Q and A 1

Now Moses and I have decided to start answering questions about Rottweilers, Espresso, and other things that are commonly asked of bloggers  (neither of us knows what this means so we are working on it). Moses will answer to the best of his little puppy ability, and I will answer as a Rottweiler geek. All questions are considered (within reasonable boundaries) and if I can't answer them I will come up with a clever answer that can be debated by scientists for years on what it's purpose is. All answers are my own personal opinions, or Moses' and are from our experiences  They are in no way affiliated with the coffee shop, the humane society of the united states, or any other organization or peoples who know more then we do. Just type a question into the comment boxes, and I will try to respond within the two week time period that Moses is superimposing on me.

First Question Ever!   - Why is Moses always asleep in pictures?

Kbgroot Answer: He's vicious aggressive Rottweiler puppy with killer instincts, and razor sharp teeth made for destroying plush toys, beanie babies, and blankets. You try taking a picture of him awake. I have realized Moses is like an Xbox, he's either on playing for hours and hours, or he is asleep. 

Moses Answer: *SNORE*

For those of you who wanted more Moses stories, we will be back next week!

Girl, Rottweiler, and Meeting

We weren't planning on getting a puppy. Well, most of our lives had not gone as planned at this point, my parents were going through rough times, my long term boyfriend had just broken up with me, and my previous dog (a wheaten terrier named Sammi) had just passed away. So puppy? Whose grand idea was that?

My aunts.  

My mother had been in love with rottweilers before I even existed  Starting with a Rottweiler named Molly-dog. Molly-dog was four or so when I was born. She would sit by my cradle, wait until I made a sound then race to the other room to inform my parents that I, the baby, was needing help and they darn well better provide. That's what I assume she said. So as a child I was raised by a Rottweiler. She would let me ride her, brush her with toothpaste (which was tasty fun for the both of us), and protect me from the alligators (thanks Peter Pan for that irrational fear, i lived in Montana). So throughout my short life of twenty two years, I have always been under the impression that Rottweilers were my people. But that didn't explain why we were going to see Rottweiler puppies. 

I'm taking you back to a time several months ago before Moses, before the coffee shop, back to an almost legendary time of November. When my mother's birthday was coming up. 

My aunties, Michelle and Tracie, have these wonderful ideas. Such was the case of the Rottweiler puppy. My mother (in passing), had mentioned how she would love to have a Rottie again and my aunt Michelle quickly jumped on the idea to add another dog to the family. Michelle started researching breeders within reasonable driving distance and poof! There was one not far away, Siesta Creek Rottweilers, who had just had two litters of puppies. My mother said she would wait until summer, before she would seriously think about one. My aunt Michelle replied with, "But, if you don't get him this winter he wont be able to hike with us during the summer."

Thus it was sealed, we were going to look at puppies, but not to buy one, just to look. 

We all hopped into my Auntie's bright red hummer, and were off to see the breeder we had picked out. Driving took us the grand total of fifty minutes, due to the small fact we got lost. When we got there we were greeted by a pretty rottweiler named Lola, Lola was the mother of the first litter of puppies. We followed the breeder out to the barn to look at all of the babies. There were seven boys and two girls in the first litter, and and not a bad looking puppy in the group. You hear about breeders who don't put much work into their dogs but this breeder had obviously put a ton of effort into breeding the perfect Rottweiler.  Each puppy raced out to meet us from the barn. Their first time outside in the snow had us four women scrambling to hug every puppy. I fell in love with a little female puppy, obviously the smallest in the litter, she just wanted to cuddle but my mother (being frugal) said we were here to look at another puppy. The little puppy we had decided (if we were going to get a puppy, but we weren't) would be named Moses. Now, never name the animal when your not planning on buying said animal, it sets you up for investment.

Moses, a little chub chub, of seven weeks, had a little orange piece of tie line around his neck. He was unmistakably in love with my mother from first sight, following her around like a duckling. We called him over   with "Moses" (first non-purchasing mistake) and it was the sweetest loppy puppy gait anyone had ever seen. Picking him up we cuddled him, and made eye contact (mistake two). Moses had a recessive trait where he had four little white hairs on his chest, making him "puppy quality" not "breeding quality". Mother, my aunties, and I all fell in love with the strapping young man before us. But remember we're not buying a puppy.
All the way home my mother insisted we weren't getting a puppy. This lasted seven days, and a good many text messages.

Mother texted all her friends, family, and contacts. Hoping that someone would tell her it was a terrible idea. Sadly (fortunately for my brother and I ), the majority vote swung the other direction. My mother, who is generally a conformist, was adequately swayed.
We bought the puppy.

Girl, Rottweiler, and Birthdays

 I got up this morning in a strange fashion, the bringer of mornings kicking me in the side during what most people call a puppy dream. I turned and blinked at him, how did he get on my bed? Why was he in my bed? When did he get in my bed? Although, he looked pretty comfortable, sprawled out in prime kicking position. I glare at the dog and realize I am a queen of unsuccessful glares at this point, as I role out of bed. How many days has it been since I washed my hair? Did I do it yesterday or the day before? Do I smell alright? I feel confused. Moses let's loose winds of death, I decide shortly that I better take a shower anyway.
Walking to the shower in a haze, I remember briefly its my birthday. I take my shower (singing "its my party and I'll cry if I want to) and change into black pants, and a batman t-shirt (maybe this year Bruce Wayne will finally come for me). I get back to my room to see Moses alert, staring at my phone. I send a questioning glance his way and I begin to put on shoes ignoring the frozen pup. Then he begins to growl. I turn towards him, "what's wrong?"
He gives me a look that says, you don't know?
I shake my head, thinking of course this is crazy puppy behavior. Then the growling starts again and my phone starts to vibrate.
I bust out laughing. How scary the phone must be, a demonic creature, with a great bluish green tint and razor sharp sound effects.
Moses is growling, teeth showing, hair bristled, he hasn't bothered to get up but his whole body is alert. It's a serious yet funny sight.
"Mo, it's just my phone." I giggle at him then pick it up, to see what's going on. Facebook has exploded with birthday wishes from friends, family, and acquaintances that I can't quiet place. Apparently, my phone had been going off every minute or so with the well wishing of people both in the United States and outside of it.  No wonder my Rottweiler was screaming at it.
"Geeze." I had been thinking my theme song for this years birthday would be "it's my party and I'll cry if I want to", I wasn't expecting to actually cry this morning. That just sent Moses out the window. He jumped up, started wagging his tail, and licked my hand.
It's ok, it's ok. The demon phone isn't that scary.
I laughed, because honestly, dogs. He stopped the moment I laughed, realizing I was ok, he curled back up.
"Do you want to go to work?" I asked grinning, Moses' ears perked up and he wagged his tail.
"Work?" I asked again, smile getting bigger.
He stood up, wagging his tail.
"Go?" I could help but giggle.
He stretched, jumped down, and began to whine.
My phone went off, the whine changed to a growl.
I laughed, "let's go, before you decide to attack my phone."
Puppy whining all the way to the door, I couldn't help but laugh. So thank you everybody who sent me a text or Facebook message. You made my morning hilarious.

You left me to face demons alone!

Girl, Rottweiler, and Bedtime

Moses goes to bed at nine o'clock every night. He walks into my mother's bedroom, curls up on his bed and proceeds to sigh and sleep. His schedual doesn't really ever change, curling up wherever his people are, if they are up past nine.
When he was very small we tried putting him a crate at night, my mother went through four nights of puppy crying, howling, barking, and whining before she decided enough. Reading a book called "The Art of Training a Puppy" we learned that, do to pack behavior, crating a puppy up at night isolates him, thus he would be nervous. The monks who wrote the book suggest buying a dog bed and tethering the puppy to your own bed at night, he can't move around much but still feels like part of the pack. The night we tried, he didn't cry at all. Problem one solved.
Moses now isn't tied up at night but a few nights ago something peculiar happened when my mother opened the door to let him get a drink.
A little past 1:00 am. Tuesday. March 5, 2013
Location: My room.
I am a pretty good sleeper, very little wakes me up, tornados pass and I sleep through them. There is one sound however that snaps me out of sleep faster than a racecar on adderal, the sound of my door opening.
At one o'clock in the morning, its even more pronounced because everything else is quiet. I freeze mid dream, and open my eyes a crack. Nobody is in my room besides me, I'm safe, back to the dream I was having about batman proposing to me (I am a geek so sue me).
Being back in slumber, it takes me a minute to register the strange noise coming from the side of the bed. It sounds like a low quality vacuum cleaner sucking in air. I crack my eye open again, but see nothing. I have a basement bedroom so there is very little light at one thirty in the morning, making it impossible to see. I assume it's my imagination (though why my marriage to Bruce Wayne would have a low quality vacuum sound, I couldn't tell you) and turn onto my back.
A short whine sounds throughout the room, I want to be there! Please!
I turn back towards the edge of the bed and peer over without peeling my head off the pillow. There sits a darker spot, wagging his tail, I hear little paws click on my wood floor. Sadly, Batman is now the furthest thing from my mind.
"Moses." I don't even bother questioning his presence. I also don't bother to think about how he opened my door.
Mo let's out another short whine, pick me up, I want up!
Being half asleep, I cringe as I get out of bed and pick him up. Apparently, at one forty five in the morning, a person forgets that the almost six month old puppy is sixty three pounds and has been athletic enough to jump onto the bed since he was three months old. After a few seconds of realizing that I really couldn't lift said puppy this early in the morning. I climbed back into bed and patted next to me, "get up here."
Mo launched himself over me and stood on the bed, waiting for me to make room. Rottweilers have a distinct want when they are with their people, they want to be as close as they possible can be. They are leaners, cuddlers, and want to be touching whoever they love. Mo is no exception to this rule. Moses, who is at the foot of the bed, begins beside my feet and works his way slowly up. When he is at my torso, he starts to inch closed until he feels my body, then he plops with a content sigh.
"Bed hog." I snarl as he pushes himself further under the blanket.
I have to be up at five thirty it's now two, so I roll over, he scoots into my back. I smile as I fall back asleep, this dog is a great cuddler.
When I get up the stairs the next morning at six, my mother stares at the puppy who follows, "Traitor."
I can't help but grin.
"What time did he come downstairs and crawl in bed with you?" My mother asks as she drinks her staple drink, diet coke.
"One, I think, what happened?"
Mom shakes her head at the dog, " I let him out into the kitchen to get a drink, normally he comes back. I realized about twenty minutes later he apparently wasn't coming back."
I laughed.
"Your bed is probably more comfortable anyway," Mom shrugs as I grab the leash and my car key, "have fun at work, both of you."
I clip the leash to Mo's red collar, "we always do, let's go Mo."
When you say the word "go" Mo whines with excitement, because he really does want to go. I grin, we head to my lime green volkswagen bug.
Six thirty am, I turn the key to the coffee shop. Moses rushes inside, over to the box with treats, grabs one, proceeds to red couch and curls up. We begin another day of work.

Coffee Shop, Rottweiler, and Greetings

We are waiting.

I am sitting down by the cash register when a brunette walks in, she is one of the regular customers at the coffee shop and loves the Rottweiler pups. I watch Mo lethargically get off the couch, stretch, and waddle over to the door to greet her. His tail wags and he leans against her, looking up as if he has found true love. She obligingly scratches his head and back.

"So it's Moses today?" She smiles at me and continues to scratch.

I am genuinely surprised. Even many of our regulars still can't tell the two puppies apart and when they're together I have to stop the wrestling to see which pup is mine. "How did you tell?"

She laughs, "Well they greet me differently."

I watch Moses tail wag more, see I'm special.

I can't help but grin, he's a great doorman and public relations specialist. "How so?"

Stopping the petting, she walks over to the counter, "Well Moses isn't truly happy I am here until he's right up next to me. He just sort of stumble over lazily then leans against me or sits on my foot."

I nod these are common Moses greetings.

"Vahan on the other hand," she has great laugh lines when she smiles, " he is over by the door before I can count to three and bouncing to get my attention and if he's not bouncing to me, he's up on the back of his couch watching me enter and wagging his tail like mad. It makes me feel like he cares before he gets to me."

"That sounds like both of them." I smile, "what can I get you?"

" A sixteen ounce mocha, and a muffin." She looks down, and her hand reaches to scratch Mo who has sat on her foot yet again.

"Alright," I turn to start making the mocha and shortly realize that I forgot something. Spinning back around I ask, "what kind of muffin?"

"Um... what kinds do you have?" She is obviously distracted by the puppy.

I actually don't know as no one else had ordered a muffin that day. I looked them over briefly and listed, " Well it looks like we have Parmesan cheese bread, double chocolate chip muffins, apple bran muffins, and banana bread (we always have this I should probably stop listing it)."

"Definitely chocolate."

I grab a plastic box and put the chocolate muffin in it, make her mocha, run her credit card and wave goodbye as she leaves.

"So you greet people differently, do you?"

I looked at Moses who retires to his chair, crosses his paws and lays his head on the arm.

I'm prince, course I greet.

"You need to work on being a little more enthused your majesty."

Whatever.

I turn and start to wipe up the counters.

Not princess pose. Warrior Pose.