Girl Rottweiler Swimming pool

So once again on the procrastination wagon. I would like you to know that Moses and I have begun 2014 in the best of fashions.
Did you know there are such things as Dog recreational centers? And that they have puppy pools. Moses and I discovered one up the street from us and have fallen in love.

Now it being a slow hot day a few weeks ago Moses and I recalled that there was a strange new place two blocks from us. It had been featured in a pet magazine that was at the coffee shop. The place that was newly opened offered dog daycare, training, massage,  and a pook. Being of an adventurous sort I looked at my panting rottweiler and said, "want to go stake out the pool?"
Moses tilted his head at that angle that is the culmination of all dog confusion, what the heck is a pool?
Thus getting his leash out, I clipped it on, and we set off on the journey up the two blocks to the puppy swimming pool.
Entering the place it was clean and friendly atmosphere. Along the wall was merchandise made here in the US out of recycled material and i gave the center a point. The woman at the front desk grinned at me, "what are you here for today?" 

I told here the pool and she went over what swim orientation was and gave me a tour of the facility. When we returned to the desk area Moses put his paws on the front desk trying to talk to the nice woman there as I paid the fee to get his orientation underway. 

This place is exciting! Moses wagged his tail and tried to pull me off my feet. 
We walked down the ramp following one of the personell who was going to evaluate Moses' swim capabilities.  She opened the white gate and Moses pulled me through. 
"Has he ever been swimming before?" She asked. 

I thought about all the times he dove nose first into the bathtub and quickly decided those didn't count, "nope."

The woman smiled at us, "well let's put the life jacket on and see if we can get hin to."

We got a bright orange puppy life jacket (used if needed and for swim orientations) and proceeded up the ramp. A little lab and his parents stood nearby, his orange life jacket shaking with tail wags. Moses entered the pool area. And wandered down the ramp, mom! Water! Mpmh! He fell off, panicked, and tried to come back up.
Well, my dogs dead. That's all I could think and the woman helped a heaving moses back onto the ramp. Oliver, the little lab ran over to the sputtering rottweiler,  okay?  You okay? Okay?
Moses shook and sputtered, fine bathtub at home tries to drown me and I defeat it daily.
Oliver licked Moses face.
Needless to say, after this mistep, Mo was dragged out to the far end of the pool and had t o swim back a few times.  Oliver also had to be dragged out for at six months old. Water was still a little scary to the lab puppy. 
Then a discovery happened.

Frisbee.

Both dogs saw the Frisbee fly across the pool to the deep end. FRISBEE!

Racing down the ramp they launched themselves into the water swimming out to the frisbee.
I want it.
No mine.
Me
Mine. 
Oliver grabbed it first and Moses grabbed it in Olivers mouth and they swum together back to the ramp.
Share
No
Share!

"Oh how cute!" The personal grinned, "I need a picture."

After taking pictures she told me Moses passed his swim orientation and could swim without a life vest the next time.

"Alright! " I grinned, "we need to go soon anyway thank you so much. "

I tried to get the dog out of the pool.

No!
"Comehere!"
Noooo!

Moses began to struggle and cry.
Needless to say the pool is Mo's favorite place in the world and we had so much fun that I had to buy a pass.

We go to Barleys to swim on Thursday afternoons. And we struggle to go home everytime.

Hallway, Roomate, Rottweiler

So as of recently my roommate and I came up with a fabulous game that tempts Momo in ways that no puppy should be tempted and puts his brains and endurance to the test. The game of Monkey in the middle.
Now you may think this is a very easy game, but you would be wrong. One rottweiler guard, one ball that must bounce at least once before hitting the other side, and two women who probably shouldnt ever be entrusted with balls or sports. My roommate and I are not the most dexterous or coordinated people. Mo however is far quicker than we are. On the plus side the basement has a long enough hallway that we can pretty much make up games as we go.
The goal of the game: bounce the ball past Mo and get it to the other human female without Mo barreling them over.
Success rate: 60%

My stats: Throw power: 90%
Accuracy: 50%
Creative bounce: 100%
Mysterious forces: 100%

My roomates stats: Throw power: 67%
Accuracy: 70%
Creative bounce: 100%
Mysterious forces: 120%

Moses' stats:  Catch prowess: 88%
Accuracy: 80%
Creative thinking: 40%
Mysterious forces: 110%

Now if we look at the stats we are pretty evenly matched over all the biggest confuser of the statistics being the mysterious forces that I refuse to call science because there is no way that the ball can disappear from one part of the room and end up in my room WITHOUT some form of magic. So My roommate being the only person capable of such magic must be amazing.

Here are the pictures.... enjoy....

Ball stuck! WHYYYYyYyy????? 

Roommate! Get ball! Pwease! 

Never mind figure ball out. 

Cant run another step..... cant think... give up. 

200% done

A Girl, a Rottweiler, Winter

So, the other day my friend L asked if I would walk up to his cabin with him. Needless to say he also offered to let Mo come. So we walked two and a half miles up hill into the mountains. And man it was a rough walk (I may have complained some) but it was also beautiful and Mo had a fantastic time. I wanted to share the pictures of the puppy Joy and of the beautiful scenery. 

Enjoy! 

Snow taste fantastic! 

Water fall! 

Kaiti I found stuff! Kaiti iz a stick! Kaiti look! 

Snowmobile? 

The view! 

L impersonating Mo. Or is it Mo impersonating L? 

No snowmobile. 

Still not sure about the impersonations guys. 

A girl, A rottweiler, Getting a puppy list

10 things Moses and I discussed about purchasing a Rottweiler puppy or adult.  Things to think about.

1. Do you have the space?
- Rottweilers are pretty good in most environments however, there is one major problem about raising a Rottweiler in an apartment or a small house. Rottweilers are big dogs. Thus in a small containment facility they are more prone to bumping into things and able to grab things.

2. Do you have the time to put into socialization?
- Rottweilers, especially young ones are easily introduced to many situations and they need it. A Rottweiler easily startled is not a good dog. All dogs need socialization with children, adults, other animals, etc. The more chances you give the puppy the better dog you'll have. The reason we trust Moses with children, adults, horses, puppies, dogs, cats (well sometimes), etc. Is because Moses when little was with us everywhere so he doesn't feel the need to chase/jump on everything.

3. Do you have the time to put into training?
- Training is a must with Rottweilers. There is now way around it and it needs to be done. An untrained dog of any sort can develop into a problem and Rottweilers can cause a lot more damage than an untrained miniature poodle. Sitting when greeting someone etc, is a huge help. No one wants an 120lb dog jumping on them at the door.

4. Do you have small children?
- Rottweilers are generally good with children, however when getting a puppy they believe kids are the same as them. Always plan on supervising your children with the dog. Accidents happen and it's better to be proactive and preventative in the case of a Rottweiler. A larger Rottweiler can be a great friend for a child, but they are large, they do like sitting/leaning on people. No dog should be left alone with small children it is a recipe for disaster. If you cant supervise dont get a dog.

5. Do you have enough time to exercise them?
- Rottweilers need exercise, daily. They are working dogs who have a lazy side. Rottweilers are prone to obesity and need to have the exercise that keeps them lean.

6. Do you plan on spaying/neutering your dog?
- If this is a family pet the answer should always be yes WITH NO EXCEPTIONS. Leaving your male dog intact makes him prone to wandering, and more aggressive then his gelded brethern. Moses' personality is fine without being a "real" male. He didnt have any changes to him. Deal. Some people say 6 months is the perfect age others say a year. We waited until he was 9 months old before neutering Moses because of research we read about Rottweilers growth plates not closing until they were older than six months. (Moses is still growing according to the vet argh)

7. Do you mind dog hair?
- Rottweilers dont shed that badly, but expect to find their coarse hair almost anywhere. Food, clean laundry, mouths, etc. Rottweilers shed at least twice a year and sometimes it can be terrible. They dont shed as badly as say Labrador Retrievers or Border Collies, but they still can be sources of major falling hair. People with severe allergies should be prepared for contention, however if you have a light case of allergies you should be ok (like me, highly allergic to labs and collies but Mo doesnt shed enough to bother me).

8. Are you prepared to deal with their reputation?
- Rottweilers quiet often have a negative connotation. Are you ready to deal with the fact that some places do not allow Rottweilers residence? Rottweilers are considered dangerous by many people. They are number 2 on the most lethal list. They have major negative social status. If something were to happen to you and the police were involved the rottweiler would most likely be shot because of their negative stigmata. Most people will approach a rottweiler cautiously compared to that of a Retriever or other breed. You need to be prepared with people being fearful of your dog and be willing to tell them otherwise. You need to be able to stand up for them, because they are one of the misunderstood breeds such as Pitbulls.

9. Are you willing to share your life?
 - Rottweilers are not dogs you can let be only outdoor dogs, they are family dogs, they need family. If left out they often become unhappy and mean. They need to be a part of their peoples lives. Whether that means sitting at your feet while watching TV. Or going on family hikes. The more places they get to be with you the better.


10. Are you willing to face the loss to come?
- Rottweilers are a large dog breed, meaning that their lifetime is significantly shorter than that of a small breed. Rottweilers are prone to hip displasia as well as other conditions that effect larger breeds. Thier life span is normally between 9-12 years. Molly dog, our first rottweiler, was 14 when she had to be put down because of cancer. I was eleven and I still remember saying goodbye. My mother and I decided that it was worth it to get another Rottweiler because we couldnt live without them, so we ended up with Mo. Once you have a Rottweiler you don't want other dog breeds because Rottweilers become part of the family. It's hard to loose one let alone two. But the reward is you get to have a companion who is completely loyal and loving for all those years. The answer is up to you whether it is worth it or not. We decided yes.

A girl, A Rottweiler, Eccentricities

Now Moses, as far as we know is a regular typically developing Rottweiler, though it has been argued that he may be smarter or dumber than typically developing Rottweilers normally are. He however to the general consensus of the house is far more intellegent than we often give him credit for.
He has little things that differentiate him from the common dog, an who really knows these might be normal for the common Rottweiler
 So here is a list of the top ten Moses Eccentricities.

1. The ability to open the sliding glass door. Moses without fail, opens and closes the sliding back door of the house if we leave it unlocked. He would much rather go with us then be left at home and so without opposible thumbs. (I want to go! I want to go!)

2. Baths, he doesnt mind them, in fact he almost enjoys them. He will grab whatever is on the side of the bathtub push it underwater and procced to stick his face in the water. He tries to blow bubbles and comes up snorting when water gets in his nose. After one time we thought it was a fluke but he does this continually. (did you see water comes out my nose! My nose!) 

3. He howls in his sleep. Moses is generally a very quiet dog, when barking he lets out one big bark then stops. He also rarely growls (unless my brother is bothering him). So when we heard him howl for teh first time we were rather worried, until we realized he was asleep.  (zzzzzzzz awwowooooooo!) 

4. He has a psychosomatic limp. He sprained his left front leg when he was really little and since then when he doesn't want to do something he plays it up. (We've taken him to the vet, he's fine). (SEE MY LEG? IT HURTS! DON'T WANNA!) 

5. When at the dog park and he doesn't want to leave he he wades out into the ice cold water and lays down, pretending he doesn't hear you calling. (lalalalalalla i cant hear you.)

6. The puppy head tilt is no longer a way to say "I'm confused" no it is now a way to shift the blame to someone other then himself. If he has done something wrong and you look at him, he tilts his head trying to make you feel like you are the bad guy by confusing the puppy, it works 25% of the time. (Cookies what are you talking about? I saw no cookies!) 

7. We have a large rocking chair in the front of our house that looks out a huge window. Moses sits on the chair leans it all the way back and puts his head on the back of it to look out the window. His paws rest on the arms of the chair. ( Just watching people and dogs pass by)

8. If you put peanut butter on his nose instead of just trying to lick it off, he wipes it on counters and the fridge. Because its easier to get off that way. (AHA! I figured it out!) 

9. He cheats at hide and go seek. You tell him to stay to go hide and he stays until he no longer sees you and proceeds to go the opposite direction you did. Because he assumes he can circle around and you will have not found a hiding spot yet. (Found you!)

10. And the tenth thing is.... .He turns on and off the Xbox. When he thinks you dont have enough time for him he sticks his nose on the power button and turns it on and off. (Poor you! Forgot to save? Lol. Come play with me!) 

Girl, Rottweiler, injury

So I have noticed, most dogs, when a human of any sort is crying can't stand it and rush over to complete strangers without even realizing it. Looking, bumping, licking, these people because they know something is wrong. Moses is some kind of strange hybrid of these qualities. 

If I am depressed and crying, Moses lays down beside me, farts and rolls over the other direction. Now if anyone else is crying, Moses is an attentive friend, he nudges hands and links fingers and tries to sit on top of said sad person. But within the family? He could care less.

Which brings me to our walk two days ago.

My mother had gone skiing and I said Mo and I would go and walk the dog park. Note: we live in an environment with bushels of snow. That's right, bushels. I thought the dog park would be fine. So after stretching in bed for a few glorious moments, I looked at the large rottweiler on the bed and said the five most inspiring words in the history of creation,  "Do you want to go?"
Moses jumped of the bed and wagged his tail, tilting his head at just the correct angle to say, you said go. I want to go. Go now. Stop with socks. Let's go! Are we going in the car?  I love the car! Are we taking the leash? I love the leash! Are we going to the dog park? I love the dogpark!
At this point, dressed in my college sweat pants and an anime t-shirt, I pulled on my sneakers with Lieutenant gets-in-the-way. He weaved in and out of my legs best ad he could well I tried to climb the stairs.
After another moment or two or nine, my handsome friend and I traversed the back yard and driveway to my VW Bug. He hopped in and we were off on an adventure.

The four minute drive to the dog park (which is more like a short canyon hike), seemed excruciating for the puppy. He wagged his tail, panted, made the Big Dog stance at dogs on the street. I pulled into a parking spot and let him out.

That's when I noticed the sheet of ice below my feet. Three things went through my mind. 1. That's ice. 2. My rottweiler weighs 120 lbs. 3. Crap.

I felt Moses pull in excitement and my body skid across the ice. After using my butt and weight as anchors Mo eventually stopped. The bruising and bashing I felt just made me a little grumpy.
"Dum dum!" I screeched. 
Moses looked back at me, yes?
I stood up and tried, semi successfully, to reach my car door. Luckily for me, a nice man in the truck next to me slammed it for me. I looked at him in appreciation, "thanks!"
He grinned, "don't forget to lock it. And careful on your way down the hill."
I clicked the button and again, Moses and I were off.

But not very far.

At the beginning of the dog park there is a little trail and lots of trees and wouldn't you know ice, buckets, layers, blankets, of ice.
Moses, who Is normally quite good on a leash, pulled hard. I felt myself about to fall. And I made a split second decision. My face is more important then my hand.
I reached out and grabbed the first tree I could. Moses stopped and I swayed. The lurch hurt. I glared down at the dog who sensed my mood and turned away.  It was only the beginning of the walk and I had fallen on my butt once and now I was clinging to a spindly tree.

A women and her two male companions that were on the little trail behind me asked, "Are you alright?"

I laughed, "I'm fine!"

"You sure?"
"Yup, I got it," I pulled my hand off the tree and slid the rest of the way down the way. Moses kept giving me strange looks, we usually run this. Why aren't we running?

I glared down at the puppy, "you sir are completely useless."

He wagged his tail. Eventually we got to the off leash area and I let him off leash. And being the good dog that he is he moved to my left side and walked beside me for a bit. Just to make sure I was ok with him running off. He licked my hand, and I let out a little (okay) a big shriek as pain shot up my arm. He ran off like it was hilarious and I looked at my hand. My hand which I was pretty sure shouldn't have a stick in it. My hand that was bleeding profusely.
I stared at it. And clapped, "well doesn't that explain everything?"
Clapping hurt. Bad. I'm not saying I'm a highly intelligent individual.... i just loose my brain on occasion.
I pulled the stick out of my hand and cried, while my helpful little brother bounced around trying to play with any dog that came up the path. Several of those dogs, came up and loved on me. But not my dog.

Can I say I'm a little bitter?