all my AD friends, for looking at my pictures and kind replies
yes, it was quite an active - and wet - 4th of July weekend, Botti - actually this weekend also. With the high heat I've been doing the hose game with them pretty often. Bigger Rottie also LOVES to be dried off and rubs her head and shoulders enthusiastically between/against my legs.
actually, Grummer, they really don't eat much - they are all raw-fed, so I don't need to feed as much to achieve healthy weight and other good qualities for them. Their food sources <raw meat and bones> are very rich and easily digestible. The adults now all get fed about 2x daily; the youngest - Kaylee - when she was a baby puppy she got lunch for a few months but that was also because I'm home - it's not required to feed young puppies of this size 3x the same way it is with toy/tiny breeds.
naisho, also thanks for your thoughts about them being obedient and on their coats, should'a just now seen me trying to get both of them inside after getting excited about the young Lab in the yard across the cul de sac - he appears to be visiting there with his family and he has a squeaky toy. My girls were very intense with him but I was able to call Violet <big Rottie> off the fence separating the yards and got the younger Rottie's attention with my cap we were using to do searching games with yesterday. I threw that away from the fence and ran toward the house, trying to get her prey momentum to my advantage
all my dogs work to voice and hand - train first to get motion of behavior I want, then when I can bet 5$ they'll do the behavior I want, add hand cue or signal, and then voice. Also have both auditory and visual signal that tells them I like what they've done.
RR, yes,
the Rottie is a powerful guardian breed, not given to easy friendships with strangers. I do feel very safe with them, many times people have crossed the street when I was out with one. One time, I hadn't realized the garbage collection truck was here in the cul de sac and I let the big Rottie you see there - let her outside for bathroom, not realizing the garbage person was coming up our driveway to get our carts from where we keep them. Our whole back yard is fenced. If walking up the driveway, you end up going past or alongside a portion of said yard directly in front of the side door we use as our main entrance. So, I saw him walk up that way at the same time big girl <Rottie> saw him - and he saw her. He stopped dead in his tracks and would not move til I brought her in.
That said, they are very affectionate with all family members
BG, the Ridgie was one of the breeds we looked at when we were investigating breeds prior to the first Rottie. We wanted a larger, multi-purpose working dog with guarding and herding ability, who would be very affectionate with us. We both like the R.R. but it was very difficult to find a reputable breeder at that time in our area and the Ridgie does not fit all the characteristics I mentioned - wanted more "working" temperament as opposed to "hound" temperament, also.
Because we had certain expectations, we did generally go with looking at specific breeds from reputable sources as opposed to a dog with un-known or less controlled history from a shelter or rescue.
again, I really appreciate folks taking the time to look!
guys!
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