Two-thirds of NaBloPoMo 2008 is now history. Just ten more posts to go!
So, today I’d like you to meet Axel: Axe for short (well, he is a firefighter’s dog) and on paper, Precious Gems Axel vom Viersen. Here he is with his “grandpa” Gary and the judge at a large German-style Rottweiler show this spring.
As you can see, he’s quite the handsome lad. This was his first show and he placed second in his class (12-18 month youth males).
All my dogs are, above all, beloved family members. They live in the house and are with us for life.
Part of me (and some will surely think it is a very shallow part) would love to have at least one dog that is great on paper as well as a treasured and loved family member: a breed quality show champion who also has working titles. I’m wondering if Axe might be that dog.
So I’m wrestling with a number of questions right now. Axe will be 2 years old on the 29th of this month and thus old enough to have his health tests done. If he fails any of the tests I’m planning for him shortly after his birthday, he definitely won’t be bred. There is no shortage of Rottweilers and there is absolutely no need to breed a dog with genetic health issues. I have no reason to think he won’t pass. But of course, it’s just one of the many things to worry about.
Once he passes his health tests (thinking positive here), then comes the question of his championship, which will mean sending him out with a professional handler. This is going to be a very tough decision for me. I definitely don’t want him gone a second longer than he has to be, but it’s also hard to predict how long it will take him to finish a championship. I am not one of those people who could live with having their dog gone half or more of the year, and Axe is not the kind of dog that I could easily hand over at ringside.
Axe is probably the best-looking Rottweiler I’ve ever owned. He’s also been one of my biggest learning experiences. He’s extremely intelligent, somewhat dominant and outweighs me. I’m probably the worst dog trainer on earth and I’ve had some issues establishing leadership with him. His love for me is not in question. Respect though… well, he’s getting there. Or is that me getting there?
The more I learn and the more he learns, the better it gets but it is still far from easy for me. Thus the next dilemma: who is going to do his working titles. I could send him to a professional trainer but I would really love to be able to do it myself. I have the nagging thought in the back of my head that he just might be too much dog for me though.
At least it’s easier than worrying about how to pay for an Ivy League college for a human kid? Right?