Rottweilers Ate My Laptop

Rottweilers. Computers. Cameras. World Domination. Not necessarily in that order.

Rottweilers.
Computers. Cameras.
World Domination.
Not necessarily in that order.

Like father, like son

by

Denise just added some of Endy’s show photos from 2002 to her website. Endy (V-1 CH Endy von der Frankentanne, SchH 2, ZTP, BH, TT) was Axel’s sire and when I saw those photos, especially next to Axel’s show photos, all I could think of is “like father, like son.” Wow.

Go and see! Father Endy is here. Son Axel is here.

All three of my male Rottweilers were chosen because of the instant admiration I had for their sires. I should probably not admit this, because in general I am all about the research into bloodlines, titles, health clearances, siblings, progeny, breeders, stud dog owners, you know… everything. But sometimes, first impressions matter. Maybe looks aren’t everything… except sometimes when they are.

(NaBloPoMo | February ’10: 19 of 28)

Last one for a while

by

More physical proof has arrived! Click away now if you are one of those who has had enough! We’re still awaiting one more title certificate for Freya, and then we have to go back to earning titles and awards before we can get any more certificates.

I’m particularly happy that Axel earned this title, and very grateful to Julia for trialing him in addition to showing him. I am happy that I was able to teach him the exercises well enough to qualify with decent scores, and even one placement. I am happy that Axel was able to get through the last two legs on packed dirt in a horse arena, especially after he NQd once in the same type of venue.

(NaBloPoMo | February ’10: 18 of 28)

A few more words about Westminster

by

As mentioned earlier in the week, there are only a very few times over the long history of Westminster that Rottweilers have placed in group competition. Unfortunately, 2010 would not be one of those times. But it was still so exciting to see Julia and Patrone on TV, and what a wonderful team they made.

I’m not one who yells at the TV very often during sporting events. But last night, there was clapping and cheering (and barking) for Julia and Patrone, as if they, or the judge could hear us. And when they made the cut and got pulled into the line at the end, we got even louder. Alas, Patrone would not follow in his great-grandfather’s pawprints as one of the very few Rottweilers to place in the group. Still, a beautiful showing and very excited to see a friend in the spotlight at the Garden! Just a little disappointed that the commentators did not mention Julia by name, as they did with some of the other handlers.

I was pulling for the Whippet for Best In Show, but the Doberman should have had it. Sadie, the Scottish Terrier favored by many to win, did in fact prevail. But you all knew that, too!

I was a little surprised to find myself liking Tamron Hall as co-host. She spent quite a few years on the Chicago Fox affiliate’s morning news show, and I didn’t particularly care for her in that spot. Upon reflection, perhaps it was that I didn’t care for her teamed with David Novarro, or more likely, it’s David Novarro that I still don’t like in that morning spot. Anyway, good job, Tamron! Way better than last year’s co-host.

Oh, yes. I am sure you were hoping I’d forget, but guess what came in the mail recently, and that I finally got around to scanning? That’s right, Axel’s Canine Good Citizen certificate!

I know those of you who knew him as “Junior Gang Member” or “Junior Sex Offender” from puppy classes or as the unruly adolescent who tested me constantly are laughing at the idea of him being a good citizen. Well, there’s the proof. So there!

(NaBloPoMo | February ’10: 17 of 28)

More Westminster… getting personal

by

I had just arrived at work this morning when I got the wonderful news that Julia had gone Best of Breed with Patrone at Westminster. Yes, that would be Axel’s beloved handler, Julia Foster, and Rottweiler CH Chancellor’s Gorgeous Patrone, TT!

I can only imagine how much more interested in the show Axel will be tonight, when he sees “his” Julia on television!

Obviously, Julia’s win today is a big part of Westminster getting personal for me. But there is more.

Axel has actually been in the ring with six of the Rottweilers who were shown today. They were all Champions competing in Best of Breed during the time he was out getting his Championship. As Winners Dog from the classes, he went back in the ring with the specials dogs, or more specifically, to be defeated for Best of Breed by the specials dogs (it’s okay, that’s usually what happens). One of the Award of Merit winners is the son of Freya’s half-brother. His handler owned Freya’s sire. His owner once owned Freya’s littermate.

So, yes, I watch with a bit more interest each year, because there are more and more personal connections.

I was surprised to see the number of searches on various Rottweiler-ly Westminster topics leading here to the blog today. Here are some answers to the questions posed in those searches.

  • A Rottweiler has never won Westminster. A Rottweiler has won the Working Group only once, in 2006: CH Carter’s Noble Shaka Zulu. I so hope to see that happen again tonight.
  • Rottweilers have placed in the Working Group only four other times.
  • All of the Rottweilers, and in fact all of the dogs entered at Westminster, are Champions. Westminster entry is limited to Champions and it is currently the only AKC show with this requirement.
  • The Westminster website and its associated Facebook page and Twitter stream are being updated lightning fast. The Rottweiler winners are here and the list of Rottweiler entrants is here. If you are not a Rottweiler person, the “2010 Show Results” link on the Westminster website will take you to information on how your own breed of choice is doing. The only thing that seems to be taking a little longer is the videos. I so want to see the Rottweiler breed video before the groups tonight!

(NaBloPoMo | February ’10: 16 of 28)

Westminster!

by

Of course we are watching on television right now, and even more important (because the Working Group is tomorrow), tomorrow night!

In fact, I had been watching the breed judging videos as time permitted during the day. We do not block websites at my workplace, because we are all adults here and know when the work has to be done. But we all have our favorite sporting events that run during work hours, and we do abuse the streaming video as we gulp down the bandwidth. Westminster and pro surfing are my personal bandwidth suckers.

Axel is actually watching the show. He usually watches television shows featuring dogs or other animals, but he seems especially into it tonight. Maybe because he’s now been there, done that? Well, obviously not to a huge and prestigious show such as Westminster, but still, he has done the showdog thing.

I was going to write a post about how to watch a dog show. But it’s been done. And done, and done. Seems a little silly, too, now that we’re into the last hour of tonight’s broadcast. Play-by-play? Or results? Plenty of places for you to find that, too. So for now, I will give you Axel’s version:

Hi. I’m Axe. I was in some dog shows and I became a Champion. Here is what we do at the shows. We go kind of fast, and turn left. Sort of like NASCAR. But with paws and only once around. We also go up and back. Then we do the NASCAR thing again. Then someone wins. Sometimes me.

There you have it!

(NaBloPoMo | February ’10: 15 of 28)