[jrc87]

Great stories, all! I loved Janus' Mom's story - it compels me to tell my own!

My 2 year old male, Tier, is 137 lbs, but thinks he is a 13.7 lb. lap dog. Everyone in my vet's office just loves him to death, and makes no secret of the fact that he is their favorite dog client. Work basically stops when we visit, so everyone can come get their hugs and kisses. Both vets even get on the floor with him so he can get in their laps. It's all very silly and sweet.

We went in for hot spot problems recently, and we walked past a room with a mom and kids in it. The 2 older kids were probably 3 and not quite school age. When we walked past, they halfway tumbled out of the doorway and I heard the girl say, "Whoa! Look at that big doggie!" I stopped and asked if they wanted to visit, but they just shook their heads and looked wide-eyed at them. I shrugged and said, "ok!" and went to our room.

As we Rottie parents know, babies and kids are much-loved entities and practically irresistible for them, so, predictably, Tier was pulling on his leash as much as I'd let him, with his head poked around the corner of the door, looking longingly at the kids who were still standing in amazement.

About this time, the office manager came from the back and saw what was going on, so she knelt down by Tier, petting him, and asked the kids if they wanted to come see him. She told them how w onderful and sweet he was and that he was a "good dog". They were persuaded to come over, and by the end of it, they were poking, hugging, giggling, petting and even straddling his back while he was at a sit and laying on him. I don't know who was happier - the kids or Tier. He even showed them how he could shake with both hands (this is a favorite party trick of his that he breaks out when he's trying hard to impress).

After about 10 or 15 minutes of this, the mother finally stuck her head out to see what all the commotion was, and when she saw Tier, she audibly gasped, her hand flew to her mouth and in a panicky voice, asked the office manager, "Are they okay?!" The manager responded, "Pfft, oh yes. This is a great dog." Yay for Rottie friendly vet offices! The mother ended up coming over with a baby in a stroller and meeting Tier for herself. The only slight boo-boo was when he snuck a kiss on the baby and made her a little nervous. I thought I had him, but that tongue is about a foot long, I swear.

So Tier was a great Rottie ambassador that day, and hopefully helped change the mind of at least one family. This is the same dog that an opposing soccer coach told me was a "dangerous animal" and should be kept at home. I try to be a good ambassador, as well, but I admit that I laughed openly at him. :D