Video: The True Character of the Rottweiler

[KatMc]

Wow. I'm sitting here at work in tears (thank goodness the government gives us these wonderful cubicle walls for privacy...).

I was in tears from the video and fresh tears hearing about Phoenix (Denise please accept my sincere sympathy).

As the foster mom to two Rottweilers with issues (one will live w/me the rest of his life, never a life in public), this video is what I will send to my friends that have met these two and have seen their demons. I want them to see and "feel" the respect these dogs deserve and the love they are capable of when raised correctly.

I know people raise their eyes at me all the time for my breed of choice, and when they hear of the "issue" dogs I have they don't understand how I can see past these two and still unconditionally love and endorse the Rottweiler.

Thank you so much for making this video!

Kathy

[mrs1885]

Moved to tears says it best. Beautiful tribute to the breed.

[lLorraine]

Absolutely excellent, well done. I too will send to friends. Thanks a bunch for the time and effort in putting that together. Just wish the whole world could see it. congratulations.

[my2boys]

This makes such a strong, positive statement! I want to see it out in the public. How can this be done?
I just recently moved into a new neighborhood and NONE of my neighbors came over for three months and I'm sure it is because of my dogs. However, once they did start to come over, they fell in love with my boys. The word needs to get out! These are wonderful dogs!

[snowman031]

Awesome Video, this needs to get out nationally on TV

[Baxter's Mom]

I wanted to share this story I received from a elderly gentleman by the name of Joe Soos. Joe is 65 years old, a retired homicide detective and retired Army. Joe sent me a email after watching "Character", and my other videos on Youtube and he wanted to share his story with me but was worried that he would be bothering me. Once I reassured him, he sent me this story of his beautiful Callie girl who just passed last month. He rescued two elderly rottweilers, and his tribute to Callie moved me to tears. Joes has given me expressed permission to share his story. Grab your kleenoxes.

I saw her on the Friends of Homeless Animals web site and had another of those “Are you outta’ your mind?” moments. What’s not desirable about a 95 pound, abandoned, “about 7 years of age” Rottweiler, graying at the muzzle, with a tumor (benign) on her torso and a serious hip problem? She had been found in Prince William County at a house from which her humans had moved leaving her behind chained to a tree. They left her to starve and dehydrate. According to the shelter, this good old dog was emaciated, had a nasty coat, infected ears, nails that had almost grown back into her pads and a defeated, lifeless look in her eyes. Callie, a nickname, was taken to the local animal shelter and put on the “short list”, as in non-adoptable, get-the-needle-ready list. A fabulous shelter volunteer happened by the pound trolling for shelter candidates and pulled Calypso from the brink of Death’s door.

After eight months at the FOHA site, Calypso got Alex Hammack as a foster mom and off she went to live with Alex, her husband Jerry and a bevy of cats and dogs. She flourished in a loving atmosphere of extraordinary compassion and patience. Another eight months passed with not one inquiry about the Calypso girl. Enter wacky old guy, now from Charlottesville, who already had a psycho senior dog.

After a flurry of emails with Alex, arrangements were made for Paine to meet Calypso on neutral ground. No blood, no snarling, no attempts to menace each other on or off leash. A week later, I drove to the shelter and picked up Ms. Calypso, a bittersweet moment for Alex, her foster mom.

Upon arriving home in Charlottesville, I retrieved Painey Boy from the yard while Callie waited patiently in the car. We three walked and petted and treated and it was swell. Then, it was time for Cal to come inside the gate. As her paw took its first step inside the fence, Paine turned on her in a ferocious attack for which I was on the lookout. I caught him up short and, thankfully, Calypso did not respond. Diving into the middle of about 190 pounds of dogs would have been difficult at best. An inauspicious beginning.

I spent the next three nights sleeping on the couch with Paine Boy tethered to a leg of the couch and Cal-Girl hunkered down in an opposite corner of the room. During the day, we had frequent walks together and get-to-know each other sessions, praising, petting and treating them in closer and closer situations. I also gave the old boy special attention to reassure him. Progress came slowly, slowly, but surely, and by the fourth day, they could co-exist.

Calypso hovered close to me for several days, but slowly and with gathering confidence and acceptance adjusted to her new home. As advertised, she was a love sponge. She kind of welds herself to your knees when petted. And, quickly welded herself into the old homicide copper’s heart. We went through a gradual transition to a slightly different diet. An ear infection cleared up quickly.

And then, we went trailin’.

Very attentive to any distress that might be caused by a more rigorous walking schedule, we slowly increased her activity. She had heart, courage, toughness and smarts. As Alex told me, she seemed to smile. Within a few weeks, her range, agility and flexibility increased with hikes through a beautiful Albemarle County park with some rugged trails. She took to this with great appreciation. She rumbled after fox, squirrel and deer and explored rocky formations and knot-holed trees with gusto. She got to do dog stuff. In full pursuit of a scent one day, Calypso surprised me. The old hobbler actually sailed over a downed ten-inch thick tree. It was a bit of a crooked leap, but leap she did.

Callie’s waist got trimmer and a muscular definition was added to her already powerful flanks. She reached a very muscular 120 pounds. She was paraded through Charlottesville’s historic mall displaying an intense interest and a certain stately manner. She thoughtfully deposited a naturally-made gift on the same courthouse lawn Thomas Jefferson strode. She liked to shop the PetSmart.

Calypso took to her natural Rottweiler role as protector of her old owner seriously and insured that all potential intruders like the always dangerous UPS driver were warned with some serious barking. Previously shunning garments, the old girl became a fashion maven and took to wearing coats during inclement weather. I believe she thought they were slimming. She turned into a nifty friend.

So, I’d got two senior dogs. Each should have been killed years ago. Each flourished and become wonderful companions. When considering adopting a canine pal, you should not overlook mature or older dogs. They have much to give if given the opportunity. Perhaps you can provide that opportunity. Give ‘em a look. Give one a chance. Or, you might give two a chance.
__________________________________________________ _______________

IN MEMORIUM

Gradually, Callie’s hips failed her and she could no longer get to her feet. She became incontinent and stopped eating. With a cracking heart, I made a decision that my Cal-Girl would not want such an undignified life.

With a very tired brain, I made arrangements for a “traveling vet”, Dr. Mike Rose, to meet me at Callie’s favorite place of all, Chris Greene Lake in Albemarle County. Dr. Mike examined my girl and agreed with my decision. Missed by other vets, he also found a mass in her belly and suspected cancer. He was very gentle and understanding with Cal-Girl and most patient with me.

On September 15, 2006, at approximately 9:50 AM, a bright, warm, Virginia early fall day, my loving and loyal Callie crossed the Rainbow Bridge. The last thing she felt was me massaging her powerful shoulders. The last thing she saw was a peaceful lake at a park where she loved to go every day. The last thing she heard was my voice gently telling her what a good girl she was.

She went peacefully to sleep and was never frightened or hurt. She died in a setting she had come to love and in which she had many adventures unencumbered by a leash. It was a place she could explore, meander in, follow her nose and just do good old dog stuff. When folks would look warily at this big brute of a dog off her leash, I’d tell them not to worry, we were just looking for her tail (an apparent cosmetic removal when she was a pup). When Dr. Mike softly told me she was gone, I wept like a child. It was a day that pressed hard against the heart. Very hard.

I know I did the right thing for my sweet, loving Callie. It was an awful and hard and draining decision. I never want to do this again, although I may have to with my other good old dog, Paine. Painey Boy is now a gray-faced 11 ½, but still frisky as a colt.

I took Callie to the crematory at the SPCA. After the cremation, I had her ashes put in what I thought was the only appropriate container for her, a .50 caliber ammunition box. She was a .50 cal. canine.

Her ashes were consigned to the lake she loved so and a little brass plaque is installed high on a beam of the fishing pier. It will be there for a long time, long after I am gone. It reads,

Gallant Canine Callie – Rottweiler

A Loving and Loyal Companion of
Brave Heart and True Character

Departed September 15, 2006



She is at peace now and in my heart always. I would not trade one day with either of my senior canine pals Callie Girl or my Paine Boy.

- Joe Soos

[lLorraine]

Just, bless you Joe Soos. bless you.
I always keep a space for an "oldie" and you have to bring them in with a different mind than you would a pup. You know that their best years are gone and you are just making sure their last few will be as good as you can make them.
It doesn't stop the hurt though, does it ?

[Cerberian]

As a Rottweiler owner, I found the slide presentation "The true character of the Rottweiler" very touching, as it shows the breed as I know it.

However, in the face of the negative public opinion of our dogs, fueled by the media, movie and advertising industries having seized on the breed as
a symbol of evil, I fear that work such as this very nice presentation is constantly being overwhelmed by the powers of professional industrial-strength falsehoods that may very well contribute to mindless BSL

On this I dare say that the legistlators of influential countries carry greater responsibility than is immediately apparent, because it is all too easy for
everybody else to simply follow their example, considering it as advanced and wise, coming from a great country.

One of the few examples of positive media coverage we encountered here, was not long after the horror of 9 -11 when we saw TV coverage of the
search-and-rescue dogs there, Rottweilers among them.

This was discussed the next day at my place of work, and our very efficient but anti-Rottweilerian PA, had damp eyes when she said "those brave
Rottweilers were so sad, not finding anyone alive".

Such is the power of TV, that a woman who took the breed to be evil, saw the goodness in their strength and was moved to tears.

I wish that a blockbuster movie would be made that shows a Rottweiler as the fair-playing hero he is. The only problem is that this will spark another
popular breed-craze such as happened with Saint Bernards, Dalmations etc.

You did a touching piece of work, with the one caution where I agree with others, that we should not present the Rotti as a riding horse, even if Nelson
and I played like that 50 years ago.

[Jantea]

What a video, really awesome!! As is every post in response to it. I also watched the video's you have on myspace.com...they are wonderful too! I'm an emotional basketcase right now, you do incredible invaluable work!

[Sam's Mom]

Well....if I could just stop crying maybe I could say something intelligent. That was amazing...I lost my guy just recently and have been saying never again...but now I KNOW it will be again and again if I am blessed.

[dgrimm]

Terrific Videos! Keep them coming!

[SCHMIR01]

All I can say to the videos and story is WOW!! I am speechless! great job to all involved, and thanks for showing how awsome this breed is!

Rob

[kerry]

A beautiful video and story....Thanks for sharing..

[mana0615]

Absolutely beautiful....This video moved me in so many ways. I and many others thank you for such a truthful tribute. Rottweilers, the "beastly" teddy bears.

[BobConley]

I absolutely love this video. I was one of the people that use to fear these dogs and not understand why anybody would want to own one, until I met one that my friends had, and I instantly fell in love. In the morning I will be picking up two that came in to our local animal shelter as strays. I'm very excited to be the proud owner of a couple of 1 year old rotties!

By the way, does anybody know what the music is that is used in that video. I really like it, I think it makes the video speak volumes for anybody that sees and hears it