R - Rottweiler, Retriever
Crufts, The greatest dog show in the world, has been on while I have drafted some posts for this year's Challenge. The Best in Breed for the Working Group turned out to be Barney, a Rottweiler.
I don't have any photos of him but it just so happens that a five months-old puppy has recently come to live in my village.
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| Max - Rottweiler puppy |
Max walks quite well on a lead even at this age and he is getting used to meeting people. Now that he recognises me he wants to play and not sit still to be photographed.
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| Max |
Rottweilers are an ancient breed once used in wild-boar hunting and as a cattle dog. More recently they have been used for police work and as guard dogs.
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| Black Lab Mutt (Gem), Retrievers - Cody, Scout and Lily |
Cody and Scout were special mates since they came from the same breeder. Cody had been cared for there for a long time after his owner died. When Scout was a puppy and and the breeders had a licensing problem their dogs were being taken into care while the problem was sorted out. When the premises were being cleared Cody had hidden Scout in a cupboard and laid down in front of the door so that he would not be found.
They were both 'loaned' out with number of other dogs to stay with Gem and blind Sam (see 'L'). Cody and Scout proved inseparable and they stayed when the other dogs went back. After Sam passed on the new "Gang of Four" was formed when they were joined by Lily, a Golden Retriever puppy.
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| Cody being teased by Scout |
Cody died last summer. He was a dog who had some favourite positions, usually spreadeagled on the floor.
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| With one eye on his tennis ball |
They all like swimming in the lake, probably Scout most of all.
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| Scout coming back to land |
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| Lily, looking angelic |
But as befits the youngest she's the one always in trouble.
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| Anyone would think she had had a busy day |
