Well thats Christmas over for another year, just the New Year to get through. My New Year will consist of a bottle of wine, a couple of DVDs and a puppy book, oh and the hubby somewhere in the background!!

To be honest i've not really been into the festivities this year, I usually am but I think the excitment of picking the puppy up in the New Year has just over shaddowed it.

We travelled the 2 1/2 hrs to visit the litter a couple of weeks ago, they were 4 1/2 weeks old and absolutely adorable bundles of fluff.

One really stood out for me, he was big, forward and very fluffy! Ali (the breeder) said that the sire occasionally throws a longer haired rottie and I think this is him. As i'm not planning to show him the longer coat dosen't matter to me, in fact i love it that hes going to be different.

I'm a little apprehensive about him being so forward as he is likely to develop a strong personallity which is going to take work to establish myself as pack leader but on the other hand who wants a shy retiring dog!! and I enjoy a challenge.

My living/dining room has been rearranged to fit in his crate, its huge! but its important to me that hes in amongst us and part of the family, this area of the house is where we spend a majority of our time so was really the only option.

Theres been another trip to the pet shop to buy his first collar and lead, some more toys and a bed which we couldn't resist. As hes going to be crate trained the dog bed is probably a little premature but never mind, there is one member of the family who appreciates it and the pup is going to have a fight on his hands to get near it I think!

More decisions!

Went shopping the other day and just happened to end up in 'Pets at home'! I was like a child in a sweet shop, just as well hubby was with me or the bank account would have suffered.
Such an array of 'stuff' for your four legged friend.
I did manage to hold myself back and left with a couple of toys, a Kong, a blanket and a brush.

I've spent a few hours researching the 'BARF' diet, Bones And Raw Food diet. This seems to be becoming a very popular way to feed your dog, due to recent research into commercial dog and cat foods people are concerned about the amount of additives and chemicals which are finding their way into the commercial foods, even more worrying is the other additives such as deceased cats and dogs which includes the collars and name tags! It seems that commercial feeds are causing many health problems in our animals and are contributing to a reduced life span. The BARF diet means no added chemicals, its an all natural diet.

I want to do what is best for my dog but I feel the BARF diet is going to take excellent time management which I do not have, it requires you preparing and making up your dogs meals and to be honest cutting up raw meat is not a favourite pass time of mine!

There are some commercially prepared feeds which have passed the close inspection of researchers and you can also get prepared, frozen, raw meat feeds so I think i'll be looking into those a little more before making a final decision on what to feed my pup.

Planning and more planning!

Its been many years since I had a puppy to take care of, and even then I don't remember so much planning going into it!
A majority of my spare time seems to be spent with my head in a puppy training or Rottie book, if i'm not buried in a book then i'm on my laptop engrossed in a Rottie forum or an online pet shop, I don't even have the puppy yet and already its taking up most of my spare time!
There are so many plans and decisions to make, where he'll sleep, where, when and what he'll eat, who'll come visit him on occasions we are out longer than usual, to crate or not to crate (have decided we will, at least till hes house trained) what and when to train, the list is endless.
I'm one of those people who like to know what i'm doing well in advance of it happening so I have lists and schedules all ready for life with a puppy, somehow i'm feeling these will eventually be forgotten and i'll have to learn to live with a lot less order!!

Attitudes!

I've always known that the decision to get a Rottie would cause some 'negative' reactions but it still annoys me that people are so quick to dislike the breed.

As soon as someone asks what breed i'm getting I find my 'hackles' rising and I become defensive even before the word 'Rottweiler' has left my mouth.

If you watch their faces as the dreaded word is uttered you get to know instantly what their reaction is going to be, their face either lights up, like mine always does whenever someone mentions they have a Rottie, or their mouth gets tight and they look at you like your mad, then the typical 'why do you want one of those' comments start!!

I was listening to my hubby having a conversation on the phone with a close friend of his the other day, I had an idea as to the direction the conversation was taking as my hubby was starting to defend our choice of dog. I have to say he was being very calm and diplomatic about the whole thing, certainly handling it better than I would have done.

The first sentance from his friend had been 'well, if your getting one of those then i'm not coming round anymore'

This initially made me rant and rage, but seeing as he rarely visits anyway I decided it wouldn't be too much of a loss!

I understand and respect that dogs are not for everybody and Rotties are big and intimidating animals, especially to people who are not dog lovers.

What really upset me about the above comment was that firstly this was going to be a puppy! hardly a limb severing monster! If he made the effort to make friends with 'Taz' as a puppy then when he grew into a handsome adult dog the two of them would have an established relationship.

Secondly, it upset me that he assumed I would put him in a position where he would feel uncomfortable or be in danger, if he, or anyone else entered my home and was not happy being in close proximity with a large dog then I would happily seperate them for the duration of the visit.

Ok, Rotties have a bad reputation, earnt for them by bad owners, thats fact, but the only way for this to change is for people to give them an opportunity to prove themselves as the loyal, gentle, loving animals they are.

I have every intention of introducing my new puppy to as many friends and family as I can so as he grows they will learn to trust him and feel comfortable around him.

My first ever post

This is the my first ever post to my first ever blog so if someone is actually reading this then please be patient, am sure it will improve and become more interesting with time!

My husband and I have wanted a dog for a couple of years now, we've both had dogs in the past and miss having a four legged friend.

We've finally made the decision to share our home with our favourite breed the 'Rottweiler'.

It wasn't a rash decision, we've put plenty of thought into it, not just having a dog but the fact its whats commonly thought of as a 'dangerous dog', to be honest there are a few breeds that I would have been happy with but hubby was set on a Rottie and as the care of the dog would fall to him some of the time it was in everyones best interest for us to have a dog we were both equally happy about.

So, my research into the breed and finding a breeder began. I've had my head stuck into Rottie books and Rottie web pages for weeks now! There are ups and downs to any breed but the Rottie probably has a few more 'downs' than most but i've still not been put off.

I firmly believe that there are no 'bad' dogs just 'bad' owners.

My dog is going to be the best behaved, most well rounded Rottie in the world!