It's easy to post pics of the dogs in our lives that have achieved everything we've hoped for. Our first dog who became our first Champion. Our second dog who became a triple Champion and certified Therapy Dog.
But, the one dog in our home -- and in our lives -- that has meant as much as any of the others is a girl we found wandering in a commercial parking lot in downtown Orlando some 7 years ago. Marion Louise.
We got the call from a friend that there was this Rottie with a chain dangling from her neck that the folks in the building had managed to herd into a safe place. Nobody would approach her. I drove down with a few Milk Bones in my pocket and a slip leash in my hand and I introduced myself to her. She was very cautious. She had been on the street and knew how to protect herself. But when I showed her the money (the Milk Bones), she wiggled her way over to me and came into my arms. I slipped the leash over her head and off we went to the vet's.
She was heartworm positive, pregnant and had never been inside a building in her life -- she was at least 5 years old and was not housebroken. We were told that if she survived the heartworm treatment, she was probably not adoptable because she'd never be housebroken. She needed a name so we named her after the woman who found her -- Marion -- and because all our dogs have middle names, we added "Louise". Just because.
Marion Louise came home with us and immediately adapted to home life with all our dogs except Annie Fay. Annie was the Queen Bitch and Marion was simply not acceptable. All the other dogs -- including 2 girls -- immediately fell in love with her. We knew that Marion couldn't be adopted into the type of home environment we wanted unless she was housebroken so that become my task. After 90 days, Marion Louise was housebroken -- and she was also sleeping in bed with us. We decided that there was no other home that could possibly give her what she deserved than ours. And she's been with us ever since.
I've never been able to take a "formal" portrait of ML. She hates the studio lights and the flash. So, here are a few shot I took while watching TV as ML took her usual place on the couch.
That tuft of yellow fur is Marion's boyfriend, Crash.
I wanted you to meet Marion Louise because I'm often asked about Rottweiler temperament. I can vouch for the dogs I've bred and the dogs I've trained but Marion represents a dog that was the product of a "backyard breeder" and she escaped from what was probably not a great situation. Yet, here she is with us at 13 years of age and she is one of the most wonderful creatures God has ever put on this earth. And she's with us! How could we possibly be so lucky.
Jim
