WOOF Patrol Purebred Passion

August 2007's WOOF Patrol Purebred Passion

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PUREBRED PASSION: ROTTWEILER

Workin' It with a Rottweiler

POOCH PERSONAL

"Shaka" - Dog of your dreams

Overall Poochness:

Age: 6; Resident of: Georgia Sex: Male

Born/Arfstrology: 7/26/2001 - Leo

Bragging rights: Made Rottweiler history for most Best in Shows in one year (19)

Interests: I totally love squeaky toys, playing with my Rottie cousins in my backyard and having a good time.

P.A.W.S.: Powerful, Athletic, Worker and Sensitive

Contact by: Wagging tag in a happy go lucky manner.

More: continue reading...

Ch. Carter Noble Shaka Zulu really is the dog of dogs. He has a natural talent for showing, enjoys winning and loves being with dog-dad, owner/handler Keith Carter.

Keith Carter: Shaka stood out in his litter. He carried himself in an alert, balanced and athletic manner. His neck arched and instinctively he posed. It's his nature. And, yes, he loves squeaky toys. Anything that's fluffy and makes a noise, well, that's his thing.

Carter, a former All-American Florida State Linebacker is the proud owner/handler of Shaka. At the 130th Westminster Kennel Club Shaka won the Working Dog Group. It was a first time win in this category for the Rottweiler breed. Pumping his fist in the air, Keith was captured by the media. Shaka's reaction was to grin and add even more energy to his gait. The two of them were matched not only in skill but in love for one another.

K.C.: We both enjoy outdoor activities.

WOOF Patrol: What's his favorite thing to do?

K.C.: ATV.

W.P.: ATV?

K.C.: Shaka loves to chase after me on my all terrain vehicle. Animal Planet came out to film us playing together.

W.P.: Animal Planet also listed Shaka as one of the top eight championship dogs to watch. Have you always been into Rottie passion?

K.C.: I saw one up close 30 years ago and was instantly attracted. They are very smart and know the difference between friend and foe. The first Rottweiler I purchased was from a backyard breeder. He ended up with hip dysphasia. After that experience I vowed to only buy from a certified breeder.

W.P.: Are people ever shy about approaching Shaka?

K.C.: Actually his presence tends to engage people and attract them to him. At the shows even the small dog owners come over. "This dog is special," they always say. Shaka is socialized and enjoys life at home with his Rottweiler cousins. He loves and acts like a puppy.

Sporting Rottweiler style:
Rottweilers are likely descended from the Italian Mastiff. In the Middle Ages, they were used as herd dogs showing a talent for tracking and guarding. Rottweilers at the beginning of the century increased their skills to include the following: police work, carting, competitive obedience as well as schutzhund. What is schutzhund? It's a sport that that began as a test for working dogs. It takes place outdoors and requires the dog's physical and mental ability to be in peak condition within 3 areas: First is tracking which is set up under less than ideal circumstances. The dog will have to track footsteps over mixed terrain, change direction and be committed to finding the track. Second is obedience which is similar to the Open and Utility exercises developed by the American Kennel Club. Healing, both on and off lead, as well as "sit", "down" and "stand" commands must be mastered and may be conducted with the added noise of gun fire that must not startle or ruffle the dog's focus. The dog must also retrieve over a one meter jump and a six foot wall. After that Rover can just about sign up for the NFL. Finally, the third part of schutzhund is completing the protection requirements. It may come across as a dog attacking his handler but this is not the case. The successful schutzhund dog is quite capable of aggressively defending under specific conditions. At all times the dog is under absolute control of the handler.

Speaking of sports...
Keith, an All-American, boasts a Sugar, a Gator bowl, and 2 Fiesta trophies received during the 1985-89 seasons. They are proudly displayed alongside Shaka's 36 Best in Shows wins.

In 2005, Keith was nominated for the notable "Dogs in Review Winkies" award for Best Owner-Handler. The criteria for Winkies in this group includes the following: quality of the dogs exhibited, handling ability of the individual, condition and care of animals exhibited, achievements during the past 12-month period, and a spirit of sportsmanship and observance of proper ring etiquette. In our conversation with Carter, it's obvious that everything starts with his love for Shaka. He has owned other breeds but with the Rottweiler he has found his passion and attraction for a breed that is powerful and yet has a gentle nature.

BREED NOTES:

Height: Males 24-27 inches and bitches 22-25 inches.
Average Weight: 95-130 pounds for dogs and 85-115 pounds for bitches
Temperament: Reliable, alert and loving companions. As with all breeds the Rott needs an owner dedicated to training and socializing the dog. Rottweilers are generally fond of children, devoted to their family, quick to learn, and eager to please. Providing the Rottie with mental stimulation will keep them from dipping into their creative resources that can lead to non-desired chewing on furniture and excessive barking. Most owners will tell you their Rotties are playful animals who seek their attention of the owners.
Member: AKC Working Group
First Entered in Westminster Kennel Club: 1935
Distinctive Character: Protective, guarding nature
Nicknames for breed: Rottie, Rott, Roc and Rott
Alexandra Day's modern classic Good Dog Carl sold more than 200,000 copies. The main character is a loveable Rottweiler named Carl.

Linda Berberich, an AKC judge, is a smitten Rottweiler owner as are Dolores and Gary Hazelgreen. All three share a love for Rottweiler antics. They also provide the necessary ingredients needed to best care for this powerful breed: love, socializing and exercise.

Ch. Vom Viraus' Mustang Sally with Ron Menaker, CEO of the American Kennel Club and Linda.
Photograph courtesy of Linda Berberich

W.P.: Can you describe the Rottweiler's personality.

Linda Berberich: I got my first Rottweiler in 1975. It has been my breed ever since. I have owned a variety of dogs but in my mind nothing compares to a Rottweiler. They are smart, have a sense of fun and are always willing to please their owners. They look into your eyes and try to understand everything you say. As for fun -when taking a Rottweiler for a car ride, realize that they'll just about say to you, "Move over I'll drive."

W.P.: Congratulations are in order. On July 25th you became a dog-grandma for a seventh generation Rottweiler litter.

L.B.: The proud mom is Ch. Vom Viraus' Mustang Sally. She's my sixth generation Champion. The photograph above is of mom at the 2005 prestigious Morris & Essex Kennel Club dog show which is held every five years. In 2005 we were recognized in the "Bred by Exhibitor" class.

W.P.: Both Keith and you share a passion and a great regard for the breed.

L.B.: Owning a Rottweiler is a big responsibility. Training, socializing and exercise go hand in hand with this breed. I'm up and at the reservoir close to my house every morning, in every type of weather, whether I want to be there or not, to run and play with my dogs.

Dedicated and caring dog ownership is important to all breeds. Whether big or small, socializing your dog is necessary. Dolores and Gary Hazelgreen rescued all four of their pooches. Each one of them has a unique personality. All of them have sweet dispositions. Their breed passion is towards rescue dogs that need loving homes. Dolores shared the arrival story of Theodora Louise aka "Teddy," part Rottweiler and part undetermined but 100% rescued and loved.

Dolores Hazelgreen: "Teddy" was part of an unwanted litter. She was 3 weeks old and the current owner was contemplating destroying the litter. A neighbor alerted my husband Gary who is known in our community as an animal advocate. Little Teddy was scooped up by Gary and actually fit in his pocket. He took her to the vet and learned all of the surrogate dog-parental duties. Every 4 hours he was up feeding Teddy her puppy formula. She was given all the loving care possible. Now she is a healthy 5 year-old with a sweet disposition. Ever since that first day in Gary's pocket, there's nothing she desires more than cuddling with him.

W.P.: Does Teddy know she can't fit in Gary's pocket anymore?

D.H.: Yes. She's a funny girl. Besides loving to cuddle, Teddy enjoys nudging doors open and shut just to watch them move. Recently at the vet's office she was doing her this and it took them awhile to catch on that it was her and not a poltergeist.

W.P.: You rescued all of your dogs, right?

D.H.: That's right. Teddy's oldest sister is Francesca Hope (Frankie), her baby sister is Rusty Belle (Pit Bull) and then there's Reginald Philippe (Reggie the Rat Terrier). They are all rescued and all loved.

Teddy may no longer fit in Gary's front pocket but she continues to find cuddle spaces.

Special thanks to Dolores and Gary for informing us about the following link:
http://theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Please note that by logging onto The Animal Rescue site that your click will provide the value of .6 bowls of food and care to a rescued animal in a shelter or sanctuary. Please click every day and thank our sponsors below.

Photographs of Keith Carter and Ch. Carter Noble Shaka Zulu are courtesy of the following: The Canine Chronicle, Seth Wening/Reuters, Newsday and FSU.com. Photo of Ch. Vom Viraus'Mustang Sally new litter provided Linda Berberich. Dolores Hazelgreen provided photos of Theodora Louise known as "Teddy" as well as "Cuddles".

Are you an HBO Entourage fan?
Be sure to Netflix Episode 36 - "Dog Day Afternoon." Arnold, Vince's Rottweiler is featured.

Yvonne Conza, Founder of WOOF Patrol - ph: 917.847.2854

August 2007