I fight back tears as I think of what I learned about the wonderful dog named “Rusty.”  When we met his appearance was stunning.  He has whiter teeth than I do and a cool mottled tongue.  Rusty is a big boy, but don’t let his appearance trick you: this is a perfectly calm and confident dog.  He spent two hours in the Dog park with little and big dogs sniffing his butt and he didn’t flinch a bit.  We walked down the Sanford Riverwalk with bikes and kids walking past and he just kept walking perfectly straight without pulling on the leash at all.  When it was time to jump in the car, he would stick his nose in before you could open the door. To say he rides well in the car would be an understatement; there was no anxiety or fidgeting (and I have a low sports car with a loud exhaust).  I walked him around my apartment complex, and then we hung out on my patio overlooking the complex.  Rusty never barked.  I fed him cold cuts, and he took the slices from me so gently it made me laugh.  I have no idea how this guy ended up in the shelter, but God bless Judy and crew.  If I had a yard, Rusty would have stayed home with me and I wouldn’t be crying.

Rusty was owner surrendered to PRBJ due to him  not liking the 2 puppies he lived with.  He is good and playful  with larger dogs and older children.  He is happy, walks great on a leash and he has free roam of the house.  The owner did state that he is good in the house.   Rusty has been with us not even a day as we write this up and he already has shown he is a remarkably calm good dog.  He is up to date and ready for adoption.  Rusty does not care for cats.

*** Are you not familiar with Rottweilers? According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, the Rottie is calm, trainable, courageous, and devoted to their owner and family. The Rottweiler is probably descended from the Italian Mastiff. During the Middle Ages, it was used as a herd dog. It was bred in the German town of Rottweil in Wurttemberg. Practically extinct in the 1800's, the breed population began a comeback in the early twentieth century due to the efforts of enthusiastic breeders centered in Stuttgart. Some of the Rottweilers talents include: tracking, herding, watchdogging, guarding, police work, carting, competitive obedience, and schutzhund. They have a reliable temperament. Protective, he will defend his family fiercely. They require owners who can handle their massive size. The Rottie is a natural guard dog with a mellow temperament. They are highly intelligent and have proven their worth beyond question in police, military, and customs work over many centuries. This breed needs a lot of companionship and socialization to be truly happy. They can be aggressive with other dogs and should be kept on leashes in public places. Friends and relatives of the family are normally enthusiastically welcomed. Strangers can get no further than the sidewalk. They have a life expectancy of 10-12 years.