Our beloved Rottweiler, Heidi Virginia Carlton, passed away unexpectedly on Mother’s Day morning, as we were preparing to go to church. Here are five of the many things that I learned from Heidi during the ten and a half years that we were blessed to have her in our family.
1. I learned people food is much better than dog food from Heidi. I haven’t tried dog food recently, at least not since I ate some on a dare as a child. However, I am convinced by Heidi’s reaction to people food vs. dog food that people food tastes much better. She would often ignore her dog food, but if I added less than an ounce of people food to three cups of dog food she would devour it all in seconds.
2. I learned “Dangerous” dogs are not the problem from Heidi. “Dangerous” owners are the problem. Rottweilers are considered by many to be dangerous dogs. It is true that they are very protective. But, if they are raised in a loving home and well socialized from an early age, they make wonderful family pets. Heidi was a “gentle bear” of a dog as her eye doctor called her during a recent exam. She was much more likely to lick you to death than to bite you. In fact, she never bit anyone or any other animal for that matter.
3. I learned about self-sacrificing love from Heidi. There is no question in my mind that she would have risked her life to save any member of her family who was in danger. She usually positioned herself so that she could keep an eye on other family members and in-between them and any perceived danger.
4. I learned about loyalty from a Heidi. She was very loyal companion to everyone in our family for her entire life.
5. I learned not to take life for granted from Heidi. The morning that Heidi passed away I was busy with Mother’s Day breakfast and getting ready for church. I knew that she wasn’t feeling great. But, I had no idea that she was about to pass. If I had known, I would have paid much closer attention to her needs and comfort and less attention to the things that could have waited. Such as making sure I washed the dishes so that my wife wouldn’t have to. I was being too much like “Martha” and not enough like “Mary”. I was focused on many unimportant things and not the “one thing that was needed”. Don’t be like me! Focus on the “one thing that is needed” not the many unimportant things. (LK 10:38-42 NIV)
R.I.P Heidi, thanks for all the love and memories.
Mel and Family:
I have been in your shoes too many times and with each passing I learn more and more. Mark and I have had Rotties since 1981 and they have to be the best in the book. You know because you had Heidi. We have found that getting one from a rescue has helped us in so many ways, as we have helped one that otherwise would have met with “going to the door” at the shelter. I hope in time you will be able to bring another Rottie into your family and know that Heidi will approve. She wants you to know love, and her time on earth was done. Her task was finished. Now a new Rottie will need to continue what Heidi started. Always loving you and your family and always being the “lovable Big Bear” “guard dog”. I am sorry for your loss.
Cheryl,
Thank you for you kind words. Jackie and I hope to get another Rottie someday. We will probably wait a year or two. We definitively will consider getting one from a rescue. Thank you for keeping other Rotties from “going to the door”.
Thanks for sharing this. Hopefully I can be more understanding of our dog Mac.
Thanks Ted. Don’t focus on the unimportant things.