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Cree came into my life,
at the age of 7 weeks...full of beans, drive & temperament.
She was a daughter of a bitch
whose Championship I finished, CH.
Selma vom Markgräflerland whom I absolutely adored.
Ironically, the first time, I met Selma, she was on a tie-out during SchH
training...doing her best to get at the helper.
She was a HELLISH, fiery puppy...you
could not pick her up..without her biting you...or drawing blood.
With much patience, and perserverence, Cree slowly settled into a wonderful
companion, show dog, and budding SchH dog.
Cree again, at 4 months
old
I still can't believe we got
her to stay still long enough for these!
Once she was old enough to show,
Cree was taken to her very FIRST show when she was 7-months old at the
huge Credit Valley Dog Show in Toronto, Ontario. Two Rottweiler Specialties
were being held on the same weekend.
On 4 out of the 5 shows, Cree
took Best Puppy...I was beyond furious when she was excused from the ring...I
do NOT tolerate shyness in my dogs, but she was excused for what the Judge
interpreted as a snap at her handler. Cree's fiery temperament coming
to the surface AGAIN. She could NOT handle being told to stay still...Cree
would literally SCREAM in frustration, if told NO! At that time,
we had jokingly referred to Cree's temperament, as the demons talking to
Cree again, urging her to be bad.
I then took Cree into the Rottweiler
Specialty ring hoping to win my class. Well we did.
We also won as well as Best Puppy in
Specialty at the age of 7 months for 5 points over American Ch.
bitches!!
I was thrilled...Cree's demon
did not emerge. :|
Cree, on her first Birthday.
May 1997.
Cree, once she finished her
Championship (see below picture)
settled into her life, as a
constant companion, and housedog. She adored people, kids, puppies,
was an incredibly smart dog - probably one of the brightest I have ever
met, coupled with HARDNESS I had never experienced before.
She could take anything...and
nothing stopped her...absolutely FEARLESS.
I had grandiose dreams of breeding
her to her paternal AND maternal Grand-sire,
but fate stepped in.
When Cree was about 4-months
old, I got that all too familiar feeling of knowing that something was
NOT right with Cree...she occasionally bunny-hopped (something that is
indicative of Hip Dysplasia), and she couldn't gait properly, without limping,
and/or bunny hopping ...sure enough shortly after, she ruptured her ACL
(Anterior Cruciate Ligament).
I found out later that her
sire, had ruptured BOTH of his ACL's...her mom, Selma, is fine and
healthy. I do believe that the genetic explosion came from her sire...as
her mom was later bred again w/o any problems.
The occasional 'bunny hop'
turned into Cree, screaming when trying to get up on the bed, or couch...the
pain meds then came out.
A Rottweiler breeder/owner
all too often knows, in their heart, when a dog is dysplastic...I
DID. Cree, obviously was not to be bred...in fact when her OFA hips/elbow
radiographs were submitted, she was also being spayed at the same time.
I KNEW that Cree was dysplastic...and wanted to submit to OFA, to help
with their database.
Cree's results came back...
She was OFA Severely Dysplastic
-
subluxation
-
remodeling of femoral head, neck
-
osteoarthritis/DJD
-
shallow acetabula
-
acetabular rim/edge change
Her Elbows did clear...
RO-EL3222-T
as well as being CERFed for
eyes...
About 6-months prior to Cree's
spay operation, we were heading back home after a night out...when we got
a horrifying, sickening cell phone call from our dog sitter...through tears,
and crying that Cree had attacked one of the other girls, KD...blood was
everywhere..she has split the dogs up, crated/kenneled them, and couldn't
stay. When we had arrived home, the blood had stained the snow, the
smell of acrid, copper blood was everywhere. I immediately gave both
of the girls a bath, and assessed the damage. Why ON EARTH would
they fight? They had been raised together since birth...what had
happened?..surely it was a fluke?
In the next coming year, Cree
attacked another 8 SEPARATE dogs..including intact males..leaving scars
and/or drawing blood on ALL! I contacted TWO behaviour consultants
in Toronto...she was spayed...(maybe hoping to calm her - it didn't), and
given every chance in the world...despite the fact, that I had EVEN tried
muzzling her, which in turn would only frustrate her.
On two occasions, after horrific
fights, I had called my local DVM, hysterical...and crying...to tell that
I was coming in, with Cree for euthanasia. They knew of Cree's aggression
problems...because they had in fact, repaired Cree, and her victims.
On those two occasions, I called back once I had calmed down enough, to
let them know that I was giving her another chance.
Finally, in September 2000...Cree
had attacked my male, Donnie, tearing the inside of his ear...she was being
walked with Zina, (Donnie's mom) and Donnie. Donnie had bumped her,
enough to piss Cree off...and she went for him. Sure enough, the
fight turned into 3-dogs into the confusion...Zina on Cree, and Cree on
Donnie, while I was screaming at Cree to let him go.
As soon as the dogs separated,
I cannot describe the calm in the disappointment I felt...I quietly took
Cree in to the house, by the collar, and called the DVM, and once again,
told them I was coming in.
I did, and returned home, and
collapsed. Cree did not return.
I am so sorry, Cree that I
was not able to help you with your demons...I KNEW that you could not be
a happy dog..always wanting to fight, either because of your pain, or your
temperament. At the Bridge, there is no pain, Cree.
Cree is now at rest, at her
favourite place...my Mom's cottage...she LOVED to swim..and it was probably
the only thing she was truly at peace with.
Rest in Peace Cree
BPISs CH. Braxenburg's Cree
v. Hazelburn
1996 - 2000
(V-1 Till del Cavaliere Nero
(imp ITALY) ex CH. Selma vom Markgräflerland {imp GER})
Owned by: Dianna Contin
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