I was first contacted by Mark in April 1994 enquiring about a Rottweiler puppy as a pet/companion and, maybe being able to use her at a later stage for guiding, but his primary purpose was for a companion dog. I went through my usual spiel about ownership of a Rottweiler, and couldn't fault any of Mark's answers. He came across very well, as an intelligent man who had researched the breed and thought long and hard about it. He also made it clear he did not want a traditional Labrador guide dog.
His reasons? Firstly he wanted to actually know the dog was always going to be his and for those who don't know, and certainly at the time this conversation took place, these dogs were owned by the organization who trained them and placed them with the vision impaired person. Some years later there was an option available after 5 years, to own the dog, but not from the outset. There were also some restrictions on where the dog could be taken and set routes to be followed etc. Mark fiercely defends his right to be independent and to own the dog of his choice with whom to share his life so closely and with whom an inseparable bond would develop. (Mark will also tell you that he was bitten at an early age by a Labrador, so he had personal reasons for avoiding this breed!) I also felt that Mark enjoyed the idea of the challenge offered by training the dog himself and bonding with her from an early age.
All the above sounded fine, BUT, the fact remained, Mark is completely blind. Were we taking a risk allowing a totally blind person to own a Rottweiler? Some of my breeder colleagues thought we were. In fact several thought we were mad or at best taking a huge risk.
We had a litter of puppies at the time approximately 7 weeks of age. We decided one of these puppies would have a very happy life with Mark and explained we would always take the puppy back at any time if it didn't work out for any reason at all.
We knew whichever puppy went to Mark would have to be bold, confident and resourceful and we had one in mind. "Miss White" who was always first to achieve anything new, could always find an escape route where we thought none existed, first to greet you at the puppy gate, and hurtled through her day with great energy, loved meeting new people - in short a very up front confident puppy.
Mark quite understandably wanted input into the decision but respected our opinions as breeders. There were three bitch puppies available and we took all three of them to see Mark. Mark sat on the floor and three puppies scampered into his house and hurled themselves at him. Miss White led the way of course and it didn't take long for her to make her presence felt and "sell" herself, quickly winning Mark's affection. Miss White also had a much thicker, denser velvety coat than the other two girls which I think had a beautifully tactile effect on Mark,
Grip was chosen and it couldn't have been a better choice. She was to stay with us for another 4 weeks as Mark was moving house. We tied a bell round her neck so she was accustomed to this before she went to her new life with Mark. This was to prove useful in the early days so Mark could easily identify where she was.
The big day came and we took Grip, (named by Mark after a pet crow of the same name in one of Charles Dickens' novels) to her new home. As Mark predicted, she quickly realised he was different and that she would have to keep out of the way of his feet, just for a start! We called back a day later and then from time to time to see how things were progressing. It couldn't have been better.
It seems on Day One, Mark had taken Grip into his very large and bushy back yard and when he became disoriented, Grip was already able to guide him to the back door (11 weeks old) . Mark can tell the story of Grip's life far better than I. Some of it is told on our Website at www.rottweiler.com .au. Grip shared Mark's life totally, helping him to raise his daughter Anushka and later going on to win RNSWCC Canine Hero 2000.
I'd like to share with you a scenario that took place over breakfast at the motel where we all stayed for the Canine Hero Awards. The Para Olympic Games were being held at this time and several of the South American Para Olympic Teams were staying at the same motel. Grip was lying quietly under Mark's chair while he ate breakfast and chatted with a Para-Olympian who said how lucky Mark was to have Grip. It could never happen in his country he said, because the dog would be killed by the many wild dogs in the streets. We should never take for granted the privilege we have in Australia to enjoy the services of a therapy dog.
Having bred many litters now over a period of 20 years, we have had many sad phone calls when the inevitable happens, but none more so than hearing Mark's news that Grip (aged 9) had cancer.
When Mark contacted us after Grip had died in 2002 and discussed another Rottweiler, the circumstances were quite different. Grip had proven the Rottweiler CAN fill the seeing eye dog role, so we all had the benefit of this experience to draw on. Mark initially asked us for another puppy. We didn't have a litter, nor even one in the offing. The issue of size was discussed. This is an important issue. While a sizeable dog is required to negotiate crowds, traffic etc, the dog also is often required to fit neatly under the seat in a restaurant, into a taxi etc so a large Rott makes everything that bit more difficult. We were just lucky with Grip. She had been one of the biggest puppies in her litter, but as is often the case, as an adult, she was at the small end of the standard. Mark asked about the possibility of waiting for the "runt" of a litter, but as I explained then, the runt doesn't always stay the runt!
Mark's requirements as I saw them at this stage were:
o A dog that was ready to train right then, not a baby puppy.
o A dog that was very well socialised with young children as Mark had a 3-4 year old daughter at that time.
o A dog that was confident, outgoing, "bomb-proof" if you like.
o Another Rott that was not too large and could "fill the very big shoes" that Grip left behind.A tall order indeed.
Time and space doesn't permit to tell all the details, but some 15 months previously, we had sold a puppy bitch from similar lines to Grip(both were Winn granddaughters), to Sean and Helen Nicholson (Animal Physiotherapy Services). This puppy had been carefully chosen as a show/breeding prospect and confident to withstand the rigours of a multi-Rott-human-toddler household. Fortunately for Mark, this puppy's show career was short lived when her mouth status changed. The Nicholson's loved her to death by then and had kept her as a pet. This was of course Bella. I should make it plain that the Nicholsons were not trying to rehome Bella, but when I contacted them about Mark, they quickly saw that Bella fitted the bill perfectly. She had been brought up in the hurly burly of family life with the Nicholson kids and their other Rottweilers, by chance she was also small and compact, as well as being action-loving, highly intelligent and ready to learn. Helen put Bella on the plane to Perth and the rest is history, which once again can be told by Mark far better than by me. Mark and ourselves are forever indebted to the Nicholsons for their generosity.
For the record, Grip's parentage was Kameraden Chere Jessie (Graf daughter, Felix Granddaughter) X Rekel Remus CDX (son of Winn Von Der Grurmannscheide.
Bella's parentage is Aust Ch Darkdiamond Zenta (CH Dazzler Blitz daughter) X Dreistleigh True Grit (also Winn son)Neither of these Rottweilers were bred specifically for the life work they were chosen to do and to do so very well, but they are both from strong working lines. Both have thrived on having a mission in life. Both were boisterous, over-the-top, in-your-face pups that shone when their energy was directed into a purposeful role - and they could be "in-charge"! Mark's persistence and determination with bureaucracy and his love and dedication to his chosen breed has helped to develop the special qualities in Grip and Bella that many of our dogs possess. I don't ever imagine the Rottweiler will become common for seeing eye dog work, but I do see that Bella's accreditation will pave the way for other Rottweilers to fulfil a real purpose in serving humankind in a more public and recognised way. Very importantly the public image of Bella is positive and powerful for the Rottweiler breed. I have nothing but admiration for Mark in his personal quest to achieve the accreditation for Bella that she so richly deserves and he so badly needs.
Wendy and Peter Colhoun
Kameraden Rottweilers.