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I've had mine, Coltrane, for about 7.5 years now. He is by far the best form of entertainment I've had in a long time. Full of love, great with kids, and gentle as can be. He only barks when he's riled up at the dog park or you get him going with a toy. Never demanding, always there to greet you and fine by himself (he just sleeps all day if no one is home). He does know when walk time is, but if it's pouring rain out, he's fine just laying next to the sliding glass door and watching it come down...don't think he's all that into getting soaked himself.
The only thing he ever chewed on or ruined was an 8x10 photo of my wife and I that was laying on the coffee table about to be framed when we both worked late one day. Pretty sure it was out of spite, but that was seriously the only thing he ever did wrong with the exception of peeing indoors when he was just a pup.
We crate trained him after doing a lot of reading about it and it made life very easy after a few months. Just got him on a regiment of eating, waiting a bit, going outside to go to the bathroom and when he finally did, praised him when we got back indoors. Worked like a charm. Also, don't give them too many toys as they will think everything is theirs. They need to know that "these three things are mine, and everything else is my master's."
Granted, he's not a small dog, he's about 60 lbs., but you'd never know he was around. We passed him off as 35 lbs. for apartment living a few times because he's so dense and most of the weight is in his chest and paws.
He doesn't knock things over, although you'll trip over him once in a while as he loves to be at your feet curled up.
He loves his daily walk around the woods and trails or dog park. Doesn't need to be 'run' daily, but just enough to get him out for 1/2 hour or so to keep him in shape as they can easily get fat. He only eats about 2 cups of food a day, and we don't give him table food or scraps. Has his daily biscuit and a little rawhide stick to chew on.
All in all, it's almost sad to know he's going to be 8 years old in May. He doesn't look it, we get compliments on his health and appearance all the time from various people and vets.
I would love to get another one, but I don't think I'll ever find one that could live up to Coltrane...he's my right hand man. Also, he just LOVES road trips! He has about 10k miles tacked on to him from cross country trips and whatnot.
I couldn't praise this breed enough...they are stubborn and sometimes people cave in to them because of their sad looking eyes and they can give you that 'look' that will make you crumble. You just have to keep up on them and remind them who's boss. We've come really close to breeding them as we love him to death, but that may be a while down the road.
But the first thing I do every morning (after cuddling with the Mrs.) is getting on the ground and cuddling with Coltrane. He is by far my best friend, and I don't think life would be the same without him. He knows our moods and can read us like a book. If something's wrong, he's right next to us making sure we're ok.
I would seriously consider looking into this breed if you are apartment dwelling. I had to add a few pictures of him, I just took the second one down, had to wake him up to pose...but he does love to ham it up for the camera. First one is a puppy pic...he was like 12 weeks or so there.
BTW...name is from John Coltrane...not Roscoe P. :)
posted by 24.151.3...
, Tue, 30 Nov 2004 09:57:30, Tue, 30 Nov 2004 08:25:04, Tue, 30 Nov 2004 09:00:50
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