A rottweiler in a pear tree

I've written previously about our pear tree.  It's never been properly pruned and it produces an abundance of  rock hard pears.  I like a good pear but I've never eaten one of these.  Maybe they would ripen indoors, I don't know, but they remain stone like on the tree up until frost.


Our first rottie, Jack, discovered the pears and discovered that they were chewable and somewhat edible.  Rotties have strong jaws and need to chew so the pears fulfilled a need.  Jack would go out to the pear tree on his daily stroll, sometimes would eat one on the spot, and always brought one back into the house for later.  When he couldn't reach them, he'd get Vito to jump up and pull a branch down for him.


After Jack died the pear tree was unappreciated for several years, but lately Cabell and Bremo have discovered it.  Cabell seems to prefer the apples but they are pretty much gone whereas the pear tree is still loaded.  Last year the pears were huge and perfect.  This year they are smaller, but the dogs don't really care.


Bremo brings one in the house and lays it on his bed.  He positions the pear between his front legs and if he feels the pear is being threatened he lowers his head over the pear to make it clear that the pear is his and is under his protection.  I can take it from him, but he'd rather I didn't.  He will growl if another dog approaches his bed if he's guarding a pear.  I don't know if he even likes them, but he likes to have them.  It's an object of some value and all the other dogs respect it.  Cabell likes them too, but he will usually eat his outside or as soon as he comes in.  Fortunately, the two boys don't fight over them.


Earlier today Bremo got up to go outside and left the pear behind.  Lady went over to his bed, laid down, and tried eating the pear.  She wanted to check it out but she wasn't overly impressed.  Either it was too hard or she didn't care for the taste.  Maybe it's just a boy thing.

Here's a few pics of my container garden, still looking good.