A bit about Bessie

Bessie came here back in September when I was out of town. I was back for just a few days and didn't really get a chance to spend much time with her. Clay had put her out in Daneland with Journey and she settled in nicely, enjoying the beautiful fall weather in between rains. Even when it rained, she had a choice of several good, dry, and cozy shelters. She had been living on a chain on bare dirt which must have been unavoidable mud most of the time, so I knew her current accommodations were a definite upgrade in her standard of living. 

Bessie came to us from the HOWS Project, from the same hellish home that brought us the white shepherd who had been spray painted blue. She's about 2-3 years old, and she has been spayed and vaccinated thanks to the HOWS Project, no thanks to the former owner. Bessie has been living with Journey for a while now and Clay told me that she was bossy and dominant over him, running him off of his food and away from Clay when she was getting attention. I have seen the same behavior and it's sort of funny because Journey is probably four times her size, but he's such a sweet boy and she's, well, a bitch.

Bessie is very sweet towards people and she loves and craves attention. She will sit on command and she loves to jump up on all the platforms that I've built out there so she's at or near eye level. I needed to see how Bessie would be with real bitches, so we took Maya, Della, and Serena out there today to meet and interact with her. 

She knew immediately that she would not get away with that bossy behavior around Della and Maya. Serena pretty much ignored her but Maya and Della checked her out and let her know where she ranked in the female hierarchy. There was no fight but Maya had her tail and fur up and made it clear that she was in charge. Della barked at her a couple times and that seemed to get the message across. So I really don't think that Bessie has a problem with other dogs, she's just a female and she's part rottweiler. She's going to push around a male dog when she can but she also knows who not to challenge and that's probably the most important thing to know in pack life.

I plan to bring Bessie indoors soon and let her experience life indoors with other dogs in close quarters, but I have every reason to believe that she will adapt to it very well and get along with everyone. 

Bessie will be available for adoption through Green Dogs Unleashed, but don't look for her on their webpage yet, I still need to get pictures and a write up to them. Contact me at vadogrescue@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Bessie loves attention.

Della made it clear to Bessie that she was in charge and that Daneland was originally

Della's Beer Garden and home to her puppies.

Della and Journey. Journey's harness has gotten a bit snug on him so I'm cutting back

on his food a bit.

Bessie will hop up on anything available to get closer to you.

She has a nice rottweiler smile.

I need to get to work on Journey again too. He had been coming inside at night, but after

I left he started back to his more feral ways. He is curious about people but doesn't trust us.

Bessie and Clay

Bessie was originally named Beastie, but that's just stupid. She's very sweet.

Maya wasted no time establishing her position with Bessie.

Serena, Clay, and Bessie

She's got a bit more of a rottie look here, but she's a small girl, smaller than Maya.

It was muddy, but washing off her paws really didn't do any good.

There are enough elevated surfaces and board walks out there, and shelters, 

that Bessie and Journey both keep themselves clean and dry, unlike Max

and Theo in the dog yard who seem to seek out the mud and water to splash in.

Here's a nice smiley picture of Bessie.