Cortney,
Thanks for the pictures of Champagne. I love to see new pictures of Molly's siblings and hear how they're doing.
I was finally getting around to writing back when I saw your next e-mail with the sad news about Don Gotti.
I'm sorry for your loss. It can be just like losing a family member. I consider my dogs to be my adopted family.
My wife and I have been fortunate that the dogs we've had before, have lived long and healthy lives.
We got to enjoy each of them 10 to 14 years but it makes it even harder when they go.
When we lost of our last Rottie, it was so painful, we were hesitant to ever get another dog.
It took 2 years before we decided that we had to have a dog in our lives.
Inevitably, there will pain and loss in the future, but we can't pass up all the love that a dog brings into the present.
I'm thankful for your Gotti too - without him, we wouldn't have our Molly.
You should know by now to be cautious when asking for any new pictures.
I love showing off pictures of our girl and I might clog your e-mail inbox.
Let's start with 2 'old' pictures to see Molly's progress.
Back when Molly was only a few months old, she has loved this one chair.
From the time she was first able to climb up into it, she has always preferred to sleep in it.
Now, that was not a problem when she was only 4 months old...
But as you can see, at 1 and a half years old and about 85 pounds, it's somewhat comical...
Molly is such a good dog. She's happy and loves to play with a ball or a Frisbee or rubber toy, etc.
I'm so glad my wife got a Rottie a few months after we got Molly so she always has someone to play with.
They get along great and are constantly playing tug-o-war with something - a ball, sock, each other's ear...
When they're not chewing on a toy or each other, they also like to dig holes in the back yard.
One hole looked like they were making an escape tunnel to China.
(It looks like they're admiring their work or they expect something to come crawling out)
Sometimes, they just 'chill' with each other - they're really good friends.
They like sitting up high on the stairs inside looking down on us...
Or sitting up on the hill in the back yard looking out on the neighborhood.
Molly has only been with us for a little more than a year, but we can't imagine being without her.
She's so friendly - everyone laughs about how she wags her whole body when she meets them.
And boy is she smart. She'll come and tell us when Ripley is doing something she shouldn't be doing.
And she's learned a strategy that works if Ripley won't give her a toy.
She goes to get another toy, chews it enthusiastically by Ripley and then 'accidentally' drops it.
Ripley lunges for it and then Molly gets the one she wants.
She's learned many other 'tricks'. Maybe next e-mail, I'll put together some pictures of them all.
Thanks again for providing us with such a great companion.
Mark and Helen
