When we got Trixie from the shelter, we were told that she originally belonged to an elderly woman that had just had hip surgery. (We were also told that this was Trix's second trip to the shelter. We can't imagine why! She is no trouble at all!) 

We believe that the lady who used to own her, due to her physical condition with her hip troubles, used to smack Trixie with a fly swatter to get her to move when Trix would pass gas, as all big dogs occasionally do. She was deathly afraid of farts and fly swatters, both, when we first brought her home. 

Trixie has been a dream dog since day one ... over 8 long years ago. (She was over 5 when we got her.) I still remember seeing her for the first time, like it was just yesterday. I had gone to the shelter alone. Back then, they didn't require that you spay/neuter your pet, that's how long ago it had been! She was just sitting there. She didn't jump up, or wag that little bit of tail, or make any extra special efforts to try to win your attention. She gently sniffed my hand, and let me pet her. I was in awe with how gentle she appeared to be, and she was one of those dreaded rottweilers! Those "vicious things" you hear about on the news all the time. (Just another stereotype that can be dispelled. It certainly doesn't apply to all! She was living proof that there is no such thing as a bad dog. It's all in how they are raised. Humans can ruin a good dog faster than anything.) She was absolutely perfect in every way. She didn't mind our daughter grabbing a handful of hair to balance herself as she learned to walk. She would wear shades when it was sunny and she was out, and actually liked them! Never pottied indoors. Ever. We were once out of town for two days, had neighbors come over to feed and water her, and let her out. Nope, she wasn't having it! She wouldn't let them in, nor would she go out. She stood her ground until her family returned. When we took her camping, if either one of the kids appeared to be "drowning" to her (waving their arms above their heads), she made a mad dash into the water, and got a arm, pulled and swam until "her" babies were back on dry ground. She loved playing Frisbee! You never got them back without a billion holes in them, but it was her favorite game. Trix was gentle enough that we knew we could always trust her around the birds. They could even climb up on her and sit on her back without worry. My nieces adored Trixie. When they would come by to visit, or she went to their house, they were ALWAYS excited to see her. Children everywhere loved her. Trix was one of those dogs who would play "dress-up" with the kids, and wear whatever they put on her for hours, no matter how uncomfortable it was for her. "Her kids" where happy, and that was all that mattered to her. Anyone who ever met Trixie always liked her, with just cause, she was a perfect dog. Just perfect. She never bothered anyone, loved unconditionally, read you well - if you needed extra love going through a rough patch she was always there for you, never stuck her nose where it didn't belong, mothered sick rescues as they came through our doors and our children, too, when they weren't feeling well. If humans were more like this girl, the world would be a much better place.