A few weeks ago, we added a 2–year old Rhodesian Ridgeback to the family. Another family here in Tanzania needed someone to take care of him while they will be traveling for a little over a year. His name is Chester and he is huge. Rhodesian Ridgebacks were originally bred in Southern Africa for hunting lions, and they get their name from the beautiful ridge that runs down their back. Me, personally, I don’t really care for big dogs…but Nate has found a new best friend, and I have to admit that he is a sweet dog. He loves Nate more than anything…one of his favorite things to do is jump on Nate (yes, that’s right). This dog can put his front paws on Nate’s shoulders and Nate lets him. Don’t worry…Chester doesn’t care enough about me to jump on me. He knows Nate is the only person he is allowed to “play” with like that.
He also has this weird thing that he likes to sit on our laps. If either of us sits on the floor, he carefully sets himself down on us and if we are sitting on the couch, he slowly tries to go unnoticed by sitting his butt up on the couch beside us (and NO, he is not allowed on the furniture! But I had to take this picture because this dog is so ridiculous)
He makes an excellent guard dog and he barks at anyone who comes to our gate. These poor Tanzanians, they don’t know what to think of him. To them, meeting a dog his size is like meeting a lion. Almost all our Tanzanian friends will not even enter our gate until the dog is tied up or shut away in a room. They are deathly afraid of him, and I can’t blame them.
So that’s Chester.
That is EXCELLENT! You weren't kidding, he is definitely a good substitute if you can't have a Great Dane!! Maybe he will help you see the grandeur of large dogs over the next year :)
ReplyDeleteExcited that little baby Zoe will be coming soon. Her room is precious! Love y'all!