Ruger is a very special part of the Handley Ranch story.

He is the son of Roxy and Max, born from their very first litter. We knew from the beginning that there was something special about that litter, but we never expected that one of those puppies would eventually come back home to stay.

At just three months old, Ruger was returned to us under the “right of first refusal” clause in his adoption contract. His adopting family honored that agreement and brought him back to us, and we will always be grateful that they did.

Because when we saw him again, there was really only one thing we could do.

We kept him.

In the short time he had been gone, Ruger had grown into a beautiful young Rottweiler. But it wasn't just his looks that won us over. Ruger is, quite simply, a ball of love.

He cannot start his day without plenty of affection—and he isn't content just to receive it. Ruger gives it right back. He is a hugger. An honest-to-goodness, lean-into-you-and-give-you-a-hug kind of dog.

He has the sweet temperament we love in our Rottweilers, along with an exceptional intelligence. He completed his training at PetSmart and has grown into a wonderful example of what a well-raised Rottweiler can be.

And if you've ever wondered what a puppy from Roxy and Max might look like when fully grown, Ruger is your answer.

He has their beautiful shiny black coat, rich mahogany markings, solid breed-standard build, and—perhaps most importantly—their wonderful family temperament.

Ruger came back to us as a puppy.

But somewhere between the day he walked back through our door and the days that followed, he stopped being a puppy we had taken back and became our boy.

He is Roxy's son.

He is Max's boy.

He is part of the next generation of the Handley Ranch Rott-pack.

And most of all, he's our grand-puppy.

We couldn't imagine the Ranch without him.