Rocky - Labrador Retriever, or possibly Lab/Boxer mix - young (one year of age) - male/neutered - 50 pounds - black medium coat with white markings
Rocky earned his name in the best of all ways - he has maintained the most trusting, kind, gentle and joyful outlook despite his early, hardscrabble life, and we could not be prouder of him. We feel he is a true champion.
Rocky was rescued by Animal Control after being chained and deprived of adequate food or shelter. Within 3 weeks of regular square meals, Rocky gained 13 pounds. He joined a foster home where he now shares his days with three resident dogs, and, while he romps happily with them, his primary pursuit often seems to be to check in with his foster humans and express his great happiness to know that he is welcome everywhere in their home, and best of all, right next to them. We are not embarrassed to admit that Rocky is occasionally given the invitation to lie in his foster dad’s lap; this is a real treat for Rocky, and one that we fear he missed out on as a puppy.
Rocky has shaken off the memories of his early childhood along with his chain, and has undertaken a course of discovery instead. Now that he can be part of the world he could only look at when he was a chained dog, he will often just wander into the yard and study a plant or a bird or an insect. He has also discovered the world of toys, and he treasures them. When we imagine the learning curve that Rocky has been on since his rescue, we are amazed by his quickness and understanding. His foster mom has expressed that “once he learns the habits of a household, he blends in flawlessly.”
Rocky navigates the world of new dogs and new people with respect, and open, trusting friendliness. How he learned these skills we do not know, but we are proud of him. He wants to be of purpose, and be noticed, and since being in foster care he has learned to stay and to sit. He is impeccably house trained, and walks well on a leash. Rocky gives full attention to his “lessons” and he is a focused, eager listener. This is not to say that there have not been occasional mishaps, but the important thing to know about Rocky is how quickly he learns, and no one has begrudged the few times that Rocky mistook a brassiere for a toy, because he was so willing to exchange it for his own stuffed monkey.
It is hard to imagine a day in which Rocky will take things for granted. He loves to be touched and held, and will often lean into his humans so closely that he eventually falls right down. There is a puppy-like innocence to Rocky which endears him to everyone who meets him. He will flourish in a home in which he is included, and we suspect that with guidance, exposure, and encouragement, he could easily develop into a dog who could go anywhere and be part of anything.
For all that Rocky revels in attention and love, he is not pushy nor demanding, and often can be found completely flopped down under a table or in a corner, perfectly content just to be present in the same room as his foster care providers and their guests. And while he is definitely enjoying what we often call a “second puppy-hood” (although we suspect that in Rocky’s case, this is the first puppyhood he was ever permitted), Rocky has remained reasonable and steady throughout his dizzyingly happy time spent in foster care. His foster mom calls him “steady as a rock; confident, but not conceited”, and his foster dad praises the way Rocky has just “plodded through life”. Rocky is an honest dog.
Rocky is a beautiful dog physically - he is sturdy, slightly long bodied, and has lovely, expressive brown eyes. His eye contact is open, soft, and direct, and he is always engaged. He is a bit clumsy still, again, we think as a result of being chained for so long, and he is still working on how to time take-offs and landings when he is at play.
Rocky’s adopter(s) will find in him a dog who will provide unconditional love and loyalty. They will also find an opportunity to guide and encourage a dog who will reward their every effort and attention with faith and gratitude.
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