Gold Ribbon Rescue Adoptables

Rocky is very loving and wants to be with people constantly (as you know already). He's especially devoted to me because I'll play "rough" with him by tugging on toys and he'll sometimes gnaw on my arm. He's exceptionally fun to watch when he goes "berserk" - he'll start running through the house, usually after a toy that I'll throw, and then he'll start running around in very small circles, almost as if he's chasing his tail. After about 5 minutes of this, he's pooped out. I think that he has Connie and me trained more than we train him. I took him to some dog obedience training and he responds to me well, but Connie has less control over him. My son, Josh, and Rocky get into Alpha male stuff and if Josh just stares at Rocky and doesn't avert his eyes, Rocky begins to bark and howl.

As you will be able to tell from the photos, Rocky has gained weight. Connie and I take him for a 2 1/2 mile walk on Saturdays and Sundays and Connie will take him for about 2 miles two or three weekdays/week. However, she's starting another job on Monday and that will put an end to those walks. I think we'll get Josh to do this several times/week.

Rocky starts out every night on the floor, but will often wind up on our bed in the middle of the night. He actually sleeps on his back with his legs up in the air like a dead cockroach, it doesn't seem relaxing, but he seems to be content. He really has learned my routine and he's governed by routine. He knows that I alternate working out on my Total Gym and my Nordic Track, and after I've let him out in the early mornings (4:30, when I get up), he'll lie down next to the apparatus which I did NOT work out on the previous day. He's really smart.

He's also still insecure, always wanting to put his paws on top of our hands and arms when we are petting him. It's kind of cute and I wish though that he would feel more secure. He also always carries one of his toys around with him, including when he goes outside, and his goal with the toys is to chew them until he gets the stuffing out of them - sometimes within 2 or 3 hours!

Rocky is turning out to be quite an interesting, sweet, and funny young fellow. The first night here, he was out back pottying when a plane flew overhead. He looked to the sky and started howling. The type of high pitched howling that almost sounds like a blowhorn. We thought it was something he did when he saw planes. Wrong! Rocky will sit and howl at the sky, day or night, and mostly when he is lonesome for some attention. He wants to be around people at all times. SO much so that he tries over and over again to turn our outside door knob with his mouth when he wants to be inside. I think at his prior owner's he did not spend any time indoors. Surprisingly though, he has decent house manners, as he does not counter surf, jump on the furniture (well not too much at least), or run around like a crazy dog. In fact, he settles down quite nicely and is content to rest at your feet (once you have greeted him and given him the necessary belly rub)!

He eats about anything and will chew naughty things like new flip-flops from Old Navy and fancy, fuzzy baby toys (can ya' blame him)? He seems to adore our 10 month old daughter, and is as fascinated by her as she is by him. Through the crate doors they will stare at each other, each of them longing to be closer to one another....and hey the little poptart covered hands are sort of fun to clean up too. Everyone wins there!

He is not yet housetrained, but is very smart and will be soon. He has already learned "sit" and "shake," but "stay"...well, we're working on that one. At times he does seem a bit shy, as he shrivels at the sight of a raised camera, remote control, or really any contraption being held above his head. He is a water dog for sure, and has several times sunk as much of his upper body possible into the dogs' water bucket in the backyard. He also enjoyed his baths, as well as the hairbrush and even stood politely while I groomed him.

He is doing well with his crate and once there will rest quietly, that is now that the shredded dog bed has been removed. He enjoys squeeky toys, treats, and mostly, someone to love. He is going to make some lucky family or person very happy someday soon!