Week 15; Rocco at Amherst College

Last Friday I spent the afternoon in Amherst with my family while one of us (not me) tended to some alumni business. We enjoyed a picnic on the common, walked around town, browsed in store-front windows, and met a few of the locals. In the evening, we celebrated Adam's birthday in Northampton at a nice Indian restaurant. An excellent day away.

Week 15: Companion dog graduation

I passed! This week I graduated from a companion dog training class at The Right Paw Obedience School in Princeton. Here I am with my proud parents. We had such a good time that we've signed up to take the AKC Canine Good Citizen test as a follow-up. Stay tuned. 

Week 14: Rocco goes to work

Our trainer suggested that I should try as many experiences as possible, so this week I went to work with my mom. Well, I really walked the perimeter of this Hopkinton work place, then posed for my picture in front of the sign ... all this for a cookie. Nice work if you can get it.

Week 13

Here I am with my Companion Dog Class teacher, Jen. She's teaching us commands such as Don't Pull, Look at Me, and Heal. We've learned that I already know hand signals for Down and Sit, and we're having a good time practicing. Jen tells me that I'm a good student, and that we might  consider taking the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test. This is fun!

Week 11

How do you like my Irish outfit? No, Rocco's isn't in today's St. Patrick's Day parade in Worcester, just modeling uncomfortably for the camera. Such a good sport.

Companion Dog training was delayed a week because I fell and hit my head (a big lump that time is healing) just before we planned to leave for class. Our teacher rescheduled us for the following week (tomorrow) in a four-week 1x1 class, a good deal for all of us. Rocco reports that he does not plan to wear the Irish outfit to class.

Week 7 and Year 10

Today is Rocco's 10th birthday. We'll sing to him at suppertime. His original owners bought him from a Manchester NH pet store, which provided papers including this real birth date. We celebrated with a short walk around the neighborhood to nurse his sore right front paw that'd he'd hurt on the ice in our back yard. Rocco had a hard time getting comfortable for sleep last night, but is much better today.

Tomorrow evening our 7-week companion dog classes begin. Stay tuned for star student reportage. We're hoping to learn how to keep him off the couch, as well as some standard training and bonding fare. This pic shows the bags and baskets that we use as couch distractions, which he just gently nudges aside to get comfy. Our dear 10-year old lad.

Week 6

I'd read in the paper that when your dog follows you around the house, perhaps he's bored and perhaps you and he could both benefit from some playtime to shake things up a bit. With all these snow days, Rocco follows me around the house especially in the morning, so we play hide and seek. He's getting great at this game and finds me every time; he's not yet taken the lead on hiding, but we both like the running and sneaking-around-the-corner parts of this game. Playing with his rope toy pleases us all in the evening, though his humans are respectful of his missing teeth so don't pull too hard.

Week 5

Rocco's big adventure this week was his first visit to our camp. We parked on the main road and walked in, but because the snow was so deep, we couldn't make it up to the camp. Instead we walked across the lake to see Queenie, a pretty and big wooden structure provided by the local historical society who'll sell tickets for an ice-out bet. On the way we visited with an ice fisherman who had half a dozen fishing holes that were keeping him busy. It was a great cold and windy day to be out on the ice, and Rocco trotted along nicely with us. On our way back, we stopped in to see a couple of our neighbors; one was glad to meet our new dog, the other wondered if we could put him in a back room while we visited -- NOT.

Week 4

Rocco loves riding in the car, and is glad to do errands with us or take a longer ride. He's very popular at the nursing home where folks who stop to admire him also share a greeting with mom. And, he's even dealing well with the nursing home elevator.

Our Rocco doesn't mind the icy sidewalks, and prances along nicely for a walk. But, he doesn't stay outdoors too long during these cold days. This week we think his biggest new adventure is walking on top of the crusty snow. What a sight!

Week 3

Rocco visited the nursing home again this week, and this time he was a confident and affectionate guy. He nuzzled mom when we arrived, and he sat quietly as we had our coffee and snack -- one for Rocco too. When he is lying down and attentive, Rocco crosses his front legs like the well-mannered dog that he is. Very cute.

Today we walked at Alden Labs and found a confined area where we dared to let Rocco off leash. He did great, staying with us, and then coming when called. Good dog.

He loves to be brushed and seems at ease when we brush his teeth too. And this weekend we began his monthly flea and tick and heartworm meds. Handsome and healthy Rocco.

Week 2

Last night we marveled with Rocco that two weeks had passed so quickly, and that it feels like he's always been with us. We still have plenty to learn, of course, but he's still our great companion. Karl captured our first day well: http://www.roasterboy.com/2011/01/rocco.html

This week we visited Rocco's new vet, Dr. Downes, who checked him out from head to tail and gave him shots and took his blood -- and he was ever so good about these things. His doctor called us last night to let us know that his blood work is perfect. We stopped on the way home from the vet's to get his dog tag, so he's legal in Holden.

Rocco had a play date with our neighbor dog, Doyle. They ran the trails in the back yard made by the snow blower, then came in the house while their people visited. very nice.

Nicknames: Rocky, Rock Star, Roxy, Rock Meister.

Week 1

Rocco is a really nice dog. Today when strangers (Craigslist buyers and furniture refinishers) were in and out of the house all morning, he stayed in the laundry room watching us quietly through the baby gate. No barking or whining, just interest. He barks appropriately at the neighbor dogs on the other side of our fence. "Yes, I'm new here and I belong."

We received Rocco's medical information this week in the mail, just in time for his vet's appointment next week. Then, with papers in hand, he'll be able to get his dog tag in town. Very exciting. My mother wanted to hear every detail about Rocco and is happy to know that he can visit her at the nursing home.

As suggested, we bought an EZ Walker harness, but we've not tried it yet. The roads are too narrow because of the snow to be safe, so he'll get his exercise in the yard for a day or two. I'll call next week to set up some training for us.

We plan to use this blog as a post-adoption follow-up, and to share our happiness as a dog family.

Archiving Rocco

Here's how NEARR, Rocco's rescue group, described him:


Age: 9 years old
Breed: Labrador
Color: Chocolate
Sex: Neutered male
Size: 70 lbs
Exercise: Moderate
Children: Yes!
Cats: Yes!
Dogs: Yes!
Reason for Surrender: Losing home, unable to afford

Hi, I'm Rocko. I'm an older, gentle, happy dog who just loves everyone. I lived with my family my whole life, but they are having hard times and can't afford to give me the care I need, so I'm looking for a new forever home. I lived with children and loved them, so if you have children or grand-children, no worries there. I love them and they'll love me. I lived with cats, but I'm a little afraid of them. I have a canine foster sister, and we get along just fine. I like to meet new people, and have them pet me and tell me how good and handsome I am. I'm just a really good-natured boy.

My foster mom says I'm a velcro dog: I just want to be near you. I will follow you around and never try to run off. I have excellent house manners and have run of the house. I sleep in her bedroom right beside the bed. I don't have any of those bad habits like chewing or jumping. I do bark when someone comes to the door, but stop right away and greet them appropriately. I pull a little on the leash, but walk well with an EZ walk harness.

I like to go for walks and love car rides.

I have a chronic ear infection that is now being treated, and is looking much better. I also recently had several teeth removed, so my dental problems are taken care of.

Even though I'm 9 years old, I still have a lot of love to give. Please take me home with you.

Day 2 with Rocco

Such a good boy, this new dog of ours. He's 9 years old, and strong (we feel it when he's pulling us along for a walk), and friendly. The rescue agency (NEARR) folks told us that he might be shy for the first couple of weeks, but he seems very affectionate and his tail seems often wagging.
Yesterday we walked at the Alden Labs nearby, and today we walked at the rail trail in West Boylston. When we meet other dogs and people as we walk, Rocco is friendly and interested. We haven't seen him become aggressive, and he doesn't bark at others either (yet anyway). When we first arrived home with him, he barked and bayed as if talking it up or perhaps grieving the loss of his old life. Yesterday, Mike and Lynn and Cassie came to visit and welcome him to the family; he behaved like a gentleman, with just a little pillow humping to reduce stress, not always a crowd pleaser.
We're SO happy to have Rocco in our lives.